When building automations in n8n, one of the most common tasks is connecting to external services like Slack, Google Drive, or a database. These connections require sensitive information — API keys, tokens, passwords — and handling them securely is critical.
That’s where External Secrets in n8n come into play. They provide a safer way to manage secrets without directly storing them inside your n8n instance. Let’s dive into what external secrets are, why they matter, and how you can use them effectively.
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🔑 What Are External Secrets?
By default, n8n has a Credentials Manager, where you can save API keys or authentication details for nodes. While convenient, storing secrets directly in n8n can be a security risk, especially in production or enterprise setups.
External Secrets allow n8n to pull credentials from trusted secret managers instead of storing them locally. In simple terms:
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Your secrets stay safe in tools like AWS Secrets Manager, Google Secret Manager, or HashiCorp Vault.
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n8n fetches the required credentials only when a workflow needs them.
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Secrets never sit exposed in your n8n database.
⚡ Why Use External Secrets in n8n?
Here are the key benefits of adopting external secrets:
1. Stronger Security
Sensitive information is stored in specialized secret managers designed for protection, not in the n8n database.
2. Centralized Management
If you use multiple apps (databases, CI/CD pipelines, microservices), external secret managers act as a single source of truth.
3. Easy Secret Rotation
API keys and tokens often need to be rotated. With external secrets, you update them once in the secret manager — and n8n automatically fetches the new value.
4. Compliance-Friendly
For organizations with strict security or compliance requirements (ISO, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR), external secrets ensure better auditability and policy alignment.
5. Reduced Risk in Case of Breach
If someone gains access to your n8n instance, they won’t automatically see your secrets, since they’re stored elsewhere.
🛠️ How Do External Secrets Work in n8n?
The workflow is simple:
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Configure a Secret Manager Provider
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This could be AWS Secrets Manager, GCP Secret Manager, HashiCorp Vault, or any supported provider.
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Reference Secrets in n8n
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Instead of pasting your API key directly, you reference it with a key name like
slack-api-token.
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n8n Fetches Secrets on Demand
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When a workflow runs, n8n fetches the actual value securely from the external provider.
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📌 Example: Using External Secrets in n8n
Imagine you’re building an n8n workflow to send Slack messages.
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Without External Secrets:
You paste your Slack API token directly into the Credentials Manager. If someone gets access to your n8n database, they can see your token. -
With External Secrets:
You store the Slack token in AWS Secrets Manager asslack-api-token.
In n8n, you configure Slack credentials to point to that secret.
When your workflow runs, n8n fetches the token securely at runtime.
This way, your token never sits inside n8n’s storage.
🚀 Setting Up External Secrets in n8n (High-Level Steps)
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Choose a Secret Manager
Decide where you want to store secrets (AWS, GCP, HashiCorp Vault, etc.). -
Enable External Secrets in n8n
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Configure your
n8ndeployment to integrate with the chosen secret manager. -
This may involve environment variables like:
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Store Secrets in the Manager
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For example, add your
slack-api-tokento AWS Secrets Manager.
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Reference Secrets in n8n
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When creating a credential in n8n, select "External Secret" and specify the key name.
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Run Your Workflow
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At execution time, n8n fetches the secret securely and uses it.
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🔮 Best Practices for External Secrets
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Use descriptive names: Instead of
apiKey1, name itslack-bot-api-keyfor clarity. -
Rotate secrets regularly: Automate rotations in your secret manager.
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Restrict access: Only allow n8n’s service account to fetch required secrets.
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Audit logs: Enable logging in your secret manager to monitor usage.
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Start small: Begin by moving your most critical credentials first.
🎯 Conclusion
External Secrets in n8n bring enterprise-grade security to your workflows. By connecting n8n to trusted secret managers, you:
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Protect sensitive data,
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Simplify secret management,
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Improve compliance, and
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Gain peace of mind when running automation at scale.
If you’re running n8n for personal projects, the built-in Credentials Manager may be enough. But for teams, production environments, or businesses with strict security needs, External Secrets is a must-have feature.
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