How to run deepseek with n8n?

You can run deepseek with n8n by calling the Deepseek API from an n8n workflow. This guide shows a quick Docker setup for n8n, how to store your DEEPSEEK_API_KEY, and a sample HTTP node that queries Deepseek. The steps are simple and designed for beginners who want automation with external AI search APIs.

What You Need to run deepseek with n8n

• Docker and docker-compose installed.
• An n8n Docker image (official n8n container).
• A Deepseek API key (DEEPSEEK_API_KEY).
• Basic access to the n8n web editor on port 5678.

Step 1: Run n8n with Docker

Start n8n in Docker with environment variables. This example exposes port 5678 and sets a placeholder API key. Replace values before use.

docker run -it --rm \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true \
  -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin \
  -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=change_me \
  -e DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=your_deepseek_api_key_here \
  n8nio/n8n:latest

Step 2: Docker Compose example

Use docker-compose to persist settings and make updates easier. Save this as docker-compose.yml in a folder and run docker-compose up -d.

version: '3'
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    ports:
      - '5678:5678'
    environment:
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=change_me
      - DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=your_deepseek_api_key_here
    restart: unless-stopped

Step 3: Create a workflow that calls Deepseek

Create a new workflow in n8n. Add an HTTP Request node. Configure it to call the Deepseek API using your key.

Example HTTP node settings (method, URL, headers, body):

Method: POST
URL: https://api.deepseek.ai/v1/search
Headers:
  Authorization: Bearer {{$env.DEEPSEEK_API_KEY}}
  Content-Type: application/json
Body (raw JSON):
  {
    "query": "find documents about product X",
    "limit": 5
  }

Step 4: Test with curl

Test the same request from your terminal to confirm the API key and endpoint work.

export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=your_deepseek_api_key_here
curl -X POST "https://api.deepseek.ai/v1/search" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DEEPSEEK_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query":"test search","limit":3}'

Step 5: Workflow logic (numbered)

• 1. Trigger the workflow (manual, schedule, or webhook).
• 2. Use the HTTP Request node to POST the query to Deepseek.
• 3. Parse the JSON response with a Set or Function node.
• 4. Use results to store data, send messages, or trigger other automations.

Update

Keep n8n and the container image updated. Pull the latest n8n image and restart the container. Update steps:

docker pull n8nio/n8n:latest
docker-compose down
docker-compose up -d

Security

• Store DEEPSEEK_API_KEY in environment variables or n8n credentials, not in workflow code.
• Enable n8n basic auth or use a reverse proxy with HTTPS.
• Rotate API keys regularly and restrict IPs if the provider supports it.
• Limit node access and audit workflow history for sensitive data.

Done

You now have n8n running with a working Deepseek API call. The workflow can run on schedules or webhooks. Tweak the HTTP node and parsing to fit your automation needs.