Directus N8n Triggers

This guide covers how to use the Directus Trigger Node to automatically start your n8n workflows when something happens in Directus.

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Using the Directus Trigger Node

The Directus Trigger node automatically starts your workflow when something happens in Directus. This is perfect for automation!

Available Triggers

Quick reference of all available triggers organized by resource type:

Resource	Event	Description
Items	Created	Triggers when a new item is added to a collection
Items	Updated	Triggers when an existing item is modified
Items	Deleted	Triggers when an item is removed from a collection
Users	Created	Triggers when a new user is added
Users	Updated	Triggers when a user is modified
Users	Deleted	Triggers when a user is removed
Files	Uploaded	Triggers when a file is uploaded to Directus

Setting Up a Trigger

Add a Directus Trigger node to your workflow (it should be the first node)
Select the Resource type (Item, User, or File)
Configure based on resource:
- Items: Select the Collection to watch, then choose the Event (Created, Updated, or Deleted)
- Users: Choose the Event (Created, Updated, or Deleted)
- Files: Choose Uploaded event
Activate your workflow

The trigger creates a Flow in Directus with a webhook that automatically starts your workflow when the selected event occurs.

How Triggers Work

When you activate a workflow with a Directus Trigger node:

n8n automatically creates a Flow with a webhook in your Directus instance
Directus sends notifications to n8n when the selected event happens
Your workflow runs automatically with the data from Directus
When you deactivate the workflow, the Flow and webhook are automatically removed

Public URL Required Your n8n instance needs to be accessible from the internet for triggers to work. If you're using n8n Cloud, this is already set up. If you're self-hosting, you'll need to modify the Flow in Directus to use a tunnel (like ngrok or Cloudflare Tunnel) to expose your n8n instance publicly.

Tips and Best Practices

Using Trigger Data

You can use data from the trigger in subsequent nodes. The trigger data contains the full item, user, or file object that triggered the workflow:

{{ $json.id }} - Get the ID from the trigger
{{ $json.title }} - Get the title field
{{ $json.email }} - Get the email field (for user triggers)

This data is automatically available in all nodes that come after the trigger. Use expressions to access any field from the trigger data.

Filtering Trigger Events

You can add conditions after the trigger to only process specific events:

Check if status equals published before sending notifications
Filter by collection or field values
Only process certain types of files

Filtering Tip Use n8n's IF node after the trigger to add conditional logic. For example, only send notifications when {{ $json.status }} equals "published".

Troubleshooting

Trigger Issues

Trigger Not Firing:

Ensure your workflow is activated
Verify your n8n instance is publicly accessible (required for webhooks)
Check that the Directus instance can reach your n8n webhook URL
Test by manually creating/updating an item in Directus
Check Directus logs for any errors

Webhook Not Created:

Verify your Directus API token has permission to create webhooks
Ensure your n8n instance has a public URL
Check that your Directus instance is accessible from the internet

Connection Issues:

Make sure your Directus URL is correct and accessible
Verify your API token is valid and has the right permissions

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

For Directus-specific questions: Ask for help in the Directus Community
For n8n-specific questions: Visit the n8n Community Forum or check n8n Documentation
For trigger issues: Check that both your Directus and n8n instances are accessible

Next Steps

← Back to Overview Return to the integration overview
Learn about Directus Actions → Perform operations on your Directus data