n8n_create_workflowLABSCO SUMMARY
Building workflows is fast; turning one on is still a click.
The generative half works well — describe the automation, get nodes and connections, run it through its webhook, read the execution. The gap to plan around is activation: n8n's API treats the active field as read-only, so the workflow you just created has to be switched on in the UI. Knowing that up front is the difference between a workflow that runs and one you assume is running. The README lists the other API gaps too, which is more useful than finding them one at a time.
What it is
An MCP server over the n8n public API, covering workflows and executions. The README now points to the author's larger n8n-mcp project as the maintained successor; this one still works and is unusually honest about which parts of the n8n API do not.
What you get
- n8n_create_workflow — a new workflow with its nodes and connections, written from a description
- n8n_get_workflow, n8n_list_workflows with filtering and pagination, and n8n_delete_workflow
- n8n_update_workflow, which needs the full node list rather than a partial change
- n8n_trigger_webhook_workflow — run a workflow through its webhook URL
- n8n_get_execution and n8n_list_executions filtered by status, so you can see what a run actually did, with n8n_delete_execution to clear records
- n8n_health_check — confirm the API is reachable and the configuration is right before anything else
- The limits are documented rather than discovered the hard way: activation is read-only through the API and has to be done in the n8n UI, tags cannot be set on create or update, running executions cannot be stopped, and there is no API for users, credentials or variables
- Some n8n instances do not accept PATCH for workflow updates, and the settings field is required but undocumented — the server supplies defaults for it
Requirements
Node.js 20 or higher, a reachable n8n instance in N8N_API_URL and an API key in N8N_API_KEY. LOG_LEVEL and MCP_MODE cover the rest; logs are written to a file rather than to the transport, so they do not interfere with the MCP connection. Whatever the key can do in n8n, this can do.
Setup effort
Build from source — git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-manager-for-ai-agents
USE CASES
Building an automation from a description
Create the workflow with its nodes and connections, then open n8n to activate it.
Testing a workflow you just changed
Trigger it through its webhook and read the execution that comes back.
Working out why an automation stopped producing results
List recent executions filtered to failures and read one in detail.
Taking stock of an instance that has accumulated workflows
List them with filters and read the ones nobody remembers building.
Adding a step to an existing workflow
Read the current nodes, send the full list back with the change, and re-test.
Checking the connection before blaming the workflow
Run the health check to confirm the API and credentials are right.
10 tools
Listed in project docs. Your client may show a different list.
n8n_get_workflown8n_update_workflown8n_delete_workflown8n_list_workflowsn8n_trigger_webhook_workflown8n_get_executionn8n_list_executionsn8n_delete_executionn8n_health_checkBEFORE YOU INSTALL
What to know first
Tools you get
10 tools named in the project's documentation.
Requires
- Node.js 20 or later
- N8N_API_KEY in your environment
- N8N_API_URL in your environment
Where it runs
The documented client runs the server on your machine.
INSTALLATION
Connect your client
Server setup
git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-manager-for-ai-agents
cd n8n-manager-for-ai-agents
npm install
npm run buildMCP Clients
Claude Desktop
{
"mcpServers": {
"n8n-manager": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"<YOUR_PATH_TO_N8N_MANAGER_FOR_AI>/build/index.js"
],
"env": {
"N8N_API_URL": "<YOUR_N8N_API_URL>",
"N8N_API_KEY": "<YOUR_N8N_API_KEY>",
"LOG_LEVEL": "info",
"NODE_ENV": "production",
"MCP_MODE": "stdio"
}
}
}
}