Frequently Asked Questions

Use an image that is 1500×600 px (5:2). This is the reliable baseline across devices. You can also export a high-res version at 3000×1200 px if you want extra crispness on high-DPI screens.

Use a 5:2 wide banner. Notion crops dynamically by screen, so design for this ratio and put the important stuff in the center.

On a 1500×600 px canvas, keep critical artwork/info inside a centered band of about 1170×230 px. Elements outside this band are most likely to be cropped on some screens.

Phones are narrow, your cover is wide. Notion fills the space and crops the sides. Keep your subject inside the central safe band and use the Reposition tool to adjust if needed.

• Keep text inside the central safe band
• Avoid small type and edge-hugging graphics
• Test on desktop and phone, then use Reposition to adjust if needed

Yes. Database cards are thumbnails with tighter crops that vary by view. Use simpler visuals for cards and avoid small text. In Gallery view you can switch to "Fit image" to reduce cropping.

Full-bleed looks polished, but leave generous vertical breathing room so the center reads clean across screens.

If you use a Retina or 4K display and the cover looks soft, upload 3000×1200 px. Notion resizes what it serves, but a larger source prevents blurry upscales on high-DPI screens.

• Default: 1500×600
• If it looks soft on Retina: 3000×1200
• Keep files lean: ≤ 500 KB. JPEG 80–90 for photos or gradients. PNG only for flat art
• Use Reposition to center your subject

• JPG: Best for photos due to its small file size.
• PNG: Ideal for graphics with sharp lines, text or transparency.
• WebP: Offers excellent quality at an even smaller size.
• GIF: Use for simple, looping animations.

• Upload: most reliable
• Link: quick, but can break if the host changes

Usually the image is too small or overly compressed. Export at 1500×600 px or larger and avoid heavy JPEG compression.

Use a stable CDN or your own storage you control. Avoid hosts that block hotlinking.

• Size: ≥ 1500×600 px
• Format: JPG 80–90 quality or PNG
• Color profile: sRGB

While it's best to keep covers under 2 MB for fast page loading, Notion's official file upload limit for the Free Plan is 5 MB. Exceeding this will cause the upload to fail.

No. DPI is for print. On screens, pixel dimensions and compression matter.

Yes. Upload a GIF or enter a link to one.

Large files or certain hosts can pause playback. Try uploading directly, shorten the loop, or compress frames.

Short loops under 5 seconds and files under ~2–3 MB feel smooth and avoid stutter.

• Limit colors and frames
• Use subtle motion
• Crop to needed dimensions before export

Usually yes, but playback can vary by host. Uploading avoids most quirks.

No, you cannot use a video file (like an MP4) as a Notion cover. The cover area only accepts image files or GIFs.

1. Open the page • tap the cover area
2. Choose Upload, Unsplash, or Link
3. Pick your image • save

Phone viewports are narrower. Notion crops more aggressively, so the top and bottom often trim.

• Center key content
• Add extra vertical padding
• Test on a real device

Use desktop to fine-tune. Upload a version with more vertical padding if elements are too close to the edges.

1. Open your page
2. Click “Add cover” or hover and choose “Change cover”
3. Upload, pick Unsplash, or paste an image link

Browse our free packs, Unsplash inside Notion, or create your own in Canva, Figma or Kittl.

Upload for reliability. Linked images depend on the host and can break if URLs change.

Open the item as a full page, then add or change the cover like any page.

Hover the cover, choose Change cover, then remove or upload a new file.

Really, it's up to you! Some ideas: soft gradients, geometric shapes, simple patterns or minimal wide-format photos with clear subject.

• High contrast type
• Center in the safe band
• Use short titles, not paragraphs

Use bold silhouettes, avoid mid-grey on muted tones and test on dark backgrounds.

• Size: 1500×600 px or larger
• Export: JPG or PNG

• Canvas: 1500×600 px or larger
• Export: JPG or PNG

Create a small system using 2-3 brand colors, one texture and a handful of repeatable layouts. Keep it simple and consistent.

• Export to JPG or PNG
• Reduce file size
• Try direct upload instead of link

If you upload an image that is too narrow (less than the width of the screen), Notion will stretch it to fit. Likwise, if you upload a tall image, Notion will only be able to show a wide band within image. For best results, upload an image that is at least 1500px wide and wider than it is tall.

The host changed or blocked hotlinking. Find the image again, right click and copy the image address. Try adding this link to Notion.

If it's still not working, download the image and upload it to Notion.

If the image is too small, Notion will stretch it to fill the space. On large displays, this can be noticeable.

For best results, export an image that is at least 1500px wide — if you use a retina display, export at least 3000px wide.

Notion's servers temporarily store (or 'cache') images to make pages load faster. When you update a linked image, it can take some time for Notion to fetch the new version. To force an update, either change the filename of your new image (e.g., cover-v2.jpg) or remove and re-add the link in Notion.

Bake in extra vertical padding in your source image so the center aligns after Notion's crop.

Not unless the license allows it. Use your own images, licensed stock or our covers.

Follow the license terms for the specific images you're using. If you use our downloads, you don't need to give credit (although we appreciate it).

Avoid using third-party trademarks unless you have permission. Stick to generic or original graphics.

Our downloads can be used for personal and commercial projects, hover resale or distribution is prohibited. Attribution is not required, but appreciated.