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| description: Create, run, and activate workflows. |
| contentType: howto |
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| # Create a workflow |
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| A [workflow](/glossary.md#workflow-n8n) is a collection of nodes connected together to automate a process. You build workflows on the [workflow canvas](/glossary.md#canvas-n8n). |
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| ## Create a workflow |
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| 1. Select the <span class="inline-image">{.off-glb}</span> **button** in the upper-left corner of the side menu. Select workflow. |
| 2. If your n8n instance supports projects, you'll also need to choose whether to create the workflow inside your **personal space** or a specific **project** you have access to. If you're using the community version, you'll always create workflows inside your personal space. |
| 3. Get started by adding a trigger node: select **Add first step...** |
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| Or: |
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| 1. Select the <span class="inline-image">{.off-glb}</span> **create** button in the upper-right corner from either the **Overview** page or a specific **project**. Select workflow. |
| 2. If you're doing this from the **Overview** page, you'll create the workflow inside your personal space. If you're doing this from inside a project, you'll create the workflow inside that specific project. |
| 3. Get started by adding a trigger node: select **Add first step...** |
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| If it's your first time building a workflow, you may want to use the [quickstart guides](/try-it-out/index.md) to quickly try out n8n features. |
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| ## Run workflows manually |
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| You may need to run your workflow manually when building and testing, or if your workflow doesn't have a trigger node. |
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| To run manually, select **Test Workflow**. |
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| ## Run workflows automatically |
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| All new workflows are inactive by default. |
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| You need to activate workflows that start with a trigger node or Webhook node so that they can run automatically. When a workflow is inactive, you must run it manually. |
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| To activate or deactivate your workflow, open your workflow and toggle **Inactive** / **Active**. |
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| Once a workflow is active, it runs whenever its trigger conditions are met. |
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