When Notion Desktop stops syncing correctly, you may see outdated data, missing updates, or a persistent loading spinner. This often happens because the local authentication token becomes stale or corrupted while the server session remains active. This article explains how to force Notion Desktop to re-login by clearing cached credentials, which forces a fresh authentication handshake and restores normal sync behavior.
Key Takeaways: Force Re-Login in Notion Desktop
- Notion Desktop > File > Exit (Windows) or Notion > Quit Notion (macOS): Fully closes the app so cached tokens can be removed.
- %AppData%\Notion (Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support/Notion (macOS): Folder location where local session data is stored.
- Delete the ‘Session’ folder inside the Notion data directory: Forces the app to discard the old token and prompt for a fresh login on next launch.
Why Notion Desktop Loses Sync and Needs a Re-Login
Notion Desktop stores an authentication token locally after you sign in. This token is sent with every request to the Notion servers. If the token becomes invalid due to a server-side password change, a timeout, or a corrupted local cache, the app cannot sync data. The interface may show old content or a blank screen. Simply restarting the app does not always fix the problem because the old token persists on disk. Forcing a re-login by deleting the session data clears this token and forces Notion to request a new one from the server.
Steps to Force Notion Desktop to Re-Login
Follow these steps to remove the cached session and trigger a fresh login prompt. The process differs slightly between Windows and macOS.
Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Close Notion Desktop completely
Click File in the top-left corner, then select Exit. Do not just close the window. Verify the app is not running in the system tray by right-clicking the Notion icon and choosing Exit if present. - Open the Notion data folder
Press Windows + R, type%AppData%\Notion, and press Enter. This opens the folder where local session data is stored. - Delete the Session folder
Inside the Notion folder, locate a folder named Session. Right-click it and select Delete. If you see a folder named Local Storage or Cache, leave those intact. Only the Session folder contains the authentication token. - Launch Notion Desktop
Open Notion from the Start menu or desktop shortcut. The app should now show the login screen instead of your workspace. Sign in with your email and password, or use Single Sign-On if your workspace requires it. - Verify sync is working
After logging in, open a page that was previously showing stale data. Changes made on another device should now appear. If the problem persists, proceed to the additional fixes below.
macOS
- Quit Notion completely
Click Notion in the menu bar and select Quit Notion. Alternatively, press Command + Q. Check the Dock to confirm the app icon no longer has a dot beneath it. - Open the Notion data folder
In Finder, click Go in the menu bar and select Go to Folder. Type~/Library/Application Support/Notionand press Enter. - Delete the Session folder
Find the folder named Session and move it to the Trash. Do not delete other folders unless instructed. Empty the Trash afterward. - Launch Notion Desktop
Open Notion from the Applications folder or Launchpad. The login screen should appear. Enter your credentials and sign in. - Confirm sync restoration
Navigate to a workspace that was previously out of sync. Verify that new content loads and that changes sync across devices.
If Notion Still Has Issues After the Re-Login
Notion Desktop Shows a Blank White Screen After Login
This usually indicates a corrupted cache or an outdated app version. After deleting the Session folder, also delete the Cache folder inside the same Notion data directory. Then restart Notion. If the problem continues, download the latest version of Notion Desktop from notion.so/desktop and reinstall it.
Sync Still Fails After Re-Login on Windows
A firewall or VPN can block Notion’s connection to its servers. Temporarily disable any third-party firewall or VPN and test sync again. If sync works with the firewall off, add an exception for notion.exe in your firewall rules. On Windows, go to Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall and add Notion.
Notion Desktop Prompts for Login on Every Launch
This happens when the app cannot write the new session token to disk. The most common cause is a permissions issue. On Windows, right-click the Notion shortcut, select Run as administrator, and sign in once. This writes the token with elevated permissions. On macOS, ensure that Notion has permission to write to ~/Library/Application Support. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders and enable Notion.
Notion Desktop Re-Login Methods Compared
| Item | Delete Session Folder | Clear Cache Only |
|---|---|---|
| Effect on login state | Forces full re-login | Does not affect login state |
| Effect on offline data | Preserves local edits | Removes cached page data |
| Time to complete | 2 minutes | 1 minute |
| When to use | Sync is broken or token is stale | App shows blank screen but sync works |
| Risk of data loss | None | None |
Deleting the Session folder is the only method that forces a new authentication. Clearing the cache alone keeps you logged in but may fix display issues. Use the table above to choose the right approach for your symptom.
After forcing a re-login, Notion Desktop should sync normally with the server. If you manage multiple workspaces, you may need to sign in to each one again after the re-login. For persistent sync problems, check the Notion Status page at status.notion.so to confirm there is no ongoing server outage. As an advanced step, you can also clear the DNS cache on your system by running ipconfig /flushdns on Windows or sudo dscacheutil -flushcache on macOS to rule out DNS-related connection issues.