This workflow follows the Execute Workflow Trigger → HTTP Request recipe pattern — see all workflows that pair these two integrations.
The workflow JSON
Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →
{
"nodes": [
{
"id": "421824c2-59a2-441b-aacc-7dadf2ec153b",
"name": "On clicking 'execute'",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
"position": [
900,
1180
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "c6024a57-1957-4714-84e3-8d326c83cd89",
"name": "Sticky Note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
420,
1560
],
"parameters": {
"color": 6,
"width": 1910.7813046051347,
"height": 731.7039821513649,
"content": "## Subworkflow"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "07691901-a8d2-4891-860b-1d672361021b",
"name": "Execute Workflow Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeWorkflowTrigger",
"position": [
480,
1940
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "2b1dd138-7872-42ea-9882-8750ef4cf227",
"name": "n8n",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.n8n",
"position": [
1300,
1280
],
"parameters": {
"filters": {},
"requestOptions": {}
},
"credentials": {
"n8nApi": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "96c0c6a7-2a11-441d-8177-e0a18030daf9",
"name": "Return",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"position": [
2140,
1760
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "8d513345-6484-431f-afb7-7cf045c90f4f",
"name": "Done",
"type": "boolean",
"value": true
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 3.3
},
{
"id": "6715d1ff-a1f0-4e1a-b96e-f680d1495047",
"name": "Get File",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
"position": [
1100,
1640
],
"parameters": {
"url": "={{ $json.download_url }}",
"options": {}
},
"typeVersion": 4.2
},
{
"id": "443b18e8-c05b-444f-b323-dea0b3041939",
"name": "If file too large",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
860,
1660
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "45ce825e-9fa6-430c-8931-9aaf22c42585",
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "empty",
"singleValue": true
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.content }}",
"rightValue": ""
},
{
"id": "9619a55f-7fb1-4f24-b1a7-7aeb82365806",
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "notExists",
"singleValue": true
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.error }}",
"rightValue": ""
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2
},
{
"id": "e460a2cd-f7af-4551-8ea2-84d9b9e5cb7f",
"name": "Merge Items",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.merge",
"position": [
860,
1920
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 2
},
{
"id": "f795180a-66aa-4a86-acb0-96cf8c487db0",
"name": "isDiffOrNew",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"position": [
1060,
1920
],
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "const orderJsonKeys = (jsonObj) => {\n const ordered = {};\n Object.keys(jsonObj).sort().forEach(key => {\n ordered[key] = jsonObj[key];\n });\n return ordered;\n}\n\n// Check if file returned with content\nif (Object.keys($input.all()[0].json).includes(\"content\")) {\n // Decode base64 content and parse JSON\n const origWorkflow = JSON.parse(Buffer.from($input.all()[0].json.content, 'base64').toString());\n const n8nWorkflow = $input.all()[1].json;\n \n // Order JSON objects\n const orderedOriginal = orderJsonKeys(origWorkflow);\n const orderedActual = orderJsonKeys(n8nWorkflow);\n\n // Determine difference\n if (JSON.stringify(orderedOriginal) === JSON.stringify(orderedActual)) {\n $input.all()[0].json.github_status = \"same\";\n } else {\n $input.all()[0].json.github_status = \"different\";\n $input.all()[0].json.n8n_data_stringy = JSON.stringify(orderedActual, null, 2);\n }\n $input.all()[0].json.content_decoded = orderedOriginal;\n// No file returned / new workflow\n} else if (Object.keys($input.all()[0].json).includes(\"data\")) {\n const origWorkflow = JSON.parse($input.all()[0].json.data);\n const n8nWorkflow = $input.all()[1].json;\n \n // Order JSON objects\n const orderedOriginal = orderJsonKeys(origWorkflow);\n const orderedActual = orderJsonKeys(n8nWorkflow);\n\n // Determine difference\n if (JSON.stringify(orderedOriginal) === JSON.stringify(orderedActual)) {\n $input.all()[0].json.github_status = \"same\";\n } else {\n $input.all()[0].json.github_status = \"different\";\n $input.all()[0].json.n8n_data_stringy = JSON.stringify(orderedActual, null, 2);\n }\n $input.all()[0].json.content_decoded = orderedOriginal;\n\n} else {\n // Order JSON object\n const n8nWorkflow = $input.all()[1].json;\n const orderedActual = orderJsonKeys(n8nWorkflow);\n \n // Proper formatting\n $input.all()[0].json.github_status = \"new\";\n $input.all()[0].json.n8n_data_stringy = JSON.stringify(orderedActual, null, 2);\n}\n\n// Return items\nreturn $input.all();\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "30e7d6fc-327e-4693-95ce-376a3b1f145c",
