Can You Use Notion on Mac?
Yes, you can use Notion on a Mac. Notion is a productivity application for note taking, project management, and database creation. It is not a game. It runs natively on Mac computers, including all Apple silicon models. As of 2026, it is fully supported and receives regular updates.
Compatibility Status
Notion is a native Mac application. This means the developer, Notion Labs, built the software specifically for macOS. It is not a port or a translation of a Windows program. You can download it directly from the official Mac App Store or from the Notion website. It is compatible with macOS versions from Catalina (10.15) to the latest 2025 release, Sequoia. It works on both Intel based Macs and Apple silicon Macs.
Performance on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4)
Performance is very good on Apple silicon Macs. The app launches quickly and operates smoothly. Notion has been optimized for these processors since the M1 chip was introduced. On M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs, you can expect:
- Fast page loading and rendering.
- Efficient use of system resources, leading to good battery life on laptops.
- No compatibility issues or need for translation software.
Performance is consistent across the chip generations, with newer chips offering marginal speed improvements under heavy workloads with large databases or many embedded media files. For standard note taking and task management, the difference between an M1 and an M4 chip will not be noticeable.
Installation Steps
You can install Notion from the Mac App Store or by downloading it from the developer's website. The App Store version updates automatically through the store. The direct download version will update through the app itself. Both versions are identical in features. The installation process is standard for Mac apps. You drag the Notion icon to your Applications folder. You will need to grant permission for the app to run when you open it for the first time, which is a standard macOS security step.
Tips for Best Experience
To get the most out of Notion on your Mac, follow these tips.
- Use the desktop app instead of the web browser. The app provides a more stable experience with offline access to recently viewed pages and system level integrations like global keyboard shortcuts.
- Enable offline mode in settings. This allows you to view and edit pages you have recently opened, even without an internet connection. Changes will sync when you reconnect.
- Manage your connected apps and integrations. If you have many third party services connected, such as Google Calendar or Slack, it can slow down the sidebar. Review these connections periodically.
- For large workspaces, use the toggle to collapse database views and page lists in your sidebar. This keeps the interface clean and can improve responsiveness.
- Keep the app updated. Notion Labs releases updates frequently to fix bugs and improve performance. Enable automatic updates if possible.
Common Issues
Some users encounter specific issues. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them.
- High CPU or memory usage. This can happen with very large pages containing many images, videos, or linked databases. Try splitting content into multiple pages. You can also check Activity Monitor to see if the Notion Helper (Renderer) process is using high resources, which may require a restart of the app.
- Sync conflicts or delays. If changes are not appearing on other devices, check your internet connection. Then, use the "Check for updates" option in the app's menu to manually trigger a sync. Conflicts are rare but can be resolved by choosing which version of a page to keep.
- App crashing on launch. This is usually caused by corrupted local data. You can fix this by holding down the Shift key while opening the app to reset its cache. If that fails, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app. Your data is stored in the cloud, so you will not lose your work.
- Keyboard shortcuts not working. Ensure the Notion app is the active, focused window. Some macOS system shortcuts or other app shortcuts may override Notion's. You can customize some shortcuts in Notion's settings.
- Slow performance on older Intel Macs. If you have an older Intel Mac, the app may feel slower, especially with complex pages. Reducing the use of embedded media and limiting the number of open tabs within the app can help.
