AutomationFlowsWeb Scraping › Deploy Workflows From Google Drive to N8n Instance

Deploy Workflows From Google Drive to N8n Instance

ByJason Guest @jpguest on n8n.io

Automatically deploy n8n workflows by simply dropping JSON files into a Google Drive folder—this template watches for new exports, cleans and imports them into your n8n instance, applies a tag, and then archives the processed files.

Event trigger★★★★☆ complexity21 nodesHTTP RequestGoogle DriveGoogle Drive Trigger
Web Scraping Trigger: Event Nodes: 21 Complexity: ★★★★☆ Added:

This workflow corresponds to n8n.io template #3568 — we link there as the canonical source.

This workflow follows the Google Drive → Google Drive Trigger 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 →

Download .json
{
  "id": "bhWsUxipJ9wuTA5K",
  "meta": {
    "templateCredsSetupCompleted": true
  },
  "name": "n8n workflow deployer",
  "tags": [],
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "8db6d045-5ef8-444a-ae3e-0f0611946008",
      "name": "Get Existing Workflow Tags",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "position": [
        -580,
        -580
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "url": "={{ $json.N8N_Instance_URL }}api/v1/tags",
        "options": {},
        "sendHeaders": true,
        "authentication": "predefinedCredentialType",
        "headerParameters": {
          "parameters": [
            {
              "name": "accept",
              "value": "application/json"
            }
          ]
        },
        "nodeCredentialType": "n8nApi"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "n8nApi": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "retryOnFail": true,
      "typeVersion": 4.2,
      "waitBetweenTries": 5000
    },
    {
      "id": "da4aeef3-05a4-48c9-ae5c-9038f07e3693",
      "name": "Sticky Note",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -300,
        -1040
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 3,
        "width": 1460,
        "height": 760,
        "content": "## Setup Instructions\n\n**1.** In Google Drive create a **ToDeploy** folder and a **Deployed** folder\n+ Update \"**Google Drive Trigger -ToDeploy folder**\" to your ToDeploy folder\n+ Update \"**Move JSON file to Deployed folder**\" to you Deployed folder\n\n\n**2.** Create a **n8n API key**:\n+Go to Settings > n8n API\n+Select Create an API key\n+Copy API Key\n\n**3.** In \"**Get Existing Workflow Tags**\" node: \nCreate n8n API Authentication\n**Authentication:** Predefined Credential Type\n**Credential Type:** n8n API\n\nCreate new credential:\n+Paste in API key\n+Baseurl: https://SUB.DOMAINNAME.com/api/v1/\n\n**4.** Add n8n API authentication to: \n+ \"**Create n8n Workflow**\" node\n+ \"**Set Workflow Tag**\" node\n\n\n**5.** Add your N8N instance URL to the **N8N_Instance_URL** variable in \"**Set n8n URL variable**\" node.\n\n**6.** Run **\"Get Workflow Tags\"** node and copy the ID of your chosen tag.\n\n**7.** In \"**Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables**\" node:\n+ Add the Workflow Tag ID to the **N8N_Instance_Tag** variable\n+ Add your N8N instance URL to the **N8N_Instance_URL** variable\n\n\n**9.** Set workflow to Active\n\n**10.** Add n8n json files to Google Drive folder \n\n"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "520aa22e-0456-4383-ba6d-fd89fd77f193",
      "name": "Sticky Note1",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -680,
        -140
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "width": 260,
        "height": 280,
        "content": "### Set variables:\n**N8N_Instance_Tag** **N8N_Instance_URL** "
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "2e0794eb-0213-48fd-a974-26301bfdfc8a",
      "name": "Sticky Note2",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        300,
        -120
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "width": 440,
        "height": 260,
        "content": "### Configure n8n API authentication"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "f77ad2ef-32e3-4d24-b79b-9898152cbbac",
      "name": "Sticky Note3",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -1100,
        -780
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 5,
        "width": 740,
        "height": 420,
        "content": "## 1. Get Workflow Tags"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "cf10c998-44fc-4f1a-8d61-9187a9eae82a",
      "name": "When clicking \u2018Test workflow\u2019",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
      "position": [
        -1040,
        -580
      ],
      "parameters": {},
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "206fffc1-d7ee-41eb-b6ad-55be8ae60526",
      "name": "Sticky Note4",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -880,
        -700
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "width": 220,
        "height": 280,
        "content": "### Set variable:\n**N8N_Instance_URL** "
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "2bbe9b3e-c302-497f-a724-e8c51ce673ef",
      "name": "Extract JSON object from File",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.extractFromFile",
      "position": [
        -80,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "options": {},
        "operation": "fromJson"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "2f0acb18-86c4-4f94-8f76-b72174809643",
      "name": "Clean JSON file ready for import",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "position": [
        140,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "mode": "runOnceForEachItem",
        "jsCode": "const fullWorkflow = $json.data || $json;\n\n// Build settings with only allowed fields\nconst cleanSettings = {};\nif (fullWorkflow.settings?.executionOrder) {\n  cleanSettings.executionOrder = fullWorkflow.settings.executionOrder;\n}\nif (fullWorkflow.settings?.timezone) {\n  cleanSettings.timezone = fullWorkflow.settings.timezone;\n}\n\n// Construct clean workflow object\nconst cleanWorkflow = {\n  name: fullWorkflow.name,\n  nodes: fullWorkflow.nodes,\n  connections: fullWorkflow.connections,\n  settings: cleanSettings,\n};\n\nreturn { json: cleanWorkflow };\n"
      },
      "typeVersion": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "f0428a03-2194-4390-b14b-5149ea3a220b",
      "name": "Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
      "position": [
        -600,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "options": {},
        "assignments": {
          "assignments": [
            {
              "id": "41afa23f-bacf-4c2b-9630-68483acc9fe6",
              "name": "N8N_Instance_URL",
              "type": "string",
              "value": "https://SUB.DOMAINNAME.com/"
            },
            {
              "id": "c27f2d9d-ee1f-4ada-90cc-20177017b342",
              "name": "N8N_Instance_Tag",
              "type": "string",
              "value": "mIzqUB1qBwewiiX3"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 3.4
    },
    {
      "id": "9f59cba9-9452-4e05-9d95-3e405ec195cf",
      "name": "Sticky Note5",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -980,
        -140
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "width": 260,
        "height": 280,
        "content": "### Change Google Drive Folder"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "87ce4868-407c-461f-92e2-6b3bf1dd616e",
      "name": "Sticky Note6",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -640,
        -760
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "height": 340,
        "content": "### Configure n8n API authentication.\n\n### Tag ID\nCopy your chosen Tag ID to **N8N_Instance_Tag** "
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "b1c3f693-a587-4928-a90a-8288eb84a879",
