Install n8n: Full Self-Hosting and Setup Guide for 2025 

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If you’re looking for a way to automate your digital workflows intelligently and professionally, but don’t want to pay the monthly fees of SaaS tools like Zapier or Make, n8n is the best choice for you. n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that allows for self-hosting. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different ways to install n8n: installing with Docker, installing on Ubuntu Linux or other distributions, installing on macOS and Windows, and installing locally for testing. Stay tuned.

Prerequisites & Requirements

Before installing n8n, you must make sure that your system meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements:

Choosing the Right Method for Installing n8n

The next step is selecting a proper installation method. One can install n8n in multiple ways, such as Docker, a direct installation with npm, or even WSL on Windows. Every method has its own upside,

Comparison of these methods can help you decide which option is best for you.

Installing n8n with Docker

One of the most effective and highly suggested methods to set up and use n8n is the Docker way. In this case, the app system is kept totally separated and independent from other services, there are no conflicts with other services. Additionally, it is also easier to upgrade and manage with a direct installation.

Step 1: Ensure that Docker and Docker Compose are installed

Initially, Docker and Docker Compose must be installed and activated on your system. You can verify this by running the commands below in the terminal: 

docker --version

docker compose version

If you get output similar to the following, Docker is installed correctly:

Docker version 27.0.3, build abc123

Docker Compose version v2.27.0

Otherwise, you need to install Docker.

🐳 Installing Docker on Ubuntu/Debian

Run the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release -y

sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg

echo \

  "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] \

  https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | \

  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

sudo apt update

sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin -y

Then make sure the Docker service is running with the following command:

sudo systemctl enable docker

sudo systemctl start docker

To check the performance of Docker Compose (in new versions of Docker, Compose is installed as a plugin), run the following command:

docker compose version

If you are using Windows or macOS, you can download and install Docker Desktop from the official site docker.com.

Step 2: Create a Volume to Store Data

To ensure that n8n data is preserved even after the container is stopped or deleted, you need to create a dedicated Docker volume:

docker volume create n8n_data

This volume will contain your settings, workflow history, users, and credentials.

Step 3: Run n8n with Docker

Now you can run n8n in a container. The following command creates a container named n8n and connects port 5678 from inside the container to the host:

docker run -it --rm --name n8n \

-p 5678:5678 \

-v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n \

docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n

Parameter explanation:

• -p 5678:5678 → Connects port 5678 inside the container to port 5678 on the host.
• -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n → Connects the n8n data path to the created volume.
• --rm → The container will be automatically deleted after stopping (the data will remain on the volume).

After running this command, the official n8n image will be downloaded from the Docker Hub repository, and the service will be running. Now you can open n8n by going to the following address in your browser:

👉 http://localhost:5678

Or if you are running on a server:

👉 http://<SERVER_IP>:5678

Step 4: Run n8n with Docker Compose

For a more stable and convenient installation, it is better to use Docker Compose. Create a file named docker-compose.yml and put the following content in it:

version: '3.7'

services:

  n8n:

    image: n8nio/n8n

    ports:

      - "5678:5678"

    environment:

      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true

      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin

      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=strongpass

      - N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.com

      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.yourdomain.com

    volumes:

      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

volumes:

  n8n_data:

To run the file:

docker compose up -d

n8n will now run in the background. The environment variables in the environment section are used for security and customization:

• N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true → Enable Basic Auth
• N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER and N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD → Set username and password
• N8N_HOST and WEBHOOK_URL → Set the domain to use with HTTPS

Once running, you can access n8n via the domain or server IP.

Step 5: Create an Owner Account

When you first run n8n, you will be prompted to create an owner account. Open the address http://localhost:5678 in your browser. A page similar to the one below will be displayed:

Enter your email, select a username, and a password in this step. The Owner role with full system access will be assigned to this account. Then, you can create your first workflow on n8n dashboard, which will be shown to you.

