Update n8n in Coolify: Step-by-Step Learn how to easily fix the “Critical Update Available” warning in self-hosted n8n using Coolify. Follow our step-by-step guide to upgrade securely!

How to Fix n8n “Critical Update Available” in Coolify: Step-by-Step Tutorial

If you are running a self-hosted instance of n8n—the powerful workflow automation tool—you might occasionally see a persistent “Critical Update Available” notification on your dashboard. Ignoring these updates isn’t ideal, as they often contain vital security fixes and crucial feature enhancements. Fortunately, if you manage your stack using Coolify, updating your n8n service is incredibly straightforward. This guide, based on our recent video tutorial, walks you through the exact process to safely upgrade your self-hosted n8n using the Coolify dashboard, ensuring your data remains intact.

Why Keeping Your Self-Hosted n8n Updated Matters

Maintaining the latest version of any self-hosted software is crucial. For n8n, this is especially true for security. When you see that warning panel, it’s a signal that you need to perform an upgrade. You can check the ‘What’s New’ section within your n8n instance to see exactly which updates and security patches you are missing.

A key takeaway from the process is understanding that Coolify abstracts away the complexity of Docker commands. Your workflows and data are safely stored in volumes, meaning only the application software itself gets replaced during the upgrade. This makes the whole process fast and reliable.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Update n8n in Coolify

This process requires interacting with your Coolify dashboard rather than directly through the n8n interface. Follow these steps precisely to perform a successful upgrade of your n8n service stack.

Step 1: Stop the Current n8n Services in Coolify

Before initiating the pull of a new Docker image, you must ensure the current running container is shut down safely. This prevents conflicts during the deployment.

Log in to your Coolify Dashboard.
Navigate to the specific n8n service tag you wish to update.
Locate the service management area and click the button to Stop the current services.
Confirm the action when prompted.

Wait a few moments. The status indicator will change from running to ‘Exited’, confirming the services are successfully stopped.

Step 2: Deploy the Latest Docker Image

Once stopped, you can instruct Coolify to fetch the newest version of the n8n application.

In the top right corner of the service management screen, click the Deploy button.
Coolify will automatically initiate the process to pull the latest Docker image from the repository for n8n.

You will see the service startup block appear, showing the system pulling the new image layers and extracting them. This is where Coolify excels, handling all the necessary docker pull and docker run commands for you. Depending on your server speed, this might take a minute or two.

Step 3: Verify Service Restart and Completion

The crucial sign that the upgrade n8n docker process is complete is the status indicator turning green.

Wait until the status changes to ‘Running’ (indicated by a green light).
Switch back to your n8n tab in the browser.
Refresh the page. The service needs a moment to fully restart after the container recreation.

Step 4: Confirm the New Version

To ensure everything is finalized, check the version number:

Once the n8n dashboard loads, notice that the initial update panel has disappeared.
Navigate to the Help section within n8n.
Confirm that the displayed version number reflects the latest available release. Your self-hosted n8n server has now been successfully updated and secured!

FAQ: Common Questions on n8n Update Coolify

Q1: Are my n8n workflows safe during this Coolify update?

Yes. As long as Coolify is managing your service using persistent volumes (which is the standard configuration), your workflow definitions, credentials, and data are preserved. Only the application code inside the container is being swapped out for the new version.

Q2: Why is Coolify better than manual Docker updates for n8n?

Coolify automates the necessary sequence: stopping the container, pulling the new image, removing the old container, and starting a new one. This removes the risk of human error involved in running multiple manual Docker CLI commands.

Q3: How often should I check for updates?

It is highly recommended to check for updates weekly, especially if n8n frequently releases security patches. Aim to resolve any critical update notification within 24-48 hours.

Conclusion

Updating your self-hosted automation stack doesn’t have to be intimidating. By leveraging the intuitive dashboard in Coolify, you can manage your n8n critical update notifications with just a few clicks. Stopping the service, deploying the new image, and confirming the status change ensures you always have the latest features and the strongest security posture for your workflow automation platform.

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