How do I create a view that shows only certain properties in Notion?

Creating filtered views in Notion allows you to display only the specific properties and data that matter most to your workflow. This powerful feature transforms overwhelming databases into focused, actionable workspaces tailored to your exact needs. Whether you're managing a project timeline, tracking team tasks, or organizing personal goals, filtered views help you cut through the noise and spotlight what's truly important. Here's exactly how to set up these customized views to maximize your productivity.

Start by opening your database and clicking the three dots at the top to select "Add a new view" or "Duplicate view" if you want to modify an existing one. Once you're in your view, click the "Filter" button at the top of your database, then select "Filter" under "View settings." This opens up Notion's filtering toolkit, where you'll choose the property you want to filter by and set your specific criteria. For example, if you have a task database with a "Status" property, you could filter to show only tasks marked as "In Progress" or "Complete."

The beauty of Notion's filtering system lies in its flexibility. You can create simple filters for straightforward needs, like showing only high-priority items, or build advanced filters using "AND" or "OR" logic for more complex scenarios. Advanced filters let you combine multiple conditions, such as displaying tasks that are both due this week AND assigned to your team. To access these powerful options, select "Add advanced filter" from the filter menu and experiment with different property combinations.

Beyond filtering data, you can control which properties appear in your view by using the column headers' three-dot menus to hide or show specific columns. This feature proves invaluable when you need a clean, focused view that displays only relevant information. For instance, a client meeting view might show only names, dates, and status while hiding internal notes or project codes.

While Notion's filtering capabilities are robust, keep in mind that overly complex filters can become difficult to manage and may slow down your database's performance. It's best to limit filter nesting to three layers deep and document your filter logic for shared databases so teammates understand the view's purpose. Remember to save your filter "for everyone" if you want the entire team to benefit from your customized view, or leave it unchecked to keep it personal to your workflow.