> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> Complete installation instructions for n8n-skills across all platforms — Claude Code plugin, manual setup, Claude.ai, and the Claude API/SDK.

## Prerequisites

Before installing n8n-skills, set up the n8n-mcp MCP server. The skills rely on it for node data, validation, and templates.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install n8n-mcp">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install -g n8n-mcp
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure .mcp.json">
    Add the server to `.mcp.json` in your project root or home directory:

    ```json .mcp.json theme={null}
    {
      "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"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    <Note>
      `N8N_API_URL` and `N8N_API_KEY` are optional. Without them, read-only tools (node search, validation, templates) work fine. Add them to unlock workflow creation and management (`n8n_create_workflow`, `n8n_update_partial_workflow`, etc.).
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Installation methods

### Method 1: Claude Code plugin (recommended)

The fastest way to install. One command installs all 7 skills:

```bash theme={null}
/plugin install czlonkowski/n8n-skills
```

Skills activate automatically after installation — no restart needed.

### Method 2: Claude Code marketplace

Browse the plugin before installing:

```bash theme={null}
/plugin marketplace add czlonkowski/n8n-skills
```

Then browse and select:

```bash theme={null}
/plugin install
```

Select **n8n-mcp-skills** from the list.

### Method 3: Manual installation

Clone the repository and copy the skill files to Claude Code's skills directory.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS / Linux">
    ```bash theme={null}
    # Clone the repository
    git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills.git

    # Create the skills directory if it doesn't exist
    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills

    # Copy all 7 skills
    cp -r n8n-skills/skills/* ~/.claude/skills/
    ```

    Verify the copy:

    ```bash theme={null}
    ls ~/.claude/skills/
    # Expected output:
    # n8n-expression-syntax  n8n-mcp-tools-expert  n8n-workflow-patterns
    # n8n-validation-expert  n8n-node-configuration  n8n-code-javascript  n8n-code-python
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows">
    ```powershell theme={null}
    # Clone the repository
    git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills.git

    # Create the skills directory
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\skills"

    # Copy all 7 skills
    Copy-Item -Recurse n8n-skills\skills\* "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\skills\"
    ```

    <Note>
      If you encounter permission errors, run PowerShell as Administrator.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

After copying, restart Claude Code. Skills will activate automatically on the next launch.

### Method 4: Claude.ai (web)

Claude.ai requires uploading each skill as a separate zip file.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Download the repository">
    Clone or download the repository from GitHub:

    ```bash theme={null}
    git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills.git
    cd n8n-skills/skills
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Zip each skill">
    ```bash theme={null}
    zip -r n8n-expression-syntax.zip n8n-expression-syntax/
    zip -r n8n-mcp-tools-expert.zip n8n-mcp-tools-expert/
    zip -r n8n-workflow-patterns.zip n8n-workflow-patterns/
    zip -r n8n-validation-expert.zip n8n-validation-expert/
    zip -r n8n-node-configuration.zip n8n-node-configuration/
    zip -r n8n-code-javascript.zip n8n-code-javascript/
    zip -r n8n-code-python.zip n8n-code-python/
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload to Claude.ai">
    1. Go to [claude.ai](https://claude.ai)
    2. Navigate to **Settings** → **Capabilities** → **Skills**
    3. Click **Upload Skill**
    4. Upload each `.zip` file individually
    5. Confirm each upload
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify">
    In a new conversation, ask:

    ```
    List my active skills
    ```

    You should see all n8n skills listed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Method 5: Claude API / SDK

If you're building an application with the Anthropic SDK, load the skills from the cloned directory and pass them in each API call.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clone the repository">
    ```bash theme={null}
    git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills.git
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install the Anthropic SDK">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install @anthropic-ai/sdk
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Load skills in your application">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    import Anthropic from '@anthropic-ai/sdk';
    import fs from 'fs';
    import path from 'path';

    const client = new Anthropic({
      apiKey: process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,
    });

    function loadSkillsFromDirectory(dir: string) {
      const skillDirs = fs.readdirSync(dir);
      return skillDirs.map(skillName => {
        const skillPath = path.join(dir, skillName, 'SKILL.md');
        const skillContent = fs.readFileSync(skillPath, 'utf-8');
        return {
          name: skillName,
          content: skillContent
        };
      });
    }

    const skills = loadSkillsFromDirectory('./n8n-skills/skills');

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      model: 'claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929',
      messages: [{
        role: 'user',
        content: 'Build a webhook to Slack workflow'
      }],
      skills: skills
    });
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Verification

After installation, run these checks to confirm everything is working.

