You want a complete copy of your Notion workspace saved to your computer. Notion stores all data on its servers, so a local backup protects you from accidental data loss, account issues, or migration needs. This article explains the only official method to export an entire workspace — using the Notion web app’s workspace settings. You will learn the export process, file format options, and common problems that can occur during a large workspace export.
Key Takeaways: Exporting Your Notion Workspace
- Settings & Members > Settings > Export workspace: Initiates a full backup of all pages, databases, and files in your workspace.
- File format selection (Markdown, HTML, CSV, PDF): Determines how your content is structured in the exported zip file.
- Export all content includes subpages: The default option that ensures every nested page and database entry is captured.
What Happens When You Export a Notion Workspace
Exporting a workspace creates a zip file containing all pages and databases. Each page becomes a separate file in your chosen format. Database rows become individual files, and database views are included as CSV files. Attached images and files are placed in a separate folder inside the zip. The export does not include page history, comments, or workspace settings like team member roles. The process runs server-side, so you can close your browser after starting the export. Notion sends an email with a download link when the export is complete.
Only workspace owners and admins can start a workspace export. If you are a member or guest, you must export pages individually. The export time depends on workspace size — larger workspaces with many pages and files can take several hours. You cannot cancel an export once it starts.
Steps to Export Your Entire Notion Workspace
- Open Notion in a web browser
Log in to your Notion account at notion.so. Use a desktop browser for best results. Do not use the desktop app — the export option is available only in the web version. - Go to Settings & Members
Click the gear icon in the left sidebar. This opens the Settings & Members panel. - Select the Settings tab
In the panel, click the Settings tab on the left side. If you do not see this tab, you are not a workspace owner or admin. - Scroll to the Export workspace section
Scroll down the Settings page until you see Export workspace. It is near the bottom of the page. - Click Export workspace
A dialog box appears with export options. You must configure these before starting the export. - Choose the export format
Select one of these formats from the dropdown menu:– Markdown & CSV: Best for editing in tools like Obsidian or VS Code. Pages become .md files. Database rows become .csv files.
– HTML: Pages become .html files. Preserves formatting better than Markdown.
– PDF: Each page becomes a PDF. Not recommended for large workspaces because PDFs do not preserve database relationships.
– CSV: Only databases are exported as CSV files. Pages are excluded. - Set Export all content to On
Toggle Export all content to the on position. This ensures subpages and nested databases are included. If you turn this off, only top-level pages are exported. - Click Confirm
Notion begins processing the export. You see a message that the export has started. You can close the browser tab now. - Download the zip file from your email
Check the email address associated with your Notion account. The email subject is Your workspace export is ready. Click the download link inside the email. The link expires after 24 hours.
Common Problems When Exporting a Notion Workspace
Export button is grayed out or missing
You are not a workspace owner or admin. Ask an owner or admin to start the export for you. If you are the owner, check that you are using the web version — the desktop app does not show this option.
Export email never arrives
The export may still be processing. Large workspaces can take over 24 hours. Check your spam folder. If the email does not appear after 48 hours, contact Notion support. You can also check the export status by revisiting Settings > Export workspace — some accounts show a progress indicator.
Download link does not work
The link expires 24 hours after the email was sent. Start a new export to get a fresh link. Do not share the download link with others — it is tied to your account.
Exported files are empty or missing content
This happens when the workspace contains linked databases or relations that could not be resolved during export. Open the original workspace and check that all database rows have proper relations. You may need to export individual databases separately using the database menu > Export.
Export size exceeds 5 GB
Notion limits workspace exports to 5 GB. If your workspace is larger, the export fails. Remove large files from your workspace or export individual pages and databases. You can also ask Notion support to increase the limit for enterprise plans.
Notion Export Formats Compared
| Format | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Markdown & CSV | Editing in plain text editors, importing to other tools | Does not preserve database views or page comments |
| HTML | Preserving visual formatting and inline images | Large file sizes; does not include database relations |
| Printing or sharing individual pages | No database export; very large file sizes for many pages | |
| CSV | Backing up database tables only | Does not export pages, images, or file attachments |
You can now export your entire Notion workspace as a zip file using the web app. After downloading, store the backup on an external drive or cloud storage service. For ongoing protection, set a recurring calendar reminder to export your workspace monthly. If you need to restore a single database, use the Import feature in Notion with the exported CSV file — this preserves your database structure better than importing Markdown files.