Notion is one of the most popular productivity tools for organizing work and personal projects. Until recently, its biggest issue was its inability to work without an internet connection. Hence, the new Notion offline mode is a game-changer for working on the go, even when disconnected, such as during flights or in areas with spotty signal.
This guide walks you through enabling Notion offline and helps you make the most of it.
What Is Notion Offline Mode?
Notion is a cloud-based productivity app, so offline access wasn’t always a thing. But now, Notion offline mode lets you keep working when your connection drops, which is great for remote workers or travelers like me.
The catch is that offline editing is not enabled by default for everyone. Free users have to manually download pages, while paid plans (like Notion Plus) automatically save recent or favored pages for offline use. Once you’re back online, offline changes sync, keeping your workspace up to date.
Unlike other productivity apps I’ve used, it’s not completely automatic, so you need to plan ahead. If you want a wider comparison with other platforms, check out the best Notion alternatives here.
Enable Offline Editing in Notion
Getting Notion working offline is straightforward. Here’s how to set it up:
Open the Notion app or browser while online. Find the page you want, click the three-dot Menu, and toggle on Available Offline.
Wait for the progress bar to show that the download is complete. Then, access these pages later via the app or browser, without Wi-Fi.
On paid plans, Notion automatically downloads your most recent and favorite pages, which saves time. You can manage the pages in Settings -> Offline.
Keep in mind that offline mode only works in Notion’s desktop and mobile apps, not the web version. So, closing tabs will lead to losing unsynced changes.
Note: When you download a database, the first 50 rows are downloaded automatically. To ensure additional rows are available, individually download them for offline use.
Related: see why I use Notion to organize my life for inspiration if you rely heavily on Notion to manage your workflow.
What You Can (and Can’t) Do Offline
Notion’s offline mode works well, but it has limits. You can edit texts, update databases, and tweak layouts on pre-downloaded pages, which is perfect for drafting notes or managing tasks.
Other simple blocks, like checklists, headers, and adding text, are all possible.
However, embeds, forms, adjusting permissions, and AI features don’t work offline. You also can’t create new pages offline, and team edits might cause sync conflicts later, especially if you’re syncing from mobile.
To avoid headaches, always plan and prepare your workspace before going offline. If these limits bug you, try exploring other Notion tips to improve productivity.
Tips for Effective Offline Use
Here are a few habits that can make Notion’s offline mode much smoother for you:
- Pre-download key pages like your project trackers or meeting notes. If you’re traveling, mark the projects or pages in your database you know you will need.
- If you can help it, leave pages open. Closing or refreshing may cause issues when reconnecting, especially if you’re in a spotty signal location.
- Use Favorites if you’re on a paid plan, as starred pages auto-download. You can disable auto-download if storage is tight and you’re on a paid plan.
- Sync regularly when you’re back online to avoid conflicts, especially in shared workspaces.
- Update the app regularly as new versions fix bugs and reduce sync conflicts. Also, the desktop app feels more stable than the browser, so I stick with it.
If you like experimenting with apps that work offline, you may be interested in BitChat to message people offline.
Notion’s offline mode is not perfect, but it’s a solid step for staying productive anywhere, from coffee shops to cross-country flights.
By downloading pages in advance and syncing smartly, you’ll keep your workflow tight. It may not yet rival offline-first apps, but for Notion users, it finally makes working without Wi-Fi practical.
