# Automated workflow backup to Google Drive with Google Sheets: n8n workflow

> Started by a clock, and works across Google Drive and Google Sheets. 28 steps, 3 loops or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-workflow-backup-to-google-drive-with-google-sheets (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Documents and files](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Documents+and+files#library)

# Automated workflow backup to Google Drive with Google Sheets

Started by a clock, and works across Google Drive and Google Sheets. 28 steps, 3 loops or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomated-workflow-backup-to-google-drive-with-google-sheets)

**28 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**3** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Logic 12 Service 15

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Schedule Trigger** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **CONFIG - Set your variables here** Set *Logic*
- 3 **Read Inventory** Google Sheets *Service*
- 4 **Create new backup folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 5 **Get all n8n workflows** N8n *Service*
- 6 **Loop over each workflow** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 7 **Calculate Changes (Sheets)** Code *Logic*
- 8 **After all uploads complete** Set *Logic*
- 9 **Format workflow for export** Code *Logic*
- 10 **Split Changes** Code *Logic*
- 11 **Clear Inventory** Google Sheets *Service*
- 12 **List all uploaded files** Google Drive *Service*
- 13 **Upload workflow to Google Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 14 **Append Log** Google Sheets *Service*
- 15 **Split Inventory** Code *Logic*
- 16 **Loop over files to download** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 17 **Update Inventory** Google Sheets *Service*
- 18 **Merge binary files** Code *Logic*
- 19 **Download file as binary** Google Drive *Service*
- 20 **Compress to ZIP** Compression *Service*
- 21 **Upload ZIP to parent folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 22 **Delete temporary folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 23 **Start cleanup (run once)** Set *Logic*
- 24 **List ZIP backups from Google Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 25 **Sort and isolate old ZIP backups** Code *Logic*
- 26 **Loop over ZIP backups to delete** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 27 **Delete a file** Google Drive *Service*
- 28 **Delete old ZIP backup** Google Drive *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** A clock
- **Steps:** 28, 3 loops or waits
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Google Drive, Google Sheets
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Drive and Google Sheets accounts. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Take your time. At 28 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 28 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomated-workflow-backup-to-google-drive-with-google-sheets)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)

## Workflows like it

Also documents and files, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Generate business requirement documents with Google Workspace** 28 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-business-requirement-documents-with-google-workspac)
- [**Provide academic OCR and RAG answers on Telegram with Gemini** 28 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/provide-academic-ocr-and-rag-answers-on-telegram-with-gemini)
- [**Automate commercial insurance submissions with Google Suite** 29 steps · Email, Google Docs](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-commercial-insurance-submissions-with-google-suite)
- [**Translate documents to multiple languages with Google Drive** 27 steps · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/translate-documents-to-multiple-languages-with-google-drive)
- [**AI-Powered RAG Document Processing & Chatbot with Google Drive** 27 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Supabase vectors](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-rag-document-processing-and-chatbot-with-google-d)
- [**Build a PDF Document RAG System with Mistral and Qdrant** 29 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Qdrant](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-pdf-document-rag-system-with-mistral-and-qdrant)