Notion’s relation property lets you link entries across databases, creating powerful connections for project management, CRM, and knowledge bases. On the desktop and web apps, you can create, edit, and manage relations with full functionality. The mobile app, however, imposes several restrictions that can disrupt your workflow when you rely on your phone or tablet. This article explains what you cannot do with relation properties in the Notion mobile app, why these limitations exist, and how to work around them.
Key Takeaways: Relation Property Restrictions in Notion Mobile
- Cannot create a new relation property: The mobile app lacks the button to add a relation column to a database.
- Cannot change relation type (single vs. multi-select): You cannot toggle between single and multiple linked records on mobile.
- Cannot open a rollup configuration: Rollup properties that depend on a relation are read-only on mobile.
Why Notion Limits Relation Properties on Mobile
Notion designed the mobile app for quick viewing, editing of existing content, and capturing ideas on the go. The relation property involves complex database schema changes, such as selecting a target database, configuring the relation type (single or multi-select), and linking rollups. These operations require a full-screen interface with precise drag-and-drop or dropdown selections that are difficult to implement reliably on small touchscreens. The mobile app therefore exposes only the data that already exists in a relation field — you can view linked records and remove links — but you cannot create, modify, or delete the relation column itself. This limitation applies to both iOS and Android versions of the Notion app.
Steps to Identify and Work Around Relation Limitations on Mobile
Before you attempt any relation-related task on mobile, check whether the operation is supported. The following steps help you determine what you can and cannot do, and how to handle unsupported tasks using the desktop or web app.
- Open the database in the mobile app
Tap the database page you want to work with. Scroll horizontally to see all columns. If you see a relation column header, you can tap a cell to view or remove linked records. You cannot tap the column header to edit the relation definition. - Try to add a new relation column
Tap the plus icon at the right end of the column headers. Scroll through the property type list. You will not find “Relation” as an option. Only text, number, select, date, and similar basic properties appear. To add a relation, you must switch to the desktop or web app. - Edit an existing relation property
Tap the column header of an existing relation. The popup shows only the option to delete the column or change the column name on some versions. You cannot change the target database, switch between single and multi-select, or set a default value. These settings remain locked on mobile. - Work with rollup properties linked to a relation
If a database has a rollup property that depends on a relation, you can see the rollup values but cannot edit the rollup configuration. The rollup property header shows no settings gear. To change the rollup function or source column, use the desktop or web app. - Remove a linked record from a relation cell
Tap a relation cell that contains one or more linked records. Tap the X icon next to a linked record to remove it. This action is supported on mobile. You cannot add a new link from the mobile app unless you use the inline search feature, which sometimes works for multi-select relations.
What You Can Still Do with Relation Properties on Mobile
Despite the limitations, the mobile app does support a few relation-related actions that are useful for day-to-day use.
View linked records
Tap any relation cell to see the list of linked records. Each linked record appears as a clickable link. Tapping it opens the linked page. This works for both single and multi-select relations.
Open the linked database
If the relation targets a specific database, tapping the relation column header sometimes shows an option to open that database. This gives you read-only access to the target database, where you can view and edit individual records but cannot modify the database schema.
Remove a link from a cell
As noted in the steps, you can remove an existing link by tapping the X icon next to the linked record name. This is the only edit you can make to the relation data itself on mobile.
If You Need to Create or Modify a Relation on Mobile
You have two options when you must work with relations from a mobile device.
Use the mobile browser to access the web app
Open Safari, Chrome, or any mobile browser. Go to notion.so and log in. Request the desktop site in your browser settings. The web interface running in the browser provides the full relation creation and editing controls, including the ability to add a relation column, change the target database, and configure rollups. The touch interface may be less comfortable, but all features are present.
Use a third-party automation tool
Services like Zapier or Make can create relation links automatically when you add data to a database. For example, you can set up a Zap that, when you add a new task in a Tasks database, automatically links it to a project in a Projects database. This bypasses the mobile limitation entirely by doing the relation work server-side.
Notion Mobile Relation Property vs Desktop: Feature Comparison
| Action | Mobile App | Desktop / Web App |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new relation column | Not supported | Supported |
| Change relation type (single/multi) | Not supported | Supported |
| Edit rollup configuration | Not supported | Supported |
| View linked records | Supported | Supported |
| Remove a link from a cell | Supported | Supported |
| Add a new link to a cell | Limited (inline search may work) | Supported |
| Rename a relation column | Supported on some versions | Supported |
| Delete a relation column | Supported | Supported |
If Notion Mobile Still Prevents Relation Edits
Some users encounter additional issues beyond the standard limitations. Here are two common scenarios and their fixes.
Relation cell shows “No results” when I tap it
This usually happens when the relation column is empty or when the target database has been deleted. Open the database in the desktop or web app to verify that the target database still exists. If it was deleted, you must create a new relation pointing to an existing database. The mobile app cannot recover this situation.
I cannot see the relation column at all
The relation column may be hidden in the database view. On the desktop or web app, click the database view menu and check which columns are visible. Ensure the relation column is toggled on. The mobile app respects the same visibility settings, so once you enable the column on desktop, it appears on mobile.
Conclusion
You now know that the Notion mobile app restricts relation property creation, type changes, and rollup configuration. You can still view linked records, remove links, and open linked databases. To create or modify a relation, use the desktop app, the web app in a mobile browser with desktop site mode, or an automation tool like Zapier. For quick edits on the go, remember that you must first set up the relation structure on a computer. This approach saves you time and prevents frustration when working with connected databases from your phone.