Notion Markdown: Complete Guide
Notion is an all-in-one workspace that supports markdown shortcuts for quick formatting. While you can type markdown syntax and Notion will convert it, it stores content in its own block-based format rather than plain markdown files. You can import and export markdown, but some formatting may not round-trip perfectly.
Markdown support:Partial
Markdown Support in Notion
| Format | Syntax | Support |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | **text** | Yes |
| Italic | *text* | Yes |
| Strikethrough | ~~text~~ | Yes Use ~~text~~ or keyboard shortcut |
| Headings | # H1 ... ###### H6 | Yes |
| Links | [text](url) | Yes |
| Images |  | Partial Paste or drag to embed; standard syntax not typed directly |
| Blockquotes | > quote | Yes |
| Ordered Lists | 1. item | Yes |
| Unordered Lists | - item | Yes |
| Code (inline) | `code` | Yes |
| Code Blocks | ```lang\ncode\n``` | Yes Type ``` or /code to create |
| Tables | | col | col | | Partial Uses its own table blocks, not pipe-table syntax |
| Task Lists | - [ ] task | Yes Type /todo or use [] shortcut |
| Footnotes | [^1] | No Not supported natively |
| Horizontal Rule | --- | Yes |
Things to know
- Markdown is converted to Notion blocks on paste or typing; it is not stored as raw markdown.
- Exported markdown may differ from the original input due to block conversion.
- Tables use Notion's database/table block format, not standard pipe tables.
- Toggle lists use the > syntax but behave differently from blockquotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Notion support markdown?
Notion supports markdown shortcuts for formatting. When you type markdown syntax like **bold** or # heading, Notion converts it into its own block format. You can also import and export .md files.
How do you bold text in Notion?
Type **text** and Notion will convert it to bold. You can also use Ctrl/Cmd + B or select text and choose bold from the formatting toolbar.
Can you import markdown files into Notion?
Yes. Go to Settings > Import, select Markdown, and choose your .md files or a .zip archive. Notion will convert the markdown into its block format.
Does Notion support footnotes?
No. Notion does not support markdown footnotes natively. As a workaround, you can use inline comments or linked references.