When you open a Notion database, it always shows the last view you used. This can confuse team members who expect to see a calendar, gallery, or table view first. Notion does not have a built-in “set as default” toggle, but you can control the opening view by reordering views in the database. This article explains exactly how to pin a specific view so it loads first for everyone who accesses the database.
Key Takeaways: How to Control Which View Opens First in Notion
- Drag view tabs left to the first position: The leftmost view tab becomes the default that loads when anyone opens the database.
- Rename the first view tab: Give it a clear name like “All Tasks” or “Master View” so users know which view is primary.
- Lock the view order: Use the lock feature in the database menu to prevent accidental reordering by team members.
How Notion Determines the Default View
Notion databases can contain multiple views such as table, board, calendar, gallery, list, and timeline. Each view is stored as a tab at the top of the database. The view that appears first when you open the page is the leftmost tab in the view tab bar. This is not a setting stored in a configuration panel. It is determined purely by the order of the tabs.
When you create a new database, Notion automatically creates one view called “Table” and places it as the first tab. If you add more views, they appear to the right of the existing tabs. The first tab remains the default until you manually reorder the tabs.
Every user who views the database sees the same default view, provided they have not customized their own view order. If a user reorders the tabs for themselves, that user sees their own custom order. The default view is the order saved at the database level, not per user.
Steps to Set the Default View by Reordering Tabs
- Open your Notion database
Navigate to the page that contains the database. Make sure you are viewing the database itself, not a linked database on another page. - Locate the view tab bar
Look at the top of the database. You will see a row of tabs, each with a view name such as “Table,” “Board,” or “Calendar.” The currently active tab is highlighted. - Identify which view you want as default
Decide which view should load first. For example, if you want the Calendar view to open first, note its position in the tab bar. - Drag the desired view tab to the first position
Click and hold the tab for the view you want as default. Drag it left until it is the first tab in the row. Release the mouse. The tab bar now shows your chosen view in the first position. - Verify the default view
Click away from the database, then click back on the page. The database should open with the view you moved to the first position. If it does not, repeat step 4 and ensure the tab is fully to the left edge of the tab bar. - Rename the default view tab (optional)
Right-click the first view tab and select “Rename.” Type a descriptive name such as “Main View” or “Team Calendar.” Press Enter to save the name.
Lock the View Order to Prevent Accidental Changes
- Open the database menu
Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the database. This opens the database settings menu. - Enable the lock feature
In the menu, click “Lock database.” A lock icon appears next to the database name. When locked, no one can reorder views, rename views, or add new views unless they unlock the database first. - Unlock to make changes later
To change the default view again, click the lock icon and select “Unlock database.” Reorder the tabs, then lock the database again.
Common Issues When Setting a Default View
The default view changes back after I refresh the page
This happens if you are viewing a linked database instead of the original database. Linked databases inherit the view order from the source database. To change the default view, you must edit the source database directly. Open the original database page, reorder the tabs there, and then refresh the linked database page.
Team members still see a different view when they open the database
Each user can reorder views for their own account. If a team member has manually moved tabs, they will see their own custom order regardless of the database default. Ask the user to reset their view order by dragging tabs back to the default arrangement, or clear their browser cache and reopen the page.
I cannot drag the view tab to the first position
The database may be locked. Look for a lock icon next to the database name. If locked, click the lock icon and select “Unlock database.” After reordering, you can lock it again.
The view tab bar is not visible
If you are using a small screen or the database is inside a narrow column, the tab bar may collapse into a dropdown menu. Click the view name at the top of the database to open the dropdown. From there, you can still reorder views by clicking and dragging the view names in the dropdown list.
Notion Database View Types and Their Use Cases
| View Type | Best For | When to Set as Default |
|---|---|---|
| Table | Spreadsheet-like data entry and filtering | When most users need to edit multiple properties at once |
| Board | Kanban-style task management by status | When the team tracks progress through stages |
| Calendar | Time-based scheduling and deadlines | When the database contains date properties and users need a timeline view |
| Gallery | Visual content like images and cover photos | When the database is used for portfolio or design assets |
| List | Simple, distraction-free reading of entries | When users primarily scan and open individual pages |
| Timeline | Gantt-chart style project planning | When managing long-term projects with dependencies |
Choosing the right default view depends on how your team uses the database most often. If the database is a task tracker, a Board view may be the best default. If it is a content calendar, a Calendar view makes more sense. You can always change the default later by repeating the reorder steps.
Now you can set the default view on any Notion database by dragging the desired view tab to the first position and locking the database to preserve the order. Use the lock feature to keep the view order stable for all team members. For advanced control, consider creating a linked database with a specific view filter and placing it on a dashboard page as a permanent default.