I just started using n8n and want to build an automation that takes information from a webhook and adds it to a Google Sheets document. I’ve been looking around for tutorials but haven’t found anything straightforward to set up.
I managed to set up the webhook part and I have my Google Sheet ready, but the data isn’t making it into the spreadsheet. The connection seems to be failing somewhere in between.
Could someone walk me through the basic steps to make this work? I’m especially confused about the authentication part with Google Sheets and how to map the webhook data to the right columns.
Any sample workflow or step-by-step instructions would be really helpful since I’m still learning how n8n works.
webhook data format gets weird sometimes. check if you’re getting arrays vs objects - that tripped me up before. make sure your google sheets node runs after the webhook trigger (obvious but worth checking). if data’s not showing up, throw a delay node between webhook and sheets - fixed my timing issues.
I had the same issues with n8n at first. Here’s what worked for me: First, set up a service account in Google Cloud Console and download the JSON credentials file. In n8n, create a new Google Service Account credential with that file. Make sure you share your Google Sheet with the service account email - this part’s crucial. For the workflow, use a Webhook node as your trigger, then add a Google Sheets node set to append data. The tricky part is mapping the webhook data to your sheet columns. Use expressions like {{$json["field_name"]}} where ‘field_name’ matches your webhook data. Test the webhook first to see exactly what data structure you’re getting - it’ll make mapping to your columns much easier.
Authentication trips up most people starting with this setup. Make sure your Google Sheet has the right permissions - the service account email needs editor access to that specific sheet. When mapping webhook data, throw a debug node right after the webhook trigger. You’ll see exactly what format the data comes in. Field names sometimes have spaces or special characters that mess things up. Double-check your Google Sheets node has the right sheet ID and range. I wasted hours troubleshooting once because I copied the wrong sheet ID. Set your range to something like ‘Sheet1!A:Z’ so it can append new rows. Test with simple static data first, then add webhook variables. Way easier to spot issues that way.