Guide · Agent skill
How to use the n8n Workflow CLI agent skill (cli-anything-n8n)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The cli-anything-n8n skill teaches an AI agent to operate an n8n workflow automation server through a command-line tool. It is meant for people who run their own n8n instance and want an agent to list, inspect, create, update, activate, deactivate or delete workflows, check or retry executions, and manage credentials, variables and tags. After this guide you will know what the skill needs, how to install and configure it, and how to ask for work in plain language.
n8n Workflow CLIHKUDS/CLI-Anything · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Check the prerequisites. Confirm you have Python with pip, an n8n instance reachable over HTTP, and an n8n API key.
- 2Install the Python package. Run pip install cli-anything-n8n in the environment the agent will use.
- 3Install the skill. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it under Settings, Capabilities, Skills in the Claude apps.
- 4Configure the URL and API key. Run config set for base_url and api_key, or export N8N_BASE_URL and N8N_API_KEY.
- 5Confirm the connection. Run cli-anything-n8n config show to check the settings. The API key stays masked in the output.
- 6Give the agent a request. Describe the n8n task in plain language, naming n8n and the workflow or execution, and review the plan before live changes run.
What the skill lets the agent do
An agent skill is a folder of instructions that an AI agent loads when a task matches it. This skill, described in a file called SKILL.md, teaches the agent to use the cli-anything-n8n command-line tool against your n8n server.
The tool is organised into command groups: workflow, execution, credential, variable, tag and config. Workflow commands cover list, get, create, update, delete, activate, deactivate, tags, set-tags and transfer. Execution commands cover list, get, delete and retry.
- workflow: list, get, create, update, delete, activate, deactivate, tags, set-tags, transfer
- execution: list, get, delete, retry
- credential: create, delete, schema, transfer
- variable: list, create, update, delete
- tag: list, get, create, update, delete
- config: show, set
Install the cli-anything-n8n skill
You need Python with pip. The tool itself installs from the cli-anything-n8n package. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into one of these places: ~/.claude/skills/ for your user account, or .claude/skills/ inside a project if you want the skill limited to that project.
If you use the Claude apps instead, open Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill there. In either case, install the Python package as shown below.
- Personal install: unzip the skill folder into ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: unzip the skill folder into .claude/skills/ in your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill
pip install cli-anything-n8nConnect it to your n8n instance
The tool needs your n8n base URL and an API key. You can store them with the config command, or set environment variables. The source says the API key is always masked when you run config show, so you can check the setup without exposing it.
The timeout is optional. If you do not set it, the source gives a default of 30 seconds.
- N8N_BASE_URL: the address of your n8n instance
- N8N_API_KEY: your n8n API key
- N8N_TIMEOUT: optional, default 30 seconds
cli-anything-n8n config set base_url https://your-n8n-instance.com
cli-anything-n8n config set api_key your-api-key
# Or environment variables
export N8N_BASE_URL=https://your-n8n-instance.com
export N8N_API_KEY=your-api-key
export N8N_TIMEOUT=60 # optional, default 30sAsk the agent for n8n work in plain language
Once the skill is installed, you do not need to type CLI commands yourself. Describe the outcome you want, and name n8n and the workflow or execution involved so the agent knows the skill applies. The agent will choose the matching command group.
The source gives these rules for agent use: always use the --json flag for structured output, pass complex JSON from a file with @file.json, check return codes where 0 means success and anything else means error, and treat all IDs as strings rather than integers.
- Ask: list the failed executions from the last run of my invoice workflow and retry them
- Ask: deactivate the workflow named nightly sync on my n8n instance
- Ask: push the JSON definition in workflows/onboarding.json to n8n as a new workflow
- Ask: show my n8n variables and add a variable for the staging URL
Know the limits and safety notes
The skill runs scripts and uses the network, because it sends requests to your n8n server. It can delete workflows and credentials and change live automations. Review what the agent plans to do before it runs commands, and avoid pointing it at a production instance without a check.
The source lists features the public API does not provide: data tables, credential listing and execution stop. Do not expect the agent to do those tasks through this skill.
- Use a test or staging n8n instance first when you are learning the skill
- Keep your API key out of shared files; config show masks it
- Expect no data table, credential listing or execution stop support
Tips for reliable results
If you keep workflow definitions as JSON files, point the agent at the file with @file.json rather than pasting large JSON into the chat. Ask for --json output when you want the agent to read results reliably.
When a bulk change is involved, ask the agent to list the affected items first, then confirm before it activates, deactivates or deletes anything.
- Use @file.json for large workflow definitions
- Ask the agent to list before it changes anything in bulk
- Check the return code the agent reports; non-zero means an error occurred
What people use it for
- Retrying failed executions for a workflow after an upstream service recovers
- Activating or deactivating a set of workflows during a maintenance window
- Pushing workflow definitions kept as JSON files in a repository to your n8n instance
- Creating or updating tags and variables across an n8n instance
- Inspecting a single workflow or execution to explain what it does
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the cli-anything-n8n skill?
Install the Python package with pip install cli-anything-n8n. Then download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, Capabilities, Skills.
What do I need to use the n8n CLI agent skill?
You need Python with pip, an n8n instance reachable over HTTP, and an n8n API key. The base URL and API key can be set with the config command or with the N8N_BASE_URL and N8N_API_KEY environment variables.
Is the cli-anything-n8n skill free?
The source material for this page does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the listed licence for the repository, so check the repository before you rely on it for commercial work.
Can the agent delete workflows or credentials with this skill?
Yes. The skill lets the agent delete workflows and credentials and change live automations. Review the agent's plan first, and test on a non-production n8n instance before using it on real automations.
What can't this skill do?
The source says data tables, credential listing and execution stop are not available through the public API, so the skill cannot do those tasks.
Why does the agent fail to connect to my n8n instance?
Check that the base URL points to your n8n instance, that the API key is set, and that the instance is reachable over HTTP. Running cli-anything-n8n config show lets you confirm the stored settings, with the API key masked.
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Our verdict
This skill suits developers and operations staff who run their own n8n server and want an agent to inspect, retry, activate or push workflows. It is a poor fit for anyone without an n8n instance and API key, or for teams that want to hand unreviewed changes to an agent on production automations.
Download the skill