In windows docker desktop - n8n image installed. unable to read/write from disk

Questions
1

how to mount C: folder with the container volume to allow n8n flow read from disk

Describe the problem/error/question

in windows docker desktop - n8n image installed. unable to read/write from disk

What is the error message (if any)?

NodeApiError: No file(s) found at ExecuteContext.execute (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/n8n-nodes-base@file+packages+nodes-base_@aws-sdk+credential-providers@3.808.0_asn1.js@5_8da18263ca0574b0db58d4fefd8173ce/node_modules/n8n-nodes-base/nodes/Files/ReadWriteFile/actions/read.operation.ts:158:10) at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:104:5) at ExecuteContext.execute (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/n8n-nodes-base@file+packages+nodes-base_@aws-sdk+credential-providers@3.808.0_asn1.js@5_8da18263ca0574b0db58d4fefd8173ce/node_modules/n8n-nodes-base/nodes/Files/ReadWriteFile/ReadWriteFile.node.ts:65:17) at WorkflowExecute.executeNode (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/n8n-core@file+packages+core_@opentelemetry+api@1.9.0_@opentelemetry+exporter-trace-otlp_2d19a9be2839cb42cd2e8c9cacd05d5a/node_modules/n8n-core/src/execution-engine/workflow-execute.ts:1045:8) at WorkflowExecute.runNode (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/n8n-core@file+packages+core_@opentelemetry+api@1.9.0_@opentelemetry+exporter-trace-otlp_2d19a9be2839cb42cd2e8c9cacd05d5a/node_modules/n8n-core/src/execution-engine/workflow-execute.ts:1224:11) at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/n8n-core@file+packages+core_@opentelemetry+api@1.9.0_@opentelemetry+exporter-trace-otlp_2d19a9be2839cb42cd2e8c9cacd05d5a/node_modules/n8n-core/src/execution-engine/workflow-execute.ts:1672:27 at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/n8n-core@file+packages+core_@opentelemetry+api@1.9.0_@opentelemetry+exporter-trace-otlp_2d19a9be2839cb42cd2e8c9cacd05d5a/node_modules/n8n-core/src/execution-engine/workflow-execute.ts:2324:11

Please share your workflow

just started the workflow. read/write from disk.

used these volume and variable while running the image:

Volume:
Host path=n8n_data container path = /home/node/.n8n
Host path=./n8n-disk-files container path = /files —–> this also doubt - how to mount C: directory
Environment Variable:
GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Asia/Kolkata
TZ=Asia/Kolkata
N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS=true
N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true
N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO=/files

created this folder in C: n8n-disk-files —→ this is my biggest doubt. is it at right location.

Information on your n8n setup

  • n8n version: 2.16.2
  • n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main): default
  • Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app): windows docker
  • Operating system: windows
3

welcome @Tushar_Sinha

Three things must be set correctly:

Setting What to Use
Windows folder C:\n8n-disk-files (create this)
Container path (mount) /home/node/.n8n-files (exactly!)
Environment variable N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO=/home/node/.n8n-files

When referencing a file in the Read/Write Files from Disk node, use

/home/node/.n8n-files/your-file.txt
4

Hi @Tushar_Sinha

5

@Tushar_Sinha , welcome to the n8n community !
that one got me too! instead of ./n8n-disk-files use the full path like /c/Users/YourUsername/n8n-disk-files in docker desktop on windows. make sure the folder exists before starting the container and you should be good to go!

6

@Tushar_Sinha welcome! the others nailed the mount path stuff but nobody mentioned you need to use the container path in the node itself, not the windows path. here’s a minimal read workflow that points to /files which is where your mount lands:

fix your docker run to use the full windows path like -v C:\n8n-disk-files:/files and set N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO=/files, drop a test.txt in that folder and run it.

7

Thanks.. but it didnt worked for me. can you tell me all host and container path values you have used please.

8

yes yes using Host path = c:\n8n-disk-files & container path = /files this worked.

and in n8n using this “/files/DMAT.xlsx” this worked…. my DMAT file get loaded.

thanks thanks….