# Create restorable n8n Docker backups in Google Drive with SSH: n8n workflow

> Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Drive. 44 steps, 1 branch, 2 loops or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-restorable-n8n-docker-backups-in-google-drive-with-ss (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)

# Create restorable n8n Docker backups in Google Drive with SSH

Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Drive. 44 steps, 1 branch, 2 loops or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fcreate-restorable-n8n-docker-backups-in-google-drive-with-ss)

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

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**2** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 2 Logic 20 Service 22

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

- 1 **Run Scheduled Backup** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Receive Restore Files** Form trigger *Starts it*
- 3 **Set Backup Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 4 **Set Restore Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 5 **Create Backup Folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 6 **Split Uploaded Backup Files** Code *Logic*
- 7 **Create Credentials Folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 8 **Create Workflows Folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 9 **Parse Uploaded JSON Files** Extract From File *Service*
- 10 **Export Credentials via SSH** Ssh *Service*
- 11 **Export Workflows via SSH** Ssh *Service*
- 12 **Detect Backup Record Types** Code *Logic*
- 13 **Parse Credential Export JSON** Code *Logic*
- 14 **Parse Workflow Export JSON** Code *Logic*
- 15 **Route Workflows and Credentials** Switch *Logic*
- 16 **Split Credential Export** Split Out *Logic*
- 17 **Split Workflow Export** Split Out *Logic*
- 18 **Split Workflow Records** Split Out *Logic*
- 19 **Split Credential Records** Split Out *Logic*
- 20 **Loop Over Credentials** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 21 **Convert Credential Archive to JSON** Convert To File *Service*
- 22 **Convert Workflow Archive to JSON** Convert To File *Service*
- 23 **Loop Over Workflows** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 24 **Convert Workflows for Import** Convert To File *Service*
- 25 **Convert Credentials for Import** Convert To File *Service*
- 26 **Convert Credential to JSON** Convert To File *Service*
- 27 **Prepare Credential Archive Upload** Code *Logic*
- 28 **Prepare Workflow Archive Upload** Code *Logic*
- 29 **Convert Workflow to JSON** Convert To File *Service*
- 30 **Upload Workflows to Remote Host** Ssh *Service*
- 31 **Upload Credentials to Remote Host** Ssh *Service*
- 32 **Prepare Credential File Upload** Code *Logic*
- 33 **Upload Credential Archive to Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 34 **Upload Workflow Archive to Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 35 **Prepare Workflow File Upload** Code *Logic*
- 36 **Import Workflows into n8n** Ssh *Service*
- 37 **Import Credentials into n8n** Ssh *Service*
- 38 **Upload Credential File to Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 39 **Merge Workflow and Credential Exports** Merge *Logic*
- 40 **Upload Workflow File to Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 41 **Build Combined Backup** Code *Logic*
- 42 **Convert Combined Backup to JSON** Convert To File *Service*
- 43 **Prepare Combined Backup Upload** Code *Logic*
- 44 **Upload Combined Backup to Drive** Google Drive *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone submitting a form
- **Steps:** 44, with 1 branch, 2 loops or waits
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Google Drive
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on someone submitting a form.

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 44 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 44 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%2Fcreate-restorable-n8n-docker-backups-in-google-drive-with-ss)
- **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)

## Workflows like it

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

- [**Automated document ingestion & vectorization with RAG** 47 steps · calls a model · Google Docs, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-document-ingestion-and-vectorization-with-rag)
- [**AI agent to chat with Google Drive** 49 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Supabase](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-agent-to-chat-with-google-drive)
- [**Multimodal Political AI Chatbot for WhatsApp: Text, Voice** 37 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Pinecone](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/multimodal-political-ai-chatbot-for-whatsapp-text-voice)
- [**Verify onboarding compliance documents with OpenAI** 37 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/verify-onboarding-compliance-documents-with-openai)
- [**My solution for the "Agentic Arena Community Contest" with RAG** 34 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Qdrant](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/my-solution-for-the-agentic-arena-community-contest-with-rag)
- [**Send, chase, and e-signature with Airtable and TurboDocx** 33 steps · Airtable, Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/send-chase-and-e-signature-with-airtable-and-turbodocx)