AutomateLab

n8n errors / Config

Missing encryption key. Worker started without the required N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY

platform: n8n / category: Config

Cause

In queue mode, worker containers must have N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY set explicitly; they do not read the main instance's config file.

Fix

Add N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=<same value as main> to every worker service in compose. Retrieve it from the main instance if not set explicitly (docker exec <main> cat /home/node/.n8n/config). Restart workers. If using N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY_FILE, read the file in an entrypoint and export it as N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY due to a known bug.

Source thread →

Part of the Automation Error Index — n8n errors: browse all.

Hitting an automation error we have not covered?

AutomateLab builds and debugs n8n, Make, and agent workflows as fixed-scope projects. If something is broken in production, tell us what you are seeing.

Describe the problem