Notion MCP Server: Bridging AI and Notion Workspaces

Overview: What is Notion MCP Server?

Notion MCP Server acts as an intermediary between AI applications like Claude Desktop, Continue, Cursor, and other Model Context Protocol (MCP) clients, and your Notion workspace. By leveraging the Model Context Protocol, this server enables seamless integration of AI applications with your Notion databases, pages, and content blocks. The primary objective is to provide a standardized way for AI tools to access and manipulate data within your Notion accounts.

🔧 Core Features & MCP Capabilities

Notion MCP Server offers extensive capabilities that support advanced AI interactions:

1. Database Access: View and search through Notion databases.
2. Content Manipulation: Create, update, and delete pages and blocks.
3. Custom Actions: Execute specific tasks such as querying databases, creating new entries, updating existing content, and managing database structures.

These features are encapsulated within the Model Context Protocol framework, allowing for a high degree of interoperability between different AI applications.

⚙️ MCP Architecture & Protocol Implementation

The architecture of Notion MCP Server is built around the MCP standards to ensure seamless compatibility with various clients. Internally, it uses Node.js and integrates with Notion's API through standard endpoints.

Protocol Flow Diagram

graph TD
    A[AI Application] -->|MCP Client| B[MCP Protocol]
    B --> C[MCP Server]
    C --> D[Notion API]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

Client Compatibility Matrix

MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅
Continue	✅	✅	✅
Cursor	❌	✅	❌

🚀 Getting Started with Installation

Prerequisites

1. Node.js (version 14 or higher): Essential for running and installing dependencies.
2. Notion Account: Required to access databases, pages, and blocks.
3. Claude Desktop App: If using Notion MCP Server alongside Claude.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1. Getting Your Notion API Key

To get the necessary credentials, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to https://www.notion.so/my-integrations
2. Click the blue "Create integration" button.
3. Fill in the details:
   • Name: Choose a custom name like "Claude Assistant".
   • Logo: Optional field for adding an icon.
4. Select your Notion workspace for association.
5. Click "Submit". On the next page, find "Internal Integration Token", click "Show" to reveal and copy the API key.

2. Setting Up This Server

Option A: Download as ZIP (Recommended for Beginners)

1. Go to https://github.com/Sjotie/notionMCP/
2. Click the green "Code" button.
3. Select "Download ZIP".
4. Extract the compressed folder and navigate to the notionMCP directory.

Option B: Clone with Git (For Users Familiar with Git)

1. Open a command prompt or terminal window.
2. Navigate to your preferred location:

   cd path/to/desired/location
   

3. Execute the following command to clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Sjotie/notionMCP.git
   

3. Navigate to Project Directory

After downloading or cloning, ensure you are in the correct directory:

• If option A: On Windows cd to C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\notionMCP, on Mac cd /Users/YourName/Downloads/notionMCP.
• If option B: Still within your terminal window, navigate to:

  cd notionMCP
  

4. Install Dependencies

Run the following command in the project directory:

npm install

Ensure all packages are installed and the server ready for use.

Connecting to Notion Pages & Claude Desktop

1. Grant Permission via Notion: Access pages or databases from your workspace, navigate to settings and share them with your integration.

2. Configure Claude Desktop:

   • Locate claude_desktop_config.json
     • On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
     • On Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
   • Open and insert the following content, replacing placeholders with your actual paths and keys.

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "notion": {
         "command": "node",
         "args": [
           "C:\\path\\to\\notion-mcp-server/server.js"
         ],
         "env": {
           "NOTION_API_KEY": "your_notion_api_key_here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

Testing the Connection

1. Start a new conversation in Claude.
2. Ask to interact with your Notion database:
   • Examples:
     • "Show me a list of my Notion databases."
     • "Create a new page in my Tasks database with title 'Test Task'."

💡 Key Use Cases in AI Workflows

1. Project Management: Automate the creation and updating of project tasks.
2. Content Creation: Generate and organize content blocks within pages.

These use cases exemplify how Notion MCP Server can enhance productivity by seamlessly integrating AI into everyday workflows.

🔌 Integration with MCP Clients

Notion MCP Server is compatible with multiple clients, including:

• Claude Desktop: Full support for database access and content manipulation.
• Continue: Compatible tools and prompts functionality.
• Cursor: Limited tool integration but no full prompt assistance at this time.

📊 Performance & Compatibility Matrix

Below is a compatibility matrix that details which features are supported by each client:

MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅
Continue	✅	✅	✅
Cursor	❌	✅	❌

🛠️ Advanced Configuration & Security

Configuration Example

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "notion": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/notion-mcp-server/server.js"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NOTION_API_KEY": "your_notion_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Ensure your server and API key paths are correctly specified.

Common Issues

1. Connection Failed: Verify the correct path to server.js and valid API keys.
2. Permission Denial: Ensure necessary pages and databases have been shared within Notion.

5 FAQ Items Addressing MCP Integration Challenges

1. Q: How do I resolve connection issues?
   • A: Double-check your paths in claude_desktop_config.json and ensure the API key is correctly entered.
2. Q: Why am I unable to create new databases via AI prompts?
   • A: Currently, full database creation support is only available through resources.
3. Q: Can I use Notion MCP Server with other Notion clients besides Claude Desktop?
   • A: Yes; the server works with any client that supports MCP. However, specific functionalities may vary.
4. Q: Is there a limit to which pages and databases can be integrated?
   • A: The number of integrations is not strictly limited but depends on your Notion account plan.
5. Q: How do I troubleshoot permission denials when sharing access?
   • A: Check the specific page or database settings in Notion for shared access permissions.

By following these guidelines and leveraging Notion MCP Server, you can significantly enhance your AI application's capabilities, ensuring a seamless integration with Notion’s rich content management system.