Automate n8n Workflow Backups to Google Drive Easily

1. Opening Problem Statement

Meet Sarah, an automation specialist managing multiple workflows in n8n. Every day, she spends significant time manually exporting her workflows’ JSON files to ensure they’re backed up safely on Google Drive. Despite her efforts, she often encounters outdated backups and worries about losing recent changes due to human error. This tedious, time-consuming process costs Sarah an estimated 2 hours weekly, directly impacting her productivity and risking important workflow configurations.

This is a very relatable scenario for anyone relying on n8n automations but struggling with data security and version control. Manual backup not only wastes precious time but also increases the risk of losing critical automation logic.

2. What This Automation Does ⚙️

This workflow revolutionizes Sarah’s backup routine by automating the entire process of exporting and saving n8n workflows’ JSON data into a designated Google Drive folder every single day. Here’s what happens when the automation runs:

• Triggers automatically at 1:30 AM daily using the Schedule Trigger node.
• Fetches all active n8n workflows via the n8n API using the dedicated n8n node.
• Transforms each workflow’s JSON into a base64 encoded file named after the workflow, ready for upload.
• Uploads each workflow file into a specified Google Drive folder using the Google Drive node.
• Retries uploads automatically if any failure occurs, ensuring backup reliability.
• Saves Sarah an estimated 8-10 hours monthly by eliminating manual export tasks.

3. Prerequisites ⚙️

• n8n account with API access enabled 🔑
• Google Drive account with a dedicated folder URL 📁
• Properly configured Google Drive credentials in n8n 🔐
• Basic knowledge of navigating n8n interface ⏱️

Optional: For better control and privacy, self-host your n8n instance. You can explore hosting options like Hostinger.

4. Step-by-Step Guide to Build This Backup Workflow

Step 1: Set Up the Schedule Trigger for Daily Backup

Navigate to + Add Node → Core Nodes → Schedule Trigger. Set the trigger time to 1:30 AM. This will initiate the workflow every day at the same hour.

You should see the Schedule Trigger node set to trigger hourly and minute 30.

Tip: Avoid setting triggers too frequently to reduce API calls.

Step 2: Define Backup Parameters with the Set Node

Add a Set node. Rename it as Parameters. Enter two string fields:

• directory: The folder URL where backups will be stored (e.g., https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/your-directory-id).
• parentdrive: Your Google Drive root URL (e.g., https://drive.google.com/drive/my-drive).

This node centralizes URL configurations for easy editing later.

Step 3: Use the n8n Node to Fetch All Workflows

Add the n8n node titled Get all n8n Workflows. Configure with your n8n API credentials.

This node performs an API call to retrieve the list of all workflows currently active in your n8n environment, including their JSON definitions.

Step 4: Transform Workflow Data into Files Using the Code Node

Add a Code node. Paste the following JavaScript code to convert each workflow’s JSON data into a base64-encoded file:

return items.map(item => {
  const jsonData = JSON.stringify(item.json);
  const binaryData = Buffer.from(jsonData).toString('base64');
  item.binary = {
    data: {
      data: binaryData,
      mimeType: 'application/json',
      fileName: 'data.json'
    }
  };
  return item;
});

Each workflow JSON is encoded and assigned to a binary property named data, preparing it for upload to Google Drive.

Step 5: Upload the Backup Files to Google Drive

Add a Google Drive node named Backup to Google Drive. Configure it as:

• Name: Use an expression to name files after workflows: {{$json.name + ".json"}}
• Drive ID: Select “My Drive”
• Folder ID: Use the folder URL from the Parameters node via expression: {{$node["Parameters"].json.directory}}
• Enable retry-on-fail to ensure reliability.

This uploads each workflow backup as a separate JSON file into the specified Google Drive folder.

Step 6: Connect the Nodes

Connect them in this order:

• Schedule Trigger → Parameters → Get all n8n Workflows → Code → Backup to Google Drive

Once set, test the workflow manually by triggering the Schedule node or running the workflow.

5. Customizations ✏️

• Change Backup Frequency: In the Schedule Trigger, adjust trigger hours and minutes to run weekly or monthly instead of daily.
• Modify Backup Folder: Update the directory value in the Parameters node to back up to a subfolder or different Drive.
• Add Timestamp to Filenames: In the Google Drive node, modify the filename expression to {{$json.name + "_" + new Date().toISOString() + ".json"}} for versioned backups.
• Include Deleted Workflows: Adjust the API filters in the Get all n8n Workflows node to include inactive or deleted workflows if desired.
• Enable Email Notification: Add an email node after backup completion to notify Sarah about success or errors.

6. Troubleshooting 🔧

• Problem: Backup files are not appearing in Google Drive folder.
  • Cause: Incorrect folder URL or missing folder permissions.
  • Solution: Double-check the folder link in the Parameters node and ensure Google Drive credentials have write access.
• Problem: n8n API node fails fetching workflows.
  • Cause: Invalid or expired API credentials.
  • Solution: Renew your API key under n8n credentials and test again.
• Problem: Code node produces errors converting JSON.
  • Cause: Structure changes in workflow JSON or unsupported data.
  • Solution: Review and update JavaScript code inside the Code node for compatibility.

7. Pre-Production Checklist ✅

• Verify n8n API credentials are up to date and correctly linked.
• Confirm Google Drive folder link is active and accessible.
• Run manual tests triggering the workflow off schedule to confirm flow correctness.
• Backup existing workflow exports manually before activating automation for fallback.

8. Deployment Guide

Activate the workflow by toggling it live in the n8n interface. Monitor the first few runs for errors via execution logs. Ensure Google Drive has sufficient storage quota for backups.

This simple yet powerful deployment requires only your configured n8n and Google Drive credentials to run unattended daily backups.

9. FAQs

• Can I backup to other cloud platforms? This workflow uses Google Drive node, but substituting with Dropbox or OneDrive nodes is possible with node adjustments.
• Does this consume API credits? n8n API usage here is minimal – mostly read calls once daily, so it should not heavily impact limits.
• Is my data safe? Yes, your workflows are only uploaded to your Google Drive folder accessible by you.
• Can this handle dozens of workflows? Yes, the automation fetches all workflows and backs them up individually without manual effort.

10. Conclusion

By setting up this automated backup workflow, Sarah transformed a tedious manual export task into a reliable daily safety net. This automation not only saves around 8-10 hours monthly but also protects against data loss due to accidental deletion or n8n errors.

Next, consider automating version-controlled backups with timestamps or integrating notifications to stay informed of backup status. You could also explore restoring workflows automatically from backed-up JSON files.

Keep your automations safe and let n8n handle the backups so you can focus on creating more powerful workflows!