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Extract and upload files from zip archives to Google Drive

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Extract and upload files from zip archives to Google Drive preview
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Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Extract and Upload Files from Zip to Google Drive How it works This workflow automatically extracts all files from an uploaded zip archive and uploads each file individually to Google Drive. Flow: ...

Best for

  • File Management automation workflows
  • intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.formtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.readwritefile, n8n-nodes-base.compression, n8n-nodes-base.googledrive, n8n-nodes-base.splitout, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by David Soden.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Extract and upload files from zip archives to Google Drive
Workflow name
Extract and upload files from zip archives to Google Drive

Extract and Upload Files from Zip to Google Drive

How it works

This workflow automatically extracts all files from an uploaded zip archive and uploads each file individually to Google Drive.

Flow:

  1. User submits a zip file via form
  2. Zip file is temporarily saved to disk (workaround for compression node limitation)
  3. Zip file is read back and decompressed
  4. Split Out node separates each file into individual items
  5. Each file is uploaded to Google Drive with its original filename

Key features:

  • Handles zip files with any number of files dynamically
  • Preserves original filenames from inside the zip
  • No hardcoded file counts - works with 1 or 100 files

Set up steps

  1. Connect Google Drive: Add your Google Drive OAuth2 credentials to the "Upload to Google Drive" node
  2. Select destination folder: In the Google Drive node, choose which folder to upload files to (default is root)
  3. Update temp path (optional): Change the temporary file path in "Read/Write Files from Disk" node if needed (default: c:/temp_n8n.zip)

Requirements

  • Google Drive account and OAuth2 credentials
  • Write access to local filesystem for temporary zip storage

Tags

automation, file processing, google drive, zip extraction, file upload

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - On form submission

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.formTrigger - formTrigger
Config choices
Version 2.3

Block 2 - Read/Write Files from Disk

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.readWriteFile - readWriteFile
Config choices
Version 1

Block 3 - Compression

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.compression - compression
Config choices
Version 1.1

Block 4 - Read/Write Files from Disk1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.readWriteFile - readWriteFile
Config choices
Version 1

Block 5 - Upload to Google Drive

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive - googleDrive
Config choices
Version 3

Block 6 - Split Out

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.splitOut - splitOut
Config choices
Version 1

Block 7 - Sticky Note

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 8 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 9 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 10 - Sticky Note3

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

3. Summary Table

Workflow Extract and upload files from zip archives to Google Drive
Complexity intermediate
Nodes 10
Categories File Management
Author David Soden
Published 16 Oct 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/9795/9795.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Extract and upload files from zip archives to Google Drive do?

Extract and Upload Files from Zip to Google Drive How it works This workflow automatically extracts all files from an uploaded zip archive and uploads each file individually to Google Drive. Flow: ...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your File Management use case.