# How to create a template in Notion on Mac: database templates, step by step

> Learn how to create a template in Notion on Mac: open your database, click New, choose + New template, then title it and add the content you want.

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

To create a template in Notion on Mac, open your database, click the dropdown arrow beside the blue New button at the top right, and choose + New template. Title the page, set its properties, add the content you want, and the template appears in that database's New menu.

## Quick answer

- Open the database, click the dropdown arrow beside the blue New button, then choose + New template.
- Title the template. The title becomes its name in the menu, so make it specific.
- Templates work only in the database where you create them, so build each one where you plan to use it.
- For a repeating template, click ••• next to it, then open the Repeat dropdown and pick daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly.
- The Mac app needs macOS 13 or later. Notion's help pages describe the same template steps on every platform.

Applies to: Notion desktop app for macOS 13 or later, database templates. Time: 10 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac running macOS 13 or later
- The Notion desktop app, or Notion open in a browser
- A database you can edit
- Full access or Can edit permission on the page, for template buttons

## How to Create a database template in Notion on Mac in Notion on a Mac

1. **Open the database.** Open the Notion desktop app and go to the database that should hold the template. A database template works only in the database where you create it, so pick the right one first. If you don't have a database yet, create one before you continue. Tip: Use the database you already open each day, so the template gets used.
2. **Open the New dropdown.** (Top right of database > New dropdown arrow) Look at the top right of the database. Click the dropdown arrow beside the blue New button. A short menu opens with a + New template option.
3. **Choose + New template.** (New dropdown arrow > + New template) Click + New template in that menu. Notion opens a blank template page inside the database.
4. **Title the template.** Click the title area at the top of the blank page and type a name. The title becomes the template name in the menu, so pick something you will recognize later, such as Weekly review or Book notes. Tip: Name the job the template does, not the date.
5. **Set the properties.** Set the properties the template should start with, such as Status, Tags, or a date. Each new page made from the template begins with those values, so you don't set them again.
6. **Add the content.** Write or paste the content every new page should include. Notion's help says you can add images, embeds, and sub-pages. Headings and checklists make a good outline for most templates. Tip: Start with headings only. You can add detail later.
7. **Check the template.** Go back to the database and find the template in the New dropdown. Make a test page from it to see how it looks, then delete the test page so your database stays clean.
8. **Create a page from the template.** Click the dropdown arrow beside the blue New button and pick your template. You can also create a new page, choose a template from the gray menu, then give the page a unique title before you edit it.
9. **Edit a template later.** (Dropdown next to New > ••• next to template > Edit) Open the dropdown next to New at the top of the database. Click ••• next to the template, then click Edit. The same menu lets you duplicate or delete the template.

Notion uses the word template for three different things. A database template is a starting page that each new entry in one database copies. A template button is a button on a page that duplicates a set of blocks when you click it. A Marketplace template is a ready-made page you add from the sidebar. This guide covers the first kind, which is what most people mean when they search for how to create a template in Notion on Mac.

![Woman at a MacBook learning how to create a template in Notion on Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/create-a-template-in-notion/how-to-create-a-template-in-notion-1-efc677.jpg)

## What you need before you start

You need a Mac running macOS 13 or later. Notion's system requirements list macOS 13 or above as the minimum for the desktop app. Not sure which version you have? Click the Apple menu, then About This Mac. If your Mac is older, read [how to check Notion system requirements on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/check-system-requirements-in-notion) before you install anything.

- A Mac running macOS 13 or later.
- The Notion desktop app, signed in with your email, or Notion open in a browser.
- A database you can edit. Database templates live inside databases, not on plain pages.
- Edit access to that database, so you can add a template to it.

## Why a template belongs to one database

A database template is tied to the database where you make it. Notion's help says templates are available only in that database. That shapes how you plan. If two databases need the same structure, build a template in each one. Do not expect a template from Tasks to appear in Projects.

Here is a worked example. Say you keep a reading list in a database called Books, with Status and Rating properties. You make a template called Book notes with three headings: Summary, Best quotes, and Next action. Every new book page starts with those headings and the properties you set. You never retype the outline again.

