NeahNew/N8N_API_KEY_MISMATCH_FIX.md

# N8N API Key Mismatch - 401 Unauthorized

## 🔍 Problem Identified

**Error**: `401 - "Unauthorized"`  
**Log**: `Invalid API key { received: 'present', expected: 'configured' }`

**Status**: 
- ✅ Endpoint is being called (`Mission Created Webhook Received`)
- ✅ API key is being sent (`received: 'present'`)
- ❌ **API key values don't match**

---

## 🔍 Root Cause

The API key sent by N8N in the `x-api-key` header **does not match** the `N8N_API_KEY` environment variable on the server.

### How It Works

1. **Server sends to N8N** (line 420 in `app/api/missions/route.ts`):
   ```typescript
   config: {
     N8N_API_KEY: process.env.N8N_API_KEY,  // From server environment
     MISSION_API_URL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL
   }
   ```

2. **N8N uses this value** in "Save Mission To API" node:
   ```
   x-api-key: {{ $node['Process Mission Data'].json.config.N8N_API_KEY }}
   ```

3. **Server receives and validates** (line 42 in `app/api/missions/mission-created/route.ts`):
   ```typescript
   if (apiKey !== expectedApiKey) {
     // Keys don't match → 401 error
   }
   ```

### The Problem

**If `process.env.N8N_API_KEY` is `undefined` or empty** when sending to N8N:
- N8N receives `undefined` or empty string
- N8N sends empty string in header
- Server expects the actual key value
- **Keys don't match → 401 error**

---

## ✅ Solution

### Step 1: Verify N8N_API_KEY is Set

**Check your environment variables**:

```bash
# In your terminal (if running locally)
echo $N8N_API_KEY

# Or check in your application
# Create a test endpoint to verify
```

**Expected**: Should show the actual API key value (not empty)

### Step 2: Ensure Same Key in Both Places

**The key must be the same in**:

1. **Server environment variable**: `N8N_API_KEY=your-key-here`
2. **N8N workflow config**: The value sent in `config.N8N_API_KEY`

**If they're different**, they won't match!

### Step 3: Check What N8N is Sending

**In N8N workflow "Save Mission To API" node**, verify:

1. **Header `x-api-key` value**:
   ```
   {{ $node['Process Mission Data'].json.config.N8N_API_KEY }}
   ```

2. **What this resolves to**:
   - If `config.N8N_API_KEY` is `undefined` → N8N sends empty string
   - If `config.N8N_API_KEY` has a value → N8N sends that value

3. **Check N8N execution logs**:
   - Look at the actual request being sent
   - Check the `x-api-key` header value
   - Compare with your server's `N8N_API_KEY`

### Step 4: Fix the Mismatch

**Option A: If server's N8N_API_KEY is undefined**

Add to `.env.local` (or production environment):
```env
N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

Restart the application.

**Option B: If N8N is sending wrong value**

Check what value N8N has in `config.N8N_API_KEY`:
- It should match the server's `N8N_API_KEY`
- If different, update one to match the other

**Option C: Hardcode in N8N (not recommended)**

If you can't sync the values, you could hardcode in N8N:
```
x-api-key: LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

But this is less secure - better to use environment variable.

---

## 🧪 Testing

### Test 1: Check Server Environment

**Create test endpoint**:
```typescript
// app/api/test-n8n-key/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json({
    hasN8NApiKey: !!process.env.N8N_API_KEY,
    keyLength: process.env.N8N_API_KEY?.length || 0,
    keyPrefix: process.env.N8N_API_KEY ? process.env.N8N_API_KEY.substring(0, 4) + '...' : 'none'
  });
}
```

**Visit**: `http://localhost:3000/api/test-n8n-key`

**Expected**:
```json
{
  "hasN8NApiKey": true,
  "keyLength": 32,
  "keyPrefix": "Lwge..."
}
```

### Test 2: Check What N8N Sends

**In N8N execution logs**, check the "Save Mission To API" node:
- Look at the request headers
- Find `x-api-key` header
- Note the value

**Compare** with server's `N8N_API_KEY` - they must match exactly.

### Test 3: Manual Test

**Test the endpoint with the correct key**:
```bash
curl -X POST https://hub.slm-lab.net/api/missions/mission-created \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4" \
  -d '{
    "missionId": "test-id",
    "name": "Test",
    "creatorId": "user-id"
  }'
```

**Expected**: 200 OK (if mission exists) or 404 (if mission doesn't exist)

**If 401**: The key in the curl command doesn't match server's `N8N_API_KEY`

---

## 🔧 Common Issues

### Issue 1: Key is undefined when sending to N8N

**Symptom**: N8N receives `undefined` or empty string in `config.N8N_API_KEY`

**Cause**: `process.env.N8N_API_KEY` is not set when creating mission

**Fix**: Add `N8N_API_KEY` to environment and restart

### Issue 2: Different keys in different environments

**Symptom**: Works in development but not production (or vice versa)

**Cause**: Different `N8N_API_KEY` values in different environments

**Fix**: Use the same key in all environments, or update N8N to use environment-specific keys

### Issue 3: Key has extra spaces or characters

**Symptom**: Keys look the same but don't match

**Cause**: Extra spaces, newlines, or special characters

**Fix**: 
```env
# Correct
N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4

# Wrong (with quotes)
N8N_API_KEY="LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4"

# Wrong (with spaces)
N8N_API_KEY = LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

---

## 📋 Debugging Checklist

- [ ] `N8N_API_KEY` is set in server environment
- [ ] Key value matches what N8N is sending
- [ ] No extra spaces or characters in key
- [ ] Server has been restarted after adding key
- [ ] Test endpoint shows key is loaded
- [ ] N8N execution logs show correct key in header
- [ ] Manual curl test works with the key

---

## 🎯 Expected Flow After Fix

1. **Mission created** ✅
2. **N8N workflow triggered** ✅
3. **Server sends `config.N8N_API_KEY` to N8N** ✅
4. **N8N creates integrations** ✅
5. **N8N calls `/api/missions/mission-created`** ✅
6. **N8N sends `x-api-key` header with same value** ✅
7. **Server validates key matches** ✅
8. **IDs saved to database** ✅

---

## 📝 Summary

**Problem**: 401 Unauthorized - API key mismatch

**Root Cause**: The API key sent by N8N doesn't match the server's `N8N_API_KEY`

**Solution**: 
1. Ensure `N8N_API_KEY` is set in server environment
2. Ensure N8N uses the same key value
3. Verify keys match exactly (no spaces, same value)

**After Fix**: The endpoint should return 200 OK and save integration IDs.

---

**Document Created**: $(date)
**Priority**: CRITICAL - Blocks integration IDs from being saved