Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows you to create plain text documents which contain formatting and styles without the use of HTML.
Notion is a note-taking and productivity tool that many people use for different writing. But does Notion support markdown text styling?
Let’s find out in this tutorial.
What Is Markdown Text Styling?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows you to create plain text documents with formatting and styles without the use of HTML.
It is used for a variety of different applications where WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) functionality is not available or is unwanted. It is commonly used for writing notes and to-do lists, making lists, writing posts on blogs and websites, and more.
The formatting of the text in Markdown is done by surrounding each part of the text with a specific syntax. This allows you to create text that has a specific style without having to worry about what specific HTML code to use to write it.
Markdown has become very popular in recent years as a new way to write and format text without having to mess around with complex HTML.
Does Notion Support Markdown?
Yes, Notion allows you to create notes, outlines, and other types of writing using the markdown syntax.
Notion comes with a built-in markdown preview where you can see your markdown text formatting in real-time.
Supported Markdown Schema in Notion
Notion supports nearly all markdown styles, from bold and italics to headings and bulleted lists.
The below table lists the supported markdown styles.
Style | Explanation | Markdown Example |
---|---|---|
Bold | Type ** on either side of your text to bold | **bold** |
Italic | Type * on either side of your text to italicize. | *italic* |
Inline Code | Type ` on either side of your text to create inline code. | `inline-code` |
Strikethrough | Type ~ on either side of your text to strikethrough. | ~strikethrough~ |
Bulleted List | Type *, -, or + followed by space to create a bulleted list. | - bulleted list |
To-do List | Type [] to create a to-do checkbox. | [] to-do list |
Numbered List | Type 1., a., or i. followed by space to create a numbered list. | 1. Numbered List |
H1 Heading | Type # followed by space to create an H1 heading. | # H1 Heading |
H2 Heading | Type ## followed by space to create an H2 sub-heading. | ## H2 Heading |
H3 Heading | Type ### followed by space to create an H3 sub-heading. | ### H3 Heading |
Toggle List | Type > followed by space to create a toggle list. | > Toogle List |
Quote Block | Type ” followed by space to create a quote block. | " Quote Block |
In addition to writing in markdown style, Notion also allows you to easily import markdown (.md) files and preview them directly in your notes. It also allows you to export your notes as markdown (.md) files.
Let’s check both the important and exporting features one by one.
How to Import Markdown Files into Notion
Since Notion supports markdown, you can import markdown files directly into the workspace. The import function is only available in desktop and web applications.
- Open the Notion page where you want to import the markdown and click the hamburger menu (three dots) at the top right.

- This will open up a popup menu on the sidebar. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Import option.

- This will again open a popup with a gallery of options to import from different apps. Click on Text & Markdown and choose the markdown (.md) file from your local storage.

- Notion will upload this file to its server and will automatically create a new private page in your workspace.
Alternatively, you can also use the import button on the left-sidebar present in the Notion workspace.

How to Export Notion Pages with Markdown Schema
You can also export Notion pages with a markdown schema. The export feature is available on all devices that Notion officially supports. Let’s check out the steps below.
- Open a Notion page that has text and content in it and click the same hamburger menu (three dots) at the top right.
- This will open the same popup menu as we saw above for the import feature. This time, you need to click on the Export option.

- Another pop-up will open where you need to select the Export format as Markdown & CSV.

- Choose if you want to include files and images and then click on the Export button. Notion will give you a zip file that’ll contain the markdown (.md) file.
When you export a page as markdown, it will use the code markdown schema. This means that the exported file will contain the markdown code for the page, with no formatting applied. This is useful if you want to manually edit the exported markdown.
Paste Markdown content in Notion
Apart from writing, importing, and exporting markdown content, Notion also allows you to directly paste the markdown code into the Notion page.
- Select and copy the raw markdown content onto your clipboard by using the keyboard shortcut of CTRL + C on Windows and CMD + C on Mac.

- Go to the Notion page where you want to paste the markdown content and use the shortcut CTRL + V on Windows and CMD + V on Mac. Notion will automatically apply styling to the raw markdown code and preview it in the editor

- If you want to keep the raw markdown code, you can add a code block on the Notion page and paste the content into it.

Summing Up
The markdown syntax allows you to create plain text documents which contain formatting and styles without the use of HTML. Notion is a note-taking and productivity tool that many people use for different writing.
It supports markdown and allows you to create notes, outlines, and other types of writing in markdown.
Now that you know what markdown is, and how to use it in Notion, you can explore this powerful tool further, and see how you can use it to enhance the way you write. Notion is a great place to start!