Automation library · Documents and files

Nightly n8n backup to Google Drive

Started by a clock, and works across Google Drive. 25 steps, 2 branches, 3 loops or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large

Download free
25 stepsLarge: read it before trusting it with anything live
2Branches: places the flow splits
3Loops or waits
1Service it connects to

The flow

Starts it 2Logic 11Service 12

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

  1. 1Schedule TriggerSchedule triggerStarts it
  2. 2PURGE DAYSSchedule triggerStarts it
  3. 3GET CURRENT FOLDERGoogle DriveService
  4. 4GET CURRENT FOLDER CREATES1Google DriveService
  5. 5CodeCodeLogic
  6. 6LIST OLD BACKUPSGoogle DriveService
  7. 7If n8n_oldIfLogic
  8. 8If1 n8n_backupsIfLogic
  9. 9you can deleteCodeLogic
  10. 10Create n8n_oldGoogle DriveService
  11. 11Merge mensageMergeLogic
  12. 12Create n8n_backupsGoogle DriveService
  13. 13Item Lists oldItem ListsLogic
  14. 14GET CURRENT FOLDER CREATESGoogle DriveService
  15. 15Loop Over Items purgeSplit In BatchesLogic
  16. 16IGNORE FILESFilterLogic
  17. 17DELETE OLD BACKUPGoogle DriveService
  18. 18GET CURRENT BACKUPS1Google DriveService
  19. 19Get many workflowsN8nService
  20. 20Item ListsItem ListsLogic
  21. 21Move Binary DataMove Binary DataService
  22. 22Loop Over ItemsSplit In BatchesLogic
  23. 23Loop Over Items currentSplit In BatchesLogic
  24. 24MOVE INTO OLD FOLDERGoogle DriveService
  25. 25UPLOAD WORKFLOWSGoogle DriveService

How it's built

Starts on
A clock
Steps
25, with 2 branches, 3 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 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 25 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 25 steps before you point it at anything that matters.