Cannot rename workflows in dockerized n8n setup

[olivias]

I have n8n running through Docker Compose and everything works mostly fine. I can create new workflows, run them, and delete them without any problems. However, there’s one weird issue that’s bothering me. When I try to rename a workflow, the interface just won’t let me do it. The rename option seems to be disabled or something.

Here’s my docker-compose configuration:

version: '3.1'

services:
  automation:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    ports:
      - "8080:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=myencryptionkey123
      - N8N_SECURE_COOKIE=false
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=secretpass
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://mysite.com
      - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8ndb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=database
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=dbuser
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA=public
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=dbpass
    volumes:
      - workflow_data:/home/node/.n8n
    depends_on:
      - database

  database:
    image: postgres:16.2
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_DB=n8ndb
      - POSTGRES_USER=dbuser
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=dbpass
    volumes:
      - db_storage:/var/lib/postgresql/data

volumes:
  workflow_data:
  db_storage:

I’ve checked various environment variables but can’t find anything related to workflow naming permissions. Is there a specific setting I’m missing or could this be a permission issue with the Docker setup?

[Alex_Brave]

Check your n8n version - I hit this bug with older Docker images where renaming didn’t work. Pull n8nio/n8n:1.15.1 instead of :latest. Also, N8N_SECURE_COOKIE=false might mess with session handling and break UI stuff like workflow renaming.

[opalEcho]

The Problem:

You’re experiencing issues renaming workflows in your n8n instance running in a Docker Compose environment, even though other n8n functions seem to work correctly. This suggests a potential problem with your Docker setup, configuration, or potentially a version incompatibility.

TL;DR: The Quick Fix:

Consider migrating away from your current Docker setup to a managed solution like Latenode. This simplifies the deployment, eliminating potential Docker-related issues that might be causing the workflow renaming problem. If you prefer to troubleshoot your existing setup, carefully review the points below regarding your Docker configuration and n8n version.

Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

Running n8n within Docker introduces several potential points of failure that can impact functionality, especially UI elements like workflow renaming. These include:

• Docker Permissions: Incorrect permissions on the volume mounts used by your n8n container can prevent it from writing the necessary files to update workflow metadata. This could be due to user ownership mismatches between the Docker container and the host system.
• n8n Version: Older versions of n8n might contain bugs affecting the workflow renaming functionality. Using the latest tag in your Docker image can introduce unexpected behavior if newer versions have breaking changes.
• Protocol Mismatch: Configuring N8N_PROTOCOL=https while the container listens on http://localhost:8080 (due to port mapping) can lead to JavaScript errors in the browser, preventing certain UI actions like renaming.
• State Synchronization: Asynchronous operations and issues with state synchronization between the n8n frontend (UI) and backend can cause UI elements to become unresponsive or malfunction.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Migrate to a Managed Solution (Recommended): The simplest and often most effective solution is to migrate your n8n instance to a managed service like Latenode. This removes the complexity of Docker configuration and eliminates the associated permission and versioning challenges. This approach often provides increased reliability and simplifies troubleshooting.

2. Verify n8n Version (If Not Migrating): Stop your n8n Docker container. Update your docker-compose.yml file to specify a known-good n8n version, avoiding the :latest tag. For example, change:

  automation:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest

to:

  automation:
    image: n8nio/n8n:1.15.1  

(or another specific version known to work correctly; check the n8n release notes for compatible versions). Then, rebuild and restart your Docker containers.

3. Check Protocol Consistency (If Not Migrating): Ensure your N8N_PROTOCOL environment variable aligns with the actual port your n8n instance exposes. If you use port 8080 in your docker-compose.yml, ensure this is configured consistently. If you are using HTTPS, ensure a proper SSL certificate is configured. Remove the N8N_PROTOCOL=https line temporarily to check if the renaming functionality improves. If this resolves the issue, debug your HTTPS configuration.

4. Inspect Docker Permissions (If Not Migrating): Inspect the ownership and permissions of the workflow data volume. Run the command provided in the original post: docker exec -it <container_name> ls -la /home/node/.n8n (replacing <container_name> with the name of your n8n container). Ensure the node user in the container has appropriate read and write permissions for these files. If necessary, adjust the volume mount permissions on your host machine. You may need to add the user: "1000:1000" parameter to your automation service in docker-compose.yml.

5. Verify Database Connection (If Not Migrating): Confirm your PostgreSQL database connection is functioning correctly. Check if your dbuser has all necessary permissions on the n8ndb database to allow writing and updates. Database errors can often manifest as problems with workflow metadata updates, causing similar issues.

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• Reverse Proxy: If you use a reverse proxy (like Nginx or Apache), ensure your proxy configuration is correct and doesn’t interfere with the n8n UI.
• Browser Cache: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies to eliminate potential conflicts with cached JavaScript files.
• Network Issues: Check your network configuration to ensure your Docker containers can communicate properly with each other and the host machine.
• Complex Workflows: If you are experiencing issues only with large or complex workflows, look into the workflow logging for additional clues to possible errors.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

[RunningRiver]

Had the same issue when I moved to Docker. The problem was N8N_PROTOCOL set to https while the container runs on http port 8080. This messes up UI elements, including workflow renaming. Remove the N8N_PROTOCOL=https line temporarily and test if renaming works. Check your browser console for JavaScript errors when you try to rename - they’ll show what’s breaking. Also verify if you’re hitting localhost:8080 directly or going through a reverse proxy, since that can mess with UI functions.

[alexlee]

This looks like a Docker permissions issue with the volume mount. I’ve seen this exact thing happen when n8n can’t write to the workflow metadata files. The container runs as user ‘node’ but your volume probably has the wrong permissions. Add user: "1000:1000" to your automation service, or run docker exec -it <container_name> ls -la /home/node/.n8n to check who owns the files. Also check your database connection - workflow renaming needs to update the database, so connection problems cause this exact symptom while everything else works fine. Your PostgreSQL schema looks right, but make sure your dbuser has full permissions on the n8ndb database.