# Default Data Loader Error - pdf-parse v1 only **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions\ **Tags:** read-pdf\ **Created:** [June 4, 2026, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233 "2026-06-04T13:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![atawfic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@atawfic](https://community.n8n.io/u/atawfic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/1 "2026-06-04T13:16:40Z")
## Describe the problem/error/question Failed to load pdf-parse. This loader currently supports pdf-parse v1 only. Please install v1, e.g. `npm install pdf-parse@^1` (v2 is not yet supported). Failed to load pdf-parse. This loader currently supports pdf-parse v1 only. Please install v1, e.g. npm install pdf-parse@^1 (v2 is not yet supported). I’m getting the above error when using the “Default Data Loader” node to read a pdf document into a simple vector database. I’m an n8n subscriber using their cloud browser-based solution. So I don’t have control over the runtime environment. ## What is the error message (if any)? Failed to load pdf-parse. This loader currently supports pdf-parse v1 only. Please install v1, e.g. npm install pdf-parse@^1 (v2 is not yet supported).Failed to load pdf-parse. This loader currently supports pdf-parse v1 only. Please install v1, e.g. npm install pdf-parse@^1 (v2 is not yet supported). Please share your workflow ```auto (Select the nodes on your canvas and use the keyboard shortcuts CMD+C/CTRL+C and CMD+V/CTRL+V to copy and paste the workflow.) ``` ## Share the output returned by the last node ## Information on your n8n setup - **n8n version:** - **Database (default: SQLite):** - **n8n EXECUTIONS\_PROCESS setting (default: own, main):** - **Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app):** - **Operating system:** ---
**Author:** ![SE-automations](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SE-automations](https://community.n8n.io/u/SE-automations)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/2 "2026-06-04T13:21:57Z")
> [@atawfic](#): > > ## Describe the problem/error/question > > Failed to load pdf-parse. This loader currently supports pdf-parse v1 only. Please install v1, e.g. `npm install pdf-parse@^1` (v2 is not yet supported). > Failed to load pdf-parse. This loader currently supports pdf-parse v1 only. Please install v1, e.g. npm install pdf-parse@^1 (v2 is not yet supported). > > I’m getting the above error when using the “Default Data Loader” node to read a pdf document into a simple vector database. I’m an n8n subscriber using their cloud browser-based solution. So I don’t have control over the runtime environment. This is a known bug that was recently introduced in a core n8n platform update. Multiple users on the n8n community forums and GitHub have reported the exact same `pdf-parse` dependency conflict over the last few weeks. Alternative or a workaround: - Delete or disconnect the PDF binary input from your current Default Data Loader node. - Add a new Extract From File node immediately after your PDF source. - Set the operation to “Read Text from File”. - In your **Default Data Loader** node, change the Type of Data from `Binary` to **`JSON`** or `Text`. - Map the extracted text output string from the _Extract From File_ node into the loader. I hope that helps ---
**Author:** ![nguyenthieutoan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/nguyenthieutoan/32/120924_2.png) [@nguyenthieutoan](https://community.n8n.io/u/nguyenthieutoan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/3 "2026-06-04T13:27:31Z")
Since you’re on n8n cloud, you don’t need to worry about installing packages manually — the workaround @SE-automations described (Extract From File → pass text as JSON/Text into Default Data Loader) is your best path for now. One more thing: I’d recommend opening a support ticket at [https://support.n8n.io](https://support.n8n.io) and mentioning this pdf-parse v2 incompatibility. n8n cloud is a managed environment, so the engineering team can track it and prioritize the fix in their next cloud release. Self-reporting helps them know how many users are affected. ---
**Author:** ![Rishabh\_Dugar](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/rishabh_dugar/32/88884_2.png) [@Rishabh\_Dugar](https://community.n8n.io/u/Rishabh_Dugar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/4 "2026-06-04T13:40:01Z")
@atawfic , If you would like PDF API Hub provides PDF parse backed by text or scanned pdf using tesseract. Here is the workflow: n8n- Approved official node: > **[PDF API Hub integrations | Workflow automation with n8n](https://n8n.io/integrations/pdf-split-and-pdf-merge/)** > > Integrate PDF API Hub with hundreds of other apps. Create sophisticated automations between PDF API Hub and your stack using n8n. Free and source-available. ---
**Author:** ![atawfic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@atawfic](https://community.n8n.io/u/atawfic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/5 "2026-06-04T15:29:59Z")
This actually solved my issue indeed. Thanks for the prompt reply. ---
**Author:** ![atawfic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@atawfic](https://community.n8n.io/u/atawfic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/6 "2026-06-04T15:30:56Z")
The suggested work around did work. I also reported the issue to the support team. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/jon/32/40174_2.png) [@Jon](https://community.n8n.io/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 6:03am UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/7 "2026-06-05T06:03:55Z")
Upgrading should resolve this if you are still seeing an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Ayomikun27](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/ayomikun27/32/176885_2.png) [@Ayomikun27](https://community.n8n.io/u/Ayomikun27)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/8 "2026-06-05T16:22:24Z")
Good Day, Since you’re on n8n Cloud, you’re right that you can’t install packages manually,so that error message is a bit misleading in your case. The good news is there’s a workaround that doesn’t require touching the runtime at all. **Try switching the PDF loader inside the node:** In your Default Data Loader node, instead of using the PDF loader directly, try this approach: 1. Before the Default Data Loader, add a **Read/Write Files from Disk** node (or if you’re getting the PDF via HTTP/webhook, make sure it’s passed as binary data) 2. In the Default Data Loader, check if you can switch the **“Data Type”** to use a different loader some users have had success using the **“Binary”** option instead of the dedicated PDF loader, which sidesteps the pdf-parse dependency entirely **If that doesn’t work, another path:** Route your PDF through a **HTTP Request node** or the **Extract from File node** first to pull out the raw text, then feed that plain text into your vector store using the **“Text”** data type in the loader. It’s an extra step but it completely avoids the pdf-parse issue. **This is an n8n cloud environment cloud,** their cloud runtime seems to have picked up pdf-parse v2 which broke the node. Worth raising a support ticket directly with n8n so they can patch it on their end, since other cloud users are likely hitting the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/system/32/195824_2.png) [@system](https://community.n8n.io/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/default-data-loader-error-pdf-parse-v1-only/298233/9 "2026-06-12T16:23:06Z")
Closed on June 12, 2026, 4:23pm UTC This topic was automatically closed 7 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.