- **13** Minimum macOS version for the Notion desktop app ([source](https://www.notion.com/help/system-requirements-for-notion))
- **3** Levels of nesting allowed in each database template ([source](https://www.notion.com/help/database-templates))
- **23%** Share of G2 dislike mentions about learning curve and setup time (mentions, not users) ([source](https://learn.g2.com/is-notion-worth-it))

## Make a template repeat on a schedule

Repeating templates use the same ••• menu. Notion offers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly repeats. For each one you set an interval, a start date, and a time. A weekly review template set for Friday morning creates a fresh review page every Friday. Set the interval first, then the start date, so the first page lands on the day you expect.

| Repeat option | Can hold a nested template | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Daily | No | Short check-ins with no nested pages |
| Weekly | Yes | Weekly reviews with sub-pages |
| Monthly | Yes | Monthly reports and budgets |
| Yearly | Yes | Annual planning pages |

_Nesting rules for repeating templates, from Notion's database template help._

Nesting follows a few rules. A template can hold other templates, up to three levels deep in each database template. Notion does not limit how many templates you can make. The one hard rule for repeating templates is that a daily template cannot hold a nested template. Weekly, monthly, and yearly templates can.

## Name templates so the dropdown makes sense

The title you type becomes the name in the dropdown. Names like Template 2 look fine on day one and useless by day ninety. Name the job the template does, such as Weekly review, Client call, or Bug report. If two templates do similar jobs, add a short word that separates them, like Bug report, mobile.

## Edit, duplicate, or delete a template later

Open the dropdown next to New, click ••• next to the template, then choose Edit, Duplicate, or Delete. Before you delete a template, duplicate it first. The copy gives you a way back if you remove a section you still need. Starter templates that came with a page work the same way. Click ••• next to the page name, then Delete.

## Reuse a plain page without a database

Not every template needs a database. You can keep an empty copy of a page in the sidebar and make new pages from it. Open that page's menu and choose Duplicate. Notion's help page on starting with a template covers this method. It does not explain how to share a page as a template, so do not count on that step.

## Template buttons are a separate feature

A template button is not a database template. You create one by typing /button or /template on a page, choosing Button, giving it a name and an emoji, selecting New action, then clicking Done. Each click duplicates the blocks you set up. Creating, editing, or clicking a button needs Full access or Can edit on that page.

Clicking a button that edits a database also needs editor access to that database. Watch for one thing in particular. When a button uses a template to make a page, the template's values overwrite the button's values. The new page may not get the name the button promises, so test the button once before you rely on it.

## Keyboard shortcuts that help while you build

Notion's shortcut list has no shortcut for templates. The general shortcuts still save time on a Mac. ⌘ N creates a new page. ⌘ ⌥ 9 creates a page from the current line, which helps when a line of notes grows into its own page. ⌥ drag duplicates content. ⌘ D duplicates selected blocks, but it does not duplicate whole pages.

⌘ / opens the block action menu. Use it while you build a template so you can change a block without reaching for the mouse each time.

## Desktop app or browser for templates on Mac

The desktop app has no browser tabs. It sends push notifications for mentions, task assignments, and reminders. Command Search works outside the app, and you can turn on a menu bar icon named Show Notion in Menu Bar. To move a browser link into the app, click ••• then More, then Open in Mac app.

Notion's help describes the same template steps across platforms, so the dropdown and ••• menus should look alike in both. I did not check the web app myself, so trust what you see on your screen if a menu looks different there.

## Install or update the Mac app first

Go to notion.com/desktop and click Download for macOS. The page offers Universal, Apple Silicon, and Intel x64 builds, and Universal is the default. Open the file you downloaded, follow the on-screen steps, then open Notion and log in with your email. The full walkthrough is in [how to install the Notion desktop app on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/install-the-desktop-app-in-notion).

![Laptop and planner on a desk, the setup for Notion templates on Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/create-a-template-in-notion/how-to-create-a-template-in-notion-2-01f15a.jpg)

To check for updates, click Notion in the menu bar, then Check for Updates. Notion's help shows the last update under ? then More in the sidebar. If a new feature is missing, press ⌘ R to refresh. The Homebrew cask index lists 7.42.3 as the current Mac build. That is a third-party listing, not a Notion version page, so use the update check to confirm yours.

## Mistakes people make with Notion templates

- Building a template in one database, then looking for it in another. Templates work only where they were created.
- Nesting a template inside a daily repeating template. Notion does not allow it.
- Skipping the title. The title is the name you pick from the dropdown later.
- Deleting a template without duplicating it first, then wanting the old version back.
- Expecting a template button to keep your page name. The template's values win.
- Looking for a way to share a page as a template. Notion's help does not cover that step.

## Why setup takes longer than it should

G2's article on what users dislike about Notion found that learning curve and setup time made up 23% of mentions. That is a share of mentions, not of reviewers, and the article gives no sample size. Read it as a hint about where people get stuck, not as a measure of how long setup takes.

