Quick start guide to connect your AI assistant to n8n workflows in under 5 minutes.

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Node.js v18.0.0+ installed
• n8n instance running (cloud or self-hosted)
• n8n API key with workflow permissions
• MCP-compatible AI assistant (Claude Desktop, Cline, etc.)

1. Visit smithery.ai
2. Search for "n8n-workflow-builder"
3. Configure with your n8n credentials:
   • n8n Host: https://your-n8n-instance.com
   • API Key: n8n_api_your_key_here
4. Connect to your AI assistant
5. Test with: "List my n8n workflows"

# Install and run
npx @makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder

# Or install globally
npm install -g @makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder
n8n-workflow-builder

1. Login to your n8n Cloud instance
2. Go to Settings → API Keys
3. Click Create API Key
4. Copy the generated key

1. Open your n8n instance
2. Navigate to Settings → API Keys
3. Click Create API Key
4. Save the key securely

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-workflow-builder": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder"],
      "env": {
        "N8N_HOST": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
        "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to your Cline MCP settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-workflow-builder": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder"],
      "env": {
        "N8N_HOST": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
        "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Try these commands with your AI assistant:

"List all my n8n workflows"
"Show me details of workflow [workflow-name]"
"Execute my [workflow-name] workflow"

"Create a simple webhook workflow"
"Show me failed workflow executions"
"Activate all inactive workflows"

Ask your AI assistant:

"Create a simple n8n workflow that:
1. Triggers every hour
2. Makes an HTTP request to check a website
3. Sends a notification if the site is down"

The AI will create, configure, and activate the workflow for you!

• Check: n8n instance is running and accessible
• Verify: N8N_HOST URL is correct (include /api/v1 if needed)
• Test: Try accessing your n8n instance in a browser

• Check: API key is valid and not expired
• Verify: API key has proper permissions
• Test: Create a new API key if needed

• Check: Node.js version (must be 18+)
• Try: npm cache clean --force
• Reinstall: npm uninstall -g @makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder && npm install -g @makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder

1. Explore Use Cases: Check out USE_CASES.md for real-world examples
2. Learn Advanced Features: Read the main README.md for all available tools
3. Troubleshooting: See TROUBLESHOOTING.md for detailed help
4. Compare Solutions: Review COMPARISON.md to understand advantages

• Start Simple: Begin with listing and viewing workflows before creating new ones
• Use Natural Language: Describe what you want in plain English
• Iterate: Ask the AI to modify workflows based on your feedback
• Backup: Always test new workflows before using them in production
• Monitor: Use execution monitoring to track workflow performance

• Documentation: Full README
• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Community: n8n Community
• MCP Docs: Model Context Protocol

Ready to automate? Start with "List my workflows" and let AI take over! 🚀