Quickstart

This guide gets you to a working state as quickly as possible. You’ll install the n8n-mcp MCP server, configure it, install the skills, and verify everything works.

Install the n8n-mcp server

The n8n-mcp server provides Claude with access to n8n’s node library, validation engine, and workflow templates. Install it globally with npm:

npm install -g n8n-mcp

Verify the installation:

npx n8n-mcp --version

Configure .mcp.json

Create or update .mcp.json in your project root (or home directory) to register the n8n-mcp server with Claude:

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["n8n-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "MCP_MODE": "stdio",
        "LOG_LEVEL": "error",
        "DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT": "true",
        "N8N_API_URL": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
        "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

N8N_API_URL and N8N_API_KEY are optional. Without them, read-only tools (node search, validation, templates) still work. Add them to enable workflow creation and management.

Install the skills

Install n8n-skills as a Claude Code plugin with a single command:

/plugin install czlonkowski/n8n-skills

That’s it — all 7 skills are installed and will activate automatically.

Prefer browsing before installing? Use the marketplace method instead:

/plugin marketplace add czlonkowski/n8n-skills
/plugin install

Then select n8n-mcp-skills from the list.

Test it

Open Claude Code and try a query that exercises multiple skills at once:

Build and validate a webhook to Slack notification workflow

You should see Claude:

Search for webhook and Slack nodes using search_nodes
Apply the webhook processing pattern
Configure each node with correct properties
Map data using {{$json.body.message}} syntax
Validate the complete workflow

To verify individual skills, try these targeted queries:

How do I access webhook data in n8n expressions?

Expected: The Expression Syntax skill activates and explains $json.body.* access.

Find me a Slack node using n8n-mcp

Expected: The MCP Tools Expert skill activates and uses search_nodes({query: "slack"}).

What happens automatically

Once installed, skills activate based on your query — no configuration or manual invocation needed. The more specific your request, the more skills collaborate:

Your query	Skills that activate
`"How do I write n8n expressions?"`	Expression Syntax
`"Find me a Slack node"`	MCP Tools Expert
`"Build a webhook workflow"`	Workflow Patterns + MCP Tools Expert
`"Why is validation failing?"`	Validation Expert
`"How do I configure the HTTP Request node?"`	Node Configuration
`"Write JavaScript to transform webhook data"`	Code: JavaScript
`"Can I use pandas in a Python Code node?"`	Code: Python

Next steps

Skills overview

See all 7 skills, their activation triggers, and how they compose

Usage guide

Example queries, best practices, and advanced usage patterns

Full installation guide

All installation methods: manual, Claude.ai web, and Claude API/SDK

Workflow patterns

The 5 proven n8n workflow architectural patterns with real examples

Get Started

Skills

Guides

Development

What happens automatically

Next steps

Skills overview

Usage guide

Full installation guide

Workflow patterns

​What happens automatically

​Next steps

Skills overview

Usage guide

Full installation guide

Workflow patterns

What happens automatically

Next steps