This article provides a complete, practical walkthrough of the Manual Ftp Automation Webhook n8n agent. It connects HTTP Request, Webhook across approximately 1 node(s). Expect a Intermediate setup in 15-45 minutes. One‑time purchase: €29.

What This Agent Does

This agent orchestrates a reliable automation between HTTP Request, Webhook, handling triggers, data enrichment, and delivery with guardrails for errors and rate limits.

It streamlines multi‑step processes that would otherwise require manual exports, spreadsheet cleanup, and repeated API requests. By centralizing logic in n8n, it reduces context switching, lowers error rates, and ensures consistent results across teams.

Typical outcomes include faster lead handoffs, automated notifications, accurate data synchronization, and better visibility via execution logs and optional Slack/Email alerts.

How It Works

The workflow uses standard n8n building blocks like Webhook or Schedule triggers, HTTP Request for API calls, and control nodes (IF, Merge, Set) to validate inputs, branch on conditions, and format outputs. Retries and timeouts improve resilience, while credentials keep secrets safe.

Third‑Party Integrations

• HTTP Request
• Webhook

Import and Use in n8n

1. Open n8n and create a new workflow or collection.
2. Choose Import from File or Paste JSON.
3. Paste the JSON below, then click Import.
4. Show n8n JSON

   Title:  
   Automating File Transfers with n8n: Download, Upload, and Verify Files via FTP
   
   Meta Description:  
   Learn how to automate downloading an image from a URL and uploading it to an FTP server using n8n. This workflow also verifies the upload by listing directory contents post-transfer.
   
   Keywords:  
   n8n, workflow automation, FTP upload, file transfer, HTTP request, FTP directory list, automation script, n8n tutorial, file operations, open-source automation
   
   Third-party APIs and Services Used:
   
   - HTTP: n8n HTTP Request Node (https://n8n.io/n8n-logo.png)
   - FTP Server (used via n8n FTP Node with user-configured credentials)
   
   —
   
   Short Article:
   
   Automating File Transfers with n8n: Download, Upload, and Verify Files via FTP
   
   In today’s fast-paced digital ecosystem, automating repetitive tasks can dramatically improve productivity. One common scenario involves downloading files from the internet and uploading them to an FTP server—whether for backup purposes, distribution, or integration into larger workflows.
   
   n8n, the open-source workflow automation tool, offers a simple way to handle such tasks using its modular, no-code interface. In this article, we’ll walk through a basic workflow that fetches an image from a public URL, uploads it to an FTP server, and confirms that it was uploaded successfully.
   
   Let’s dive into the components of the workflow:
   
   The Workflow Summary
   
   Our workflow consists of four primary nodes:
   
   1. Manual Trigger
   2. HTTP Request
   3. FTP Upload
   4. FTP List (Directory Listing)
   
   Together, these nodes automate the following process:
   
   - Manually initiate the workflow.
   - Download the n8n logo image from the internet.
   - Upload the image to a specified directory on the FTP server.
   - Retrieve and list all files in the destination folder to confirm successful upload.
   
   The Step-by-Step Breakdown
   
   1. Manual Trigger Node
   
   Every automation begins with a trigger. In this case, we employ the Manual Trigger node, which allows the user to start the workflow manually through the n8n editor. This is ideal for testing or occasional file transfers.
   
   2. HTTP Request Node
   
   Once triggered, the HTTP Request node makes a GET request to download the image file:
   
   - URL: https://n8n.io/n8n-logo.png
   - Response Format: File
   
   By setting the response format to "file," the node ensures that the binary data is passed to subsequent steps as an actual file usable by the FTP node.
   
   3. FTP Node (Upload Operation)
   
   The next step is to transfer the file to an FTP server. For this, the FTP node is configured with:
   
   - Operation: Upload
   - Path: /upload/n8n_logo.png
   
   The node uses saved FTP credentials (referenced anonymously here as ftp_creds) to connect to the target server and upload the downloaded file to the /upload/ directory.
   
   4. FTP Node (List Operation)
   
   To verify that the upload was successful, the workflow includes a second FTP node configured to list the contents of the destination directory (/upload/). This acts not only as a confirmation mechanism but also as a potential hook for branching logic—such as error handling or logging—based on the presence or absence of files.
   
   Use Cases & Extensibility
   
   While this is a relatively simple example, the pattern can be extended to serve a range of use cases:
   
   - Automatically archiving website assets.
   - Distributing files to partners or clients.
   - Monitoring and alerting on missing uploads.
   - Integrating with third-party systems like CRM or CMS platforms.
   
   Thanks to n8n’s flexibility, you can chain additional logic such as conditional checks, Slack notifications, or integrations with cloud services like AWS S3 or Google Drive.
   
   Final Thoughts
   
   This n8n workflow clearly demonstrates the power of automation in handling key file operations—downloading from an HTTP source and uploading to an FTP server—with minimal configuration. Whether you're managing digital assets or orchestrating more complex data pipelines, n8n provides the building blocks to streamline your workflows efficiently and reliably.
   
   By leveraging just four nodes, you can automate a task that would otherwise require manual download, FTP software, and repeated verification—empowering you to focus on higher-value activities.
   
   Ready to take your automation skills further? Try integrating this flow with email notifications, file renaming logic, or scheduling the download/upload to run at intervals. The possibilities are endless with n8n.
   
   —  
   Written by Your AI Assistant  
   Powering smarter workflows, one node at a time.

5. Set credentials for each API node (keys, OAuth) in Credentials.
6. Run a test via Execute Workflow. Inspect Run Data, then adjust parameters.
7. Enable the workflow to run on schedule, webhook, or triggers as configured.

Tips: keep secrets in credentials, add retries and timeouts on HTTP nodes, implement error notifications, and paginate large API fetches.

Validation: use IF/Code nodes to sanitize inputs and guard against empty payloads.

Why Automate This with AI Agents

AI‑assisted automations offload repetitive, error‑prone tasks to a predictable workflow. Instead of manual copy‑paste and ad‑hoc scripts, your team gets a governed pipeline with versioned state, auditability, and observable runs.

n8n’s node graph makes data flow transparent while AI‑powered enrichment (classification, extraction, summarization) boosts throughput and consistency. Teams reclaim time, reduce operational costs, and standardize best practices without sacrificing flexibility.

Compared to one‑off integrations, an AI agent is easier to extend: swap APIs, add filters, or bolt on notifications without rewriting everything. You get reliability, control, and a faster path from idea to production.

Best Practices

• Credentials: restrict scopes and rotate tokens regularly.
• Resilience: configure retries, timeouts, and backoff for API nodes.
• Data Quality: validate inputs; normalize fields early to reduce downstream branching.
• Performance: batch records and paginate for large datasets.
• Observability: add failure alerts (Email/Slack) and persistent logs for auditing.
• Security: avoid sensitive data in logs; use environment variables and n8n credentials.

FAQs

Can I swap integrations later? Yes. Replace or add nodes and re‑map fields without rebuilding the whole flow.

How do I monitor failures? Use Execution logs and add notifications on the Error Trigger path.

Does it scale? Use queues, batching, and sub‑workflows to split responsibilities and control load.

Is my data safe? Keep secrets in Credentials, restrict token scopes, and review access logs.