When importing a CSV file into a Notion database, you may notice that the column mapping screen does not offer a Multi-Select property type for any of your CSV columns. You can only map to Select, Text, or other single-value fields. This limitation exists because the CSV import tool reads each cell as a single string of text and does not parse comma-separated values into multiple tags. This article explains why the Multi-Select type is unavailable during CSV import and provides a reliable workaround to convert a Select column into a Multi-Select column after the import completes.
Key Takeaways: Notion CSV Multi-Select Workaround
- Database > Import > CSV file: During import, only Select and Text property types are available for mapping CSV columns that contain multiple values.
- Database > Property > Edit property > Change type to Multi-Select: After import, you can convert the Select column to Multi-Select without losing the existing option values.
- Manual split of values in CSV before import: If you need separate Multi-Select tags per row, edit the CSV to use a unique delimiter and then use the Find and Replace method inside Notion after import.
Why Notion CSV Import Blocks Multi-Select Mapping
The Notion CSV import tool processes each cell as a single text value. It does not analyze the cell content to detect separators such as commas or semicolons. Because the import engine cannot determine how to split a cell into multiple tags, it omits the Multi-Select property type from the mapping dropdown. You will see Select, Text, Number, Date, Email, Phone, URL, and Checkbox, but not Multi-Select.
This design is intentional. Multi-Select requires a predefined list of options, and the import tool cannot create those options on the fly from raw text. The only way to get a Multi-Select column is to first import the data into a Select column, then change the property type after the import is complete.
What Happens to Comma-Separated Values in a CSV Cell
If your CSV file contains a column with values like “Marketing, Sales, Support”, the entire string is treated as one option when mapped to a Select column. After the import, the Select column will contain a single option that includes the commas. For example, the option will appear as “Marketing, Sales, Support” instead of three separate tags.
To split that string into individual Multi-Select tags, you must use a post-import conversion method. The standard approach is to convert the Select column to Multi-Select, then manually edit each row to separate the values. A faster alternative uses the Find and Replace feature within the database to remove the delimiter.
Steps to Import CSV and Convert Select to Multi-Select
Follow these steps to import your CSV data and then change the column type to Multi-Select. This method preserves all existing option values and lets you split them into individual tags.
- Prepare your CSV file
Open your CSV file in a text editor or spreadsheet app. Ensure the column you want as Multi-Select contains values separated by a consistent delimiter. Use a comma or a semicolon. Avoid using a comma if your data also contains commas within a single value. For example, use a pipe character (|) as a delimiter instead. - Import the CSV into a Notion database
In Notion, click the + New Database button or open an existing database. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, select Import, and choose CSV. Select your CSV file. On the mapping screen, map the column that contains multiple values to the Select property type. Complete the import. - Locate the imported Select column
After the import finishes, you will see a new database with a Select column. The column name is the same as the CSV header. Each cell contains a single option that includes the delimiter and all values. - Change the Select column to Multi-Select
Click the column header. Select Edit property. In the property editor, click the Type dropdown and choose Multi-Select. Notion will convert the column. Each cell now shows the original string as one tag, but the column now accepts multiple tags. - Split the values using Find and Replace
Click the three-dot menu on the database view. Select Find and Replace. In the Find field, type your delimiter (for example, a comma followed by a space: “, “). Leave the Replace field empty. Click Replace All. Notion will remove the delimiter but will not split the text into separate tags automatically. The cell will contain a single tag with the values concatenated. - Manually split each cell (alternative to Find and Replace)
If Find and Replace does not produce the desired result, click into each cell. Delete the existing tag. Type or paste the first value and press Enter. Type the next value and press Enter. Repeat for each value in the cell. This method gives you full control over the final Multi-Select options.
If Notion Still Shows a Single Tag After Conversion
Find and Replace Removes Delimiters but Does Not Create Tags
Find and Replace works on the text content of the cell, not on the tag structure. After replacing the delimiter, the cell still shows one tag that contains all the values without separators. To break that tag into multiple tags, you must manually edit the cell. Click the tag, delete it, and then add each value as a separate tag.
CSV Cells Contain Line Breaks Inside Values
If your CSV file uses quoted fields that include line breaks, the import may create unexpected results. The line break becomes part of the tag text. To fix this, open the CSV in a text editor and remove line breaks from the affected cells before importing. Then follow the conversion steps above.
Select Column Already Has Many Options
If your Select column already contains dozens of unique option values, converting to Multi-Select will preserve all of them. However, the conversion does not merge duplicate values. You may end up with multiple options that have the same name but different capitalization or spacing. Use the Find and Replace tool to standardize the text before conversion.
Notion CSV Import: Select vs Multi-Select Compared
| Item | Select | Multi-Select |
|---|---|---|
| Available during CSV import | Yes | No |
| Number of values per cell | Exactly one | Zero or more |
| Option creation method | Imported from CSV cell text | Manually added after import |
| Filter by multiple values | Not possible | Yes, using AND/OR logic |
| Conversion to Multi-Select | Supported via Edit property | N/A |
The table shows that the only practical path to a Multi-Select column from a CSV import is to use the Select column as an intermediate step. Direct import to Multi-Select is not supported.
You can now import any CSV file into Notion and convert the relevant column to Multi-Select without losing data. After conversion, use the manual tag entry method to split combined values. For large datasets, consider using a tool like Notion API or a third-party integration to bulk-import Multi-Select values directly. As an advanced tip, create a formula property that concatenates Multi-Select values into a single text string for export back to CSV.