---
title: "How to export data from Notion (pages, databases & full workspace)"
slug: export-data-from-notion
date: 2026-03-19
author: Raaj
categories: [Notion]
excerpt: "Learn the exact steps to export your Notion pages, databases, and entire workspace. Discover the best formats for migration, how to handle CSV relation IDs, and troubleshooting tips for common export failures."
canonical: https://clonepartner.com/blog/export-data-from-notion/
---

# How to export data from Notion (pages, databases & full workspace)


**TL;DR**

From any Notion page click the ••• (three-dot) menu → Export → choose PDF, HTML, or Markdown & CSV. To export your whole workspace go to Settings & members → Settings → Export all workspace content and download the ZIP file emailed to you.

**Quick steps:**

1. Open the Notion page or database you want to export (desktop or browser).
2. Click the three-dot menu (•••) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Export.
4. Choose a Format: PDF, HTML, or Markdown & CSV.
5. Choose whether to include subpages and files/images.
6. Click Export → Notion prepares a ZIP file; download it from your browser or the link Notion emails you.
7. For a full workspace export: open Settings & members → Settings → Export all workspace content, select the format/options, then click Export (you’ll receive a ZIP link by email).

## Quick reference card

Need a fast breakdown of which format to pick? Here is a quick reference guide to help you decide the best export method for your needs.

| **Format** | **Best for** | **Quick tip** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CSV | Database migrations | Export current view; relations export as IDs. |
| HTML | Offline viewing | Creates an index.html sitemap. |
| PDF | Printing & sharing | Use horizontal dividers (---) for page breaks. |

## Which export format should I choose?

### Markdown & CSV

This format preserves your plain text in Markdown and converts your databases into CSV files. It is the absolute best choice for data migrations and programmatic backups. Note that relation properties export as internal Notion UUIDs rather than plain text. Rollups export as static comma-separated strings. Rich text formatting (like bold or italics) inside database text properties is stripped to plain text in the CSV, while page bodies retain standard Markdown syntax. Attachments are saved in a separate `/assets` directory with sanitized filenames. Use this when moving data to a relational database or another CMS.

### HTML

HTML export is ideal for local viewing and archiving your workspace. It preserves the visual structure of your pages better than Markdown by generating static HTML files with embedded CSS. When you export an entire workspace as HTML, Notion generates a handy index.html sitemap, allowing you to click and navigate through your offline pages just like a real website. Use this for offline read-only backups.

### PDF

The PDF option is best suited for printing documents or sharing static pages with external clients. While great for visual sharing, it has limitations regarding layout control. Wide database tables will be aggressively truncated or scaled down to fit the page width. You might encounter awkward page breaks, which can sometimes be mitigated by adding extra empty lines or using specialized third-party formatting tools. Use this for final reports or invoices.

## Export a single page (desktop & mobile) — step-by-step

Exporting a single page varies slightly depending on whether you are using a computer or a smartphone. Here is how to navigate the UI differences.

**Desktop steps:**

1. Open the page.
2. Click ••• (top right).
3. Select Export.
4. Choose format (Markdown & CSV, HTML, or PDF).
5. Select include subpages? (Toggle on if needed).
6. Click Export.

! [Export menu on a Notion page (click ••• → Export).](https://clonepartner.com/blog/images/content/export-menu-on-a-notion-page-click-export.png)

When the export finishes, your ZIP file will typically contain the main text file, an assets folder, and nested subpages.

**Mobile steps:**

1. Tap ••• in the top right.
2. Scroll down and tap Export.
3. Choose format.

Note that some granular options, like specific subpage inclusions or enterprise-level full workspace exports, are only accessible via the desktop app or web browser.

**Example ZIP contents for a page export:**

- Index.md (Your main page text)
- Subpage_Name.md (Nested page content)
- Database_Name.csv (Any inline tables)
- assets/ (Folder containing uploaded images and PDFs)

## Export a database to CSV

When exporting a Notion database, the resulting CSV file will directly reflect your current view, meaning active filters and sorting are applied to the downloaded data.

**Exact steps:**

1. Open database.
2. Click the three-dot menu.
3. Select Export.
4. Choose Markdown & CSV.
5. Click Export.

! [FiDatabase export dialog: select Markdown & CSV to export tables.](https://clonepartner.com/blog/images/content/database-export-dialog-select-markdown-csv-to-export-tables.png)

**Common Gotchas:**

- **Relation IDs:** Relation properties export as complex alphanumeric IDs, not the actual names of the linked pages.
- **Formula Output:** Formulas export as their final evaluated text, not the underlying equation.

