Supported databases

By default, n8n uses SQLite to save credentials, past executions, and workflows. However, n8n also supports PostgresDB and MySQL.

Shared settings

The following environment variables get used by all databases:

DB_TABLE_PREFIX (default: -) - Prefix for table names

PostgresDB

To use PostgresDB as the database, you can provide the following environment variables:

DB_TYPE=postgresdb
DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE (default: 'n8n')
DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST (default: 'localhost')
DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT (default: 5432)
DB_POSTGRESDB_USER (default: 'root')
DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD (default: empty)
DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA (default: 'public')
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CA (default: undefined): Path to the server's CA certificate used to validate the connection (opportunistic encryption is not supported)
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CERT (default: undefined): Path to the client's TLS certificate
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_KEY (default: undefined): Path to the client's private key corresponding to the certificate
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED (default: true): If TLS connections that fail validation should be rejected

export DB_TYPE=postgresdb
export DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgresdb
export DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
export DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA=n8n

# optional:
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CA=$(pwd)/ca.crt
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false

n8n start

TLS

You can choose between these configurations:

Not declaring (default): Connect with SSL=off
Declaring only the CA and unauthorized flag: Connect with SSL=on and verify the server's signature
Declaring _{CERT,KEY} and the above: Use the certificate and key for client TLS authentication

MySQL / MariaDB

To use MySQL or MariaDB, provide the following environment variables:

DB_TYPE=mysqldb or DB_TYPE=mariadb
DB_MYSQLDB_DATABASE (default: 'n8n')
DB_MYSQLDB_HOST (default: 'localhost')
DB_MYSQLDB_PORT (default: 3306)
DB_MYSQLDB_USER (default: 'root')
DB_MYSQLDB_PASSWORD (default: empty)

export DB_TYPE=mysqldb
export DB_MYSQLDB_DATABASE=n8n
export DB_MYSQLDB_HOST=mysqldb
export DB_MYSQLDB_PORT=3306
export DB_MYSQLDB_USER=n8n
export DB_MYSQLDB_PASSWORD=n8n

n8n start

SQLite

This is the default database that gets used if nothing is defined.

The database file is located at: ~/.n8n/database.sqlite

Other databases

n8n officially supports SQLite, PostgresDB, and MySQL.

n8n internally uses TypeORM{:target=_blank .external-link}, so adding support for the following databases should be possible:

CockroachDB
Microsoft SQL
Oracle

If you can't use any of the supported databases for some reason and you can code, consider submitting a pull request{:target=_blank .external-link}. You can also request support here{:target=_blank .external-link}.

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