Running n8n Locally on Android via Termux

January 25, 2026

How to Run n8n Locally on Android (Termux + Ubuntu)

This guide shows you how to turn your Android device into a portable automation server by running n8n inside an Ubuntu environment using Termux.

Step 1: Install Termux

  1. Download Termux (preferably from F-Droid or the GitHub releases to ensure you have the latest version).
  2. Open Termux and update the base packages: 
    pkg update && pkg upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Ubuntu via Proot-Distro

We use proot-distro to create a standard Linux environment where Node.js modules can compile without Android-specific errors.

  1. Install the distro manager:

    pkg install proot-distro -y

  2. Install Ubuntu:

    proot-distro install ubuntu

  3. Login to the Ubuntu shell:

    proot-distro login ubuntu

Step 3: Setup Node.js & Build Tools

Now that you are inside Ubuntu (root@ubuntu), you need to install the environment for n8n.

  1. Update Ubuntu packages:

    apt update && apt upgrade -y

  2. Install Curl and Build Essentials:

    apt install curl sudo build-essential python3 -y

  3. Install Node.js (LTS Version):

    curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
apt install -y nodejs

Step 4: Install and Run n8n

  1. Install n8n globally: 
    npm install n8n -g

(This may take a few minutes as it compiles native modules like SQLite for your phone's ARM64 architecture.) 2. Launch n8n:

n8n start

Step 5: Access the Dashboard

Once you see the message n8n ready, the server is live!

  1. Open any browser on your phone (Chrome, Kiwi, etc.).
  2. Navigate to: http://localhost:5678
  3. If you want to access it from a laptop on the same Wi-Fi, find your phone's IP in a new Termux session (type ifconfig) and go to http://<your-phone-ip>:5678.

Pro-Tips for Your Build

  • Prevent Crashes: Android often kills background apps. In Termux, run termux-wake-lock and disable battery optimization for the Termux app in your phone settings.
  • Local Automations: You can now use n8n to trigger local Python scripts, manage your phone's files, or even connect it to your local Ollama/DeepSeek setup for private AI workflows!