GDrive Folder Search and multiple inputs

Questions
1

Describe the problem/error/question

I have a workflow that in testing was working great. It does some AI processing, then moves files in GDrive to new folders. To do so, it searches to see if the folder exists and then uses that ID to move the file, or branches off to create the folder. In doing this, I told the Search Node to only return one result, since we are just going to use the first folder it finds.

I just ran it on some real data, and got an unexpected result. Two files when into the Search node, but only one "find” came out. I expected the whole “auto looping” to run the node on each input separately, so one item out, for each item in. Is the limit actually on the whole scope, not the item scope?

What is the error message (if any)?

Please share your workflow

Information on your n8n setup

  • n8n version: Version 1.115.3
  • Database (default: SQLite): SQLite
  • n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main): default
  • Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app): fly.io
  • Operating system:
2

The Problem: Limit Scope in n8n

The issue limit The parameter applies to the entire node execution, NOT per input item.

Here’s what’s happening in your workflow:

Current Behavior (with limit: 1)

Input: 2 files → Google Drive Search (limit: 1) → Output: 1 result

When the “Find Dest Folder” node receives 2 input items:

  1. n8n batches them together in a single API call

  2. The Google Drive API searches with limit: 1

  3. Returns only 1 total result (not 1 per input item)

This is standard n8n behavior - the limit is applied to the entire API request, not individually per input item.

Solutions

Solution: Loop Over Items

Use the Split in Batches node to process items one at a time:

json

How it works:

  1. Split in Batches sends items one at a time

  2. Each item gets its own Google Drive search (with limit: 1)

  3. Results loop back until all items are processed

  4. You get 1 result per input item