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API authentication#

n8n uses API keys to authenticate API calls.

Create an API key#

  1. Log in to n8n.
  2. Go to Settings > API.
  3. Select Create an API key.

Delete an API key#

  1. Log in to n8n.
  2. Go to Settings > API.
  3. Select Delete next to the key you want to delete.

Call the API using your key#

Send the API key in your API call as a header named X-N8N-API-KEY.

For example, say you want to get all active workflows. Your curl request will look like this:

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# For a self-hosted n8n instance
curl -X 'GET' \
  '<N8N_HOST>:<N8N_PORT>/<N8N_PATH>/api/v<version-number>/workflows?active=true' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -H 'X-N8N-API-KEY: <your-api-key>'

# For n8n Cloud
curl -X 'GET' \
  '<your-cloud-instance>/api/v<version-number>/workflows?active=true' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -H 'X-N8N-API-KEY: <your-api-key>'