How to Merge Databases in Notion: 2 Seamless Methods

Do you have two databases in Notion that you wish to combine? If you do, merging Notion databases helps streamline your work from different sources.

But how do you merge databases in Notion? Is there a one-click button to merge databases in Notion?

How to Merge Databases in Notion — 2 Alternative Methods

Currently, there is no one-click button to merge databases in Notion. But if you know how to export a Notion page as a PDF, you’ll find this technique handy.

Alternative Method 1: Exporting Table as “Markdown & CSV” File to Merge Databases in Notion

Granting that the database is already in full-page view (which is usually the case), proceed with the steps below.

1. Select the 3-dot icon.

You’ll find this on the top right corner of the Notion page, found after the “Favorites” icon.

2. Click “Export.”

This button is the third-to-the-last option on the dropdown menu, between the “Delete” and “Merge with CSV” options.

A pop-out window then opens in the middle of the Notion page.

3. Choose the “Markdown & CSV” file option.

By default, “Markdown & CSV” is the file option selected already. But in case it isn’t, click the “Down” button and select that file format on the dropdown menu.

4. Select the “Export” button.

Wait for Notion to finish the exporting process. Once done, a window appears.

5. Choose where you’ll save the CSV file on your computer.

For sample purposes, I selected “Downloads.” But, any folder folder can be selected from your computer.

Then select “Save” to finish the exporting process.

6. Extract the CSV file you downloaded.

If you skip this step, you can’t successfully merge the CSV file with the main database later.

Double-click the ZIP file icon to open it after its extraction from the ZIP file.

Then select “Extract to” and click the folder where the CSV file is to be saved.

Once done, you can proceed with the next steps of the process. 

7. Click the 3-dot icon again and choose “Merge with CSV.”

Open the Notion page with the main database to find the 3-dot icon. On the dropdown menu, select “Merge with CSV” between “Export” and “Add Connections.”

The “Open” window then shows on the screen.

8. Choose the CSV file and select the “Open” button.

Click the CSV file’s icon after extracting it and select “Open” to import it to the main database on your Notion page.

This process may take a few minutes to finish, but as soon as the “Importing” notification disappears, new entries are added to the main database. 

This means that the merging of the two databases has been successful.

Alternative Method 2: Using the Relation Function to Merge Databases in Notion

Relation in Notion refers to adding Notion pages in one database to another as a new property field. This way, you can view the data from one database with the data from the second database.

If you’re new to using this function, follow these steps. Again, ensure the database is in full-page view before proceeding (which is usually the case).

1. Click the “New” button.

You’ll find this button after the 3-dot icon on the upper-right of the main Notion database. A new side peek page then opens.

This step is necessary as only Notion pages can be added to an existing database in Notion.

2. Select “Add a property.”

You’ll find this after the last entry on the side peek page before the “Comment” section.

3. Scroll down or type “Relation” in the search bar and select it.

You’ll then see the “Relation” option appear. Clicking it opens a list of the databases that you have made and can be used to link to your main database.

4. Choose the database to be linked with the main database.

Select the database name from the list. You’ll know you’re successful as the database name appears inside the “Name” field.

You can click “Next” to add a limit or activate “Show on [name of the second database]” for the data to be reflected there as well (a two-way relation).

You’ll then see a preview of the merged databases in the “Preview pane.

5. Select “Add relation.”

Do this after making the necessary tweaks on your soon-to-be-merged databases. 

6. Exit the side peek page.

Click the right-facing double-headed arrow to close the side peek page.

You should see the second database merged with the main one as a new property.

How to Merge Multiple Databases in Notion — Possible?

Though Notion’s database feature is nifty, having a lot of them is troublesome. The good thing is that you can merge multiple databases into one central or master database. 

There’s no need to export the database into CSV files or use the “relation” function. You only need to select and then drag and drop the properties from the other databases to the main database. 

Just make sure that all properties from the databases have the same types and labels. This way, the entries will just pop into their respective columns or properties. 

Granting that you have already made a new page with the master database in it, do the following:

Note: The new page where the master database will be created must be an empty page, not an inline table view. 

This is because you can’t move the other databases onto the same page if the new page is set as a table or database.

1. Add a database to the new page created.

You can select one from the existing databases on your page. But to be safe, start by clicking “New database.”

A new inline database then appears.

2. Move the other databases into the master database.

To do this, click the 3-dot icon to the right of the database’s name and select “Move to.”

Then select the name of the master database on the dropdown menu.

By now the database you moved should appear in the master database page.

Repeat this step until all the other databases are moved to the master database page.

3. Check whether all the properties in the databases are of the same type.

This is a crucial step to be done before the merging process itself. Make sure all the properties are of the same types and labels. 

You can always change them by clicking on the header name, clicking “Edit property” and selecting the new property type.

This way, all the entries from the other databases will merge into the same columns when you merge them into the master database.

4. Highlight the rows of the databases.

Click and drag the cursor across the rows of the databases to be merged to highlight them. They will be covered in blue highlight once they’re selected.

5. Drag and drop the selected database rows into the master database.

Do this by clicking and dragging the 6-dot handle to the left of one of the rows you’ll move into the master database.

Make sure the blue line is under the database title.

Repeat this step for the other databases, making sure that the blue lines are under the rows you added.

By now you should see all the entries of the other databases merge into their respective columns or properties

6. Delete excess or redundant properties.

In case after merging there are redundant (repeating) properties in the master database, delete them.

Do this by clicking on the header name and selecting “Delete Property.” 

A confirmation window then appears. Click “Delete,” and the redundant property will disappear from the master database. Repeat until all redundant properties are removed.

7. Add another view to the master database.

To do this, click the “+” button after the first database view you created. A “New View” tab then appears together with the right side panel.

Then click on the view you want out of the six options available after selecting “Layout.” The database then assumes the view that you have selected. 

You can even choose how the pages appear when you open them. Select the “Open pages in” option and click whether the page will open in “Side peek,” “Center peek,” and “Full page.”

8. Rename the new view you added and select the properties you to be shown.

After typing the name of the view you added, click the “Properties” option.

Then select which properties you want to appear by clicking the eye icon to their right. 

Then select the “X” button to exit the “Properties” panel.

You should now see the properties you opted to be seen in the current view of the database.

Repeat the 7th and 8th steps until all the views you want for the master database are added.  

You can even add filters if you want. Just make sure you have added the right Notion tags to classify the entries in the master database properly.

Conclusion

If you want to harmonize your various databases into one, learn the best methods to merge databases in Notion. Even if there is no one-click feature, you can choose from the two alternative methods above to do the deed.

Improve not only improves how you organize data but also allows you to make informed decisions with the help of merged databases in Notion.