Notion MCP Setup

Notion MCP Setup Guide

What is Notion MCP?

Notion MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the official integration that connects Claude Code to Notion workspaces. It enables secure, authenticated read and write access to Notion documents and databases through Claude Code commands.

Why MCP? Notion doesn't support traditional API tokens for security reasons. Instead, MCP uses OAuth, which requires the user to authenticate directly with Notion through their browser. This ensures:

• Your Notion credentials never leave your system
• Only the permissions you explicitly grant are used
• Tokens can be revoked at any time
• Full audit trail in Notion's security settings

Why OAuth is Required

OAuth is an industry-standard authentication method that requires:

1. User Approval: You visit Notion's OAuth consent screen
2. Permission Delegation: You explicitly approve what Claude Code can access
3. Token Issuance: Notion provides a token valid for your workspace
4. Secure Storage: Token stays on your local machine (.claude/notion-mcp.local.md)

Cannot be automated: Full OAuth setup requires browser interaction. Claude cannot complete the OAuth flow automatically because:

• Notion's OAuth server is external to Claude Code
• User interaction (clicking "Allow") is security-critical
• Manual approval prevents unauthorized access

The Setup Flow

Phase 1: Preparation

• Ensure Claude Code is installed and running
• Have a Notion workspace ready (free or paid)
• Browser available for OAuth consent

Phase 2: OAuth Authorization

Run /notion:setup which:

1. Opens Notion's OAuth consent screen in your browser
2. Shows what permissions Claude Code is requesting (read/write access)
3. Asks you to approve the request
4. Redirects to a callback with an authorization code

Phase 3: Token Storage

• The authorization code is exchanged for an OAuth token
• Token is stored in .claude/notion-mcp.local.md
• Storage location is automatically protected (in .gitignore)
• Token includes workspace ID and metadata

Phase 4: Validation

• Connection validator tests read access
• Connection validator tests write access
• If tests pass, setup is complete
• If tests fail, troubleshooting suggestions provided

Understanding Token Storage

Tokens are stored in .claude/notion-mcp.local.md with YAML frontmatter:

---
notion_oauth_token: "notion_oauth_xxxx..."
workspace_id: "workspace-uuid"
last_validated: "2026-01-29T10:30:00Z"
---

# Notion MCP Configuration

Your OAuth token is stored securely here.

Why this location:

• .local.md files are ignored by git (see .gitignore)
• YAML frontmatter stores structured data
• Human-readable for debugging
• Follows Claude Code plugin conventions

Security considerations:

• Never manually edit this file
• Never commit to version control
• Never share the token value
• Regenerate if compromised

OAuth Scopes and Permissions

Claude Code requests the following Notion permissions:

• Read: Access all pages, databases, and content in your workspace
• Write: Create and modify pages, add content to databases
• No delete: Cannot permanently delete pages (safer)

These match the Notion MCP tool capabilities and cannot be customized during setup.

Troubleshooting Setup Issues

Issue: OAuth Screen Never Appears

Possible causes:

• Browser popup blocked or not configured
• Notion OAuth endpoint unreachable
• System clipboard/paste not working

Solutions:

• Check browser popup settings
• Try different browser if first fails
• Run /notion:troubleshoot for diagnostic output

Issue: Token Stored But Commands Fail

Possible causes:

• Token expired (>12 months old)
• Notion workspace access revoked
• MCP server not configured correctly

Solutions:

• Run /notion:validate to check token status
• Run /notion:setup again to get fresh token
• Run /notion:troubleshoot for detailed diagnostics

Issue: "Permission Denied" Errors

Possible causes:

• OAuth permissions revoked in Notion settings
• Workspace permissions changed
• OAuth app deauthorized

Solutions:

• Open Notion settings → Connected apps
• Revoke the Claude Code authorization
• Run /notion:setup again to re-authorize

Next Steps After Setup

Once setup is complete:

1. Check status: Run /notion:status to verify configuration
2. Validate connection: Run /notion:validate to test read/write access
3. Learn tools: Study the notion-mcp-tools skill to understand available commands
4. Start using: Use /notion:read, /notion:write, and other commands

Additional Resources

For more detailed information:

• references/oauth-flow-details.md - Complete OAuth flow explanation
• references/token-management.md - How tokens are stored and validated
• references/troubleshooting-setup.md - Detailed setup troubleshooting guide

See the notion-mcp-tools skill for reference guide to all available commands.

See the mcp-security skill for security best practices.