Notion CSV Export Missing Relation Columns: Fix

When you export a Notion database to CSV, relation columns often disappear from the output file. This happens because Notion exports relation properties as internal database IDs instead of the linked page names. The CSV file may show blank cells or a column with unreadable identifiers for relation fields. This article explains why relation columns are missing during export and provides two reliable methods to recover the linked data in your CSV file.

Why Notion CSV Export Removes Relation Columns

Notion stores relation properties as references to other database pages. Internally, each relation cell holds a unique page ID, not the page title. When you export a database using the standard CSV format, Notion does not resolve those IDs into readable names. The result is a blank column for relation fields or a column filled with internal IDs that look like long alphanumeric strings.

The root cause is that the CSV export option in Notion is designed for simple spreadsheet data. It treats relation properties as unsupported data types and drops the display values. The Markdown & CSV export option behaves differently. It creates a folder containing one Markdown file per database row and an extra CSV file that includes relation page titles for direct relations. However, even this export may omit relation columns if the relation links to a database in a different workspace or if the relation is a self-referencing relation.

Steps to Recover Relation Columns in CSV Export

Use one of the methods below to include relation data in your exported CSV file. Each method works for a specific scenario.

Method 1: Export Using Markdown & CSV Format

1. Open the database page
   Navigate to the Notion database you want to export. Make sure you are viewing the full database, not a linked view.
2. Open the Export menu
   Click the three-dot menu at the top right of the database page. Select Export from the dropdown.
3. Choose Markdown & CSV
   In the Export dialog, set Export format to Markdown & CSV. Leave the other settings at their defaults.
4. Click Export
   Click the Export button. Your browser downloads a ZIP file containing a folder with Markdown files and a CSV file named DatabaseName.csv.
5. Open the CSV file
   Extract the ZIP archive. Open the CSV file in Excel, Google Sheets, or a text editor. You will see that relation columns now contain the page titles of the linked database rows instead of being blank or showing IDs.

Method 2: Add a Rollup Property to Expose Page Titles

1. Open the source database
   Go to the database that has the relation column you need to export.
2. Add a new Rollup property
   Click the + button in the last column header. Choose Rollup from the property type list.
3. Configure the Rollup
   Name the property, for example “Related Page Title”. Set Relation to the relation column you are using. Set Property to Name (the page title of the related database). Set Calculate to Show original.
4. Export the database
   Use either CSV or Markdown & CSV export. The Rollup column will appear as a regular text column in the CSV file and contain the page titles of the linked records.

Method 3: Use a Third-Party Export Tool

1. Choose a tool
   Select a third-party Notion export tool such as Notion2CSV, Notion Exporter, or a custom script using the Notion API.
2. Connect the tool to your workspace
   Follow the tool’s instructions to authorize access to your Notion workspace. Most tools require you to create a Notion integration and provide a token.
3. Select the database
   In the tool, choose the database you want to export. Many tools let you select specific properties to include in the CSV output.
4. Run the export
   Start the export process. The tool will query the Notion API and resolve relation IDs into page titles. The resulting CSV file will contain relation columns with readable names.

If Notion Still Shows Missing Relation Data After Export

Relation Column Shows Internal IDs Instead of Names

If the CSV file contains long alphanumeric strings in the relation column, you are seeing Notion’s internal page IDs. This occurs when you use the standard CSV export format. Switch to Markdown & CSV export as described in Method 1. The Markdown & CSV export resolves direct relations to page titles. If the relation is indirect or involves a database in another workspace, the IDs may still appear. In that case, add a Rollup property as shown in Method 2.

Rollup Column Exports as Blank

A Rollup column may export as blank if the relation property it references is empty. Check that every row in the source database has a value in the relation column. If some rows have no relation, the Rollup will be blank for those rows. Fill in the missing relations before exporting. Also verify that the Rollup property is set to Show original and not to a calculation like Count or Sum, which may produce numbers instead of text.

Markdown & CSV Export Produces a Folder Instead of a Single CSV

The Markdown & CSV export always creates a ZIP folder with one Markdown file per database row and one CSV file. This is the expected behavior. To get a single CSV file, use the standard CSV export format and accept that relation columns will be missing. Alternatively, use a third-party tool that outputs a single CSV with relation data included.

CSV Export Formats: Standard CSV vs Markdown & CSV

Item	Standard CSV	Markdown & CSV
Output format	Single CSV file	ZIP folder with Markdown files and a CSV file
Relation columns	Blank or internal IDs	Page titles for direct relations
Rollup columns	Exported as text if configured	Exported as text if configured
File size	Smaller	Larger due to Markdown files
Best for	Simple data without relations	Databases with direct relations

Now you can export a Notion database to CSV and keep relation data readable. Start by using the Markdown & CSV export for direct relations. If that does not cover your needs, add a Rollup property to the source database. For complex exports involving multiple databases or workspaces, consider a third-party tool that uses the Notion API to resolve all relation IDs into page titles. You can also automate the export process by scheduling a custom script that runs the Notion API and saves the CSV to a cloud storage folder.