Red/orange warning triangles with credential messages appear on all API-connected nodes across all workflows — even on unexecuted nodes

[Augustin_Afric]

Bug Description

After updating to n8n 2.x (currently on 2.8.3, self-hosted), red/orange warning triangle icons appear on every node that makes external API calls (Gmail, Google Sheets, Dropbox, Meta Graph API, HTTP nodes etc.) across all workflows.

The warnings display credential-related messages, but the credentials work correctly and workflows execute successfully.

Key observations:

• Affects ALL workflows, not just one

• Only appears on nodes that connect to external services via credentials

• Warning triangles appear even on nodes that were NOT executed

• Workflows complete successfully despite the warnings

• Credentials are valid and functional

To Reproduce

1. Open any workflow containing nodes with API credentials (Gmail, Google Sheets, Dropbox, Meta Graph API, HTTP nodes, etc.)

2. Observe red/orange warning triangles on those nodes

3. Execute the workflow — it completes successfully

4. Warning triangles persist after successful execution

5. Nodes that were not part of the execution path also show the warning

Expected behavior

Nodes with valid, working credentials should not display warning triangles, especially after a successful execution or when the node has not been executed at all.

Debug Info

• n8n version: 2.8.3

• Platform: Self-hosted (Docker)

• Affected nodes: Gmail, Google Sheets, Dropbox, Meta Graph API, and other credential-based nodes

Operating System

Windows

n8n Version

2.8.3

Node.js Version

24

Database

sqlite3

Execution mode

main (default)

Hosting

self hosted

I recreated some credentials and updated a workflow nodes and is the same problem. When executing looks ok but when I open the execution all API related nodes displays the triangle with the same message about the credentials.

Everything is update. Even node.js. I use sqlite3 as db

[achamm]

This looks like it might be fixed in 2.9.0 which came out a few days ago, there’s a fix for “sticky tooltips on canvas node status icons” and some credential auto-assignment logic changes that sound related to what you’re seeing. I’d try updating and see if the warning triangles clear up. If they’re still showing after that it’s probably worth opening a GitHub issue since I couldn’t find anyone else reporting this exact behavior with the warnings appearing on unexecuted nodes.

[Augustin_Afric]

Hi. Nope. Still not working. Everything is update. I even changed the credentials. This is so weird. I already posted in Github and someone told me to post here.

So the workflows execute correctly but the triangle is still showing in the API related nodes in the executions.

[tamy.santos]

Hi @Augustin_Afric
welcome to the n8n community!
There is an open issue related to similar behavior currently being discussed: False Credential Warnings for Non-Admin Users After Update · Issue #26054 · n8n-io/n8n

[Paulet4a]

I’ve seen this happen when stale or invalid credentials are cached while multiple workflows reference the same auth object. Quick checks that usually help: 1) duplicate the credential and rebind one test node, 2) run one workflow in isolation, 3) compare node-level error logs vs global warning state. If the warning persists on untouched nodes, it may be UI-level stale state rather than runtime failure.

[Augustin_Afric]

Thank you. It seems that there are more persons with the same issue in n8n. and started from versión 2.8.3.