"name": "Check Status",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.switch",
"position": [
1460,
1920
],
"parameters": {
"rules": {
"rules": [
{
"value2": "same"
},
{
"output": 1,
"value2": "different"
},
{
"output": 2,
"value2": "new"
}
]
},
"value1": "={{$json.github_status}}",
"dataType": "string"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "36f12309-c7fe-446f-9571-bd1005c18ed8",
"name": "Same file - Do nothing",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
1680,
1760
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "45f0eaa7-259b-4908-b567-af2b3b5abb6d",
"name": "File is different",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
1680,
1920
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "d16ec06b-7a3f-486e-8328-935ed3b4d565",
"name": "File is new",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
1680,
2120
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "cdc7f306-b7d2-4de1-8e44-0bd8d49a679f",
"name": "Create new file",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.github",
"position": [
1900,
2120
],
"parameters": {
"owner": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "",
"value": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_owner }}"
},
"filePath": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_path }}{{ $json.subPath }}{{$('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.id}}.json",
"resource": "file",
"repository": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "",
"value": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_name }}"
},
"fileContent": "={{$('isDiffOrNew').item.json[\"n8n_data_stringy\"]}}",
"commitMessage": "={{$('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.name}} ({{$json.github_status}})"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "9785333a-4a86-448d-afc2-58b0aa50ea96",
"name": "Edit existing file",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.github",
"position": [
1900,
1920
],
"parameters": {
"owner": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "",
"value": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_owner }}"
},
"filePath": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_path }}{{ $json.subPath }}{{$('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.id}}.json",
"resource": "file",
"operation": "edit",
"repository": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "",
"value": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_name }}"
},
"fileContent": "={{$('isDiffOrNew').item.json[\"n8n_data_stringy\"]}}",
"commitMessage": "={{$('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.name}} ({{$json.github_status}})"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "806db72c-c9f6-461d-be1a-1e6867a25382",
"name": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches",
"position": [
1500,
1280
],
"parameters": {
"options": {}
},
"typeVersion": 3
},
{
"id": "e5c433e4-bf56-4a0a-906c-7d74f6fe7287",
"name": "Schedule Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
"position": [
900,
1380
],
"parameters": {
"rule": {
"interval": [
{
"triggerAtHour": 1,
"triggerAtMinute": 33
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 1.2
},
{
"id": "f6b566cb-0a15-4792-ba27-d6cd2a6c9453",
"name": "Create sub path",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"position": [
1260,
1920
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "dae43d3b-56e5-4098-b602-862ebf5cd073",
"name": "subPath",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.createdAt.split('-')[0] }}/{{ $('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.createdAt.split('-')[1] }}/"
}
]
},
"includeOtherFields": true
},
"typeVersion": 3.3
},
{
"id": "9e2412f6-df25-4c12-8faf-0200558b537c",
"name": "Sticky Note1",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
420,
1100
],
"parameters": {
"color": 4,
"width": 385,
"height": 417,
"content": "## Backup to GitHub \nThis workflow will backup all instance workflows to GitHub every 24 hours.\n\nThe files are saved into folders using `YYYY/MM/` for the directory path and `ID.json` for the filename.\n\nThe Repo Owner, Repo Name and Main folder are set using the **Variables** feature but can be replaced with the `Config` node in the subworkflow. \n\nThe workflow runs calls itself to help reduce memory usage, Once the workflow has completed it will send an optional notification to Slack.\n\n### Time to Run\nTested with 1423 workflows on `1.44.1` it took under 30 minutes for the first run and under 12 minutes once the initial run is complete."
