diff --git a/packages/cli/BREAKING-CHANGES.md b/packages/cli/BREAKING-CHANGES.md
index afa1ed17e1..a00c800de3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/BREAKING-CHANGES.md
+++ b/packages/cli/BREAKING-CHANGES.md
@@ -2,11 +2,21 @@
 
 This list shows all the versions which include breaking changes and how to upgrade.
 
+## 1.37.0
+
+### What changed?
+
+The `--file` flag for the `execute` CLI command has been removed.
+
+### When is action necessary?
+
+If you have scripts relying on the `--file` flag for the `execute` CLI command, update them to first import the workflow and then execute it using the `--id` flag.
+
 ## 1.32.0
 
 ### What changed?
 
-N8n auth cookie has `Secure` flag set by default now.
+n8n auth cookie has `Secure` flag set by default now.
 
 ### When is action necessary?
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/execute.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/execute.ts
index d3f0eb469d..a375d19c31 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/execute.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/execute.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import { Container } from 'typedi';
 import { Flags } from '@oclif/core';
-import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
-import { PLACEHOLDER_EMPTY_WORKFLOW_ID } from 'n8n-core';
 import type { IWorkflowBase } from 'n8n-workflow';
 import { ApplicationError, ExecutionBaseError } from 'n8n-workflow';
 
@@ -17,13 +15,10 @@ import { OwnershipService } from '@/services/ownership.service';
 export class Execute extends BaseCommand {
 	static description = '\nExecutes a given workflow';
 
-	static examples = ['$ n8n execute --id=5', '$ n8n execute --file=workflow.json'];
+	static examples = ['$ n8n execute --id=5'];
 
 	static flags = {
 		help: Flags.help({ char: 'h' }),
-		file: Flags.string({
-			description: 'path to a workflow file to execute',
-		}),
 		id: Flags.string({
 			description: 'id of the workflow to execute',
 		}),
@@ -41,42 +36,20 @@ export class Execute extends BaseCommand {
 	async run() {
 		const { flags } = await this.parse(Execute);
 
-		if (!flags.id && !flags.file) {
-			this.logger.info('Either option "--id" or "--file" have to be set!');
+		if (!flags.id) {
+			this.logger.info('"--id" has to be set!');
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if (flags.id && flags.file) {
-			this.logger.info('Either "id" or "file" can be set never both!');
-			return;
+		if (flags.file) {
+			throw new ApplicationError(
+				'The --file flag is no longer supported. Please first import the workflow and then execute it using the --id flag.',
+				{ level: 'warning' },
+			);
 		}
 
 		let workflowId: string | undefined;
 		let workflowData: IWorkflowBase | null = null;
-		if (flags.file) {
-			// Path to workflow is given
-			try {
-				// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-assignment
-				workflowData = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(flags.file, 'utf8'));
-			} catch (error) {
-				// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-member-access
-				if (error.code === 'ENOENT') {
-					this.logger.info(`The file "${flags.file}" could not be found.`);
-					return;
-				}
-
-				throw error;
-			}
-
-			// Do a basic check if the data in the file looks right
-			// TODO: Later check with the help of TypeScript data if it is valid or not
-			if (workflowData?.nodes === undefined || workflowData.connections === undefined) {
-				this.logger.info(`The file "${flags.file}" does not contain valid workflow data.`);
-				return;
-			}
-
-			workflowId = workflowData.id ?? PLACEHOLDER_EMPTY_WORKFLOW_ID;
-		}
 
 		if (flags.id) {
 			// Id of workflow is given