⚠️ Trouble Importing JSON Workflows and Adding Nodes via Copy-Paste in Canvas

Questions
1

Hi everyone,

I’m encountering issues when trying to import JSON workflows or add new nodes by pasting JSON directly into the canvas.

Problem Description

  • When I use the “Import from File” option and select a .json file (either exported from n8n or generated externally), nothing happens — no error message, no confirmation, and no nodes are added.
  • Similarly, when I copy valid node JSON (typically a few nodes or a subgraph) and paste it into the canvas using Ctrl+V or Cmd+V, absolutely nothing gets inserted.
  • I’ve tried this with different workflows (small and large), and both in test and production environments.

What I’ve Already Tried

  • Validated the JSON format using a linter and by comparing it with exports from n8n itself.
  • Ensured the JSON begins with a valid "nodes": [...] structure.
  • Tested with and without "connections" and "pinData".
  • Switched browsers (Chrome, Firefox).
  • Cleared browser cache and cookies.
  • Reloaded the instance and restarted the browser.
  • Made sure I’m pasting inside an open canvas.

Has anyone experienced this?

Are there specific formatting rules or hidden metadata expected for successful imports?
Is this an issue with specific node types, or could it be linked to authentication/session state in n8n Cloud?

Environment Information

  • n8n version: 1.88.0 (n8n.cloud)
  • Database: Default (SQLite)
  • EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting: Default (own)
  • Running n8n via: n8n Cloud
  • Operating system: Cloud-hosted (n8n Cloud environment)

Thanks in advance for your help — this issue is blocking me from scaling my workflow efficiently.

Tomaso

2

Hey @Master_T ,

Thanks for explaining the silent import/paste issue. This only ever happened to me when the JSON structure was produced by LLMs / chatbots, and was faulty.

Could you share the JSON for just one simple node within triple backticks:

YOUR_JSON_HERE

Just to make sure its not the syntax. Sorry for my unhelpful reply.

3

Hi there. I am an absolute beginner and my coding skills are from ancient times and now basic. So i rely a lot on chatGPT or Claude. And David is absolutely right, you get very often incorrect code from the LLMs.

After some longer conversations with chatGPT, where it admits to do it incorrectly. I managed to get it working. Here an example node JSON that worked.

{
“nodes”: [
{
“parameters”: {},
“id”: “UNIQUE-ID-HERE”,
“name”: “My Custom Node”,
“type”: “n8n-nodes-base.set”,
“typeVersion”: 1,
“position”: [0, 0]
}
],
“connections”: {},
“pinData”: {},
“meta”: {
“instanceId”: “custom-instance-id”
}
}

It needs also the instanceId part as it seems.

I will now set up a ittle prompt that creates the right wrapper if take just the basic node code that the LLMs provide as part of a workflow. that should do the trick i hope :slight_smile:

4

Can you try this json and paste to your workflow canva?

It should work.

Also if you paste in the community with-in code block

type or paste code here

Screenshot_20250604_202516_HqPYtoG6@2x
Screenshot_20250604_202516_HqPYtoG6@2x512×190 3.24 KB

You should see the canva loading in here too.