Configure n8n Triggers

Prerequisites

• n8n instance running with at least one workflow
• Access to the event source (app webhook settings, cron schedule, etc.)

Steps

1. Choose the right trigger type. Webhook Trigger: use when your app sends real-time events (user signup, payment, form submission). Schedule Trigger: use for periodic tasks (daily list sync, weekly reporting). App Trigger: use when n8n has a native integration (Attio, Slack, GitHub).

2. Set up a Webhook trigger. Add a Webhook node as the first node. n8n generates a unique URL. Copy this URL and configure it in your app's webhook settings. Test by sending a sample event -- n8n will display the received payload for you to map fields.

3. Set up a Schedule trigger. Add a Schedule Trigger node. Configure the cron expression for your desired frequency. Common patterns: every hour ("0 * * * *"), daily at 9am ("0 9 * * *"), every Monday ("0 9 * * 1"). Always set the timezone to match your business hours.

4. Set up an App trigger. Add the relevant app trigger node (e.g., "Attio Trigger"). Authenticate with your credentials. Select the event type (e.g., "Record Created in Deals"). n8n polls the app for new events at a configurable interval.

5. Handle trigger data. After the trigger fires, the data is available to downstream nodes. Use the expression editor to reference trigger fields: {{ $json.email }}, {{ $json.company_name }}. Always test with real data to verify field names match.

6. Add trigger filters. Not every trigger event needs a full workflow run. Add an IF node immediately after your trigger to filter: only process signups where plan is "pro", only process webhooks where event_type is "deal.created". This prevents unnecessary processing.