**Check MCP server availability:**

```
Ask Claude: "Can you search for the webhook node using n8n-mcp?"
```

Expected response:

```
[Uses search_nodes tool]
Found: nodes-base.webhook (Webhook trigger node)
```

**Check skill activation:**

```
Ask Claude: "How do I access webhook data in n8n expressions?"
```

Expected: The Expression Syntax skill activates and responds with `$json.body.*` access patterns.

**Check cross-skill composition:**

```
Ask Claude: "Build and validate a webhook to Slack workflow"
```

Expected: Multiple skills activate and collaborate to produce a complete, validated workflow.

***

## Selective installation

If you only need specific skills, install them individually:

```bash theme={null}
# Only install the Expression Syntax and MCP Tools Expert skills
cp -r n8n-skills/skills/n8n-expression-syntax ~/.claude/skills/
cp -r n8n-skills/skills/n8n-mcp-tools-expert ~/.claude/skills/
```

<Tip>
  The **MCP Tools Expert** skill is marked highest priority and is recommended for all installations. It teaches correct tool selection, parameter formats, and validation profiles — knowledge that every other skill depends on.
</Tip>

***

## Updating

To update all skills to the latest version:

```bash theme={null}
cd n8n-skills
git pull origin main
cp -r skills/* ~/.claude/skills/
```

To update a single skill:

```bash theme={null}
cp -r n8n-skills/skills/n8n-expression-syntax ~/.claude/skills/
```

***

## Uninstalling

**Remove all n8n skills:**

```bash theme={null}
rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/n8n-*
```

**Remove a specific skill:**

```bash theme={null}
rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/n8n-expression-syntax
```

**Claude.ai**: Go to **Settings** → **Capabilities** → **Skills** and delete each n8n skill individually.

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Skills not activating">
    1. Verify skills are in the correct directory:
       ```bash theme={null}
       ls ~/.claude/skills/
       ```
    2. Check that each skill folder contains a `SKILL.md` file with valid frontmatter:
       ```markdown theme={null}
       ---
       name: n8n Expression Syntax
       description: Validate n8n expression syntax...
       ---
       ```
    3. Reload Claude Code or clear its cache.
    4. Rephrase your query to include activation keywords. For example, instead of `"How do I use expressions?"` try `"How do I write n8n expressions with {{}} syntax?"`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="MCP tools not available">
    1. Verify `.mcp.json` is in the correct location.
    2. Check n8n-mcp is installed:
       ```bash theme={null}
       npm list -g n8n-mcp
       ```
    3. Test the MCP server directly:
       ```bash theme={null}
       npx n8n-mcp
       ```
    4. Restart Claude Code.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Workflow management tools missing (n8n_create_workflow, etc.)">
    These tools require a connected n8n instance. Verify your `.mcp.json` includes:

    ```json theme={null}
    "N8N_API_URL": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
    "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
    ```

    Test API access directly:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: your-key" https://your-n8n-instance.com/api/v1/workflows
    ```

    Read-only tools (search, validate, templates) still work without the API configuration.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Permission errors on macOS / Linux">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo chown -R $USER ~/.claude
    chmod -R 755 ~/.claude/skills
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Permission errors on Windows">
    Run PowerShell as Administrator and re-run the installation commands.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Usage guide" icon="book-open" href="/guides/usage">
    Learn how to write queries that activate the right skills and get the best results
  </Card>

  <Card title="Skills overview" icon="grid" href="/skills/overview">
    Explore all 7 skills, their capabilities, and activation triggers
  </Card>
</CardGroup>