Sync Local Media to Google Drive

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 →

{
  "name": "Media Sync (Local HDD \u2192 Google Drive)",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "triggerOn": "specificFolder",
        "path": "/data/media",
        "event": "add",
        "options": {
          "usePolling": true,
          "pollTimes": {
            "item": [
              {
                "mode": "everyMinute",
                "minute": 5
              }
            ]
          }
        }
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000001",
      "name": "Watch Folder \u2014 /data/media",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.localFileTrigger",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [
        0,
        300
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "assignments": {
          "assignments": [
            {
              "id": "cfg-drive-folder",
              "name": "google_drive_folder_id",
              "value": "YOUR_GOOGLE_DRIVE_SHARED_FOLDER_ID",
              "type": "string"
            },
            {
              "id": "cfg-bot-token",
              "name": "telegram_bot_token",
              "value": "YOUR_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN",
              "type": "string"
            },
            {
              "id": "cfg-admin-chat",
              "name": "telegram_admin_chat_id",
              "value": "YOUR_ADMIN_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID",
              "type": "string"
            },
            {
              "id": "cfg-max-size-mb",
              "name": "max_file_size_mb",
              "value": "500",
              "type": "string"
            }
          ]
        },
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000002",
      "name": "Config",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
      "typeVersion": 3.4,
      "position": [
        220,
        300
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "const event = $('Watch Folder \u2014 /data/media').item.json;\nconst config = $('Config').item.json;\n\nconst filePath = event.path || event.filePath || '';\nconst fileName = filePath.split('/').pop() || filePath.split('\\\\').pop() || 'unknown';\nconst fileExt = fileName.split('.').pop()?.toLowerCase() || '';\n\n// Valid media extensions\nconst validExts = ['mp4', 'mov', 'avi', 'mkv', 'webm', 'jpg', 'jpeg', 'png', 'gif', 'pdf'];\n\nif (!validExts.includes(fileExt)) {\n  return { json: { skip: true, reason: `Unsupported file type: .${fileExt}` } };\n}\n\n// Check file size if available\nconst fileSizeBytes = event.size || event.stats?.size || 0;\nconst fileSizeMB = fileSizeBytes / (1024 * 1024);\nconst maxSizeMB = Number(config.max_file_size_mb) || 500;\n\nif (fileSizeMB > maxSizeMB) {\n  return { json: { skip: true, reason: `File too large: ${fileSizeMB.toFixed(1)}MB (max ${maxSizeMB}MB)` } };\n}\n\n// Determine subfolder based on file extension\nlet mediaType = 'other';\nif (['mp4', 'mov', 'avi', 'mkv', 'webm'].includes(fileExt)) mediaType = 'video';\nelse if (['jpg', 'jpeg', 'png', 'gif'].includes(fileExt)) mediaType = 'photo';\nelse if (fileExt === 'pdf') mediaType = 'document';\n\nreturn {\n  json: {\n    skip: false,\n    filePath,\n    fileName,\n    fileExt,\n    fileSizeMB: fileSizeMB.toFixed(1),\n    mediaType,\n    uploadDate: new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]\n  }\n};"
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000003",
      "name": "Validate File",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [
        440,
        300
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "conditions": {
          "options": {
            "caseSensitive": true
          },
          "conditions": [
            {
              "id": "check-skip",
              "leftValue": "={{ $json.skip }}",
              "rightValue": true,
              "operator": {
                "type": "boolean",
                "operation": "notEquals"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000004",
      "name": "Valid File?",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "typeVersion": 2.2,
      "position": [
        660,
        300
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "filePath": "={{ $('Validate File').item.json.filePath }}",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000005",
      "name": "Read Binary File",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.readWriteFile",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [
        880,
        180
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "upload",
        "name": "={{ $('Validate File').item.json.fileName }}",
        "folderId": "={{ $('Config').item.json.google_drive_folder_id }}",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000006",
      "name": "Upload to Google Drive",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive",
      "typeVersion": 3,
      "position": [
        1100,
        180
      ],
      "credentials": {
        "googleDriveOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "continueOnFail": true
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "conditions": {
          "options": {
            "caseSensitive": true,
            "typeValidation": "strict",
            "version": 3
          },
          "conditions": [
            {
              "id": "check-upload",
              "leftValue": "={{ $json.id }}",
              "rightValue": "",
              "operator": {
                "type": "string",
                "operation": "notEmpty",
                "singleValue": true
              }
            }
          ],
          "combinator": "and"
        },
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000007",
      "name": "Upload OK?",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "typeVersion": 2.3,
      "position": [
        1320,
        180
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "method": "POST",
        "url": "=https://api.telegram.org/bot{{ $('Config').item.json.telegram_bot_token }}/sendMessage",
        "sendBody": true,
        "contentType": "raw",
        "rawContentType": "application/json",
        "body": "={{ JSON.stringify({ chat_id: $('Config').item.json.telegram_admin_chat_id, text: '\ud83d\udcc1 <b>Media uploaded to Drive</b>\\n\\nFile: ' + $('Validate File').item.json.fileName + '\\nSize: ' + $('Validate File').item.json.fileSizeMB + ' MB\\nType: ' + $('Validate File').item.json.mediaType + '\\nDrive ID: ' + $json.id, parse_mode: 'HTML' }) }}",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000008",
      "name": "Notify Admin \u2014 Success",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "typeVersion": 4.2,
      "position": [
        1540,
        60
      ],
      "continueOnFail": true
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "method": "POST",
        "url": "=https://api.telegram.org/bot{{ $('Config').item.json.telegram_bot_token }}/sendMessage",
        "sendBody": true,
        "contentType": "raw",
        "rawContentType": "application/json",
        "body": "={{ JSON.stringify({ chat_id: $('Config').item.json.telegram_admin_chat_id, text: '\u26a0\ufe0f <b>Media upload FAILED</b>\\n\\nFile: ' + $('Validate File').item.json.fileName + '\\nError: Upload to Google Drive failed. Check n8n logs.', parse_mode: 'HTML' }) }}",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "ms100001-0001-4000-8000-000000000009",
      "name": "Notify Admin \u2014 Failed",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "typeVersion": 4.2,
      "position": [
        1540,
        300
      ],
      "continueOnFail": true
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Watch Folder \u2014 /data/media": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Config",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Config": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Validate File",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Validate File": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Valid File?",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Valid File?": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Read Binary File",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        []
      ]
    },
    "Read Binary File": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Upload to Google Drive",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Upload to Google Drive": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Upload OK?",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Upload OK?": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Notify Admin \u2014 Success",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        [
          {
            "node": "Notify Admin \u2014 Failed",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "active": false,
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  },
  "tags": [
    {
      "name": "Media"
    },
    {
      "name": "Google Drive"
    },
    {
      "name": "Automation"
    }
  ]
}

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.

• googleDriveOAuth2Api

About this workflow

Media Sync (Local HDD → Google Drive). Uses localFileTrigger, readWriteFile, googleDrive, httpRequest. Event-driven trigger; 9 nodes.

Source: https://github.com/hasancoded/n8n-workflow-templates/blob/main/media-sync-drive.json — original creator credit. Request a take-down →

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