Keep your shared drive tidy by watching for new files and sorting them into clear folders with AI guidance. Ideal for teams that drop many assets into one place and need fast, consistent organization.

A local file trigger listens to a chosen directory and starts when a new item appears. Shell commands collect a neat list of top level files and subfolders, then a check confirms there is something to organize. A Mistral AI chat model returns folder suggestions in a strict, structured format using a parser, and the flow splits those suggestions into single tasks. The trigger waits until files finish writing to avoid partial moves. Final commands create missing folders and move each file to its new home, so the root stays clean and easy to browse.

You only need n8n with access to your file system and a Mistral API key. Point the trigger to your mounted path, verify the model, and run a small test by dropping sample files into the folder. Set a dry run by echoing file paths before real moves to validate results. The result is a clear folder tree, faster search, and fewer naming mistakes across the team.

• Local file trigger monitors a chosen directory and waits until files finish writing before it runs.
• Shell commands list files and subfolders and split results into clean arrays.
• Conditional check ensures there are target files before calling AI.
• Mistral AI chat model returns folder mappings in a strict schema via a structured output parser.
• Split step turns each AI suggestion into a single task for safe, repeatable moves.
• Move step creates missing folders and relocates files using mkdir and mv.
• Shared directory path is stored once and reused across nodes for consistency.

• Reduce manual sorting from 2 hours per week to 5 minutes
• Automate up to 90% of repetitive filing
• Improve folder consistency by 80% with AI suggestions
• Handle thousands of files without slowing down
• Connect local storage with AI guidance in one flow

1. Import the template into n8n: Create a new workflow in n8n > Click the three dots menu > Select 'Import from File' > Choose the downloaded JSON file.
2. You'll need accounts with Mistral AI. See the Tools Required section above for links to create accounts with these services.
3. Ensure n8n can access your target folder. If running in Docker, mount a host folder to the container path used in the Local File Trigger, for example /home/node/host_mount/shared_drive.
4. Open the Local File Trigger node and set the path to your target directory. Keep the event set to add and keep Await write finish enabled to avoid moving partial files.
5. Open the Mistral Cloud Chat Model node. In the Credential to connect with dropdown, click Create new credential and follow the on screen steps. Create an API key in your Mistral AI account and paste it here. Name the credential clearly, for example MistralAI Prod.
6. In the same node, select the model matching the template, for example mistral-small-2402.
7. Check the Set Variables node to confirm it reads the path from the Local File Trigger. The expression should point to that node so updates flow through.
8. Open the Get Files and Folders command node. Confirm your container can run ls and grep. If unsure, test the command in the container shell to verify output.
9. Review the Structured Output Parser and AI File Manager nodes. Make sure the schema includes folder and files fields so suggestions come back in a predictable format.
10. Run a dry test. Temporarily change the Move Files into Folders command to echo the actions instead of mv so you can preview changes safely.
11. Drop a few sample files into the target folder and wait for the trigger. Check the execution in n8n, review the AI mapping, and confirm folders are created as expected.
12. Switch the Move step back to mv and run a live test. If the trigger does not fire, verify the folder mount and permissions. If file moves fail, check for spaces in file names and quoting. If AI returns empty results, confirm the API key and adjust the prompt or schema.