How to Configure Notion AI to Use Specific Knowledge Sources Only

Notion AI can answer questions based on content across your entire workspace. By default, it searches all pages and databases you have access to. This can return irrelevant results or surface sensitive information from unrelated projects. This article explains how to restrict Notion AI to specific knowledge sources, such as a single database, a set of pages, or a specific folder.

You will learn to configure AI answer settings per workspace, use the @ mention to scope a query to a specific page, and create a dedicated knowledge base database. These methods prevent the AI from pulling content from unintended sources. The steps apply to Notion AI on the web, Windows, and Mac apps.

How Notion AI Selects Knowledge Sources

Notion AI, when you ask a question in the AI query bar or in a page, searches across all pages, databases, and wikis you have access to in the current workspace. It does not search content in other workspaces or pages you do not have permission to view. The AI uses a semantic search to find relevant text based on your question.

The default behavior is “Search entire workspace.” This is useful for broad questions but problematic when you need answers from a specific project or client folder. For example, if you have a marketing database and a product roadmap database, asking “What are the launch dates?” might return results from both. Restricting the AI to one database eliminates confusion.

Notion AI does not offer granular per-user or per-group restrictions for answer sources. The configuration applies to all workspace members who have AI access. However, you can use the methods below to limit the scope per query or per workspace setting.

Steps to Restrict Notion AI to Specific Knowledge Sources

Follow these steps in order. You can use one method or combine them depending on your needs.

1. Open Workspace AI Settings
   Click Settings & Members in the left sidebar. Go to Settings > AI. This page controls AI features for the entire workspace.
2. Disable Whole Workspace Search
   Under AI Answer Sources, toggle off Search entire workspace. The toggle is off when it turns gray. This prevents the AI from searching all pages by default.
3. Add Specific Knowledge Sources
   Click Add a source. A list of pages and databases in your workspace appears. Select the exact pages or databases you want the AI to search. You can select multiple items. Click Confirm. The AI will now only search these sources when answering questions.
4. Test the Restriction
   Open any page and click the AI icon in the toolbar. Type a question that relates to content outside your selected sources. The AI should respond that it cannot find relevant information or provide an answer based only on the selected sources.

Using @ Mentions to Scope a Single Query

If you need to ask a one-off question about a specific page without changing workspace settings, use the @ mention method. This works even if the workspace setting is set to search the entire workspace.

1. Open the AI Query Bar
   Click the AI icon in the top right corner of any page or press Ctrl + J (Windows) or Cmd + J (Mac) to open the AI command palette.
2. Type @ and the Source Name
   Start your question, then type @ followed by the name of the page or database you want to search. For example: “Summarize the key points from @Marketing Plan 2025.” A dropdown appears. Select the correct source from the list.
3. Complete Your Question
   Finish typing your question and press Enter. The AI searches only that specific source for the answer.

Creating a Dedicated Knowledge Base Database

For teams that need a controlled set of documents for AI queries, create a dedicated knowledge base database. This method gives you full control over what the AI can access.

1. Create a New Database
   In your sidebar, click + New Page. Choose Database > Table or Database > Full Page. Name it “Knowledge Base” or something similar.
2. Add Approved Content
   Create new pages inside this database for each document you want the AI to reference. You can also move existing pages into this database by dragging them from the sidebar into the database.
3. Set AI Answer Sources to This Database
   Go to Settings & Members > Settings > AI. Toggle off Search entire workspace. Click Add a source and select your new Knowledge Base database. Click Confirm.

If Notion AI Still Searches Unwanted Sources

AI Still Returns Results from Pages Outside Selected Sources

This can happen if the AI setting was recently changed and the cache has not refreshed. Wait 5 minutes and try again. Alternatively, log out of your Notion account and log back in. If the problem persists, check that you have not accidentally added extra sources in the AI Answer Sources list.

@ Mention Does Not Find the Expected Page

The @ mention only works for pages and databases you have access to. If you cannot see the page in the dropdown, you may not have permission to view it. Ask the page owner to share the page with you. Also, ensure the page is not located in a private teamspace that restricts your access.

AI Answer Sources Setting Is Grayed Out

This setting is only available to workspace owners and admins. If you are a member, you cannot change the default AI answer sources. Ask your workspace owner to configure the setting. If you are an owner and the setting is still grayed out, check your browser or app version. Update to the latest version of Notion.

Notion AI Knowledge Source Methods Compared

Method	Scope	Best For
Workspace AI Answer Sources	All users in the workspace	Teams that always need AI to search a fixed set of documents
@ Mention in Query	Single query only	Ad-hoc questions about a specific page or database
Dedicated Knowledge Base Database	All users, but limited to one database	Controlled environments like legal or HR where only approved content is allowed

Each method has a different scope. The workspace setting changes the default for everyone. The @ mention overrides the default for one question. The dedicated database method is a hybrid that limits all queries to a curated set of documents.

Once you configure Notion AI to use specific knowledge sources, the AI will ignore all other content in the workspace. Test the configuration by asking a question that should not be answerable from your selected sources. If you need to temporarily allow broader search, toggle the Search entire workspace setting back on. For ongoing control, consider maintaining a dedicated knowledge base database and updating it regularly with new approved content. An advanced tip: use database templates to enforce a consistent structure for each knowledge base entry, which improves the AI’s ability to extract precise answers.