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n8n License Patch Guide

Seleccione el flujo que necesita y copie los comandos con un clic. Todo comparte la misma configuracion para no cometer errores entre pestanas.

Run the maintained pre-patched container (`latestold` for v1, `latest`/`stable` and `beta` for v2) when you want the fastest install.

Manual Patch Workflow

Use this track when you want a doc-style checklist you can audit or adapt. The workflow itself is fully supported; only the helper script is flagged as deprecated because the Dockerfile patch now covers every maintained version.

Docs-first

New baseline

Dockerfile patch (clean rebuild)

Rebuild any upstream n8n release with the license override baked in. Works on every currently available version and keeps your containers immutable.

# Dockerfile patch to change license server URL and public key
#Change N8N_BASE_TAG as needed
ARG N8N_BASE_TAG=2.1.1
FROM n8nio/n8n:${N8N_BASE_TAG}

USER root

# ---- Build arguments ----
ARG NEW_URL="https://www.n8selfhosted.com"
ARG NEW_CERT="-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----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\nhNCqS2JdxHm/+CbsPJVonIlW2dTb\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----"

# ---- Create and apply patch in one step ----
RUN TARGET_FILE=$(ls /usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/node_modules/.pnpm/@n8n_io+license-sdk@*/node_modules/@n8n_io/license-sdk/dist/LicenseManager.js 2>/dev/null | head -n 1) && \
    if [ -z "$TARGET_FILE" ]; then \
        echo "ERROR: LicenseManager.js not found!"; \
        find /usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n -name "*.js" | grep -i license | head -n 10; \
        exit 1; \
    fi && \
    echo "Found: $TARGET_FILE" && \
    cp "$TARGET_FILE" "${TARGET_FILE}.backup" && \
    node -e " \
        const fs = require('fs'); \
        const file = process.argv[1]; \
        const url = process.argv[2]; \
        const cert = process.argv[3]; \
        let content = fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8'); \
        content = content.replace(/https:\/\/license\.n8n\.io/g, url); \
        const formattedCert = cert.replace(/\\\\n/g, '\\n'); \
        content = content.replace(/-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----[\\s\\S]*?-----END PUBLIC KEY-----/g, formattedCert); \
        fs.writeFileSync(file, content, 'utf8'); \
        console.log('✓ Patched'); \
    " "$TARGET_FILE" "$NEW_URL" "$NEW_CERT" && \
    if grep -q "$NEW_URL" "$TARGET_FILE"; then \
        echo "✓ Verified"; \
    else \
        echo "✗ Failed"; \
        exit 1; \
    fi && \
    chown node:node "$TARGET_FILE" && \
    chmod 644 "$TARGET_FILE"

# ---- Final setup ----
USER node
WORKDIR /home/node

Build your patched image locally:

docker build -t local/n8n-patched:latest -f Dockerfile .

Run the freshly built image:

docker run -d --name [container_name] -p 5678:5678 local/n8n-patched:latest

patcher.sh helper (legacy)

Deprecated

Still available for frozen containers (below 1.118.1) where rebuilding is not possible. It keeps a backup so you can restore with sh ./patcher.sh restore. New installs should stay on the Dockerfile patch.

Configuration Helper

Configure your container name and image. These values will be used in all copy buttons throughout this section.

Container Name:

Image Name:

Changes apply automatically to the copy buttons below.

1. Install Docker and Run n8n

Install Docker on your system and run the official n8n image.

Docker Run (Simple)

Start the container (no special environment variables required):

docker run -d --name [container_name] -p 5678:5678 [image_name]

Replace [container_name] and [image_name] (use n8nio/n8n:latest or your custom image).

Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

version: '3.7'

services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest # Or your custom image
    container_name: n8n
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      # Variables
      # ... add more env
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

volumes:
  n8n_data:

Start the docker-compose:

docker-compose up -d

2. Access the Container

To modify the license certificate, you need root access inside the container:

docker exec -it --user root [container_name] sh

3. Download the Patcher Script

Download patcher.sh inside the container.

Download command:

wget -O patcher.sh https://patcher.n8selfhosted.com/patcher

Make executable:

chmod +x patcher.sh

4. Using the Patcher

The patcher.sh script has two commands:

Patch - creates a backup of the original license certificate and replaces it with a custom one.
Restore - restores the original certificate from the backup.

Patch command:

sh ./patcher.sh patch

Expected output for patch command:

/home/node # sh ./patcher.sh patch
Detected: Running main logic INSIDE the container.
...
Patch applied! Restart n8n for the changes to take effect.
Patch License URL applied! https://patcher.n8selfhosted.com
/home/node #

Restore command:

sh ./patcher.sh restore

Expected output for restore command:

/home/node # sh ./patcher.sh restore
Detected: Running main logic INSIDE the container.
...
Starting operation: RESTORE
Restoring the original file from backup...
Original file restored! Restart n8n for the changes to take effect.
/home/node #

Use "exit" to exit the container shell.

5. Restart the Container

After applying the patch, restart your container to apply the changes:

docker restart [container_name]

6. Activate the License

Access your application's web interface.

Go to Settings.

Enter your N8SH-Entomai license. (If you do not have one, check the "Get Free License" tab).

Docker Image Method (Recommended)

This is the easiest and fastest way to get started. The image is already patched.

Configuration Helper

Configure your container name and image. These values will be used in all copy buttons throughout this section.

Container Name:

Image Name:

Changes apply automatically to the copy buttons below.

1. Install Docker

Install Docker on your system following the official instructions.

2. Run the Pre-patched Container

Use the pre-patched Docker image that comes with the license already configured. No additional patching required.

Docker Run (Simple)

Start the container with the pre-patched image:

docker run -d --name [container_name] -p 5678:5678 [image_name]

The image ([image_name]) is already configured as ghcr.io/n8nsh/n8n:latest in the Configuration Helper.

Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

version: '3.7'

services:
  n8n:
    image: ghcr.io/n8nsh/n8n:latest # Pre-patched image
    container_name: n8n
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      # Variables
      # ... add more env
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

volumes:
  n8n_data:

Start the docker-compose:

docker-compose up -d

3. Activate the License

No restart needed. The container is already patched. Simply access the web interface.

Go to Settings.

Enter your N8SH-Entomai license. (If you do not have one, check the "Get Free License" tab).

Video Tutorial (Both Methods)

Changelog

Version 1.1

Automated SDK license configuration - no longer need to set N8N_LICENSE_SERVER_URL when creating Docker containers
Patcher automatically changes config.server settings only for SDK license, leaving other instance configurations untouched
Patcher automatically locates the SDK license file inside the container

n8n License Patch Guide

Manual Patch Workflow

Dockerfile patch (clean rebuild)

patcher.sh helper (legacy)

Configuration Helper

1. Install Docker and Run n8n

2. Access the Container

3. Download the Patcher Script

4. Using the Patcher

5. Restart the Container

6. Activate the License

Docker Image Method (Recommended)

Configuration Helper

1. Install Docker

2. Run the Pre-patched Container

3. Activate the License

Video Tutorial (Both Methods)

How to Get a Free Starter License

1. Go to the Order Portal

2. Register and Complete the Order

3. Get the License

4. Activate in n8n

How to Reset a License

1. Log In and Go to Orders

2. Find and Reset the License

Enable AI Assistant

1. Set the base URL

2. How credits work

3. Providers roadmap

Changelog

Version 1.1