//n8n pitfalls · medium
Per-item execution on large datasets
Google Sheets node processes items one at a time by default, making API calls for each row. For large datasets (100+ rows), this is very slow and may hit rate limits. Use batch operations or the "Append or Update" operation with multiple rows when possible.
- Category
- integration / google_sheets
Source: the n8n-mcp pitfall list, maintained by the tool's author
Mistakes AI agents make in n8n
- Execute Workflow + Wait nodes cause data loss
- SplitInBatches + Wait nodes cause state loss
- Never use append on sheets with formula columns
- $env expressions blocked in Code nodes
- saveExecutionProgress fills disk space
- IF node uses branch true/false not sourceIndex
- Code node $input.all() vs $input.first()
- Webhook node response must be sent explicitly
- Error Trigger workflow must be separate
- $getWorkflowStaticData global loses data in loops