Import Markdown into Notion, and see what survives
To import Markdown into Notion, open Settings, choose Import, then Text & Markdown, and pick your .md file or a zipped folder. Notion’s help page says headings, lists and code blocks import. It does not mention tables or images for Markdown, so check both after your first import.
Import or paste: which one to use
Importing makes a new page from each file. Pasting drops text into a page you already have open. For one short snippet, pasting is quicker. For a whole converted PDF, importing keeps one file as one page, and Notion’s help page says you can select several files at once or zip a folder and import the ZIP.
Notion’s importer reads plain text and standard Markdown. The same page says advanced or nonstandard extensions do not import, which matters if your Markdown came from an app that adds its own syntax, such as wikilinks or a properties block.
So the safest file is the plainest one: a title, a few headings, paragraphs, lists and perhaps a table.
Import a Markdown file in six steps
- Check the file’s shapeLook for one # heading at the top, headings no deeper than three levels, and blank lines between paragraphs. Notion offers three heading levels, so deeper ones have nowhere to go. Headings that make notes searchable explains how to set them up.
- Name the file for the pageNotion’s help page does not say whether the file name becomes the page title. Name the file the way you want the page called, then compare after the import.
- Open the importerIn Notion choose Settings, then Import, then Text & Markdown.
- Pick the file or the ZIPChoose one or more .md or .txt files, or a ZIP of a folder. Notion’s page suggests zipping a folder when you want to keep its structure.
- Open the new page and check itGo through the table below: headings first, then lists, then any table. Add a table of contents block as a quick test, since Notion’s help page says it lists every heading on the page.
- Tidy and move itDelete a duplicated title line if the page name and the first heading both show, then drag the page to where it belongs in your sidebar.
A small file to test with
Save this as a .md file and import it before your real one. It has every shape worth checking.
# Cell membranes and transport
## Why membranes matter
A cell membrane is a selective barrier.
- Passive transport needs no energy
- Active transport does
| Process | Energy needed |
| --- | --- |
| Diffusion | No |
| Active transport | Yes |If the heading, list and table arrive intact, a real file of the same shape should too. If the table does not, you learned that on five lines, not fifty pages.
What to expect from a Markdown import
The middle column is what Notion’s help page says about Text & Markdown imports. The last column is what to look for on your own first import.
| In your file | Notion’s help page | Check after importing |
|---|---|---|
| Headings | Listed as imported. It does not say how Markdown levels map. | Count the levels. Notion has three, so keep to #, ## and ###. |
| Lists | Listed as imported. | Nesting depth and numbering. |
| Code blocks | Listed as imported. | The text inside is unchanged. |
| Tables | Not mentioned for Markdown. | Every cell sits in the right column. If not, rebuild it or try pasting. |
| Images | Not mentioned for Markdown. | Expect to add pictures by hand. A converted PDF carries none. |
| Anchor links | Listed as not importing. | Links that jump inside the file may stop working. |
| Front matter and [[wikilinks]] | Nonstandard extensions are listed as not importing. | Expect the --- block and the brackets to show as text. Remove them first. |
The same page gives file limits: 5 MB per file on the free plan, 50 MB on paid plans, and roughly 120 file imports every 12 hours. Limits change, so read the current page.
What goes wrong on a first import
The title shows twice
The page name and your first # heading can both appear. Delete the heading line inside the page, or rename the page.
A table arrives as plain text
Check that a row of dashes sits under the header row and that every row has the same number of cells. Still wrong? Paste the table into a page instead. Markdown tables in Notion and Obsidian goes further.
Headings look flat
Notion stops at three levels, so a fourth has to share one of them. Plan the outline at three levels before you import.
Pictures are missing
Notion’s page does not say whether an import follows image links. Pictures inside a PDF are not in a converted file at all, so add a screenshot by hand where one matters.
Odd symbols appear
Syntax made for another app, such as [[wikilinks]], a --- properties block or [^1] footnotes, can show up as text. Remove it or use a Notion-format file.
The import is refused
Check the file size and the 12-hour import limit. A Markdown file made from a PDF is plain text, so size is rarely the cause.
How ocrtomarkdown helps
ocrtomarkdown reads a PDF or scan and writes Markdown in its Notion format: one title, headings kept to three levels, paragraphs joined, real lists, and tables as Markdown tables. Pictures are left out. Convert on PDF to Notion. Free: 3 files a day, up to 10 pages each, no account. Files over 10 pages are converted up to page 10 on the free allowance; a page code converts the whole file, up to 150 pages. See pricing.
Importing Markdown into Notion: your questions
How do I import a Markdown file into Notion?
In Notion open Settings, then Import, then Text & Markdown, and choose your .md or .txt file. Notion creates a new page from it.
Can I import a whole folder?
Notion’s help page says you can zip a folder and import the ZIP, or select several .md or .txt files at once.
Does Notion keep Markdown tables?
Notion’s help page does not mention tables for Markdown imports. Import a small test file first and compare it cell by cell.
Why does my page title appear twice?
The page name and the first # heading can both show. Notion’s page does not say which it uses, so delete the line you do not want.
How many heading levels does Notion have?
Three: Heading 1, 2 and 3, according to Notion’s help. Plan your Markdown outline at three levels or fewer.
Is there a size limit for imports?
Notion’s help page lists 5 MB per file on the free plan, 50 MB on paid plans, and about 120 file imports every 12 hours. Check it for current numbers.
Should I paste instead of import?
Paste suits a snippet. For a whole note, import keeps a file as a page.
What happens to Obsidian front matter and wikilinks?
Notion’s help page says nonstandard extensions do not import, so expect them to show as text. Delete them first, or use a plain Markdown file.