Alvaro Pérez 
This workflow corresponds to n8n.io template #17533 — we link there as the canonical source.
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 →
{
"id": "6Yk9irtx0X2IIDne",
"meta": {
"builderVariant": "mcp",
"aiBuilderAssisted": true
},
"name": "Archived Workflow Cleanup",
"tags": [],
"nodes": [
{
"id": "15055dc0-d5a1-44e3-9013-4903483a9a00",
"name": "get_workflows",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.n8n",
"position": [
-480,
832
],
"parameters": {
"filters": {
"projectId": "={{ $('config').first().json.project_id || undefined }}",
"excludePinnedData": true
},
"requestOptions": {
"timeout": 30000
}
},
"credentials": {
"n8nApi": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "a4722029-e0aa-43b8-bf8c-b4aadf7597aa",
"name": "delete_workflows_in_batches",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.n8n",
"onError": "continueRegularOutput",
"position": [
1248,
832
],
"parameters": {
"operation": "delete",
"workflowId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "id",
"value": "={{ $json.target.id }}"
},
"requestOptions": {
"timeout": 30000,
"batching": {
"batch": {
"batchSize": "={{ $('config').first().json.batch_size }}",
"batchInterval": "={{ $('config').first().json.batch_interval_ms }}"
}
}
}
},
"credentials": {
"n8nApi": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
},
"retryOnFail": false,
"typeVersion": 1,
"alwaysOutputData": true
},
{
"id": "fc9ee699-bc47-47a2-ae2f-1b71e294f4ce",
"name": "workflow_overview_note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-2368,
608
],
"parameters": {
"color": 5,
"width": 1080,
"height": 372,
"content": "# Workflow overview\n\nSafely previews and optionally deletes archived n8n workflows older than a configurable retention period.\n\n**Flow:** schedule \u2192 retrieve workflows \u2192 keep archived \u2192 classify \u2192 preview/delete \u2192 summarize.\n\n**Safety:** `dry_run` is enabled by default, `project_id` is required for live mode, `protected_tag` prevents deletion, and deletions are batched.\n\n**Tradeoffs**\n- The n8n API returns all workflows in scope before the Filter node, so large instances may use more memory and execution time.\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "85c861a8-cd78-4dfd-9127-31b97e4b791b",
"name": "daily_cleanup_schedule",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
"position": [
-1088,
832
],
"parameters": {
"rule": {
"interval": [
{
"triggerAtHour": 9
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 1.3
},
{
"id": "1e2d722f-f748-4ed7-a17a-671a5397f2df",
"name": "config",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"position": [
-816,
832
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "retention_days",
"name": "retention_days",
"type": "number",
"value": 7
},
{
"id": "dry_run",
"name": "dry_run",
"type": "boolean",
"value": true
},
{
"id": "project_id",
"name": "project_id",
"type": "string",
"value": ""
},
{
"id": "protected_tag",
"name": "protected_tag",
"type": "string",
"value": "keep"
},
{
"id": "batch_size",
"name": "batch_size",
"type": "number",
"value": 10
},
{
"id": "batch_interval_ms",
"name": "batch_interval_ms",
"type": "number",
"value": 1000
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 3.4
},
{
"id": "38c8d221-0575-4da6-9aee-c60fb86f2b3d",
"name": "select_candidates",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"position": [
128,
832
],
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "// Clasifica los workflows archivados seg\u00fan retenci\u00f3n y etiqueta de protecci\u00f3n.\nconst config = $('config').first().json;\nconst retention_days = Number(config.retention_days);\nconst project_id = String(config.project_id ?? '').trim();\nconst protected_tag = String(config.protected_tag ?? 'keep').trim().toLowerCase();\n\n// Valida la configuraci\u00f3n antes de evaluar los workflows archivados.\nif (!Number.isFinite(retention_days) || retention_days < 1) {\n throw new Error('retention_days must be a number greater than 0');\n}\nif (!config.dry_run && !project_id) {\n throw new Error('Set project_id before changing dry_run to false');\n}\n\nconst archived_workflows = $input.all();\nconst now_ms = Date.now();\nconst cutoff_ms = now_ms - retention_days * 86_400_000;\nconst stats = {\n total_archived: archived_workflows.length,\n to_delete: 0,\n not_deleted_by_retention: 0,\n not_deleted_by_protected_tag: 0,\n};\nconst candidates = [];\n\n// Asigna cada workflow archivado a una \u00fanica categor\u00eda estad\u00edstica.\nfor (const input_item of archived_workflows) {\n const workflow_data = input_item.json;\n const workflow_id = String(workflow_data.id ?? '').trim();\n const updated_at_ms = Date.parse(workflow_data.updatedAt);\n\n if (!workflow_id || !Number.isFinite(updated_at_ms)) {\n throw new Error('Every archived workflow must include id and updatedAt');\n }\n\n if (updated_at_ms >= cutoff_ms) {\n stats.not_deleted_by_retention += 1;\n continue;\n }\n\n // Normaliza las etiquetas para aplicar la protecci\u00f3n sin distinguir may\u00fasculas.\n const tags = (Array.isArray(workflow_data.tags) ? workflow_data.tags : [])\n .map((tag) => String(typeof tag === 'string' ? tag : tag?.name ?? '').trim().toLowerCase())\n .filter(Boolean);\n\n if (protected_tag && tags.includes(protected_tag)) {\n stats.not_deleted_by_protected_tag += 1;\n continue;\n }\n\n stats.to_delete += 1;\n candidates.push({\n id: workflow_id,\n name: String(workflow_data.name ?? ''),\n updated_at: workflow_data.updatedAt,\n age_days: Math.floor((now_ms - updated_at_ms) / 86_400_000),\n tags,\n });\n}\n\n// Devuelve candidatos y estad\u00edsticas que forman una partici\u00f3n del total archivado.\nreturn [{\n json: {\n cutoff_at: new Date(cutoff_ms).toISOString(),\n stats,\n candidates,\n },\n}];"
