DEV Community

Cover image for Complete Guide to Installing n8n with Docker on Windows 11
Srijan Kumar
Srijan Kumar

Posted on

Complete Guide to Installing n8n with Docker on Windows 11

#technology #n8n #docker

n8n workflow automation platform running in Docker on Windows 11

n8n workflow automation platform running in Docker on Windows 11

Are you tired of repetitive tasks eating up your productive time? Meet n8n - a powerful, open-source workflow automation tool that can connect your favorite apps and automate complex workflows, all running locally on your Windows 11 machine.

Why Choose n8n Over Other Automation Tools?

n8n stands out from cloud-based alternatives like Zapier or Microsoft Power Automate because it offers:

  • Complete data privacy - Everything runs on your local machine
  • Zero monthly costs - Completely free and open-source
  • Visual workflow builder - Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
  • 200+ integrations - Connect with popular services and APIs
  • Custom code support - JavaScript functions for advanced logic
  • Full control - No vendor lock-in or service limitations

What You'll Achieve

By the end of this guide, you'll have:

  • A production-ready n8n instance running in Docker
  • Persistent data storage that survives container restarts
  • Basic authentication configured for security
  • Knowledge of maintenance and troubleshooting
  • A foundation for building powerful automation workflows

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have:

  • Windows 11 with WSL 2 enabled
  • Docker Desktop installed and running with WSL 2 backend
  • Basic PowerShell knowledge for running commands

Installing Docker Desktop

If you haven't installed Docker Desktop yet:

  1. Download from Docker's official website
  2. During installation, ensure "Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V" is selected
  3. After installation, verify in PowerShell: 
docker --version
docker compose version
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

You should see version information for both commands.

Step 1: Create Your Project Structure

First, let's create a dedicated directory for our n8n installation:

mkdir n8n-docker
cd n8n-docker
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This folder will contain:

  • docker-compose.yml - Our container configuration
  • n8n_data/ - Persistent storage for workflows (created automatically)
  • .env - Environment variables (optional but recommended)

Step 2: Create the Docker Compose Configuration

Create a docker-compose.yml file with this modern, production-ready configuration:

services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=change_this_password
      - N8N_HOST=localhost
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=http
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - WEBHOOK_URL=http://localhost:5678/
    volumes:
      - ./n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "wget", "--quiet", "--tries=1", "--spider", "http://localhost:5678/healthz"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Configuration Breakdown

  • ports: Maps your local port 5678 to the container's port 5678
  • environment: Sets up basic authentication and runtime configuration
  • volumes: Persists all n8n data in the local ./n8n_data folder
  • restart: always: Automatically starts the container when Docker starts
  • healthcheck: Monitors container health for reliability

Step 3: Launch n8n

From inside your n8n-docker folder, run:

docker compose up -d
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This command will:

  1. Download the latest n8n Docker image
  2. Create the container with your configuration
  3. Start the service in background mode
  4. Create the n8n_data folder for persistent storage

Step 4: Access Your n8n Instance

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:5678.

You'll be prompted to log in with:

  • Username: admin
  • Password: change_this_password

Important: Change these default credentials immediately for security!

Essential Docker Commands

Learn these commands to manage your n8n installation:

# View running containers
docker ps

# Stop n8n (keeps data safe)
docker compose down

# Start n8n again
docker compose up -d

# Restart the service
docker compose restart

# View logs for troubleshooting
docker compose logs -f

# Update to the latest version
docker compose pull
docker compose up -d
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Security Best Practices

Use Environment Variables

Create a .env file in your n8n-docker folder for sensitive data:

N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=your_secure_username
N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your_very_secure_password
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=a_32_character_encryption_key_here
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Then update your docker-compose.yml to reference the environment file.

Network Access Control

By default, n8n only accepts connections from localhost. To access from other devices on your network:

ports:
  - "0.0.0.0:5678:5678"  # Listen on all network interfaces
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Warning: Only do this on trusted networks and with strong authentication.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Docker Desktop Not Running

Symptoms: Commands fail with "Cannot connect to Docker daemon"

Solution:

  1. Check the system tray for the Docker whale icon
  2. If not running, open Docker Desktop from the Start menu
  3. Wait until status shows "Docker Engine is running"

WSL 2 Backend Problems

Symptoms: Docker Desktop fails to start or shows WSL errors

Check WSL status:

wsl --list --verbose
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Fix WSL issues:

# Restart WSL completely
wsl --shutdown

# Then restart Docker Desktop
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Port Already in Use

Symptoms: "Port 5678 is already allocated"

Solution: Change the port in your docker-compose.yml:

ports:
  - "5679:5678"  # Use port 5679 instead
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Then access via http://localhost:5679.

Backup and Maintenance

Creating Backups

All your workflows are stored in ./n8n_data/. Create regular backups:

# Create a timestamped backup
$date = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd"
Compress-Archive -Path ./n8n_data -DestinationPath "n8n-backup-$date.zip"
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Updating n8n 

# Pull the latest image
docker compose pull

# Restart with the new version
docker compose up -d

# Verify the update
docker compose logs
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Getting Started with Workflows

Now that n8n is running, here's how to create your first automation:

Explore the Interface

  • Workflows tab: Create and manage your automations
  • Credentials: Store API keys and authentication details
  • Executions: Monitor workflow runs and debug issues

Build Your First Workflow

Try this simple example:

  1. Create a new workflow
  2. Add a "Schedule Trigger" node (runs on a timer)
  3. Add an "HTTP Request" node to fetch data
  4. Add a "Set" node to transform the data
  5. Save and activate your workflow

Essential Nodes to Know

  • Trigger nodes: Webhook, Schedule, Manual
  • Action nodes: HTTP Request, Email, File operations
  • Logic nodes: IF, Switch, Set
  • App nodes: Google Sheets, Slack, GitHub, and 200+ more

Next Steps and Resources

What to Explore Next

  1. Browse example workflows at n8n.io/workflows
  2. Connect your favorite apps using the extensive node library
  3. Set up webhooks to trigger workflows from external services
  4. Learn JavaScript expressions for advanced data manipulation
  5. Join the community for tips and inspiration

Helpful Resources

  • Official n8n Documentation
  • Community Forum
  • YouTube Tutorials
  • Workflow Templates
  • Docker Documentation

Conclusion

With n8n running locally on your Windows 11 machine, you now have the power to automate repetitive tasks, connect different services, and build complex workflows - all without monthly subscription fees or data privacy concerns.

Start small with simple automations like:

  • Backing up files to cloud storage
  • Monitoring websites for changes
  • Synchronizing data between different tools
  • Sending automated notifications

As you become more comfortable, you can build sophisticated multi-step workflows that save hours of manual work. Happy automating! If this guide helped you get started with n8n, consider sharing it with others who might benefit from workflow automation.

Top comments (0)