How do I create an automation in Notion?

Creating automations in Notion requires a Plus, Business, or Enterprise plan and involves setting up event-based triggers that respond to database changes. You'll find the automation feature within your databases, where you can configure actions like updating properties, creating new pages, or sending Slack notifications. While Notion's native automation capabilities offer a streamlined approach to workflow optimization, understanding both their potential and limitations will help you make the most of this powerful feature.

To create your first automation, navigate to any database in your workspace and click the "Automations" button. Select "New Automation" and you'll be prompted to define two key components: the trigger and the action. Triggers activate when specific events occur, such as when a page is created, edited, or when a property value changes. Actions determine what happens next—you might automatically update a status property, add a new page to another database, or send a notification to your team's Slack channel. Configure these settings according to your workflow needs, then save and test your automation to ensure it works as expected.

Notion's native automations excel at simple, event-driven tasks and execute within seconds of being triggered, maintaining over 98% uptime reliability. They're particularly effective for onboarding workflows, where adding a new employee automatically creates related task assignments, or for basic team notifications when project statuses change. The interface requires no coding knowledge and integrates seamlessly with your existing databases, making it accessible for teams of all technical levels.

However, these automations come with notable constraints that may impact complex workflows. They cannot use dynamic data from the triggering event—meaning your Slack notifications will send generic messages rather than personalized ones containing specific task details. Time-based triggers aren't supported, so you can't schedule daily reports or recurring reminders. Additionally, formula properties cannot serve as triggers, which limits conditional logic possibilities. Survey data from 2024 shows that while 77% of users find native automations satisfactory for basic workflows, only 38% report satisfaction with advanced use cases.

For workflows requiring more sophisticated logic, dynamic data handling, or scheduled operations, consider integrating third-party tools like Zapier or Unito alongside Notion's native capabilities. This hybrid approach allows you to leverage Notion's built-in simplicity for straightforward automations while extending functionality through external integrations when needed. Start with native automations for basic workflows, document your processes clearly, and scale complexity gradually as your automation needs evolve.