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "00fdb977-4f3e-49f6-81c3-bc7f9520914f",
"name": "Sticky Note2",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
860,
1100
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 1272.6408145680155,
"height": 416.1856906618075,
"content": "## Main workflow loop"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "0c00a374-566a-49c7-80de-66a991c4bf69",
"name": "Starting Message",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"position": [
1140,
1280
],
"parameters": {
"text": "=:information_source: Starting Workflow Backup [{{ $execution.id }}]",
"select": "channel",
"channelId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "name",
"value": "#notifications"
},
"otherOptions": {
"includeLinkToWorkflow": false
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.2
},
{
"id": "eb7d15be-7f5d-4e39-837b-06d740685af3",
"name": "Execute Workflow",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeWorkflow",
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"position": [
1720,
1300
],
"parameters": {
"mode": "each",
"options": {},
"workflowId": "={{ $workflow.id }}"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "c831a0eb-95e1-46b3-bbf8-5d5bd928ca0a",
"name": "Completed Notification",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"position": [
1720,
1120
],
"parameters": {
"text": "=\u2705 Backup has completed - {{ $('n8n').all().length }} workflows have been processed.",
"select": "channel",
"channelId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "name",
"value": "#notifications"
},
"otherOptions": {}
},
"executeOnce": true,
"typeVersion": 2.2
},
{
"id": "00864cb8-c8e4-4324-be1b-7d093e1bc3bf",
"name": "Failed Flows",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"position": [
1920,
1320
],
"parameters": {
"text": "=:x: Failed to backup {{ $('Loop Over Items').item.json.id }}",
"select": "channel",
"channelId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "name",
"value": "#notifications"
},
"otherOptions": {
"includeLinkToWorkflow": false
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.2
},
{
"id": "e4d70af5-5c21-4340-8054-7ba0203f3ee1",
"name": "Get file data",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.github",
"position": [
660,
1660
],
"parameters": {
"owner": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "",
"value": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_owner }}"
},
"filePath": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_path }}{{ $('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.createdAt.split('-')[0] }}/{{ $('Execute Workflow Trigger').first().json.createdAt.split('-')[1] }}/{{$json.id}}.json",
"resource": "file",
"operation": "get",
"repository": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "",
"value": "={{ $('Config').first().item.repo_name }}"
},
"asBinaryProperty": false,
"additionalParameters": {}
},
"typeVersion": 1,
"continueOnFail": true,
"alwaysOutputData": true
},
{
"id": "42ad4762-26fb-4686-9016-729e95c95324",
"name": "Config",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"position": [
660,
1940
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "8f6d1741-772f-462a-811f-4c334185e4f0",
"name": "repo_owner",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $vars.repo_owner }}"
},
{
"id": "8cac215c-4fd7-422f-9fd2-6b2d1e5e0383",
"name": "repo_name",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $vars.repo_name }}"
},
{
"id": "eee305e9-4164-462a-86bd-80f0d58a31ae",
"name": "repo_path",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $vars.repo_path }}"
}
]
},
"includeOtherFields": true
},
"typeVersion": 3.4
}
],
"connections": {
"n8n": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Config": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Get file data",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
},
{
"node": "Merge Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 1
}
]
]
},
"Get File": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Merge Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"File is new": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Create new file",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Merge Items": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "isDiffOrNew",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"isDiffOrNew": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Create sub path",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Check Status": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Same file - Do nothing",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "File is different",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "File is new",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Failed Flows": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Get file data": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "If file too large",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Create new file": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Return",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Create sub path": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Check Status",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Loop Over Items": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Completed Notification",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Execute Workflow",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Execute Workflow": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Failed Flows",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Schedule Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Starting Message",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Starting Message": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "n8n",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"File is different": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Edit existing file",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"If file too large": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Get File",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Merge Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Edit existing file": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Return",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"On clicking 'execute'": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Starting Message",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Same file - Do nothing": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Return",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Execute Workflow Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Config",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
}
}
Credentials you'll need
Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.
n8nApi
Pro
For the full experience including quality scoring and batch install features for each workflow upgrade to Pro
How this works
Safeguard your n8n workflows against data loss by automatically backing them up to GitHub, ensuring you can always recover or version-control your automations with ease. This workflow suits n8n users who build complex automations and want reliable storage without manual exports, particularly those already using GitHub for collaboration. The key step involves fetching workflow data via the n8n API and committing it directly to your GitHub repository using the HTTP Request and GitHub nodes.
Use this workflow for regular, event-driven backups triggered by changes in your n8n instance, ideal for teams managing multiple automations. Avoid it if your workflows exceed GitHub's file size limits or if you prefer cloud-based backups without version control. Common variations include adding Slack notifications for backup confirmations or scheduling daily runs instead of event triggers.
About this workflow
Back Up Your N8N Workflows To Github. Uses manualTrigger, stickyNote, executeWorkflowTrigger, n8n. Event-driven trigger; 26 nodes.
Source: https://github.com/Zie619/n8n-workflows — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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