BearHost n8n instances run via Docker, making updates straightforward. This guide shows you how to safely update to the latest n8n version.
Check Your Current Version
Log in to your n8n editor and look at the bottom-left corner — the version number is displayed there (e.g. "1.72.1").
Or check via SSH:
ssh root@your-server-ip
docker exec n8n-app n8n --version
Before You Update
- Create a backup — Always back up before updating:
cd /opt/n8n
docker exec n8n-postgres pg_dump -U n8n n8n > backups/pre-update-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql
- Check the n8n changelog — Review what's new and if there are any breaking changes at https://docs.n8n.io/reference/release-notes/
Update Process
SSH into your server and run:
cd /opt/n8n
docker compose pull n8n
docker compose down
docker compose up -d
This pulls the latest n8n image, stops the current containers, and starts them with the new version.
Verify the Update
- Visit your n8n editor URL
- Check the version number in the bottom-left corner
- Open a workflow and test it to confirm everything works
Pin a Specific Version
If you want to stay on a specific version instead of always using the latest, edit /opt/n8n/docker-compose.yml:
Change:
image: n8nio/n8n:latest
To a specific version:
image: n8nio/n8n:1.72.1
Then run docker compose up -d to apply.
Rolling Back
If an update causes issues, restore from your pre-update backup:
cd /opt/n8n
docker compose stop n8n
docker exec -i n8n-postgres psql -U n8n -d n8n < backups/pre-update-20260322.sql
Then change the image version in docker-compose.yml to the previous version and run docker compose up -d.
Need Help?
Contact support at support@bearhost.com if you encounter any issues during the update process.