n8n-mcp — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Assists with building n8n workflows, running validation checks, and diagnosing broken execution runs directly in your coding agent.
claude mcp add n8n-mcp -- npx -y @automatelab/n8n-mcpWhat n8n-mcp does
The server connects an assistant to n8n logic without manual JSON editing. It handles workflow assembly, structural diffs, and lint checks across node schemas. When creating AI Agent setups, the generator links sub-nodes like ai_languageModel and ai_tool directly to the agent node, preventing import failures on n8n 1.x.
Debugging focuses on execution analysis. With execution_explain, you pass raw execution data to detect missing payload items, syntax issues in expressions like ={{ ... }}, and node failures. For isolated testing, execution_replay extracts a targeted reproduction workflow for a single node.
Running this package requires Node 20 or newer. Managing live workflows via REST depends on N8N_API_URL and N8N_API_KEY. Without these environment variables, live updates fail and the server operates strictly in offline mode.
What it helps with
- identify reasons for dropped items in failed n8n runs
- generate valid n8n 1.x workflow JSON for AI agents
- catch deprecated node types and expression errors before deployment
- inspect and toggle workflows on a remote n8n instance
Example prompts for the agent
- Analyze this n8n execution output and pinpoint why the HTTP node produced zero items.
- Draft an n8n workflow connecting an agent to a calculator tool for n8n 1.x.
- Run a lint check on workflow.json to spot broken connections or deprecated nodes.
How to install n8n-mcp
Platform CLI
claude mcp add n8n-mcp -- npx -y @automatelab/n8n-mcpPlatform CLI
codex mcp add n8n-mcp -- npx -y @automatelab/n8n-mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"n8n-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@automatelab/n8n-mcp"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"n8n-mcp": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@automatelab/n8n-mcp"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add n8n-mcp npx -y @automatelab/n8n-mcpStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about n8n-mcp
How to install n8n-mcp in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add n8n-mcp -- npx -y @automatelab/n8n-mcp. Node 20 or higher must be available on your machine.
What does n8n-mcp do?
It provides tools to generate n8n workflows, detect structural defects via linting, and explain failed executions. It also exposes REST tools to fetch, create, and activate workflows on an active instance.
Can n8n-mcp be used without a live n8n instance?
Yes. Offline tools like generation, schema diffing, linting, and execution explanation work without N8N_API_URL and N8N_API_KEY.
