# How to add a callout in Notion on Mac: two methods, step by step

> How to add a callout in Notion on Mac: hover and click +, or type /callout. Then change the icon and background color in a few clicks.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/add-a-callout-in-notion
Updated: 2026-11-06

To add a callout in Notion on Mac, hover over an empty line, click the + on its left, and choose Callout. Or click into that line, type /callout, and press Return.

## Quick answer

- Hover over an empty line, click the + on its left, and choose Callout.
- Or type /callout and press Return. Notion staff call this the fastest workflow.
- No keyboard shortcut inserts a callout, according to Notion staff.
- Change the icon by clicking it. Change the color with the ⋮⋮ handle, then Color.
- If your options look different, update the app with Notion > Check for Updates.

Applies to: Notion desktop app for Mac, and Notion in a browser on a Mac. Time: 3 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac with the Notion desktop app, or Notion open in a browser
- A page you can edit, not one you only have view access to
- About three minutes for the steps, longer if you change colors and icons

## How to Add a callout block in Notion on Mac in Notion on a Mac

1. **Open the Notion desktop app.** Open Notion on your Mac and go to the page you want to edit. If you do not have the app yet, go to notion.com/desktop and click Download for macOS. The steps below work the same way in a browser. Tip: A page you can only view will not let you add a callout.
2. **Make an empty line for the callout.** Click at the end of the text above the spot you want. Press Return to create a new empty line. Move your mouse over that line until a + appears on its left. Tip: If the + does not show, move the mouse to the far left edge of the line.
3. **Click the + and choose Callout.** (+ button > Callout) Click the + to open the block menu. Find Callout in the list and click it. Notion inserts an empty callout box at that spot.
4. **Or type /callout and press Return.** Shortcut: /callout. Click into an empty line and type /callout. Notion filters the block list as you type. Press Return to insert the callout. Tip: Notion staff call this the fastest workflow.
5. **Type inside the callout box.** Click inside the callout and start typing. The box holds regular text, so the formatting you already use works here.
6. **Change the icon.** Click the icon on the left of the callout. Pick a new emoji or icon from the picker. To remove the icon, click it again and select Remove. Tip: The 🔀 button in the picker generates a random icon.
7. **Open the color menu.** (⋮⋮ icon > Color) Hover over the callout and click the ⋮⋮ icon on its left. Select Color from the menu.
8. **Pick a background shade.** Choose a shade from the list. Default makes the callout white with a light gray outline. Other shades give the box a colored background. Tip: Pick a shade that matches the meaning, such as red for a warning.
9. **Recolor with the keyboard.** Shortcut: ⌘/. Select the callout, press ⌘/, and type a color name such as red. On another callout, press ⌘⇧H to reapply the last color you used. Tip: ⌘⇧H reapplies the last color, so a second callout matches the first.
10. **Move the callout if needed.** Drag the callout by its ⋮⋮ handle on the left. You can also place a callout inside a column, so it sits beside other blocks.
11. **Update Notion and refresh.** (Notion > Check for Updates) Shortcut: ⌘R. Click Notion in the menu bar, then click Check for Updates. Press ⌘R to refresh the app. Notion's desktop help says refreshing picks up new features.

This guide is for anyone who uses Notion every day on a Mac. A callout is a shaded box with an icon on its left. People use callouts for warnings, reminders, summaries, and links that readers should not miss. Notion's callout help page does not split its steps by platform, so the steps below match the desktop app and the web.

## Get the Notion desktop app for Mac

Go to notion.com/desktop and click Download for macOS. Open the file you downloaded and follow the install prompts. If you want the full setup, read our [install guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/install-the-desktop-app-in-notion). The desktop app also differs from the browser in a few ways. Tabs open a search window by default, and you can turn that off in Preferences. Command Search and Notion AI work outside the app.

Updates change what you see, so check your version before you assume a menu is missing. Click Notion in the menu bar, then click Check for Updates. Press ⌘R to refresh Notion and pick up new features. The steps in this guide do not change between platforms, but the app itself does.

- **7.42.3** Latest Mac desktop build listed by Releasebot, dated Nov 4, 2026 (third-party tracker) ([source](https://releasebot.io/updates/notion))

## Method 1: add a callout with the + menu

Start by hovering over the line where the callout should go. A small + appears on the left edge of that line. Click it, and Notion opens the block menu. Find Callout in the list and click it. Notion inserts an empty callout at that spot, and you can start typing in the box.

This method suits people who like to see their choices. You can scroll the list, read the names, and click what you want. It takes a little longer than typing, but you do not need to remember a command. If the + does not appear, move your mouse to the far left of the line and wait a moment.

