39 lines
1.2 KiB
Markdown
39 lines
1.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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id: 22d124fd-34e9-4538-acef-9962642a0e54
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type: insight
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title: "Insight: n8n test_workflow API cannot trigger schedule-based workflows"
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tags: [n8n, mcp, api, limitation]
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importance: 0.5
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confidence: 0.8
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created: "2026-02-20T04:17:05.893034+00:00"
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updated: "2026-03-01T15:58:51.839215+00:00"
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relations:
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- target: c3070599-c723-4993-bada-3103e6f03e53
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type: RELATED_TO
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direction: incoming
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strength: 0.77
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edge_id: 0e0bbad1-952b-413b-ade8-9e9cd58d4465
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- target: de4a3c65-6eb5-4f73-ad69-685dba0a7847
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type: RELATED_TO
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direction: incoming
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strength: 0.83
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edge_id: e3349a77-3b63-4acd-a4cd-ae3a61882888
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---
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# n8n API Limitation: Schedule Triggers Not Testable via API
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## Observation
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The n8n MCP `n8n_test_workflow` tool (and the underlying n8n API) only works with externally-triggerable workflows. Supported trigger types:
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- Webhook
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- Form
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- Chat
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## Limitation
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Schedule-triggered workflows (e.g., cron, interval) **cannot** be executed on-demand via the API or MCP tools.
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## Workarounds
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- Wait for the next scheduled run
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- Manually test the SSH command chain outside n8n
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- Temporarily add a webhook trigger node to test, then remove it
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- Use the n8n UI "Execute Workflow" button (manual run from the editor)
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