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Sync a Notion database

After you import a Notion database, you can keep it in step with Notion: changes you make in either place show up in the other.

Off until you turn it on

Syncing writes to your Notion database, so it is off by default and starts with a preview that changes nothing. It also depends on a switch on our side; if you don't see Sync in a database's toolbar, it isn't available for your account yet.

Turning it on​

Open the imported database and choose Sync in its toolbar, then Preview sync. Xenith checks both sides and shows what it would do: how many rows would be updated each way, how many would be added to either side, and how many cells changed in both places. Nothing is written until you choose Start syncing (or Not now to leave it off).

Turn off sync stops all of this. What is already in both places stays.

You can sync up to 5 databases at a time.

What syncs​

  • Cell values of these column types: title, text, number, select, multi-select, status, date, checkbox, URL, email and phone.
  • New rows, in both directions.
  • New columns and options added in Notion, which are added to Xenith.

What doesn't​

  • The notes page inside each row.
  • Columns you add in Xenith. They stay in Xenith.
  • People, files and relations. Changes in Notion come into Xenith, but changes you make in Xenith to these are not sent back.
  • Formulas, rollups, created and edited times and IDs, which Notion calculates.
  • A status option that Notion doesn't have can't be created by Xenith, so that cell is listed instead of guessed.

When both sides change the same cell​

Xenith never overwrites silently. If a cell changed in both places, your Xenith value stays and the cell appears under Waiting for you with both values. Choose Keep mine or Use Notion's. Text that has formatting in Notion (bold, links, mentions) is listed the same way, because plain text would drop the formatting.

Deleted rows​

A deleted row is never removed on the other side automatically.

  • Deleted in Notion: listed so you can choose Delete here or Put back in Notion.
  • Deleted in Xenith: listed so you can choose Delete in Notion too or Bring back here.

How often it runs​

Once it is on, Xenith syncs in the background about every 15 minutes, and a full comparison runs at least once a day. Sync now in the menu runs it straight away. A large first sync is split into steps and can take a while because Notion limits how fast it shares data.

When something is wrong​

The Sync menu says plainly what is happening: Notion needs to be connected again (reconnect it), Xenith can't see this database in Notion (share it with the Xenith integration in Notion again), or Paused after repeated errors (choose Try again when you're ready). Your data on both sides is as it was.

Privacy​

To tell what changed, Xenith stores Notion page ids and a fingerprint of each cell, not its content. Your values are sent to Notion only for databases you have turned sync on for. See Privacy and Data.