![Person typing notes on a MacBook, the setting for learning how to add a callout in Notion on Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/add-a-callout-in-notion/how-to-add-a-callout-in-notion-1-71d2d5.jpg)

## Method 2: type /callout and press Return

Click into an empty line on the page. Type a forward slash, then the word callout. Notion shows the matching block as you type. Press Return to insert it. The slash command works the same way on the web and in the Mac desktop app, so the steps carry over.

Notion staff said in a reply on X that no keyboard shortcut creates a callout block. They also said /callout is the fastest workflow. Notion's keyboard shortcut help lists no callout shortcut either. If you want speed, /callout is the route Notion points to.

> **Cmd+Shift+O is unconfirmed:** A third-party cheat sheet lists Cmd+Shift+O for adding a callout. Notion's shortcut help does not list it, and Notion staff say no callout shortcut exists. Do not build your routine around it. Use /callout instead.

## Change the callout icon

The icon sits at the left edge of the box. Click it, and Notion opens an icon picker. Choose a new emoji or icon from the list. To remove the icon completely, click it again and select Remove. The callout stays in place with no icon.

The picker also has a 🔀 button. It generates a random icon, which helps when you cannot choose. If you upload your own image, Notion suggests 280 x 280 px. Start with a square file of that size so it matches Notion's suggestion.

## Change the background color

Hover over the callout and click the ⋮⋮ icon on its left. Select Color, then choose a shade. Default turns the box white with a light gray outline. Any other shade gives the box a colored background. Pick the shade that matches the meaning. Red suits a warning. Gray suits a quiet note.

Use the keyboard when you recolor several callouts. Select a callout, press ⌘/, and type a color name. On the next callout, press ⌘⇧H to reapply the last color you used. You skip the menu entirely.

## Compare the ways to place a callout

| Method | Steps on Mac | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| + menu | Hover, click +, then choose Callout | People who like visual menus |
| /callout | Type /callout, then press Return | Fastest route, per Notion staff |
| Move an existing callout | Drag it by the ⋮⋮ handle, including into a column | Rearranging a page |

_The first two rows insert a new callout. The last row moves one you already made._

Choose the method that suits how you work. If your hands stay on the keyboard, type /callout. If you prefer visual menus, use the + button. Both give you the same block, so the choice only changes your speed and comfort.

## Keyboard shortcuts for callouts on Mac

Notion has no shortcut that creates a callout from scratch. A few shortcuts still help once a callout exists. Notion's keyboard shortcut help lists them, and they use the ⌘ key on a Mac. Windows uses Ctrl in the same spots.

- / opens the block menu. Press esc to clear the / menu.
- ⌘/ opens a menu for a selected block's type and color. Type a color name such as red.
- ⌘⇧H reapplies the last text or highlight color you used.
- ⌘R refreshes Notion to pick up new features.

Here is a quick routine. Select the callout you just made. Press ⌘/, type red, and apply it. Then add the next callout with /callout. Press ⌘⇧H on it to repeat the same color without opening a menu.

## Worked example: a warning callout on a project page

Say you keep a project page for a launch. You want a warning near the top that the design is not final. Click an empty line under the title and type /callout, then press Return. Type the warning in the box. Keep it to one or two sentences so readers see it at a glance.

Next, change the icon. Click it and pick a warning sign emoji. Then hover over the box, click the ⋮⋮ icon, choose Color, and select red. Finally, paste the link to the design file inside the box, so readers can open it from the warning.

The top of the page now has one clear signal. A second callout with the default white look can hold notes, such as where to find the files. Two different looks keep the warning from blending into the notes.

## Mistakes people make with callouts on Mac

Most problems come from three habits. First, people type callout without the slash. The word then stays as plain text on the line. Second, people look in the Mac menu bar for a callout option. Callouts live on the page, through the + menu or /callout.

Third, people select the wrong block before pressing ⌘/. That shortcut changes whatever is selected, so check the selection first. Another habit is skipping the update step. An older build can show different menus, so check Notion > Check for Updates before you decide a feature is missing.

![Man working at a MacBook on a desk, arranging a Notion page on Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/add-a-callout-in-notion/how-to-add-a-callout-in-notion-2-86d275.jpg)

## When the steps do not match your screen

Notion's callout help does not give separate Mac and web steps, so the steps above should match what you see. If they do not, check three things. Confirm the app version. Confirm the build matches your chip. Then refresh with ⌘R. Notion's desktop help warns that a version built for the wrong processor can cause an error.

