Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - MCP Server for Notion

Q: What is an MCP Server?

A: MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. An MCP server acts as a bridge, allowing AI models (like Claude) to access and interact with external data sources and tools. In this case, it connects AI assistants to your Notion workspace.

Q: What does the MCP Server for Notion do?

A: It allows AI assistants to view and search your Notion databases, create and update pages, and manage content blocks within Notion.

Q: What are the prerequisites for setting up the MCP Server?

A: You need Node.js (version 14 or higher), a Notion account, and optionally, the Claude Desktop app if you plan to use it with Claude.

Q: How do I get my Notion API Key?

A: Go to https://www.notion.so/my-integrations, create a new integration, and copy the “Internal Integration Token.”

Q: How do I grant access to Notion pages for the integration?

A: In Notion, navigate to the page or database you want the AI to access, click the “•••” (three dots) in the top-right corner, select “Add connections,” and find and select your integration.

Q: How do I connect the MCP Server to Claude Desktop?

A: You need to modify the claude_desktop_config.json file (location varies by operating system) to point to the server.js file of the MCP Server and include your Notion API key.

Q: What if I see a “Connection failed” error in Claude?

A: Double-check that the server path in claude_desktop_config.json is correct, your Notion API key is valid, and Node.js is installed correctly.

Q: What does “Access denied” mean when accessing Notion content?

A: Make sure you’ve shared the specific page/database with your Notion integration.

Q: The server won’t start. What should I do?

A: Ensure all dependencies are installed (npm install) and that the .env file exists with your API key.

Q: What tools are available to AI assistants through this server?

A: The server provides tools like list-databases, query-database, create-page, update-page, create-database, update-database, get-page, get-block-children, append-block-children, update-block, get-block, and search.

Q: Where can I find help if I have problems not covered in the troubleshooting section?

A: Check the console output for error messages, ensure your Notion API key is valid, and verify that your integration has access to the pages/databases.

Q: Is this MCP Server MIT Licensed?

A: Yes, the MCP Server is MIT licensed, which allows for broad use and modification.