"What triggers this workflow?" bug in self-hosted n8n UI

[DivineApe]

Self-hosted n8n in Hostinger VPS (Linux/Ubuntu), within Docker and Caddy as the web-server

Chatgpt-5 generated me an n8n workflow, I have it mostly configured but one node keeps failing

I want to add a node between the problem node and the node before it

However, every time i click the + in the connection line running between the nodes, this menu opens as a right panel:

>> What triggers this workflow?

It lists all the triggers for beginning a workflow and I cant cancel it out. It wont let me proceed unless I choose a trigger to start the workflow, however, i”m insterting a node between nodes, not starting a workflow

Right- click Add Node and the universal + on the canvas also, in my UI, open the trigger panel

I cant get past it

The actual first node is a Start Node, for triggering the automation manually

AI says its a bug, my UI shouldnt be doing that

Is it a bug though or am I doing something incorrectly?

Anyone else experienced this?

How do I get around it?

Thanks

[DivineApe]

Thank you for the welcome and sharing the doc

I’ve added and deleted nodes in the past

But that when I was self-hosting on a home device. This is the first time I’ve tried since moving my n8n to hostinger VPS

What I’m experiencing is unexpected behavior, seems to be a bug

[krisn0x]

Hey @DivineApe, could you paste your workflow here, in a code box (</> button)? Also, can you specify exactly which node is the failing one?

[DivineApe]

Thank you for your attention

My question isnt why the workflow or the node is failing

Instead my issue is with the UI

No matter where I try to add a node in the workflow it opens this panel on the right:
What triggers this workflow? A trigger is a step that starts your workflow

If i click the + between 2 nodes, or right click the canvas or click the universal + on the canvas, they all open that same trigger panel

Thats the issue, the UI is doing strange things and wont let me add a node to a workflow that already has 15 nodes, without choosing a trigger for starting the workflow

The UI think I’m choosing the first node of the workflow

[krisn0x]

I understood that, but I need to at least try and reproduce the issue to gain more insight and help out

[DivineApe]

Sorry understood, Ill paste it into the text box of original post

[jabbson]

Usually this behaviour is something that happens when you try to add the “next” (not a trigger) nodes to the canvas which doesn’t already have a trigger. Does your first node, which you referred to as the “Start Node” look anything like this:

Make sure that your first node is actually a trigger.

[DivineApe]

kris, I added the json in the original post with the credentials removed – thank you

[jabbson]

Remove the “Start node” and add one called “Trigger manually”. Then try to add more nodes at the end. Many nodes in your workflow is VERY outdated or completely deprecated (like the Start node). This is the cost of letting AI Assistant build your workflow.

[DivineApe]

Aah, I see, ok I’ll try that, thanks jabbson

Thanks also for the insight on using AI to design flows, this is my first, I thought that’s how its done

[krisn0x]

I would recommend using AI just as a guide, and build the workflow yourself. Also, you can use this forum to check how others built various workflows and learn from them pretty quickly. Good luck!