To use the Notion app, sign in, create a page with the compose icon, and start typing, then add headings and task checkboxes with slash commands on desktop or web or the editing toolbar on mobile. Begin with one page for your notes or tasks, and nest related pages inside it as needed. Use a template for a prepared structure or a database to organize entries with properties and views.
The short version
- Start small: Create one page, give it a title, and add your notes.
- Add structure: On desktop or web, type
/h1for a heading or/todofor a task checkbox. - Keep pages organized: Nest related pages inside a parent page and use Search to find content.
- Prepare for offline use: Enable Available offline in the desktop or mobile app while you are connected.
| Starting option | What you can organize | How to begin |
|---|---|---|
| Blank page | Notes and simple task lists | Select the compose icon |
| Marketplace template | Content in a prepared page structure | Open Marketplace and choose a free template |
| Database | Entries with properties and views | Type /database inside a page on desktop or web |
| Imported content | Existing notes and files | Open Settings > Import on desktop or web |
Open Notion and sign in
Get the app from the official Notion download page, choosing the download for your operating system or selecting Get the app for mobile. On Windows or macOS, open the downloaded installer, complete installation, and open Notion. On iPhone, iPad, or Android, you can also search for Notion in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and install it there.
To use a browser instead, visit Notion’s website and select Log in. Sign in with your email address and an emailed verification code or password. Alternatively, select Continue with Google, Continue with Apple, or Continue with Microsoft; the provider email must match your Notion account for linking. Sign in only through Notion’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.
Create your first page
Select the compose icon in the sidebar on desktop or web, or tap the compose icon at the bottom of the mobile screen. Enter a title, then start typing your notes.
For a private page on desktop or web, select the + beside Private in the sidebar. You can also create a page in the desktop app by pressing Cmd + N on Mac or Ctrl + N on Windows. That new-page shortcut applies to the desktop app.
To bring in existing notes, open Settings > Import on desktop or web, choose a source or file type, then select the files or source account required by that importer. Supported file types include text, Markdown, Word, CSV, HTML, PDF, and ZIP. If you are using the mobile app, switch to desktop or web to import your content.
Add headings and task checkboxes
On desktop or web, type / inside a page to open the block menu, then choose the type of content you want to add. Typing a block’s name narrows the menu. Use /h1 to add a heading and /todo to add a task checkbox, then enter your own task text beside the checkbox. The mobile editor has no slash commands, so on mobile tap + in the editing toolbar above your keyboard to choose a block type such as a heading or checkbox.
On desktop or web, hover beside a line and select + to insert more content. Drag the line’s ⋮⋮ handle to move it, or select that handle to open its block actions. Highlight text to bring up formatting controls. On mobile, use the visible touch controls instead of hover actions.
You can also format content as you type. At the beginning of a line, type # followed by Space for a heading, or [] followed by Space for a task checkbox. These keyboard instructions assume an English QWERTY keyboard; you can use the slash menu on desktop or web to add the same block types.
Organize and find your pages
To keep related notes together on desktop or web, hover over an existing page in the sidebar and select its + to create a page inside it. Drag sidebar pages to reorganize them as your collection grows.
To link another page from within your notes, type @ followed by its name, then select the matching page. For a link to a specific block, select its ⋮⋮ menu and choose Copy link to block.
When you need to return to something, select Search in the desktop or web sidebar. You can also press Cmd + K on Mac or Ctrl + K on Windows to find a page. To search inside the page you already have open, press Cmd + F on Mac or Ctrl + F on Windows.
Start with a template
For a prepared structure, open Marketplace in the desktop or web sidebar and search for a suitable template. Open a free template, select Add, and customize the resulting pages.
To reuse a page you have built, keep a clean master page, open its sidebar ••• menu, and select Duplicate whenever you need another copy. You need permission to duplicate that page.
Build a simple database
Use a database when you want entries with properties, different layouts, and filtering. On desktop or web, type /database in an existing page to create one. Alternatively, on a new page, use Get started with > ••• > Table. You need editing permission to set up the database.
Add entries with New page, then select a column heading and choose Edit property > Change type to choose its data type. Open a row to edit its underlying page, where you can add content for that entry.
To display the entries differently, select + beside the database view name and choose a layout such as Board. Views display the same underlying entries. Open the database settings menu and select Filter or Sort, then choose the property and criteria to control which entries appear or how they are ordered.
Set reminders for your tasks
Add a reminder by typing @remind followed by your chosen date and time. Select the resulting reminder to adjust its timing, advance notification, date format, or timezone.
Review mentions and reminders in Inbox, and open Settings > Notifications to configure delivery. If a reminder does not reach you as expected, check those notification settings and your device’s notification permissions. Delivery also depends on whether Notion is open.
Share a page with someone
To give a specific person access, open Share on a page where you can manage sharing. Enter the person’s name or email, choose their permission level from the dropdown, then select Invite. Guest limits and your organization’s membership rules can affect invitations.
Publishing makes the page and its subpages public, so review the nested pages before proceeding. To publish a page as a website, open Share > Publish, then select Publish. Select View site to inspect the result.
Enterprise workspace owners can restrict publishing. If that restriction blocks you, ask the workspace owner about it; you can invite specific people through Share when your sharing permissions and workspace rules allow it.
Fix offline access and export problems
To keep a page available without a connection, open it while online in the desktop or mobile app, select •••, and turn on Available offline. Check downloaded pages under Settings > Offline, and download important subpages separately. You can edit in the app while disconnected, and your edits synchronize when connectivity returns.
If you are using Notion in a browser, switch to the desktop or mobile app to prepare pages for offline use. Offline access is available in those apps on all plans. Databases initially download the first 50 rows of their first view, so account for that limit when choosing what you need offline.
For a PDF copy of a page or database, open ••• > More > Export. Choose PDF, configure the export, then select Export. On mobile, use the resulting share sheet or download link. PDF export with subpages requires Business or Enterprise.
In an Enterprise workspace, the workspace or teamspace owner may have disabled exporting, so ask them to check the export restriction. An Enterprise workspace owner can check Settings > Security > Disable export, while a teamspace owner can check Settings > Teamspaces > the teamspace’s ••• > Security > Disable export. Only an owner who intends to permit exports should turn off the restriction; ordinary members cannot override it. If you are a guest, you need Full access to the page or database to see and use the export option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you turn on dark mode in Notion?
On desktop or web, open the workspace dropdown, then Settings > Preferences > Appearance and choose Dark. On mobile, open the sidebar’s ••• menu, then Settings > Appearance. Choose Use system setting if you want Notion to follow your operating system’s appearance.
Can you save a website to Notion from your phone?
Yes, open your browser’s share sheet, select Notion, enter a title, choose a workspace and destination, then select Save. On iPhone, you may first need to enable Notion under ••• More in the share sheet.
How do you archive a page without deleting it?
Open the page, select •••, then choose Archive. To bring it back, select Unarchive in the page’s archive banner. You need the appropriate permissions to archive the page.
Can you recover a deleted Notion page?
Open Trash, locate the page, and select the curved-arrow restore icon beside it. Deleted pages normally remain in Trash for 30 days, although Enterprise retention settings can differ. Recovery also depends on your permissions and whether the page is still recoverable.
How do you add a comment to a page?
On a page where commenting is permitted, select Add comment near the page title. You can also highlight text and select Comment to comment on that passage. Type @ followed by a collaborator’s name to mention them.
Can you change a page’s font or width?
On desktop or web, open the page’s ••• menu and choose Appearance & layout. Adjust its font and text options, or enable Full width. Text size and page width can be changed only on desktop and web; on mobile, open the page’s ••• menu and choose a typography option under Style.
