Upload Instagram Reels from Google Sheets with DeepSeek AI captions

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1. Workflow Overview

Overview This n8n workflow template automates the entire process of publishing Instagram Reels from content stored in Google Sheets and Google Drive. It's designed for content creators, social medi...

Best for

Social Media automation workflows
Multimodal AI automation workflows
advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent, n8n-nodes-base.airtable, n8n-nodes-base.facebookgraphapi, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.wait, n8n-nodes-base.googlesheetstrigger, n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger

Source and attribution

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

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Upload Instagram Reels from Google Sheets with DeepSeek AI captions
Workflow name: Upload Instagram Reels from Google Sheets with DeepSeek AI captions

Overview

This n8n workflow template automates the entire process of publishing Instagram Reels from content stored in Google Sheets and Google Drive. It's designed for content creators, social media managers, and businesses who maintain a content calendar in spreadsheets and need automated publishing with AI-generated captions.

Workflow Steps

1. Trigger Phase

Schedule Trigger: Runs every 12 hours (configurable)
Google Sheets Trigger: Alternatively triggers when new rows are added
Retrieves the next unposted video from the spreadsheet (where POSTED = FALSE)

2. Content Preparation

Downloads video from Google Drive using file ID from spreadsheet
Processes video with FFmpeg to add custom text overlays:
Title text overlay
Numbering overlay
Sales hook text
Sends processed video using SSH

3. Caption & Metadata Generation

Extracts video filename and metadata
Uses AI Agent (DeepSeek) to generate engaging Instagram captions:
2-4 engaging sentences
3-5 relevant hashtags
Clear call-to-action
Under 150 characters total
Stores caption and metadata in Airtable for record-keeping

4. Instagram Publishing

Creates Facebook/Instagram media container with video URL and caption
Waits and polls for video processing completion
Publishes the Reel when ready
Updates Google Sheet to mark content as posted (POSTED = TRUE)

5. Cleanup

Removes temporary video files from disk

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 - Generate Caption with DeepSeek

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - agent
Config choices: Version 2

Block 2 - Store Caption in Airtable

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.airtable - airtable
Config choices: Version 2.1

Block 3 - Publish Reel to Instagram

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

Block 4 - Check Video Processing Status

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices: Version 4.3

Block 5 - Is Video Processed?

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices: Version 2.2

Block 6 - Wait for Video Processing

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

Block 7 - Trigger: New Row in Sheet

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

Block 8 - Trigger: Every 12 Hours

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger - scheduleTrigger
Config choices: Version 1.3

Block 9 - DeepSeek Chat Model

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatDeepSeek - lmChatDeepSeek
Config choices: Version 1

Block 10 - Sticky Note

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

Block 11 - ## 1. Trigger Phase

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

Block 12 - ## 2. Content Preparation

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

Block 13 - ## 3. Caption Generation

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

Block 14 - ## 4. Publishing

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

Block 15 - ## 5. Cleanup

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

Block 16 - Process Video with FFmpeg

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

Block 17 - Upload to Server via SSH

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

Block 18 - Fetch Unposted Videos

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.7

Block 19 - Download Video from Drive

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

Block 20 - Save Downloaded File

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

Block 21 - Load Processed Video

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

Block 22 - Create Instagram Media Container

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

Block 23 - Mark as Posted

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.7

Block 24 - Execute a command

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

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Upload Instagram Reels from Google Sheets with DeepSeek AI captions
Complexity	advanced
Nodes	24
Categories	Social Media, Multimodal AI
Author	Emel
Published	27 Feb 2026

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/13759/13759.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

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

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Social Media workflows Multimodal AI workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Upload Instagram Reels from Google Sheets with DeepSeek AI captions do?

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 Social Media, Multimodal AI use case.

Emel

2 workflows

Nodes

@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent n8n-nodes-base.airtable n8n-nodes-base.facebookgraphapi n8n-nodes-base.httprequest n8n-nodes-base.if n8n-nodes-base.wait n8n-nodes-base.googlesheetstrigger n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger

Complexity

advanced

Published 27 Feb 2026

Likes 0

View on n8n.io Download Workflow

Install path: /data/workflows/13759/13759.json

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Upload Instagram Reels from Google Sheets with DeepSeek AI captions

Workflow preview

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

Overview

Workflow Steps

1. Trigger Phase

2. Content Preparation

3. Caption & Metadata Generation

4. Instagram Publishing

5. Cleanup

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Generate Caption with DeepSeek

Block 2 - Store Caption in Airtable

Block 3 - Publish Reel to Instagram

Block 4 - Check Video Processing Status

Block 5 - Is Video Processed?

Block 6 - Wait for Video Processing

Block 7 - Trigger: New Row in Sheet

Block 8 - Trigger: Every 12 Hours

Block 9 - DeepSeek Chat Model

Block 10 - Sticky Note

Block 11 - ## 1. Trigger Phase

Block 12 - ## 2. Content Preparation

Block 13 - ## 3. Caption Generation

Block 14 - ## 4. Publishing

Block 15 - ## 5. Cleanup

Block 16 - Process Video with FFmpeg

Block 17 - Upload to Server via SSH

Block 18 - Fetch Unposted Videos

Block 19 - Download Video from Drive

Block 20 - Save Downloaded File

Block 21 - Load Processed Video

Block 22 - Create Instagram Media Container

Block 23 - Mark as Posted

Block 24 - Execute a command

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions