n8n MCP Server: Manage Workflows & Executions via Public API

Manage your n8n Workflows & Executions from an MCP client—via Public API

This n8n MCP Server workflow exposes an MCP server webhook that lets you control an n8n instance programmatically: search, read, create, update, activate/deactivate, delete, and rerun workflows—directly through an MCP (Model Context Protocol) client using the n8n Public API.

What this workflow does

• Exposes an MCP server endpoint: receives MCP tool calls and routes each request into the workflow with an operation and payload.
• Normalizes and parses payload data: the payload is normalized and JSON-parsed, including handling nested JSON-string fields.
• Logs request metadata for searchability: saves metadata about operations into execution custom data so actions can be found in execution history.
• Performs the requested operation via n8n Public API:
  • Lists workflows
  • Searches workflows by name
  • Fetches workflow details or a specific node
  • Lists or fetches executions (including node input/output from an execution)
• Supports write operations: creates/updates workflows, adds/updates/removes nodes, activates/deactivates workflows, deletes workflows, and reruns a workflow by retrying an execution with loadWorkflow=true.
• Returns structured responses: sends success/error output back to the MCP client, and stops with an explicit error for unsupported operations.

Use cases

• Build an AI agent or MCP-enabled app that can search and retrieve workflow runs (including node I/O) for debugging.
• Enable SaaS operators to activate/deactivate workflows and rerun executions on demand through a public API-driven control layer.
• Automate workflow lifecycle management: create, update, or modify nodes in n8n from an external MCP client.

Technical details

• n8n Public API integration using your host (no trailing slash) and api_key from Settings → n8n API.
• Workflow uses nodes such as HTTP Request, Set, Code, Switch, Split Out, plus a Sticky Note.
• Setup: configure host and api_key, activate the workflow, then copy the MCP webhook URL.