Manual Trigger (trigger.manual)

The simplest entry point: the workflow starts when you press ▶ in the editor (or call the run API). Use it while building, for utility workflows you run by hand, and as the default trigger the n8n importer injects when an import has no mapped trigger.

Parameters

None.

Behavior

A manual run injects one empty item ({}) unless you provide input; the trigger passes whatever it receives straight through to the first connected node.

manual → http (pull data) → filter → sheets (write rows)

Every workflow needs at least one trigger node to activate, but a manual trigger never registers anything public — no URL, no schedule. It exists so the graph has a defined entry.

Quirks & tips

• Manual ▶ runs work on ANY workflow regardless of its trigger type — you don't need a manual trigger just to test. A webhook/form/chat trigger runs with injected (empty) items; use the per-node listen mode (▸ on the trigger card) to test with a real delivery instead.
• Multiple triggers in one workflow are fine; the manual run starts from the trigger you run.

Related

• Webhook / Form / Chat triggers — public entry points with listen mode.
• Sub-workflow Trigger — the entry for workflows other workflows call.