{
  "manifest_version": "1",
  "slug": "n8n-3",
  "title": "n8n 3.0",
  "headline": "Self-host n8n 3.0",
  "description": "Try the n8n 3.0 beta on exe.dev, or upgrade your n8n 2.x VM with a backup first. Private editor, PostgreSQL, task runners, and public webhooks.",
  "category": "automation",
  "tags": [
    "n8n 3.0",
    "n8n upgrade",
    "workflow automation",
    "webhooks",
    "docker compose"
  ],
  "url": "https://exe.dev/deploy/n8n-3",
  "markdown_url": "https://exe-staging.dev/deploy/n8n-3.md",
  "upstream": {
    "website": "https://n8n.io",
    "source": "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n",
    "docs": "https://docs.n8n.io/changelog/v30-breaking-changes",
    "license": "Sustainable Use License"
  },
  "example_vm_name": "my-n8n-3",
  "time": "15 minutes",
  "stack": [
    {
      "name": "n8n 3.0 beta",
      "detail": "Workflow editor and engine",
      "port": 5678,
      "data": "~/n8n/n8n-data"
    },
    {
      "name": "Task runners",
      "detail": "JavaScript and Python, one minute per Code node run"
    },
    {
      "name": "PostgreSQL 18",
      "detail": "Workflows, credentials, encryption keys, and history",
      "data": "~/n8n/postgres"
    },
    {
      "name": "Webhook proxy",
      "detail": "nginx, keeping the editor off the public URL",
      "port": 8000
    }
  ],
  "access": [
    {
      "url": "https://my-n8n-3.exe.xyz:5678/",
      "who": "private",
      "what": "Your editor"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://my-n8n-3.exe.xyz/webhook/",
      "who": "public",
      "what": "Workflow endpoints, only after you enable public access"
    }
  ],
  "delivers": [
    "n8n 3.0 on its own VM, with a private editor and webhooks you can make public.",
    "A Hello webhook, a five-minute Heartbeat, and ready-to-use AI credentials.",
    "Nightly backups, including the key that unlocks your saved credentials.",
    "A backup restored and checked before you start."
  ],
  "deployable": true,
  "deploy": {
    "new_vm_url": "https://exe-staging.dev/new?prompt=Set%20up%20n8n%203.0%20on%20this%20VM%20by%20following%20the%20exe.dev%20recipe%20at%20https%3A%2F%2Fexe-staging.dev%2Fdeploy%2Fn8n-3.md%20from%20top%20to%20bottom.%0A%0AThe%20recipe%27s%20example%20VM%20name%20is%20my-n8n-3.%20This%20VM%27s%20name%20is%20the%20output%20of%20%60hostname%60%3A%20use%20it%20wherever%20the%20recipe%20writes%20my-n8n-3.%20Skip%20the%20step%20that%20creates%20the%20VM%3B%20you%20are%20on%20it.%0A%0AYou%20are%20done%20when%20all%20of%20these%20are%20true.%20Check%20each%20one%20yourself%3A%0A-%20n8n%203.0%20on%20its%20own%20VM%2C%20with%20a%20private%20editor%20and%20webhooks%20you%20can%20make%20public.%0A-%20A%20Hello%20webhook%2C%20a%20five-minute%20Heartbeat%2C%20and%20ready-to-use%20AI%20credentials.%0A-%20Nightly%20backups%2C%20including%20the%20key%20that%20unlocks%20your%20saved%20credentials.%0A-%20A%20backup%20restored%20and%20checked%20before%20you%20start.%0A%0ARead%20the%20whole%20recipe%2C%20including%20the%20closed%20details.%20For%20initial%20setup%2C%0Afollow%20%22Install%20by%20hand%22%20first%3A%20containers%2C%20example%20workflows%2C%20AI%0Acredentials%2C%20backup%20timer%2C%20and%20scratch%20restore%20check.%20The%20opening%0Awalkthrough%20is%20for%20the%20owner%20afterwards.%20Do%20not%20run%20the%20Upgrade%2C%20Restore%2C%0Aor%20Update%20instructions%20during%20initial%20setup.%0AWork%20as%20exedev%20in%20~%2Fn8n.%20Never%20overwrite%20an%20existing%20~%2Fn8n%2F.env%3A%20it%0Aholds%20the%20encryption%20key.%20Check%20it%20matches%20n8n-data%2Fconfig%2C%20and%20that%0AN8N_VERSION%20is%203.x.%0ADo%20not%20create%20the%20owner%20account%3B%20the%20owner%20does%20that%20in%20the%20browser.%0ALeave%20public%20sharing%20off.%20Verify%20the%20Hello%20webhook%20at%20localhost%3A8000%0Aand%20confirm%20%2F%20and%20%2Frest%2Fsettings%20return%20404%20there.%20Wait%20up%20to%20five%0Aminutes%20for%20a%20successful%20Heartbeat%20execution.%20Check%20both%20AI%20credentials.%0AVerify%20docker.service%20is%20enabled%20and%20all%20containers%20use%20unless-stopped%3B%0Ado%20not%20reboot.%20Restore%20the%20backup%20only%20in%20the%20scratch%20directory%2C%20check%0Acredentials%20decrypt%2C%20then%20remove%20the%20scratch%20stack.%0AFinish%20with%20the%20private%20editor%20URL%2C%20a%20reminder%20that%20n8n%203.0%20is%20a%20beta%2C%0Aand%20the%20OPTIONAL%20command%20the%20owner%20can%20run%20on%20their%20own%20computer%20to%0Aallow%20public%20webhooks%3A%0Assh%20exe.dev%20share%20set-public%20my-n8n-3%0A%0AFinish%20with%20the%20URLs%20I%20should%20open.%0A",
    "terminal": "curl -fsSL https://exe-staging.dev/deploy/n8n-3/prompt.txt | ssh exe.dev new --prompt=/dev/stdin",
    "prompt": "Set up n8n 3.0 on this VM by following the exe.dev recipe at https://exe-staging.dev/deploy/n8n-3.md from top to bottom.\n\nThe recipe's example VM name is my-n8n-3. This VM's name is the output of `hostname`: use it wherever the recipe writes my-n8n-3. Skip the step that creates the VM; you are on it.\n\nYou are done when all of these are true. Check each one yourself:\n- n8n 3.0 on its own VM, with a private editor and webhooks you can make public.\n- A Hello webhook, a five-minute Heartbeat, and ready-to-use AI credentials.\n- Nightly backups, including the key that unlocks your saved credentials.\n- A backup restored and checked before you start.\n\nRead the whole recipe, including the closed details. For initial setup,\nfollow \"Install by hand\" first: containers, example workflows, AI\ncredentials, backup timer, and scratch restore check. The opening\nwalkthrough is for the owner afterwards. Do not run the Upgrade, Restore,\nor Update instructions during initial setup.\nWork as exedev in ~/n8n. Never overwrite an existing ~/n8n/.env: it\nholds the encryption key. Check it matches n8n-data/config, and that\nN8N_VERSION is 3.x.\nDo not create the owner account; the owner does that in the browser.\nLeave public sharing off. Verify the Hello webhook at localhost:8000\nand confirm / and /rest/settings return 404 there. Wait up to five\nminutes for a successful Heartbeat execution. Check both AI credentials.\nVerify docker.service is enabled and all containers use unless-stopped;\ndo not reboot. Restore the backup only in the scratch directory, check\ncredentials decrypt, then remove the scratch stack.\nFinish with the private editor URL, a reminder that n8n 3.0 is a beta,\nand the OPTIONAL command the owner can run on their own computer to\nallow public webhooks:\nssh exe.dev share set-public my-n8n-3\n\nFinish with the URLs I should open.\n",
    "prompt_url": "https://exe-staging.dev/deploy/n8n-3/prompt.txt"
  },
  "updated": "2026-10-30",
  "verified": "2026-10-30",
  "related": [
    "n8n-2",
    "uptime-kuma",
    "claude-code",
    "openclaw",
    "code-server"
  ],
  "alternatives": [
    "Zapier",
    "Make"
  ]
}