Why does my self-hosted n8n Chat Trigger node hang on 'Waiting for you to submit the chat'?

Based on the documentation for the Chat Trigger node, what you’re seeing can be expected under certain configuration circumstances rather than a broken installation. Here are some points to consider:

1. Chat UI Behavior:
   The message “Waiting for you to submit the chat” with animated dots is the chat UI’s default state when it is waiting for a new input. In your workflow the Chat Trigger node waits until a user actively sends a new message. In your case the workflow has indeed processed the incoming message (forwarding it to the AI Agent and then to Slack), so the Slack message is sent even though the chat window remains waiting.

2. Session Management and Memory Configuration:
   If you are using features like “Load Previous Session” from memory, make sure that both your Chat Trigger and AI Agent nodes are correctly attached to the same memory node (typically a Window Buffer Memory node).

   • If a memory node is connected on one end and not the other, it might result in the session data not being shared properly, leading to parts of the chat functioning as “waiting for submission.”
   • Verify that if you are setting a custom session ID via an expression (or letting it auto-take from the previous node), the configuration works consistently for all relevant nodes.

3. Version Changes and Docker:
   When you switched from a newer version (1.81.0) back to 1.78.1, it’s possible that cached data or improperly persisted node files might cause unexpected behavior. In Docker environments, it is important to ensure that the persistent volume for the ~/.n8n/nodes directory is maintained. Alternatively, setting the N8N_REINSTALL_MISSING_PACKAGES environment variable to true can force reinstallation of missing packages during startup – though note this might increase startup time.

Recommendations for troubleshooting:

• Review Session Configuration:
  Check that your Chat Trigger node and AI Agent node use the same memory configuration if you are using the “Load Previous Session” feature. You can refer to the documentation’s section on Chat Trigger node common issues for guidance.

• Test in a Fresh Environment:
  If you suspect that the downgrade or cached files might be influencing behavior, try clearing out your persistent directories (or a clean Docker volume with preserved ~/.n8n/nodes) to help rule out installation issues.

• Check Browser or Server Console Logs:
  Sometimes, additional errors related to the chat UI or session handling can appear in your browser’s console or n8n logs. These can provide more specific pointers if further adjustment is needed.

If the Slack messages are being sent as expected and the AI Agent is returning responses but the chat UI remains in a “waiting” state, this behavior is consistent with a chat node waiting for new input rather than an outright error in your installation. Adjusting session management configurations (or reinitializing the chat window) should help if you want the UI to reset after a message is processed.

Let me know if you need further clarification on the session configuration or any other steps.

Based on your description it sounds like the Chat Trigger node isn’t “broken” but is remaining in its waiting state. Here are a few points to consider:

1. Chat Trigger Waiting State:
   The Chat Trigger node’s UI is designed to show a “Waiting for you to submit the chat” message (with those animated dots) when it’s idle. It will only proceed when it receives a new message input from the embedded chat. Even if downstream nodes (such as your AI Agent and Slack node) process a previous message, the Chat Trigger node’s UI can still appear as if it’s waiting for further input.

2. Session Loading Configuration:
   If you’re using the Load Previous Session option (for example, to prepopulate chat history), make sure you’ve connected the same memory node to both the Chat Trigger and the Agent node. When using the option “From Memory,” the documentation recommends:

   • Setting Load Previous Session to From Memory in the Chat Trigger node.
   • Attaching a Window Buffer Memory node to the Chat Trigger’s Memory connector.
   • Attaching the same memory node to the Agent’s Memory connector.
   • In the memory node, ensure the Session ID is set to Take from previous node automatically (unless you explicitly need to define it for each).

3. Impact of Upgrading/Downgrading:
   When switching between versions (from 1.81.0 back to 1.78.1), it’s possible that some container data or persistent volumes weren’t restored correctly. Make sure that:

   • Your Docker container’s persisted data (such as the ~/.n8n volume) is intact.
   • Any configuration changes made in the newer version are revisited after downgrading.
   • Restarting the container after cleaning up potential stale data might help.

4. Next Steps for Troubleshooting:

   • Verify that the Chat Trigger node is correctly configured, especially regarding any session memory settings.
   • Confirm that your workflow sends a new message after the initial input. The waiting UI is normal until new input arrives.
   • Check your Docker volume configuration to ensure that no data got corrupted during the upgrade/downgrade sequence.
   • If the behavior persists and it seems like a regression due to version changes, consider either (a) performing a clean installation with version 1.78.1 or (b) investigating the original issue with 1.81.0 further and possibly re-upgrading.

In summary, the waiting state you’re seeing is typical for the Chat Trigger node when no new chat input is submitted. However, if you believe that messages are not being handled as expected or you suspect an installation hiccup due to the version change, double-check your session memory configuration and Docker persistent volumes to ensure consistency.