Notion to Obsidian Migration: A Complete Guide

Thinking of moving from Notion to Obsidian? You’re not alone. This trend is growing fast and for good reason. In this guide we’ll take you through the entire process of moving from Notion to Obsidian, covering common problems and best practices along the way.

Moving from Obsidian to Notion: A Guide

Before we get started let’s define what these two platforms are:

Notion is an all in one workspace for note taking, project management and collaboration.

It’s known for its flexibility and beautiful interface, so it’s popular with teams and individuals. Notion’s strength is in its ability to create complex databases and interconnected pages.

Obsidian is a knowledge management tool for personal note taking and creating a ‘second brain’.

It’s a local-first approach, storing your notes as plain text files on your device, which gives you ownership of your data and offline access.

Why Are People Switching?

People are switching from Notion to Obsidian for:

1. Plain text file system: Obsidian stores your notes as local files so you have full control over your data.

2. Bidirectional linking: Create a web of connected thoughts with Obsidian’s linking system.

3. Offline access: Work on your notes anywhere, anytime, without an internet connection.

4. Customization: Customise the app to your needs with plugins and themes.

5. Privacy: More privacy with local storage compared to cloud based solutions.

6. Export entire workspace: Export your entire Notion workspace to Obsidian and all your data will be transferred correctly and completely.

These features are for users who want more control over their data, offline functionality and advanced note linking.

But migrating from Notion to Obsidian isn’t always straightforward. There are challenges to overcome and new concepts to learn. But don’t worry - that’s what this guide is here for!

Preparing for the Migration: 5 Steps for Your Notion Workspace

Before you start the migration process you need to prepare. Here’s how:

1. Know the differences: Understand the main differences between Notion and Obsidian.

2. Create a sandbox vault: Set up a test environment in Obsidian to try out the features.

3. Explore Obsidian’s features: Get to know bidirectional linking, graph view and the plugin system.

4. Backup your Notion data: Export your entire Notion workspace and store it safely. Use the export option in Notion to download your notes in various formats for easy data management and transfer.

5. Manage your expectations: Be prepared for a learning curve and some bumps along the way.

Now you’re ready to start. Here’s the step by step migration guide:

From Notion to Obsidian in 5 steps

1. Export your Notion data:

• Go to Settings & Members in Notion

• Click on ‘Settings’

• Click on ‘Export’

• Choose ‘Markdown & CSV’

• Download the exported files

• Go to settings to access the export option

• The exported data will be in a zip file

1. Prepare your Obsidian vault:

• Install Obsidian if you haven’t already

• Create a new vault or open an existing one

• Consider creating a separate folder for your Notion import

1. Import content into Obsidian:

• Unzip the Notion export file

• Copy the markdown files and folders into your Obsidian vault

• Open Obsidian to see your imported Notion pages

• Select import in Obsidian to import the markdown files

• Create a new page in Obsidian to organisation your imported notes

1. Images and attachments:

• Find the ‘Notion export’ folder in your export

• Copy it into your Obsidian vault

• Update image links in your markdown files

1. Convert Notion links:

• Use a text editor with find and replace

• Replace Notion links with Obsidian links

• Be careful with spaces in page names

Migrating from Notion to Obsidian is a process. Take it one step at a time and soon you’ll be enjoying Obsidian’s features with all your notes at your fingertips!

Migration gotchas: 4 common problems and their solutions

As you migrate from Notion to Obsidian you will run into some problems. Here are the solutions:

1. Note structure and organisation:

   • Use folders to mirror your Notion structure

   • Use tags to replicate Notion’s database like organisation

   • Create Maps of Content (MOCs) to mimic Notion’s database views

2. Adapting to Obsidian’s linking:

   • Use backlinks to see connections between notes

   • Use double brackets [[like this]] for wiki-style links

   • Explore the graph view to see note connections

3. Databases and templates:

   • Install the Dataview plugin for dynamic views

   • Use YAML frontmatter to add metadata to notes

   • Use Obsidian’s template feature for reusable structures

4. Notion features in Obsidian:

   • Use the Kanban plugin for task management

   • Try the Calendar plugin for scheduling

   • Consider Git for version control and sharing

Remember, migrating is a process. Take it one step at a time and soon you’ll be navigating Obsidian like a pro and loving its features and your personal knowledge management system.

