How do I format text in Notion?

Formatting text in Notion is surprisingly flexible, with multiple methods available to suit different working styles and preferences. You can apply basic formatting like bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough through keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl/Cmd + B for bold, Ctrl/Cmd + I for italics), markdown syntax (surrounding text with **double asterisks** for bold or *single asterisks* for italics), or by highlighting text and using the floating toolbar that appears. This variety means you can choose the method that feels most natural to your workflow.

Beyond basic formatting, Notion offers unique features like text highlighting and color changes through the "A" icon in the toolbar, which opens a palette for both text colors and background highlights. You can create headers by typing # followed by a space for H1, ## for H2, or ### for H3, making it easy to structure your content hierarchically. For technical content, surround text with backticks (`code`) to create inline code formatting, or use Ctrl/Cmd + E as a shortcut.

The slash command system provides another powerful formatting avenue—simply type "/" followed by commands like "/heading 1" or "/code" to quickly insert formatted blocks. This method works consistently across all platforms and can be faster than remembering multiple keyboard shortcuts. Notion also supports markdown syntax natively, so typing **text** automatically converts to bold formatting as you work.

One important consideration is that Notion handles formatting differently than traditional word processors. Font styles and text size changes apply to entire pages rather than individual text selections, accessed through the page's three-dot menu at the top right. While this maintains visual consistency, it means you can't mix different font sizes within the same page, which might feel limiting if you're used to tools like Microsoft Word.

Platform differences also matter—desktop users have access to all keyboard shortcuts and features, while mobile users rely more heavily on the touch-friendly toolbar and slash commands. The inline toolbar remains your most reliable option across devices, appearing whenever you select text and providing quick access to bold, italics, underline, strikethrough, colors, and highlighting options. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for your typical Notion workflow.