How to Build Your First n8n Workflow: A Step-by-Step Tutorial in 2025

n8n Workflow – With over a decade of experience in automating complex business processes, I’ve seen countless tools come and go. But n8n has consistently stood out for its power, flexibility, and accessibility. This guide is born from years of building, deploying, and teaching n8n workflows, designed to take you from a complete beginner to a confident automator.

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In this tutorial, you will learn exactly how to build your first n8n workflow from scratch. We’ll walk through a practical, real-world example, breaking down each step into simple, actionable instructions. By the end, you’ll not only have a functional workflow but also the foundational knowledge to start automating your own tasks and integrating your favorite applications.

What is n8n? Your Gateway to Automation

Before we dive into building, let’s clarify what n8n is. Think of n8n as a digital switchboard that connects all your different software and online services. It’s a powerful, open-source workflow automation tool that lets you create connections—or n8n integrations—between various applications without writing a single line of code. This allows you to automate repetitive tasks, synchronize data, and build complex systems that work for you 24/7.

The core of n8n is its visual workflow editor. You build automations by connecting “nodes,” where each node represents an app (like Gmail or Slack) or a function (like filtering data or waiting for a specific time). This node-based approach makes it incredibly intuitive to design and understand even the most intricate n8n workflows.

What truly sets n8n apart is its self-hosting capability. While it offers a cloud version, you have the freedom to host n8n on your own infrastructure, such as on n8n DigitalOcean servers. This gives you complete control over your data, security, and costs.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your n8n Environment

To begin building, you first need access to n8n. You have two main options:

1. n8n Cloud: The quickest way to start. Simply sign up on the n8n website, and you’ll have a ready-to-use environment in minutes. This is perfect for beginners who want to jump right in.
2. Self-Hosted: For those who want more control, you can install n8n on your own server. Popular choices include DigitalOcean, AWS, or even a Raspberry Pi at home. The official documentation provides excellent guides for various platforms.

For this tutorial, we’ll assume you have access to an n8n instance, whether cloud-based or self-hosted.

Your First n8n Workflow: A Practical Example

Let’s build a simple yet useful workflow: Get daily weather updates and send them to a Discord channel. This is a classic example that touches upon key n8n concepts.

Step 1: Create a New Workflow

From your n8n dashboard, click the “Add workflow” button. This will open a blank canvas, which is your digital playground. Every workflow starts with a “Start” node. This is the initial trigger, but for our case, we will use a different node to kick things off.

Step 2: The Trigger Node – When Does it Start?

A trigger is what initiates your workflow. It could be a specific time, a new email, a form submission, or a webhook call. For our weather report, we want it to run at the same time every day.

1. Click the + icon on the canvas to add a new node.
2. Search for and select the Schedule node (previously known as the Cron node).
3. In the node’s settings panel on the right, you can configure the schedule. Let’s set it to run every day at 8:00 AM.
   1. Mode: Every Day
   1. Hour: 8
   1. Minute: 0

Now, your workflow will automatically start at 8 AM daily.

Step 3: Fetching the Data – The Weather Node

Next, we need to get the weather information.

1. Click the + on the Schedule node to connect a new node.
2. Search for the OpenWeatherMap node. You’ll need a free API key from the OpenWeatherMap website. Once you have it, add it as a credential in n8n.
3. Configure the node:
   1. Operation: Current Weather
   1. Location: Enter your city, for example, “London”.

To test this step, click the “Execute node” button (the play icon) at the top of the settings panel. You should see the current weather data for London appear in the output view. This is a crucial part of building n8n workflows: testing each node as you go.

Step 4: Sending the Notification – The Discord Node

Now that we have the weather data, let’s send it to Discord.

1. Add a Discord node after the OpenWeatherMap node.
2. You will need to connect your Discord account by providing a Webhook URL from your Discord server settings. n8n’s documentation walks you through creating one.
3. Configure the Discord node:
   1. Content: This is where the magic happens. We’ll use data from the previous node to craft our message. Click in the “Content” field, and you’ll see a small icon for “Add Expression.”
   1. An expression allows you to pull in data from other nodes. We want to create a message like: “Good morning! The weather in London is currently 15°C with light rain.”
   1. Your expression might look something like this: Good morning! The weather in {{$node[“OpenWeatherMap”].json[“name”]}} is currently {{$node[“OpenWeatherMap”].json[“main”][“temp”]}}°C with {{$node[“OpenWeatherMap”].json[“weather”][“description”]}}.

Don’t be intimidated by the expression! The panel on the left allows you to navigate the data from the previous node and click to insert the values you need.

Step 5: Activate and Save Your Workflow

Once you’ve tested each node and are happy with the result, it’s time to bring your workflow to life.

1. Save your workflow by giving it a name, like “Daily Weather Report.”
2. Toggle the Active switch at the top left of the screen from “Inactive” to “Active”.

That’s it! Your first n8n workflow is now live. Every morning at 8 AM, it will fetch the weather and post it to your Discord channel.

Beyond the Basics: Introducing Agentive AI

What we’ve built is a simple, linear workflow. But the true power of n8n is unlocked when you introduce more complex logic and intelligence. This is where the concept of Agentive AI comes into play.

Agentive AI is not just about automation; it’s about creating autonomous systems that can make decisions, learn, and adapt. In n8n, you can build agent-like workflows by combining triggers, data sources, and action nodes with logic nodes like IF, Switch, and even integrating with AI models through n8n AI nodes.