Post migration optimisation and best practices: 4 keys to an Obsidian vault

Congratulations you’ve migrated from Notion to Obsidian! Now it’s time to fine tune your new setup:

1. Get used to your new environment:

   • Organise your vault with a logical folder structure

   • Set up templates for common note types

   • Customise hotkeys for faster navigation

2. Add more functionality with plugins:

   • Try Dataview for dynamic content

   • Use Calendar for daily notes

   • Consider Kanban for project management

3. Optmise your workflow:

   • Use linking to connect ideas

   • Implement a tagging system for easy note retrieval

   • Try daily notes for capturing thoughts and tasks

4. Follow best practices for a smooth transition:

   • Consider incremental migration if you haven’t fully switched

   • Back up your Obsidian vault regularly

   • Join the Obsidian community for support and tips

As you get used to Obsidian you’ll notice the local-first approach, markdown flexibility and all the customisation options. Get used to the learning curve, try out different setups and soon you’ll find your own workflow.

Conclusion: You’re an Obsidian master now

Migrating from Notion to Obsidian is more than just a tool change – it’s a change in how you think about and manage your knowledge. You’ve done the first step.

Remember, success comes with patience, experimentation and continuous learning. As you use Obsidian’s features and adapt them to your needs you’ll unlock new levels of productivity and insight.

So, get started, join the Obsidian community and get ready to change your note taking experience. Happy note taking, welcome to Obsidian!

#Notion to Obsidian Migration: A Guide

Thinking of making the switch from Notion to Obsidian? You’re not alone. This trend is growing fast and for good reason. In this guide we’ll take you through the entire process of migrating from Notion to Obsidian, common pitfalls and best practices included.

What is Notion and Obsidian?

Before we get started let’s define what these are:

Notion is an all-in-one workspace for note taking, project management and collaboration.

It’s known for its flexibility and beautiful design so it’s popular with teams and individuals. Notion’s strength is its versatility and ability to create complex databases and linked pages.

Obsidian is a knowledge management tool for personal note taking and creating a ‘second brain’

It’s local-first, stores your notes as plain text files on your device which gives you data ownership and offline access.

Notion and Obsidian

Notion and Obsidian are two note taking apps that have been getting a lot of attention lately. Notion is an all-in-one workspace where you can take notes, create databases and collaborate with others in real-time. It’s versatility and beautiful design makes it a favourite among teams and individuals who need a tool to manage multiple types of information.

On the other hand Obsidian is a knowledge management tool that uses a local folder of plain text Markdown files to store and organise notes. This local-first approach means your data is always accessible, offline and you have full control over your files. Obsidian is popular among those who value data ownership and want to create a highly customised note taking system.

Notion and Obsidian Features

Notion features:

• All-in-one workspace: Notes, databases and collaboration in one place.

• Real-time collaboration: Work with others at the same time and comment.

• Drag-and-drop interface: Organise your content with a beautiful interface.

• Support for multiple file types: Images, videos and audio files in your notes.

• Web clipper: Save web pages and articles to your Notion workspace.

Obsidian features:

• Local folder of plain text Markdown files: Store your notes as plain text files on your device.

• Bi-directional linking: Navigate and organise your notes with powerful linking.

• Tags, folders and databases: Organise your notes with tags and folders and create dynamic views with databases.

• Customizable interface: Personalise your workspace with themes and plugins.

• Offline access and syncing: Access your notes anywhere, offline and sync across devices.

Notion vs Obsidian

Notion and Obsidian have different approaches to note taking and organisation. Notion is more geared towards collaboration and real-time feedback so it’s great for team projects and shared workspaces. Its all-in-one workspace can handle multiple file types and has a structured environment with databases and tables.

Obsidian on the other hand is focused on individual knowledge management and organisation. Its plain text files gives flexibility and customisation so you can create a highly customised system. The bi-directional linking in Obsidian allows you to build a web of connected notes which is perfect for personal knowledge management and research.

Why Switch?

Users are switching from Notion to Obsidian for:

1. Plain text file system: Obsidian stores your notes as local files so you have full control over your data.

2. Bi-directional linking: Build a web of connected notes with Obsidian’s linking system.

3. Offline access: Work on your notes anywhere, offline.

4. Customisation: Customise the app to your needs with plugins and themes.

5. Privacy: More privacy with local storage compared to cloud based solutions.

These features are for those who want more control over their data, offline functionality and advanced note linking.