      "name": "Create n8n Workflow",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "onError": "continueErrorOutput",
      "position": [
        360,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "url": "={{ $('Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables').item.json.N8N_Instance_URL }}api/v1/workflows",
        "body": "={{ $json }}",
        "method": "POST",
        "options": {},
        "sendBody": true,
        "contentType": "raw",
        "sendHeaders": true,
        "authentication": "predefinedCredentialType",
        "rawContentType": "application/json",
        "headerParameters": {
          "parameters": [
            {
              "name": "accept",
              "value": "application/json"
            },
            {
              "name": "Content-Type",
              "value": "application/json"
            }
          ]
        },
        "nodeCredentialType": "n8nApi"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "n8nApi": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 4.2
    },
    {
      "id": "70ff3b11-3664-4fec-a220-72696a6083c5",
      "name": "Set Workflow Tag",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "onError": "continueRegularOutput",
      "position": [
        600,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "url": "={{ $('Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables').item.json.N8N_Instance_URL }}api/v1/workflows/{{ $json.id }}/tags",
        "method": "PUT",
        "options": {},
        "jsonBody": "=[\n  {\n    \"id\": \"{{ $('Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables').item.json.N8N_Instance_Tag }}\"\n  }\n]",
        "sendBody": true,
        "specifyBody": "json",
        "authentication": "predefinedCredentialType",
        "nodeCredentialType": "n8nApi"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "n8nApi": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "retryOnFail": true,
      "typeVersion": 4.2,
      "waitBetweenTries": 5000
    },
    {
      "id": "55671121-7027-476b-8eff-9d9a16385cce",
      "name": "Sticky Note7",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        800,
        -120
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "width": 260,
        "height": 260,
        "content": "### Change Google Drive Deployed Folder"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "e8a9bbd8-a41d-4b82-931c-5570651d8583",
      "name": "Capture Name If Fails To Create Workflow",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "position": [
        600,
        160
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "return [{\n  json: {\n    workflowName:   $json.name,\n    errorMessage:   $json.error.message,\n  }\n}];\n"
      },
      "typeVersion": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "0fee0939-f3bd-4fd1-b444-40509f4b0f50",
      "name": "Move JSON file to Deployed folder",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive",
      "position": [
        880,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "fileId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "={{ $('Google Drive Trigger -ToDeploy folder').item.json.id }}"
        },
        "driveId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "list",
          "value": "My Drive"
        },
        "folderId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "list",
          "value": "1nQb17Xf7ZTF75E-aettkFtBVKI_nOrsW",
          "cachedResultUrl": "https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nQb17Xf7ZTF75E-aettkFtBVKI_nOrsW",
          "cachedResultName": "Deployed"
        },
        "operation": "move"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "googleDriveOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "59567f07-4d69-4d30-a5ef-934198ff101d",
      "name": "Download n8n JSON File",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive",
      "position": [
        -320,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "fileId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "={{ $('Google Drive Trigger -ToDeploy folder').item.json.id }}"
        },
        "options": {
          "binaryPropertyName": "data"
        },
        "operation": "download"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "googleDriveOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "a5837765-9787-43a5-bbfe-44e5f3728aee",
      "name": "Sticky Note8",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -1100,
        -260
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 5,
        "width": 2260,
        "height": 620,
        "content": "## 2. Import JSON Workflow Into n8n Instance"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "bcb77b34-36c8-4839-b3e2-72f8e60871ba",
      "name": "Set n8n URL variable",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
      "position": [
        -820,
        -580
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "options": {},
        "assignments": {
          "assignments": [
            {
              "id": "41afa23f-bacf-4c2b-9630-68483acc9fe6",
              "name": "N8N_Instance_URL",
              "type": "string",
              "value": "https://SUB.DOMAINNAME.com/"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 3.4
    },
    {
      "id": "7281ab81-d1e8-4a78-8e2f-e1049633d6e6",
      "name": "Google Drive Trigger -ToDeploy folder",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleDriveTrigger",
      "position": [
        -880,
        -40
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "event": "fileCreated",
        "options": {},
        "pollTimes": {
          "item": [
            {
              "mode": "everyMinute"
            }
          ]
        },
        "triggerOn": "specificFolder",
        "folderToWatch": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "list",
          "value": "1EPGHT5fBn0Hx_EVDixJiJMJgRbNNdB0I",
          "cachedResultUrl": "https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EPGHT5fBn0Hx_EVDixJiJMJgRbNNdB0I",
          "cachedResultName": "toDeploy"
        }
      },
      "credentials": {
        "googleDriveOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    }
  ],
  "active": true,
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  },
  "versionId": "77325a25-51f0-441a-8750-fe6d1d5a266f",
  "connections": {
    "Set Workflow Tag": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Move JSON file to Deployed folder",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Create n8n Workflow": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Set Workflow Tag",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        [
          {
            "node": "Capture Name If Fails To Create Workflow",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Set n8n URL variable": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Get Existing Workflow Tags",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Download n8n JSON File": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Extract JSON object from File",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Extract JSON object from File": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Clean JSON file ready for import",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Clean JSON file ready for import": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Create n8n Workflow",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "When clicking \u2018Test workflow\u2019": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Set n8n URL variable",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Download n8n JSON File",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Google Drive Trigger -ToDeploy folder": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Set n8n API URL & Tag ID variables",
            "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.

