How to Install and Run n8n Locally with Node.js (No Docker!)

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n8n is a powerful, free, and open-source workflow automation tool that allows you to connect different apps and services to automate tasks. While many guides focus on Docker, setting it up on your local machine with Node.js is incredibly simple and fast. This guide will show you how.

🤔 What is n8n?

Think of n8n as a visual workflow editor that lives on your computer. You can connect anything to anything, from APIs and databases to online services like Discord, Google Sheets, and Slack. It empowers you to create complex automations without writing extensive code, using a node-based interface.

✅ Prerequisites

To follow this tutorial, you only need one thing:

  • Node.js: n8n is built on Node.js. Ensure you have a recent LTS version installed. You can get it from the official Node.js website. This will also install `npm` (Node Package Manager), which we need for the installation.

👉 Step 1: Install n8n via npm

The installation is handled by a single command. Open your terminal or command prompt and execute the following:

npm install -g n8n

This command downloads and installs the n8n package globally on your system, making the n8n command available from any directory.

👉 Step 2: Start n8n

With the installation complete, you can start the n8n application. Just type the following command into your terminal:

n8n

After a few moments, you will see output indicating that the n8n editor is running. It will automatically open a new tab in your web browser pointed to http://localhost:5678.

n8n Editor Interface

👉 Step 3: Create Your First Workflow (Example)

Let's build a simple workflow that sends a 'Hello World' message to a Discord channel whenever you call a specific webhook URL.

  1. Add a Webhook Node: Click the '+' button to add your first node. Search for 'Webhook' and select it. This node gives you a unique URL to trigger your workflow.
  2. Add a Discord Node: Click the '+' button after the Webhook node. Search for 'Discord' and select it. You'll need to add your Discord channel's webhook URL in the credentials section.
  3. Configure the Discord Node: In the 'Text' field of the Discord node, write your message, for example: Hello from my first n8n workflow!.
  4. Activate and Test: Activate your workflow using the toggle at the top right of the screen. Now, copy the URL from the Webhook node and paste it into your browser's address bar. When you press Enter, the workflow will run, and your message will appear in your Discord channel!

💾 Where is Your Data Saved?

When you run n8n locally this way, it creates a .n8n directory in your user's home folder (e.g., C:\Users\YourUser\.n8n or /home/youruser/.n8n). Inside this folder, you'll find a database.sqlite file. This file stores all your created workflows and credentials, so make sure to back it up if you build something important!

🎉 Conclusion

You have now successfully installed and run n8n on your local machine. This setup is perfect for development, testing, and running personal automation tasks without the overhead of managing a server or Docker containers. Happy automating!

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