How do I add custom icons to Notion pages?

Adding custom icons to your Notion pages is straightforward and offers several flexible options to personalize your workspace. You can easily customize page icons by hovering over the top left of your page title and clicking either the default icon or the "Add icon" button. This opens a selection menu where you can choose from Notion's built-in emojis, upload your own image files, or link to external images hosted online.

The most reliable method involves uploading your own icon files directly to Notion. Simply click "Upload an image" from the icon menu and select a file from your device. Notion supports multiple formats including PNG, JPG, SVG, GIF, and WEBP files up to 5 MB in size. For optimal clarity across all devices, we recommend using 280 × 280 pixel images in PNG or SVG format. These formats maintain sharpness while ensuring your icons look crisp in both light and dark modes.

Alternatively, you can link to externally hosted images by selecting "Link" in the icon menu and pasting a direct image URL. This method works well for icons stored in cloud services or online icon libraries, though you'll want to ensure the source remains accessible since Notion retrieves the image from that external location. Both upload and link methods work consistently across Notion's web, desktop, and mobile applications.

While custom icons offer excellent personalization opportunities, there are some practical considerations to keep in mind. Large files or complex SVG graphics may slow page loading, especially on mobile devices, so keeping icon files under 200 KB ensures smooth performance. Additionally, animated icons only work with GIF files, and some detailed SVG elements might not display perfectly on all mobile devices. For the most reliable experience across platforms, simple PNG icons with clear, recognizable designs work best.

Custom icons transform your Notion workspace into a more visually organized and personally meaningful environment. Whether you choose colorful emojis for quick identification, professional icons for business pages, or custom graphics that match your brand, the process takes just seconds and makes navigating your workspace more intuitive and enjoyable.