},
"typeVersion": 2
},
{
"id": "2bc2928f-5a03-48a5-918c-77297d5144ba",
"name": "has_candidates",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
384,
816
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 2,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "has_candidates",
"operator": {
"type": "number",
"operation": "gt"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.stats.to_delete }}",
"rightValue": 0
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.3
},
{
"id": "d36b68dd-4672-4785-a168-0114bceeb949",
"name": "dry_run",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
640,
720
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 3,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "dry_run",
"operator": {
"type": "boolean",
"operation": "equals"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $('config').first().json.dry_run }}",
"rightValue": true
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.3
},
{
"id": "d118ed2e-de8b-4a87-9506-0995416b17df",
"name": "split_candidates",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitOut",
"position": [
992,
832
],
"parameters": {
"include": "allOtherFields",
"options": {
"destinationFieldName": "target"
},
"fieldToSplitOut": "candidates"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "0bfada89-5a65-4d06-ab6b-55590ac44d50",
"name": "cleanup_summary",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"position": [
1504,
640
],
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "// Resume la simulaci\u00f3n o eliminaci\u00f3n con estad\u00edsticas exclusivas de workflows archivados.\nconst config = $('config').first().json;\nconst selection = $('select_candidates').first().json;\n\n// Normaliza los resultados recibidos desde la rama ejecutada.\nconst results = $input.all().map((input_item) => input_item.json);\nconst deletion_enabled = !config.dry_run && selection.stats.to_delete > 0;\n\n// Separa resultados correctos y fallidos cuando la eliminaci\u00f3n est\u00e1 habilitada.\nconst failures = deletion_enabled ? results.filter((result) => result?.error) : [];\nconst successes = deletion_enabled ? results.filter((result) => !result?.error) : [];\nconst not_processed = deletion_enabled\n ? Math.max(selection.stats.to_delete - results.length, 0)\n : 0;\n\n// Calcula el estado final usando directamente el valor de dry_run.\nconst status = selection.stats.to_delete === 0\n ? 'NOTHING_TO_DO'\n : config.dry_run\n ? 'PREVIEW'\n : failures.length || not_processed\n ? 'PARTIAL'\n : 'SUCCESS';\n\n// Extrae mensajes legibles de los errores devueltos por n8n.\nconst error_messages = failures.map((result) => result.error?.message ?? String(result.error));\n\nreturn [{\n json: {\n status,\n dry_run: config.dry_run,\n generated_at: new Date().toISOString(),\n retention_days: config.retention_days,\n project_id: config.project_id,\n protected_tag: config.protected_tag,\n cutoff_at: selection.cutoff_at,\n stats: selection.stats,\n attempted_count: deletion_enabled ? results.length : 0,\n deleted_count: successes.length,\n failed_count: failures.length,\n not_processed_count: not_processed,\n candidates: selection.candidates,\n errors: error_messages,\n },\n}];"
},
"typeVersion": 2
},
{
"id": "c082f21f-d936-4873-8af5-27ccbf0dce43",
"name": "validation_error",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stopAndError",
"position": [
384,
1024
],
"parameters": {
"errorMessage": "={{ 'Hubo un error al procesar los flujos. Detalle: ' + ($json.error?.message ?? $json.error ?? $json.message ?? 'sin detalle') }}"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "f3ff19f4-4d82-4f54-a257-17e53cd0e5ab",
"name": "filter_archived_workflows",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.filter",
"position": [
-224,
832
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 3,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "is_archived",
"operator": {
"type": "boolean",
"operation": "equals"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.isArchived }}",
"rightValue": true
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.3
},
{
"id": "7ab39741-bfb3-4631-8c84-71652d473ebc",
"name": "title_note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-2016,
480
],
"parameters": {
"color": 5,
"width": 296,
"height": 84,
"content": "# Archived Workflow Cleanup\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "71af3978-c904-4a00-b1a7-0baf164f3b40",
