# Back up workflows to GitHub: n8n workflow template

> Started by a clock, and works across GitHub. 10 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-workflows-to-github (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Integrations](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Integrations#library)

# Back up workflows to GitHub

Started by a clock, and works across GitHub. 10 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fback-up-workflows-to-github)

**10 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Logic 4 Service 5

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

- 1 **Schedule Trigger** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Get All Active Workflows** N8n *Service*
- 3 **Check if File exists And Return if Exists** Github *Service*
- 4 **Extract from File** Extract From File *Service*
- 5 **Check if File Missing** If *Logic*
- 6 **Check if Update to Date** If *Logic*
- 7 **Create a file** Github *Service*
- 8 **Ignores because it's not related to missing file** No Op *Logic*
- 9 **Ignores Because it is already up to date** No Op *Logic*
- 10 **Edit a file** Github *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** A clock
- **Steps:** 10, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** GitHub
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own GitHub account. 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?

Plan an afternoon. 10 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

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 10 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%2Fback-up-workflows-to-github)
- **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.

[GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=GitHub#library)

## Workflows like it

Also integrations, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Automate GitHub Issue Assignments with Comment Commands** 10 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-github-issue-assignments-with-comment-commands)
- [**Automate assigning GitHub issues** 10 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-assigning-github-issues)
- [**Assign issues to interested contributors with GitHub** 11 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/assign-issues-to-interested-contributors-with-github)
- [**Restore backed up workflows from GitHub to n8n** 12 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/restore-backed-up-workflows-from-github-to-n8n)
- [**Restore your credentials from GitHub** 8 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/restore-your-credentials-from-github)
- [**Back up n8n workflows nightly to GitHub** 7 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-n8n-workflows-nightly-to-github)