But migrating from Notion to Obsidian isn’t always straightforward. There are challenges to overcome and new concepts to learn. But don’t worry - that’s exactly what this guide is here to help you with!

Choosing the Right App for You

When choosing between Notion and Obsidian consider:

• Collaboration: If you need to collaborate with others in real-time Notion may be the better choice. If you prefer to work solo Obsidian may be more suitable.

• Organisation: If you like a more structured and organised approach Notion’s databases and tables may be more appealing. If you prefer a more flexible and customisable approach Obsidian’s plain text files and bi-directional linking may be more suitable.

• File types: If you need to work with multiple file types including images, videos and audio files Notion may be the better choice. If you mostly work with text files Obsidian may be more suitable.

• Offline access: If you need offline access to your notes Obsidian may be the better choice. If you mostly work online Notion may be more suitable.

In the end it’s up to you to decide between Notion and Obsidian. Try out both and see which one works for you.

Before You Begin

Before you start the migration process make sure you’ve laid the groundwork for a smooth transition. Here’s how:

1. Understand the differences: Get to know the main differences between Notion and Obsidian.

2. Create a sandbox vault: Set up an Obsidian test environment to play with the features.

3. Explore Obsidian’s unique features: Get to know bi-directional linking, graph view and the plugin ecosystem.

4. Backup your Notion data: Export your entire Notion workspace and store it safely.

5. Set your expectations: Be prepared for a learning curve and some hiccups along the way.

Now you’re ready to start. Here’s the step by step migration guide:

Step-by-Step Migration

1. Export your Notion data:

   • Go to Settings & Members in Notion

   • Click on ‘Settings’

   • Choose ‘Export content’

   • Select ‘Markdown & CSV’ as the export format

   • Download the exported files

2. Prepare your Obsidian vault:

   • Install Obsidian if you haven’t already

   • Create a new vault or open an existing one

   • Consider creating a separate folder for your Notion import

3. Import content into Obsidian:

   • Unzip the Notion export file

   • Copy the markdown files and folders into your Obsidian vault

   • Open Obsidian to view your imported Notion pages

4. Images and attachments:

   • Find the ‘Notion export’ folder in your export

   • Copy it into your Obsidian vault

   • Update image links in your markdown files

5. Notion-style links:

   • Use a text editor with find and replace functionality

   • Replace Notion-style links with Obsidian-style links

   • Be careful with spaces in page names

Remember migrating from Notion to Obsidian is a process. Take it step by step and soon you’ll be enjoying Obsidian’s powerful features with all your familiar notes at your fingertips!

Migration Challenges

As you migrate from Notion to Obsidian you’ll face some challenges. Here are practical solutions to common problems:

1. Note structure and organization:

   • Use folders to mirror your Notion hierarchy

   • Leverage tags to replicate Notion’s database-like organization

   • Create Maps of Content (MOCs) to mimic Notion’s database views

2. Obsidian’s linking system:

   • Get used to backlinks to see connections between notes

   • Use double brackets [[like this]] for wiki-style links

   • Explore the graph view to see note connections

3. Databases and templates:

   • Install the Dataview plugin for dynamic views

   • Use YAML frontmatter to add metadata to notes

   • Use Obsidian’s template feature for reusable structures

4. Notion features in Obsidian:

   • Use the Kanban plugin for visual task management

   • Try the Calendar plugin for scheduling

   • Consider Git for version control and sharing

Remember the migration process is a journey. Take it step by step and soon you’ll be navigating Obsidian like a pro and loving its features and your custom knowledge management system.

Post-Migration Optimization and Best Practices

Congratulations you’ve migrated from Notion to Obsidian! Now it’s time to fine tune your new setup:

1. Get used to your new environment:

   • Organize your vault with a logical folder structure

   • Set up templates for common note types

   • Customize hotkeys for faster navigation

2. Add more functionality with plugins:

   • Try Dataview for dynamic content creation

   • Use Calendar for daily notes

   • Consider Kanban for project management

3. Optimize your workflow:

   • Get used to linking to connect ideas

   • Implement a tagging system for easy note retrieval

   • Try daily notes for capturing thoughts and tasks

4. Follow best practices for a smooth transition:

   • Consider incremental migration if you haven’t fully switched

   • Back up your Obsidian vault regularly

   • Join the Obsidian community for support and tips

Get used to it! 🙂 Happy note-taking! 😊󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