*Warning: Relations export as internal IDs. Add a formula column with the related item's name before exporting, or prepare an ID→name mapping.*

**Sample CSV Snippet:**

```javascript
id,Name,Status,Due Date
row_01,Launch plan,In progress,2025-07-15
row_02,Beta feedback,To do,2025-08-01
row_03,Release notes,Done,2025-06-30
```

## Export the entire workspace

Backing up your entire Notion environment is straightforward but requires workspace owner permissions. Navigate to **Settings & members → Settings → Export all workspace content**. From there, choose your format (Markdown/CSV or HTML). Note that exporting an entire workspace as a PDF is restricted to Enterprise plans. Decide whether to include files and subpages.

Once you click Export, Notion will process the request. You will receive an email containing a secure download link that expires in 7 days. Depending on the size of your workspace, this process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

**Pre-export checklist:**

- Check admin permissions (only workspace owners can do this).
- Ensure "Disable exports" is toggled off in security settings.
- Check workspace size to anticipate processing time. Large workspaces (10GB+) can occasionally cause the ZIP generation to time out or fail silently.
- Remove very large, unnecessary video files to speed up the export.
- Notify users to pause editing, as the export captures a snapshot in time.

## What’s NOT preserved & common gotchas

Native Notion exports are great for backups, but they aren't perfect. Here is what is lost or altered during the process:

- **Relational links (UUIDs):** Linked databases lose their human-readable connections and export as raw UUIDs. *Workaround: Create a formula column prop("Name") to extract the text before exporting.*
- **Page history and versions:** Native exports only capture the current state of the page. Previous versions are completely dropped. *Workaround: You must use the Notion API to programmatically fetch historical blocks if versioning is required.*
- **Rollups:** Exported as static text strings representing their current evaluated state. You cannot reverse-engineer the rollup configuration from the export.
- **Live embeds:** Embedded Google Drive files, Figma boards, or tweets will not be interactive. *Workaround: Export these assets natively from their source platforms.*
- **Board/timeline layout fidelity:** Visual Kanban boards and timelines revert to standard flat tables in CSV format. *Workaround: Use HTML export if visual structure is more important than data manipulation.*
- **Complex formulas:** The underlying formula logic is lost, leaving only the static calculated value as a string. *Workaround: Document your complex formulas in a separate text block if you need to rebuild them later.*
- **Permissions and sharing settings:** Page-level access rights and guest permissions are completely stripped. *Workaround: Keep a separate manual log of your access control matrix.*
- **Comment nuances:** Resolved comments or specific thread histories can be difficult to parse or missing. *Workaround: Use a dedicated tool like Notion CRM Export if preserving comment history is critical.*

## Post-export actions & how to prepare the files

Once your ZIP file downloads, extract it to a local folder. You will find your markdown files, CSVs, and an assets folder. If your data contains special characters or different languages, always ensure your spreadsheet software opens the CSV using UTF-8 encoding to prevent garbled text.

To open the data in Google Sheets or Excel, use the software's "Import" function rather than just double-clicking the file. This gives you control over how the columns are formatted.

If you are dealing with relational databases, you will need to map the exported UUIDs back to their corresponding names using a mapping CSV. To save massive headaches, we highly recommend adding a human_readable_title formula column in Notion before you export to avoid ID mapping complexity altogether. If you are parsing the Markdown files programmatically, note that Notion's Markdown flavor uses custom syntax for elements like callouts and toggles. Standard parsers (like Pandoc or marked) may not support these out of the box, requiring you to write custom regex to sanitize the elements before ingestion.

**Post-export prep checklist:**

- Unzip the main file securely.
- Force UTF-8 encoding in your spreadsheet tool.
- Verify attachment folders aren't empty.

*If managing messy relation IDs, missing permissions, and broken layouts sounds like a nightmare for your company's scale, you don't have to rely on manual ZIP downloads. Our team at ClonePartner is there for you!*

## Downloads & examples

To make your data transition smoother, we have provided a few resources you can reference below in the Appendix.

- **Sample exported CSV:** A look at exactly how Notion structures its rows and columns upon export.
- **Mapping template CSV:** A framework to help you match relational IDs back to their human-readable titles.
- **Sample HTML excerpt:** A quick preview of how the index.html file organizes your workspace navigation.

## Video tutorial + timestamps

Prefer a visual walkthrough? Check out this excellent tutorial breaking down the export process step-by-step.

