> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://nango.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# n8n - How do I link my account?

# Overview

To authenticate with n8n, you need:

1. **Base URL** - Your n8n instance's base URL.
2. **API Key** - A key that grants access to the n8n API for your instance.

<Note>
  On n8n Cloud, the API isn't available on the free trial — your instance must be on a paid Cloud plan. Self-hosted instances have API access by default, regardless of plan.
</Note>

This guide will walk you through finding your **Base URL** and generating your **API Key** in n8n.

### Prerequisites

* A self-hosted n8n instance, or an n8n Cloud account on a paid plan.

### Instructions

#### Step 1: Finding your base URL

Your **Base URL** is your n8n instance's root URL — don't include `/api`:

* **n8n Cloud**: `https://<your-name>.app.n8n.cloud`, where `<your-name>` is your Cloud subdomain.
* **Self-hosted**: `https://<your-instance-url>`.

#### Step 2: Generating your API key

1. Log in to n8n.
2. Go to **Settings** > **n8n API**.
3. Select **Create an API key**.
4. Choose a **Label** and set an **Expiration** for the key.
5. If you're on an Enterprise plan, choose the **Scopes** to grant the key.

<Note>
  Non-enterprise API keys have full access to all of the account's resources and capabilities — there's no way to scope them down.
</Note>

#### Step 3: Enter credentials in the Connect UI

Once you have your **Base URL** and **API Key**:

1. Open the form where you need to authenticate with n8n.
2. Enter your **Base URL** and **API Key** in their field provided.
3. Submit the form, and you should be successfully authenticated.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/nango/HXmRmjJH_IOg9vo8/api-integrations/n8n/form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HXmRmjJH_IOg9vo8&q=85&s=1ce943092db4614c886331f7d0133fb7" style={{maxWidth: "450px" }} width="998" height="1216" data-path="api-integrations/n8n/form.png" />

You are now connected to n8n.