Not everyone is a fan of keyboard shortcuts, but they can help you become more efficient and save time while working on a project. In Notion, the popular project management software, keyboard shortcuts are elevated to a whole new level.
The sheer number of commands and features makes shortcuts almost necessary. The best part is that once you learn the keyboard shortcuts to your favorite features on Notion, they'll quickly become second nature.
It can take hours to fully cover every shortcut in Notion, so we'll only cover the most popular options that users incorporate into their day-to-day use. We'll also show you where to find all the keyboard shortcuts available for Notion.
Understanding Slash Commands in Notion
If this is your first time using Notion, learning how to use slash commands should be the first task on your agenda. When you log into your Notion account, you can instantly get an idea of what using a slash “/” command can accomplish.
Press the slash key to display a drop-down menu. You can choose from basic blocks like inserting text or a new page, creating a to-do list, adding bullet points, and more.
You can also create calendars and databases, insert images or bookmark something important. While all of this is possible with a simple mouse click, you can also type text after the slash command to achieve the same goal. For example:
- "/image" inserts a new image.
- “/page” allows you to create a new page.
- "/drive" allows you to download files from Google Drive.
The slash commands in Notion make navigating the platform much more efficient. Instead of moving the cursor and scrolling through options, an action can be performed quickly via the keyboard.
You can also use a slash command to edit existing content or add to it. Let's say there is a specific paragraph on your Notion page and you want to comment on it.
You can type a slash at the end of the paragraph and type "comment." A comment field will appear, and you can fill it out and press enter to save it.
Manage page shortcuts in Notion
If you are a prolific Notion user, you may have many pages and sub-pages dedicated to different content and tasks. You are also probably adding more pages each day. If you're constantly switching back and forth, it can be useful to effortlessly switch between them using Notion's keyboard shortcuts. To get started, try some of these shortcuts:
- Cmd/Ctrl + N: new page (only available on desktop app)
- Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + N: new Notion window
- Cmd/Ctrl + P: open recently viewed page
- Cmd/Ctrl + [: go back one page
- Cmd/Ctrl +]: move forward one page
There are several other important keyboard shortcuts related to Notion page functionality that users may find useful. You can use the "[[" command to create a subpage, create a new page in a different location, or link a page. This is how it works.
- Open a notions page.
- Enter "[[" command followed by the name of the page.
- Choose an option in the "Link to page" section to link it or enter the page name to create a new subpage.
These keyboard shortcuts cover the basics of managing pages in Notion and are a great starting point for becoming a professional Notion user.
Using mention and callback keyboard shortcuts in Notion
Notion is widely used for businesses and teams as it facilitates collaboration. There are times when you need to mention a team member to bring something to their attention.
Notion allows users to make the most of the “@” command for this purpose. All you have to do is add a person's name after the order, and they'll be notified immediately.
The same approach applies if you want to link to another page using the "@" command. Enter the page name after it and Notion will automatically create a link.
Additionally, you can use this command to add a date to a specific task. You can write "today" or "next Tuesday" after the "@" to make it as clear as possible.
Finally, if you type “@reminder” followed by a date, you can quickly set up a reminder for yourself of something important and get notified at the chosen time.
Don't forget the keyboard shortcuts for emoticons in Notion
Emojis are a part of life and Notion encourages users to make the most of them, especially when creating new pages and categorizing tasks.
You can use emojis however you like in Notion. You don't have to search for the perfect emoji either. There is a keyboard shortcut for each. For example, you can type “apple” after the colon (:) symbol and you will get the apple emoji.
You don't even have to write the whole word – just start typing and available emojis will appear. Sometimes searching crown emoji manually can take you 30 minutes and yield no results. Instead, use the colon command and put “crown.”
Where can I find all the Notion keyboard shortcuts?
When it's time to move on to more complex keyboard shortcuts, the list of available actions hides in plain sight on all Notion pages. In the bottom right corner of every page, you will see a question mark button.
If you click on it, you can select "Keyboard shortcuts" to learn more about what you can do. This feature allows you to read all the latest Notion updates and access the support page.
Navigate through the concept effortlessly
It seems that for the developers of Notion, hotkeys weren't just an afterthought, but something worth perfecting. Judging by the number of ways you can use the slash key alone; it looks like everything can be done with one shortcut or another.
You can use keyboard shortcuts to create new pages, sub-pages and move them around. You can also mention people, add reminders, comment on images and more using the appropriate Notion command.
With Shortcuts, users don't have to click through various options to get to what they need, and that even includes finding the right emoji.
What keyboard shortcuts would you use in Notion? Let us know in the comments section below.