To check your chip, open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. If the app still acts up, use the [application not supported fix](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/fix-the-application-not-supported-error-in-notion) for the error message. Keep the fix steps close by while you test your setup.

## Where to go next

Once callouts feel natural, try the other blocks on the same page. A [toggle](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-toggle-in-notion) hides detail until someone opens it. A [table of contents](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/add-a-table-of-contents-in-notion) helps long pages. If you reuse a layout, [create a template](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-template-in-notion) so new pages start with your callouts already in place.

If you share the page, check what viewers can see before you send the link. The [sharing guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/share-a-page-in-notion) explains permissions and link settings. It is the best place to start when a viewer says a block is missing.

![Team reviewing project notes on a laptop, the kind of page where a warning callout helps](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/add-a-callout-in-notion/how-to-add-a-callout-in-notion-3-d85c85.jpg)

## Shortcuts

- Open the block menu: /
- Clear the / menu: esc
- Change selected block color, then type a color name: ⌘/
- Reapply the last color used: ⌘⇧H
- Refresh Notion to pick up new features: ⌘R
- Insert a callout by typing (no shortcut exists): /callout

## If it does not work

- **Typing /callout shows no matching block** Click into an empty text line first. Press esc to clear any open menu, then type /callout again.
- **Callout options look different from this guide** Click Notion in the menu bar, choose Check for Updates, then press ⌘R. Notion's desktop help says ⌘R refreshes the app to pick up new features.
- **Notion shows an error after install** Check your chip under Apple menu > About This Mac. Notion's desktop help warns that a build made for the wrong processor can cause an error, so download the matching build from notion.com/desktop.
- **A cheat sheet says Cmd+Shift+O adds a callout** Do not rely on it. Notion staff said no callout shortcut exists, and Notion's help lists none. Type /callout instead.
- **⌘/ does nothing to the callout** Select the callout first, because ⌘/ works on the selected block. Then type a color name such as red.
- **The callout ends up in the wrong place** Drag it again by the ⋮⋮ handle on its left, then drop it where you want it.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where's the plus button for a callout?”: Lazur circles the + on the left edge of the line and labels it. You click it yourself. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Is there a keyboard shortcut to add a callout in Notion on Mac?

Not an official one. Notion staff said in a reply on X that no keyboard shortcut creates a callout block, and that /callout is the fastest workflow. A cheat sheet lists Cmd+Shift+O, but that claim is unconfirmed.

### Are the callout steps the same in the browser?

Yes. Notion's callout help page does not split its steps by platform. The shortcuts differ only in the modifier key, so Windows uses Ctrl where this guide uses ⌘.

### How do I remove the icon from a callout?

Click the icon, then select Remove. The callout stays on the page, just without an icon.

### Why does /callout not show up when I type it?

Click into an empty text line first. Press esc to clear any open menu, then type /callout again. Notion's shortcut help lists esc for clearing the / menu.

### Can I put a callout inside a column?

Yes. Notion's customize help says callouts can be placed in a column. Drag the callout by its ⋮⋮ handle to move it there.

### Which Notion version should I use for callouts?

Notion's desktop help does not list a version for callouts. Use Notion > Check for Updates to get the latest build. Releasebot, a third-party tracker, lists v7.42.3 dated Nov 4, 2026.

### Does ⌘/ change the text color inside a callout?

Notion's shortcut help says ⌘/ then a color name changes a block's background or text color. Select the block first. The Color option under the ⋮⋮ handle changes the background.

### Will callouts work on an older Mac?

Notion's desktop help gives no macOS minimum and points to a system requirements page. We could not open that page when we checked. Look up your version under About This Mac, then read our [system requirements guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/check-system-requirements-in-notion).

## Sources

1. [Style & customize your Notion page](https://www.notion.com/help/customize-and-style-your-content), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Using slash commands](https://www.notion.com/help/guides/using-slash-commands), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Keyboard shortcuts](https://www.notion.com/help/keyboard-shortcuts), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Notion for desktop (Mac & Windows)](https://www.notion.com/help/notion-for-desktop), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Notion Release Notes (Releasebot)](https://releasebot.io/updates/notion), Releasebot (third party), checked 2026-11-07
6. [Notion Callout Block: The Complete Guide](https://super.so/blog/notion-callout-block-the-complete-guide-2024), Super.so (third party), checked 2026-11-07
7. [Notion on X (@NotionHQ) reply to @fionnagan](https://x.com/NotionHQ/status/1229938135179489280?lang=en), X, checked 2026-11-07