How do I migrate from Notion to Apple Notes?

Migrating from Notion to Apple Notes in 2026 is doable but you'll lose database functionality and some formatting. Here's the proven workflow.

Step 1: Export everything from Notion

• Open Notion in a browser (mobile export is limited).
• Click the workspace name → Settings & Members → Settings → Export content.
• Choose Markdown & CSV format.
• Choose "Include subpages" and "Include all content."
• Click Export. Notion emails you a download link within minutes (or hours for large workspaces).

You'll get a .zip file with one .md file per page, plus .csv files for any databases.

Step 2: Decide what migrates where

• Regular pages with text, headings, images → migrate to Apple Notes (preserves most formatting).
• Databases (tables, kanban, calendar views) → Apple Notes can't replicate these. Options:

- Convert to folders (each row becomes a note inside a folder named after the database).

- Move to Numbers (Apple's spreadsheet app) if tabular.

- Move to a different tool like Bear (for tags) or Reminders (for tasks).

• Pages with embeds (YouTube, Twitter, Figma) → Apple Notes preserves the link but not the embed preview.

Step 3: Migrate pages to Apple Notes

Option A: Manual copy-paste (recommended for <100 pages)

• Open each .md file in TextEdit or VS Code.
• Copy all contents.
• Open Apple Notes on Mac → create a new note.
• Paste. Markdown converts to formatted Notes automatically (headings, bold, lists, links).
• Drag any images from the Notion export folder into the note.

Apple Notes doesn't support tables visually inside a note (you can paste table data but it shows as plain text rows). You'll need to either flatten tables or use Numbers.

Option B: Notion2Notes (Mac, free)

There's a free tool called Notion2Notes that batch-imports a Notion export into Apple Notes folders. It's not officially supported by Apple — use at your own risk. Search GitHub for the latest fork.

Option C: Use a different tool

If you have databases, kanban boards, or heavy formatting, Apple Notes will be a downgrade. Consider:

• Bear — markdown-native, supports tags (like Notion's database tags).
• Obsidian — directly opens your Notion export folder; no migration needed, just point Obsidian at the folder.
• Némos — iPhone-first, doesn't replicate databases but handles capture (screenshots, voice notes, photos) better than Notion ever did.

What you'll lose:

• Database views (table, kanban, calendar, gallery).
• Linked databases and rollups.
• Notion AI history.
• Sharing permissions (Apple Notes uses iCloud sharing — different model).
• Comments and mentions.

What you'll keep:

• All your text content.
• Headings, lists, bold, italic, links.
• Images (if you drag them in).
• Approximate page structure.

The migration takes 1-4 hours for most workspaces. Block out an afternoon and don't try to do it on your phone.