::youtube [Video]{id="WM-iMsFdvJs"}

- **[00:15]** — Navigating to the top right three-dot menu for page exports.
- **[01:10]** — Selecting the correct format (Markdown vs. CSV vs. PDF).
- **[02:45]** — Initiating a full workspace export from the Settings menu.

*Transcript excerpt:* "To get your data out, you're going to click the three dots in the top right corner. Scroll down to Export. From here, you can choose your export format. If you want to move this data to another app, Markdown and CSV is usually your best bet. Make sure to choose whether you want to include subpages..."

> Planning to move from Notion? Let’s chat. Book your free consultation here.
>
> [Talk to us](https://cal.com/clonepartner/meet?duration=30&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=demo_bookings&utm_content=cta_click&utm_term=demo_button_click)

## Appendix: sample CSV & mapping template

**Table A: Format comparison**

| **Format** | **Best for** | **Preserves** | **Limitations** | **Output example** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Markdown & CSV | Database migrations | Text content, database rows, attachments as files | Relations exported as internal IDs, and formulas as values | database.csv |

**Table B: Property → CSV export mapping**

| **Property type** | **CSV exported value** | **Notes** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Title | Text | Primary column |
| Relation | ID(s) | Map IDs to names using mapping CSV |
| Formula | Evaluated string | Exported value is evaluated output |

**Table C: ZIP contents example**

| **File/Folder** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| index.html | Workspace sitemap / entry page |
| page.md | Markdown for exported page |
| assets/ | Images and uploaded files |
| database.csv | CSV of database rows (per view) |

**Sample exported database CSV**

```javascript
id,Name,Status,Due Date,Assignee,Tags,Relation_ids
row_01,Launch plan,In progress,2025-07-15,alice@example.com,"planning;launch","rel_11;rel_12"
row_02,Beta feedback,To do,2025-08-01,bob@example.com,"feedback","rel_21"
row_03,Release notes,Done,2025-06-30,carol@example.com,"docs;release",""
```

**Mapping template CSV**

```javascript
source_id,source_title,relation_id,relation_name
row_01,Launch plan,rel_11,Product Specs
row_01,Launch plan,rel_12,Marketing Plan
row_02,Beta feedback,rel_21,Beta Users List
```

### Sources & references

-[https://www.notion.com/help/export-your-content](https://www.notion.com/help/export-your-content) (Notion Help — Export your content)
-[https://www.notion.com/help/notion-error-messages](https://www.notion.com/help/notion-error-messages) (Notion Help — Troubleshooting)
-[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-iMsFdvJs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-iMsFdvJs) (YouTube export tutorial)
-[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwtjB0xmbOM&t=19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwtjB0xmbOM&t=19) (YouTube export tutorial)
-[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9e5ba9WdEE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9e5ba9WdEE) (YouTube export tutorial)
-[https://notion-crm-export.com/how-to-export-notion-page-comments](https://notion-crm-export.com/how-to-export-notion-page-comments) (export comments guidance)
- Reddit threads: [ https://www.reddit.com/r/Notion/comments/y9vlum/export_isnt_working/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Notion/comments/y9vlum/export_isnt_working/), [ https://www.reddit.com/r/Notion/comments/es8qht/page_break/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Notion/comments/es8qht/page_break/), [ https://www.reddit.com/r/Notion/comments/mo8hm2/guide_how_to_properly_export_notion_to_pdf/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Notion/comments/mo8hm2/guide_how_to_properly_export_notion_to_pdf/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does Notion export take?

Depending on your workspace size, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Extremely large workspaces may occasionally experience timeouts or take up to 30 hours.

### Does Notion export include images?

Yes, if you select "Everything" under the include content options. Images and uploaded files will be organized inside a dedicated assets/ folder within your downloaded ZIP file.

### Can I re-import a Notion export back into Notion?

Not instantly. You cannot simply upload the workspace ZIP file to magically restore your exact setup. It is primarily designed for external backups or migrating to other platforms.

### Why do relations show as IDs in CSV?

Notion exports the unique database ID of the linked page rather than its text name. You must map these IDs manually or use a formula column to extract the name before exporting.

### How to export only a filtered view of a database?

Simply apply your desired filters and sorting to the database view in Notion first. When you click export, the resulting CSV will automatically reflect only that specific filtered view.

### What to do if the export fails/gets stuck?

Try clearing your browser or app cache, switching from the desktop app to a web browser, or exporting smaller sections of your workspace at a time instead of the entire account.