Notion's flexible workspace makes it ideal for AI-powered knowledge management, but the integration requires understanding Notion's API authentication, database structures, and page hierarchies. This intermediate guide walks you through creating a Notion integration, configuring API access, setting up OpenClaw's Notion skill, and building automation workflows that read from and write to your workspace.
Why This Is Hard to Do Yourself
These are the common pitfalls that trip people up.
Notion API authentication
Notion uses OAuth or internal integrations. Internal integrations require page-by-page permission grants, while OAuth needs redirect URI configuration.
Page structure mapping
Notion's block-based page structure is hierarchical. Databases, pages, and blocks all have different API endpoints and update methods.
Syncing limitations
Notion's API has rate limits (3 requests/sec) and doesn't support real-time webhooks. Polling or manual triggers are required for syncing.
Step-by-Step Guide
Create a Notion integration
Register a new integration in Notion to obtain API credentials.
# 1. Go to https://www.notion.so/my-integrations
# 2. Click "+ New integration"
# 3. Set:
# - Name: OpenClaw AI
# - Associated workspace: Your workspace
# - Capabilities: Read content, Update content, Insert content
# 4. Save the Internal Integration Token (secret_...)Configure API token in OpenClaw
Add your Notion integration token to OpenClaw's configuration.
# In config/skills/notion.yaml:
notion:
enabled: true
api_token: "secret_YOUR_NOTION_INTEGRATION_TOKEN"
api_version: "2022-06-28" # Notion API version
default_workspace_id: "YOUR_WORKSPACE_ID"Warning: Store the API token securely. Never commit it to version control. Use environment variables for production deployments.
Install Notion skill
Install and enable the Notion skill in OpenClaw.
# Install the Notion skill:
openclaw skill install notion
# Verify installation:
openclaw skill list | grep notion
# Enable the skill:
openclaw skill enable notion
# Test connection:
openclaw skill test notion --action list_pagesConfigure page access
Grant your integration access to specific Notion pages and databases.
# In Notion:
# 1. Open the page or database you want OpenClaw to access
# 2. Click "..." (three dots) → "Add connections"
# 3. Select "OpenClaw AI" (your integration name)
# 4. The integration can now read/write that page
#
# To grant access to all pages in a workspace:
# Share the root page with the integrationWarning: Internal integrations have NO access by default. You must explicitly share each page or database with the integration.
Test read/write operations
Verify that OpenClaw can read from and write to Notion.
# Read a Notion page:
openclaw chat "Read the content from Notion page <PAGE_URL>"
# Create a new page:
openclaw chat "Create a new Notion page titled 'Meeting Notes' with today's date"
# Update a database:
openclaw chat "Add a new row to the Tasks database with title 'Review OpenClaw integration' and status 'In Progress'"
# Check OpenClaw logs:
tail -f ~/.openclaw/logs/skills.log | grep notionSet up automation workflows
Build workflows that automatically sync data between OpenClaw and Notion.
# Example: Daily summary workflow
# config/workflows/notion_daily_summary.yaml:
workflows:
notion_daily_summary:
trigger:
type: schedule
cron: "0 9 * * *" # Every day at 9 AM
steps:
- name: Generate summary
action: ai.summarize
input: "conversations from last 24 hours"
- name: Create Notion page
action: notion.create_page
params:
parent_id: "YOUR_PARENT_PAGE_ID"
title: "Daily Summary - {{ date }}"
content: "{{ steps.generate_summary.output }}"Warning: Notion API rate limit is 3 requests/sec. For high-volume automation, implement request queuing or use batch operations where possible.
Notion Integration Requires API Expertise
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