How to Use Notion Offline Mode (2025) - Full Tutorial & Review
After years of requests from the Notion community, offline mode has finally arrived! If you've ever been frustrated by out on work time when your internet cuts out or wanted to continue planning during a flight, this update is going to change how you use Notion.
Let's walk through everything you need to know about Notion's offline mode, from setup to limitations, so you can make the most of this long-awaited feature.
How to Set Up Offline Mode in Notion
Getting started with offline mode is straightforward, but there are a few steps you'll want to follow to ensure your pages are ready when you need them most.
To enable offline mode for any page:
- Navigate to the page you want to use offline
- Click the three dots in the top right corner
- Toggle "Available offline" to on
- Wait for the page to download (you'll see a progress indicator)
Once downloaded, you can disconnect from the internet and continue working. Notion will show you when the page was last synced, so you'll always know how current your offline version is.
Keep in mind that you'll need to enable this setting for each page individually. If you frequently work with specific pages, it's worth setting them up for offline access before you actually need them.
What You Can Actually Do in Offline Mode
The offline experience feels surprisingly similar to working online, though there are some important differences to be aware of.
Text editing works seamlessly - you can write, edit, and format text just like you normally would. The experience is smooth and responsive, making it perfect for writing sessions or note-taking when you're away from reliable internet.
Databases function well - you can add new entries, edit existing ones, and organize your data. These changes will sync automatically once you're back online. However, keep in mind that only up to 50 pages within a database will be available offline automatically.
Basic blocks are supported - most of the fundamental Notion blocks work offline, including text, headings, lists, code blocks, and basic formatting options.
Understanding the Limitations
While offline mode covers the essentials, there are several limitations you should know about:
AI features don't work - Notion AI requires an internet connection, so you won't be able to use any AI-powered features while offline.
Media and embeds have restrictions - you can view images that were already loaded, but you can't download new files or view most embeds (like Google Maps). Your cover photos also can't be changed while offline.
Advanced blocks aren't available - features like buttons, charts, and some integration blocks won't work in offline mode.
Child pages need individual setup - if you have pages within pages, you'll need to enable offline mode for each child page separately. They don't automatically download with their parent pages.
Team Collaboration and Sync Conflicts
If you're working with a team, there are some important considerations for offline mode. When multiple people edit the same content while offline, Notion automatically handles conflicts when everyone syncs back online. However, this can potentially lead to data loss in some situations.
To minimize risks:
- Try to coordinate offline work with your team
- Connect to the internet and sync regularly when possible
- Avoid staying offline for extended periods if you're collaborating on the same pages
You can monitor which pages are available offline by going to Settings and checking the "Offline access" section, where you'll see pages downloaded by you versus those automatically downloaded by Notion.
Free vs Paid Plan Differences
Notion has been generous with offline mode access across all pricing tiers. Even free plan users get unlimited offline pages, which is excellent news for individual users and small teams.
The main difference lies in convenience:
Free plan users need to manually enable offline mode for each page they want to access without internet.
Paid plan users get automatic downloads of their 20 most frequently used pages and favorites, reducing the manual setup required.
This automation feature on paid plans can be a real time-saver if you regularly work with many different pages and want them readily available offline.
Tips for Making the Most of Offline Mode
Here are some practical strategies to get the best results from offline mode:
Plan ahead - before you know you'll be without internet, take a few minutes to enable offline mode for the pages you'll need. This includes any child pages or database entries you might reference.
Focus on text-heavy work - offline mode excels at writing, planning, and basic organization tasks. Save media-heavy work or complex integrations for when you're back online.
Use it for capture and planning - offline mode is perfect for brainstorming sessions, meeting notes, or reviewing your task lists and upcoming projects.
Remember device-specific settings - the offline toggle is separate for each device. If you want a page available offline on both your laptop and phone, you'll need to enable it on both devices.
Mobile users need Wi-Fi to sync - when you're ready to sync your offline changes on mobile, you'll need to connect to Wi-Fi rather than just cellular data.
Looking Ahead
Notion's offline mode represents a significant step forward, especially for users who travel frequently or work in areas with unreliable internet. While it doesn't yet support every feature Notion offers online, it covers the core functionality that most people use daily.
The current version works well for writing, basic database management, and planning tasks. As Notion continues to develop this feature, we'll likely see expanded support for more block types and potentially even some AI features that could work offline.
For now, offline mode delivers on the community's main request: the ability to keep working on your most important Notion pages regardless of your internet connection. Whether you're writing during a flight, planning projects from a coffee shop with spotty Wi-Fi, or just want the peace of mind that comes with offline access, this update makes Notion significantly more reliable for everyday use.
Have you tried Notion's offline mode yet? What has your experience been like? Be sure to check the video below for the full tutorial!