Install n8n on Ubuntu / Other Linux

To install n8n on Ubuntu or any other Linux Variants, you can take either of two routes. The first one is to go through a Docker installation, and the second one is a Node.js direct installation. For Docker installation, repeat the volume and docker-compose commands. For a non-Docker installation, these are the instructions:

1. Installing Node.js and npm

n8n requires Node.js version 18 or later to run. LTS versions (like 18.x or 20.x) are more stable. Use NodeSource to install:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -

sudo apt install -y nodejs

Now, verify that the installation was successful by running the following commands:

node -v

npm -v

2. Installing n8n Globally

After installing Node.js, the following command will install n8n globally:

sudo npm install -g n8n

If you see a permission error, use sudo.

After installation, you can test the service by running n8n or n8n start:

n8n start

Now open the following address in your browser:

http://<your-server-ip>:5678

4. Create a dedicated user for n8n (a security suggestion)

Instead of running n8n as root, create a separate user:

sudo useradd -r -m -d /var/lib/n8n -s /bin/bash n8n

sudo chown -R n8n:n8n /var/lib/n8n

4. Configuring n8n with Environment Variables

You can use an .env file to set the domain, authentication, and URLs:

sudo nano /var/lib/n8n/.env

and enter these values:

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=strongpassword

N8N_PORT=5678

N8N_PROTOCOL=https

N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.com

WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.yourdomain.com

5. Configure the systemd service to run n8n automatically

Create the following file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/n8n.service

and enter the following content:

[Unit]

Description=n8n Automation Service

After=network.target

[Service]

Type=simple

User=n8n

EnvironmentFile=/var/lib/n8n/.env

ExecStart=/usr/bin/n8n

Restart=always

RestartSec=10

[Install]

WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and run the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

sudo systemctl enable --now n8n

sudo systemctl status n8n

6. Configure Firewall

To allow access to port n8n:

sudo ufw allow 5678/tcp

sudo ufw reload

If you are only using HTTPS (with Nginx), you can keep port 5678 internal and open only 80 and 443.

7. Set up SSL and reverse proxy with Nginx

For secure access with HTTPS, set up Nginx as a reverse proxy:

sudo apt install -y nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Create the following config file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n

Content:

server {

listen 80;

server_name n8n.yourdomain.com;

return 301 https://$host$request_uri;

}

server {

listen 443 ssl http2;

server_name n8n.yourdomain.com;

ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/n8n.yourdomain.com/fullchain.pem;

ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/n8n.yourdomain.com/privkey.pem;

location / {

proxy_pass http://localhost:5678/;

proxy_http_version 1.1;

proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;

proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';

proxy_set_header Host $host;

proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;

}

}

Activate the site and obtain the SSL certificate:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

sudo nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginx

sudo certbot --nginx -d n8n.yourdomain.com

If the output contains the following message, SSL was successfully installed:

Congratulations! Your certificate and chain have been saved...

9. Backup and Update

Before any upgrade:

sudo cp -r /var/lib/n8n ~/.backup_n8n_$(date +%F)

To update n8n:

sudo npm install -g n8n@latest

sudo systemctl restart n8n

Now your n8n is permanently running on your Ubuntu server, with security, SSL, and automatic service management via systemd.

You can log in to the interface and create an administrator account by going to: https://n8n.yourdomain.com

Install n8n on mac os

to install n8n on Mac, you can use both Docker Desktop and a direct installation of Node.js. If you install Docker Desktop, the execution process is the same as on Linux, and you just need to run the docker run or docker-compose commands. In addition, you can install Node.js via Homebrew and install n8n via npm. For example:

brew install node         # Install Node.js with Homebrew

npm install -g n8n        # Install n8n globally

Then the command n8n start will run the program, and it can be accessed at http://localhost:5678. 

The advantage of a local installation on Mac is that it is fast and does not require a virtual machine. However, this method is more suitable for development and testing, and is not recommended for production and hosting multiple users at the same time. However, for production on Mac, you can use Docker or a separate Linux server (e.g. VPS).

Verifying Docker and Node.js Installation

To ensure that Docker Desktop is successfully installed, check the Status Bar menu to make sure the service is running. You can also check with the following command:

docker --version

docker compose version

For Node.js, the following command will also display the versions:

node -v

npm -v

🔹 Create a permanent service (optional)

If you want n8n to run automatically in the background, you can use tools like pm2:

npm install -g pm2

pm2 start n8n

pm2 save

pm2 startup

This will make n8n run after a system restart.