For instance, you could enhance our weather workflow to be more “agentive”:

• Decision Making (IF Node): Add an IF node after the weather node. If the temperature is below 5°C, send a message to a “Cold Weather Alerts” channel. If it’s going to rain, send a reminder to take an umbrella.
• AI Integration (AI Node): Connect to an AI model (like OpenAI) to generate a more human-like weather summary instead of just raw data. The n8n AI capabilities are expanding rapidly, allowing for powerful integrations.
• Learning (Data Stores): Use n8n’s data store functionality to log weather patterns over time and make predictive alerts.

By thinking in terms of Agentive AI, you move from simple “if this, then that” recipes to creating sophisticated digital assistants tailored to your specific needs.

Leveraging Community and Resources

You don’t have to build everything from scratch. The n8n community is a treasure trove of knowledge and pre-built solutions.

• n8n Workflow Templates: The official n8n website has a gallery of n8n workflow templates that you can import and adapt. This is the best way to learn how different nodes and patterns work.
• n8n Workflows GitHub: Many users share their creations on GitHub. Searching for “n8n workflows github” or “n8n github” will reveal countless examples, from simple utilities to complex business automation.
• Community Forums: The n8n community forum is an active place to ask questions, share your work, and get help from both the n8n team and fellow users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some common questions about n8n and workflow automation.

What is the n8n workflow?

An n8n workflow is a sequence of connected nodes that automates a task. It starts with a trigger node that initiates the process, followed by a series of action nodes that fetch, process, and send data between different applications and services.

What can I automate with n8n?

Virtually any digital task can be automated. Common use cases include:

• Syncing data between your CRM and email marketing platform.
• Generating daily reports and sending them to Slack.
• Automating social media posting.
• Creating a new customer onboarding sequence.
• Processing form submissions and saving them to a database.

What are the 4 types of workflows?

In a general business context, workflows are often categorized into four types:

1. Process/Sequential Workflow: A linear, step-by-step process where tasks are completed in a specific order, like our weather example.
2. State Machine Workflow: A more complex type where the workflow moves between different “states,” and can go back and forth depending on inputs. Think of a document approval process (Draft -> In Review -> Approved -> Rejected).
3. Rules-Based Workflow: These workflows use a set of rules (like an IF/THEN structure) to determine the path of the automation.
4. Case Management Workflow: Driven by a “case” (like a customer support ticket) rather than a rigid process. The path of the workflow is often unpredictable and determined by the information within the case as it evolves.

n8n is flexible enough to build all four types.

How to run a workflow in n8n?

You can run a workflow in two main ways:

1. Manually: During development, you can click the “Execute Workflow” button on the canvas to run it once for testing.
2. Automatically: Once your workflow is “Active,” it will be run automatically by its trigger node (e.g., on a schedule, or when a webhook receives data).

What is the use of workflow?

The primary use of a workflow is to automate repetitive tasks, which saves time, reduces human error, and ensures consistency. It allows you to connect disparate systems, streamline processes, and free up your time to focus on more creative and strategic work.

What is n8n good for?

n8n excels at:

• Connecting APIs: It can integrate with hundreds of apps, even those without a native integration, through its powerful HTTP Request node.
• Complex Logic: Its node-based system makes it easy to build multi-step workflows with conditional logic.
• Data Transformation: It provides many built-in nodes for sorting, filtering, and manipulating data between steps.
• Self-Hosting: It offers full data sovereignty and control for users who prefer not to use a cloud service.

What are the 8 stages of workflow?

While different models exist, a common way to break down the lifecycle of a workflow consists of these stages:

1. Discovery: Identifying a process that can be automated.
2. Analysis: Mapping out the existing manual process.
3. Design: Planning the new automated workflow in a tool like n8n.
4. Modeling: Creating a visual representation of the workflow.
5. Implementation: Building the actual workflow with nodes and logic.
6. Testing: Executing the workflow with sample data to ensure it works correctly.
7. Deployment: Activating the workflow to run in a live environment.
8. Monitoring & Optimization: Tracking the workflow’s performance and making improvements over time.

What is a basic workflow?

A basic workflow consists of at least three parts: an input (the trigger), a process (the action or transformation), and an output (the result). Our weather report is a perfect example: the schedule is the input, fetching the weather is the process, and sending the Discord message is the output.

What is a workflow type?

A workflow type is a classification based on its structure or purpose, such as the four types mentioned earlier (Sequential, State Machine, Rules-Based, Case Management). It helps in understanding and designing the right kind of automation for a specific problem.

What is a webhook in n8n?

A webhook is a way for different applications to send real-time data to each other. In n8n, the Webhook node generates a unique URL. When another service (like Stripe, GitHub, or a custom application) sends data to this URL, it instantly triggers your workflow, passing that data along for you to use. It’s one of the most powerful and common ways to start an automation.

How powerful is n8n?

n8n is extremely powerful. Its open-source nature, ability to be self-hosted, and support for custom code (via the Function node) mean its capabilities are virtually limitless. You can go from simple two-step automations to building entire back-end systems, creating n8n workflow examples that manage complex business operations entirely within n8n.

How to share n8n workflows?

You can easily share your workflows. Simply click on the canvas, press Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac) to select all nodes, and then Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C) to copy. This copies the entire workflow’s structure as JSON text, which you can then paste into an email, a GitHub gist, or a forum post for others to import into their own n8n instance using Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V). This is how many in the n8n workflows xyz community share and collaborate.