How to Run n8n Locally with Docker (Clear Steps + Real Fixes)

What Does It Mean to Run n8n Locally?

Running n8n locally means using your own computer like a server, instead of relying on n8n’s cloud servers.
In other words, your workflows don’t live on n8n’s platform — they run directly on your machine.

This gives you:

• Full control over your data and environment

• The ability to work with local files or internal tools

• No usage limits, no subscriptions, and no external dependencies

If you're building serious, private, or large-scale automations, local setup is the way to go.

Step 1: Install Prerequisites

Before anything else, make sure you have:

• Docker Desktop installed and running

• At least 2 GB free RAM

• A terminal (Command Prompt or PowerShell)

• Not using a OneDrive-synced folder (trust me on this)

Step 2: Set Up Your Project Folder

Open a terminal and run:

mkdir C:\n8n_studio

cd C:\n8n_studio

Create a file called docker-compose.yml in this folder. You can use Notepad, just make sure the extension is .yml, not .txt.

Paste this into the file:

services:

n8n:

image:

n8nio/n8n ports: - "5678:5678"

volumes: - ./n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

restart: always

Tip: If you see a warning like the attribute version is obsolete, ignore it — or remove the version: line completely.

Step 3: Start n8n Locally

Now run this in your terminal:

docker-compose up -d

Then open your browser and go to:

http://localhost:5678

Boom — you should see the n8n interface!

Real Problems I Faced (and Solved)

❌ Problem 1: Folder was in OneDrive, Docker freaked out

What happened: Docker couldn’t access my project folder properly.
Fix: I moved the folder to C:\n8n_studio directly on my C drive.

❌ Problem 2: n8n didn’t come back after I restarted my computer

What happened: After restarting, I couldn’t access n8n at localhost:5678.
Fix: I simply opened the same folder in the terminal again and ran:

docker-compose up -d

My data was safe because the n8n_data volume stored all my workflows.

❌ Problem 3: I accidentally saved docker-compose.yml as a text file

Fix: In Notepad's save dialog, select "All Files" as file type and write the name like:

docker-compose.yml

How Do You Know It’s Working?

After starting n8n and visiting localhost:5678, you should see the workflow editor.

Why Local Setup Is Powerful

With n8n running locally, you can:

• Automate your own files and folders

• Run image or audio processing flows that use your local machine's power

• Build client workflows without worrying about cloud limits

You can check these out on my AI Automation Projects page.

Need Help Setting It Up?

If you'd like me to build or set up an automation for you —
I’m available for freelance automation work. Contact me here. Let's make your workflows smarter and smoother.