## Build templates you will actually reuse

Start with one template for the routine you repeat most. Keep the outline short. Include only the headings you fill in every time. A template with ten empty sections is one people skip. After two weeks, open the template and remove every section you never touched.

Test each change on a throwaway page. Create a page from the template, fill it in, and read it as if you had never seen it before. Then delete the test page so the database stays clean. Small tests catch problems early, before they reach your real pages.

![Person typing on a laptop in an office, building a Notion template on a Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/create-a-template-in-notion/how-to-create-a-template-in-notion-3-a8db48.jpg)

## Next steps after your first template

Once your first template works, check how links open on your Mac. Notion links from a browser can open in the desktop app, which helps when your notes live there. The steps are in [how to open Notion links in the desktop app](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/open-notion-links-in-the-desktop-app-in-notion).

If the app will not open on your Mac at all, start with the chip check in [the not supported error guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/fix-the-application-not-supported-error-in-notion).

## Shortcuts

- Create a new page: ⌘ N
- New page from the current line: ⌘ ⌥ 9
- Duplicate selected blocks: ⌘ D
- Open the block action menu: ⌘ /
- Duplicate content while dragging: ⌥ + drag
- Refresh to see new features: ⌘ R

## If it does not work

- **The template isn't in the New dropdown** Templates work only in the database where they were created. Open the database that holds the template, then check the dropdown arrow beside the blue New button again.
- **The error says the app is not supported on this Mac** The build doesn't match your processor. Uninstall Notion, check the Apple logo, then About This Mac for the chip type, and download the matching version from notion.com/desktop.
- **A daily repeating template won't hold a nested template** Notion doesn't allow a nested template inside a daily repeating template. Change the repeat to weekly, monthly, or yearly, or move the nested template outside the daily one.
- **A template button created a page with the wrong name** The template's values overwrite the button's values. Set the name you want inside the template itself, then click the button again to test it.
- **New features don't show up after an update** Click Notion in the menu bar, then Check for Updates. If the feature still doesn't appear, press ⌘ R to refresh the app.
- **I can't edit a template or click a template button** Template buttons need Full access or Can edit on the page, and clicking a button that edits a database needs editor access to that database. Ask the page owner for the right permission.

## 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 dropdown arrow next to New?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around the arrow and answers out loud. It does not click the arrow for you. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Can I make a Notion template on Mac without a database?

Yes, in a limited way. Keep an empty copy of the page in your sidebar, then use the page's menu to choose Duplicate each time you need a fresh copy. Database templates always need a database.

### Can a template in one database work in another database?

No. Notion's help says templates are available only in the database where they were created. Build a separate template for each database that needs one.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut to create a template?

Not one listed for templates. Notion's shortcut page has no template-specific shortcut. Use ⌘ N to create a new page and ⌘ / to open the block action menu while you build.

### How many templates can I make in one database?

Notion's help says the number of templates is unlimited. Each database template allows three levels of nesting, and a template cannot sit inside a daily repeating template.

### Which macOS version do I need for the Notion Mac app?

macOS 13 or later. Notion's system requirements list macOS 13 or above as the minimum for the desktop app.

### Do these steps work in the iPhone or Android apps?

This guide covers the Mac app only. I did not verify the mobile apps, so check Notion's help before you follow these steps on a phone or tablet.

### Can I share a page as a template with my team?

Notion's help explains reusing a page through Duplicate. It does not explain sharing a page as a template, so I cannot confirm that step from the source.

### Why can't I see Edit for a template?

Notion's help puts Edit in the ••• menu next to each template. If you cannot see it, check that you have edit access to the database. I did not find an official article on this case, so ask the database owner.

## Sources

1. [Database templates in Notion](https://www.notion.com/help/database-templates), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Start with a Notion template](https://www.notion.com/help/start-with-a-template), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Template buttons](https://www.notion.com/help/template-buttons), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Notion keyboard shortcuts](https://www.notion.com/help/keyboard-shortcuts), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Notion for desktop (Mac & Windows)](https://www.notion.com/help/notion-for-desktop), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Notion Desktop download page](https://www.notion.com/desktop), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
7. [System requirements for Notion](https://www.notion.com/help/system-requirements-for-notion), Notion, checked 2026-11-07
8. [Homebrew Formulae: notion cask](https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/notion), Homebrew, checked 2026-11-07
9. [Is Notion Worth It? Pricing, ROI, and User Insights from G2](https://learn.g2.com/is-notion-worth-it), G2 Learn, checked 2026-11-07