How to Recover the n8n Password in Development Environments (Step by Step)

If you’ve lost access to your n8n instance—especially in a development environment—knowing how to recover your n8n password is essential to get back to work without losing your workflows.

In this article, I’ll walk you step by step through how to restore your n8n password, based on real, proven processes, so you can do it quickly and safely.

Why can the n8n password be lost?

Losing your n8n password can happen for several reasons:

• Credentials were changed without a backup.
• Incomplete initial setup.
• Long periods without access and forgetting the password.
• Issues with the database that stored the credentials.
• You were just tinkering around and didn’t expect to keep using the tool.

In development environments—especially when using Docker or local installations—there are no automatic recovery mechanisms like those found in SaaS apps. That’s why it’s useful to know how to manually recover your n8n password.

What you need to restore the password

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Access to the server or machine where n8n is installed.
• Permissions to use Docker (if applicable).
• A terminal or console with sufficient privileges to run commands.

How to recover and update the n8n password step by step

The following process restores the admin user without deleting your existing workflows or data.

1. Open your terminal

Start a command line session on the machine where your n8n instance is running.

2. Identify the n8n container

If n8n is running using Docker, you’ll need to identify the container:

docker ps

This command will show all running containers. Look for the one corresponding to n8n.

3. Run the reset command

Now, run the command inside the container to reset the default user:

docker exec -it [container_name] n8n user-management:reset

This will reset the admin user in the database, allowing you to create a new one.

📌 Replace [container_name] with the actual container name or ID you saw using docker ps.

4. Restart the container

For the changes to take effect, restart the service:

docker restart [container_name]

5. Log in and create new credentials

Open your browser in incognito mode (or clear the cache) and navigate to your n8n instance (for example, http://localhost:5678).

The system will prompt you to create a new admin account with:

• A new email address
• A new password

6. Verify that your workflows are intact

Once logged in, check your workflows and data: they should not have been lost during the process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does this process delete my workflows?

No. The reset command only affects the admin user, not your workflows or integration credentials.

Does it work if I’m not using Docker?

Yes, but the command will vary depending on how you installed n8n. In local installations, you can run:

n8n user-management:reset

Or check the documentation specific to your environment.

Can this be done without SSH access?

No. You need access to the server or system where n8n is running in order to execute the reset commands.

Conclusion (this is for SEO, you can ignore it)

Knowing how to recover your n8n password in development environments can save you time and headaches. With just a few simple steps, you can restore access without losing your workflows or data.

If you’re using Docker, the process is especially fast and safe: identify the container, run the reset command, and set up your new credentials.