Install n8n on Windows

You can install n8n on Windows either directly or with Docker. The three main methods are installing with Node.js, running a container via Docker Desktop, or using WSL2, each explained step by step below.

Method 1: Installing directly with Node.js and npm

First, go to the official Node.js website and download and install the LTS (long-term support) version. Then, follow these steps:

1. After installation, open a PowerShell or CMD window and check the installation with the following commands:

node -v

npm -v

If the versions are displayed, Node.js and npm are installed correctly.

1. Now install n8n globally:

npm install -g n8n

If you see a permission error (Permission Denied), open the PowerShell window with the Run as Administrator option.

1. Runni n8n:

n8n start

Now n8n is running on port 5678, and you can open it in your browser: http://localhost:5678

📁 The n8n settings and data folder on Windows is created by default in this path: %USERPROFILE%\.n8n

Method 2: Installing and running n8n with Docker Desktop

The Docker method on Windows keeps the n8n environment isolated from your system and makes the installation easier.

1. Install the Docker Desktop software from the official Docker website: https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop
2. After installation, make sure that Docker is enabled in WSL2 backend mode (in Docker settings → General → “Use the WSL 2 based engine”).
3. Now run the following command in PowerShell to temporarily run n8n:

docker run -it --rm --name n8n `

-p 5678:5678 `

-v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n `

docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n

Then, in your browser, navigate to the following address: http://localhost:5678

For stable and continuous execution, use the docker-compose.yml file (in the same path as the project):

version: '3.7'

services:

n8n:

image: n8nio/n8n

ports:

"5678:5678"

environment:

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=strongpass

volumes:

n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

volumes:

n8n_data:

Then run:

docker compose up -d

This will run n8n in the background and your data will be permanently stored in the volume.

Method 3: Using WSL2 (for advanced users)

If you are familiar with the Linux environment, it is better to use WSL2 to enjoy the benefits of both worlds (Windows and Linux):

Activating WSL2 on Windows:

wsl –install

1. After installation, install the Ubuntu distribution from the Microsoft Store.
2. Then open the Ubuntu terminal and follow the instructions in the “Installing n8n on Linux” section to install Node.js, npm, and n8n.

✅ The advantage of WSL2 is that it eliminates many of the problems related to file paths and permissions on Windows, and the performance of n8n will be smoother.

Installing n8n on Windows is simple and can be done in a few minutes. However, for stable use and online hosting, Linux or Docker methods usually offer higher performance and security. In production environments, it is recommended to run n8n inside WSL2 or Docker Compose for easy backup, update, and management.

Installing n8n locally (development and testing)

For quick builds and local testing, you can install n8n locally using two main methods: npm and npx.

With npm

On any system (Linux, Mac, Windows) that has Node.js installed, just run:

npm install -g n8n

n8n

or

npm install -g n8n

n8n start

This command starts n8n, and after displaying the path, you can use its interface by going to http://localhost:5678. Make sure your Node.js version is 18 or higher.

With npx

If you don't want to install n8n, you can run it directly:

npx n8n

This method will download the necessary files and run the n8n application on a temporary basis. It is suitable for short-term testing.

How to install n8n community nodes

 Some community-specific plugins or nodes (like n8n-nodes-nodeName) are installed via npm. If you need to add a new node, you can install it by going into the n8n folder (or inside a Docker container) and running:

npm i n8n-nodes-nodeName

Then restart n8n to make the new node available. To remove or update a node, use npm uninstall followed by npm install.

Note: A local installation is best for development environments and stores data on the same system. If you need data persistence, consider using Docker or installing on a server.

Security, backup, and maintenance tips

Before ending this post, take a quick look at the essential security and maintenance tips for keeping your n8n setup safe and reliable:

Keep these practices in mind to ensure your n8n instance runs smoothly for the long term.

Conclusion and Final Recommendation

In this guide, we have looked at the different ways to install n8n. Finally, if you are planning to run n8n on a robust and supported server, a Linux virtual server is a good option. With our Linux VPS services, you can run n8n on servers with 24/7 access and technical support. Our servers are located in over 40 global locations and have the lowest latency with 1Gbps ports. For more information and to get the right server, you can get a free consultation from us.