"name": "configuration_note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1168,
368
],
"parameters": {
"color": 4,
"width": 600,
"height": 876,
"content": "# Configuration\n\nChange these values in `config`:\n\n- `retention_days`: minimum archived age. Default: `7`.\n- `dry_run`: `true` previews; `false` enables deletion.\n- `project_id`: optional scope in preview; required for live deletion.\n- `protected_tag`: tag that prevents deletion. Default: `keep`.\n- `batch_size`: deletions per batch. Default: `10`.\n- `batch_interval_ms`: pause between batches. Default: `1000` ms.\n\nSelect an **n8n API credential** in both n8n nodes. Review a preview before enabling live mode.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "3c94e411-7265-4bd8-a33e-2ae0f010c265",
"name": "discovery_note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-544,
368
],
"parameters": {
"color": 4,
"width": 600,
"height": 876,
"content": "# Step 1 \u2014 Schedule and discover\n\n- `daily_cleanup_schedule` runs daily at 09:00 in the workflow timezone.\n- `get_workflows` retrieves workflows from `project_id` when provided.\n- Pinned data is excluded.\n- `filter_archived_workflows` sends only archived workflows to classification.\n\n**Important:** non-archived workflows are discarded before custom code runs.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "e00279b3-65f8-4893-9083-a0d055bf76bd",
"name": "classification_note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
80,
368
],
"parameters": {
"color": 4,
"width": 820,
"height": 868,
"content": "# Step 2 \u2014 Classify and decide\n\n- `select_candidates` validates configuration and workflow fields.\n- Every archived workflow enters one category: delete, retained by age, or protected by tag.\n- `has_candidates` skips deletion when the candidate count is zero.\n- `dry_run` routes candidates to preview or live deletion.\n- Validation failures stop in `validation_error`.\n\n**Invariant:** the three categories always add up to `total_archived`.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "85d81e2e-741e-4dc1-9ac2-f7283fdb4bfd",
"name": "deletion_note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
944,
368
],
"parameters": {
"color": 4,
"width": 920,
"height": 876,
"content": "# Step 3 \u2014 Delete and summarize\n\n- `split_candidates` creates one item per workflow candidate.\n- `delete_workflows_in_batches` deletes using `batch_size` and `batch_interval_ms`.\n- `cleanup_summary` reports status, archived totals, candidates, successes, and failures.\n\n**Important:** deletion is permanent. Keep `dry_run = true` until the preview is approved.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
}
],
"active": false,
"settings": {
"timezone": "America/Bogota",
"binaryMode": "separate",
"callerPolicy": "workflowsFromSameOwner",
"timeSavedMode": "fixed",
"availableInMCP": true,
"executionOrder": "v1",
"executionTimeout": 300,
"saveManualExecutions": true,
"saveDataErrorExecution": "all",
"saveDataSuccessExecution": "all"
},
"versionId": "a4d8b71b-9347-4b43-87aa-754df6dbc15c",
"nodeGroups": [],
"connections": {
"config": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "get_workflows",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"dry_run": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "cleanup_summary",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "split_candidates",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"get_workflows": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "filter_archived_workflows",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"has_candidates": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "dry_run",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "cleanup_summary",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"split_candidates": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "delete_workflows_in_batches",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"select_candidates": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "has_candidates",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "validation_error",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"daily_cleanup_schedule": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "config",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"filter_archived_workflows": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "select_candidates",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"delete_workflows_in_batches": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "cleanup_summary",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
}
}
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About this workflow
This workflow runs daily and uses the n8n API to find archived workflows older than a retention threshold, optionally deleting unprotected ones in batches while producing a detailed preview or deletion summary. Runs every day at 09:00 (workflow timezone) on a schedule. Fetches…
Source: https://n8n.io/workflows/17533/ — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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