Pro

For the full experience including quality scoring and batch install features for each workflow upgrade to Pro

About this workflow

Automatically deploy n8n workflows by simply dropping JSON files into a Google Drive folder—this template watches for new exports, cleans and imports them into your n8n instance, applies a tag, and then archives the processed files.

Source: https://n8n.io/workflows/3568/ — original creator credit. Request a take-down →

More Web Scraping workflows → · Browse all categories →

Related workflows

Workflows that share integrations, category, or trigger type with this one. All free to copy and import.

Web Scraping

This n8n workflow simplifies the process of removing backgrounds from images stored in Google Drive. By leveraging the PhotoRoom API, this template enables automatic background removal, padding adjust

HTTP Request, Google Drive, Edit Image +1
Web Scraping

This template can be used to sync the files in your Google drive to a new or existing InfraNodus knowledge graph.

Google Drive, HTTP Request, Google Drive Trigger
Web Scraping

Stop wasting hours on video captioning. Upload your videos to a Google Drive folder, and ZapCap automatically generates professional subtitles for you. Download the finished video from your Google Dri

Google Drive Trigger, HTTP Request, Google Drive
Web Scraping

Save a .md file to the folder set in the triggers. This workflow will check every hour, convert the md file to HTML, and create a confluence page for it. If the md file is updated or changed in the fo

Google Drive Trigger, Google Drive, HTTP Request
Web Scraping

This n8n workflow automates the process of converting a newly stored PDF file from Google Drive into an HTML file and saving it back to Google Drive. The workflow is triggered whenever a new PDF is up

Google Drive Trigger, HTTP Request, Google Drive