Table of contents
- Step by Step Guide: How to Embed an iFrame in Notion
- Step 1 - Get a shareable embed URL from your tool
- Step 2 - Add an Embed block in your Notion page
- Step 3 - Paste the URL and create the embed
- Step 4 - Resize and position the embed
- Common Problems When Embedding iFrames in Notion (And How to Fix Them)
- 1. Error like “This site does not allow embedding” or “refused to connect”
- 2. Only a link or bookmark shows instead of a live embed
- 3. Blank, cropped, or weirdly sized embeds
- 4. The embed works on desktop but not in the Notion mobile app
- What to Do If an iFrame Just Will Not Work in Notion
- Use Notion’s built in embed integrations first
- Use a direct link or uploaded file instead of embedding
- Use third party widgets or proxy tools as a bridge
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I paste custom HTML or JavaScript into Notion?
- Why does my iFrame URL work in a browser but not inside Notion?
- Do iFrames in Notion still work if I publish my pages as a website?
- Can I embed one Notion page inside another as an iFrame?
- Are iFrames in Notion safe to use?
An iFrame is like a small window inside your Notion page that shows content from another site. Instead of opening a new tab, you see a live video, map, form or dashboard right beside your notes. That is the main difference between embedding content and simply pasting a link; a link sends you away, an embed lets you stay where you are.
You can embed iFrame in Notion, although there are limits. Notion works well with many popular tools such as YouTube, Google Maps, calendars, whiteboards and different widgets, but it does not accept every piece of custom HTML or every website on the internet. Some sites block iFrames for security reasons, so they will not show inside a page even if you try.
The good news is that in most day to day setups you can still use iFrame in Notion for useful things such as project dashboards, team calendars, feedback forms and simple widgets. Once you understand how to embed iFrame in Notion, you can turn a normal page into a small control center for your work and keep more of your tools in one place.
Step by Step Guide: How to Embed an iFrame in Notion
Before you start changing settings in Notion, it helps to follow a simple flow. Once you do it once, you will see that how to embed iFrame in Notion is mostly a matter of getting the right link and dropping it into the right block.
Step 1 - Get a shareable embed URL from your tool
First, go to the tool you want to show inside your page. Most services that work well with an iFrame in Notion offer some type of share or embed option. You will usually see buttons such as "Share", "Embed", or "Copy link".
You might notice two different things. One is a full <iframe> HTML snippet with a lot of code around it. The other is a clean web address that starts with https. For Notion, you almost always want that clean embed or share URL, not the full <iframe> block.
A few quick examples. On YouTube, use the share options and grab the video link or the special embed link. On Google Maps, use the share feature and copy the map link. For forms or widgets, look for a "share to Notion" style link or a public view link that the provider recommends for embeds. Copy that URL and keep it ready.
Step 2 - Add an Embed block in your Notion page
Open the Notion page where you want the content to appear. Click on an empty line, then type /embed. You can also press the small plus button on the left and pick the Embed block from the list.
Once you choose Embed, Notion will add a new block with a single field in the center. It looks like a simple box asking for a link. This is where you will paste the URL you copied from your tool.
Step 3 - Paste the URL and create the embed
Paste your embed or share URL into that field. After a short moment, Notion will usually show a button saying "Create embed". When you click it, Notion loads the live content and turns the empty box into a working Notion iFrame.
Sometimes Notion will instead turn a pasted link into a bookmark card. If that happens, do not worry. You can delete the bookmark and try again using the /embed command, or use the block menu on the bookmark and look for an option that converts it to an embed. The key idea is to make sure the link is inside an Embed block, not just a normal text line.
Step 4 - Resize and position the embed
After the embed loads, you can adjust how it looks on the page. Hover over the block and you will see handles that you can drag left or right to change the width. If you prefer a wide view, you can also switch the page to full width before resizing.
To keep your layout clean, you can move the embed into a column beside your notes or place it inside a toggle block so it only shows when needed. That way, when you embed iFrame in Notion, it feels like a natural part of your workspace instead of something that takes over the whole page.
Common Problems When Embedding iFrames in Notion (And How to Fix Them)
Even if you know how to embed iFrame in Notion, things do not always work on the first try. The good news is that most issues follow the same patterns; once you know what you are looking at, they are usually easy to fix.
1. Error like “This site does not allow embedding” or “refused to connect”
This is the classic wall you hit when a website does not want to appear inside an iFrame in Notion. Many sites use security headers that tell browsers to block iframes from other domains; this helps prevent clickjacking and similar problems, although it is frustrating when you just want a clean Notion iFrame.
If you see messages such as “This site does not allow embedding” or “refused to connect”, there is nothing you can change inside Notion itself. What you can do is try an alternate provider with the same type of content, use a public view that the tool specifically marks as embeddable, or switch to a different view such as a shared dashboard or read only page. When none of that works, the safest move is to keep a normal link instead of forcing the embed.
2. Only a link or bookmark shows instead of a live embed
Sometimes you paste a link, expect an embed and Notion gives you a simple bookmark card. That does not mean you cannot embed iFrame in Notion, it just means the link landed in the wrong type of block. By default, Notion tries to be helpful and turn pasted URLs into bookmarks.
To fix this, remove the bookmark and start with the /embed command or the Embed block from the plus menu. Paste the same URL there and wait for the preview. In some tools you may also need to use a special embed or share URL rather than the normal page address; check if your service has a dedicated “embed link”, then try that in the Embed block.
3. Blank, cropped, or weirdly sized embeds
Another common issue is when the Notion iFrame loads but looks wrong. You might see a blank box, content that is cut off or a very narrow strip that is hard to use. Often this is simply a sizing problem rather than a full error.
Start by hovering over the embed and dragging the handles to widen or shrink it. If your page is in narrow view, try switching the page to full width and then resizing again. Some tools also expect a certain aspect ratio, so placing the embed inside a wider column can help. If it still looks broken after you try different sizes, the issue may be on the source site; for example, the page might not be responsive or is locked to a fixed height that does not match the frame. In those cases, you may need to accept a scroll bar inside the frame or fall back to a link.
4. The embed works on desktop but not in the Notion mobile app
You might set up everything correctly, see the embed working on your laptop, then open the same page on your phone and get a partial view or nothing at all. This often happens because the mobile app has tighter limits on interactive content and some iFrame in Notion setups simply do not render the same way on smaller screens.
There is no single switch that makes every embed behave perfectly on mobile. What you can do is plan for it. For important content, add a normal link near the embed that opens the same tool in the browser, so mobile users always have a fallback. Try to keep only your most useful embeds on pages you need on the go, and move heavy dashboards or complex widgets to separate pages you mainly open on desktop.
What to Do If an iFrame Just Will Not Work in Notion
Sometimes you can follow every step of how to embed iFrame in Notion and it still refuses to behave. When that happens, it helps to stop fighting the setup and pick a method that Notion already handles more gracefully.
Use Notion’s built in embed integrations first
Before you spend time forcing a tricky iFrame in Notion, check whether there is an official embed option. Notion has direct support for tools such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, Figma, Miro and many other services. These integrations are usually more stable than a raw Notion iFrame, because they are designed to work with Notion’s embed system from the start.
Choose these official blocks whenever they exist, especially for core work files or client facing pages. You get fewer random errors, better previews and often cleaner layouts. A simple rule helps you decide; if the tool appears in Notion’s embed list, use that block instead of pasting iframe style links.
Use a direct link or uploaded file instead of embedding
In some cases, the simplest fix is to skip the embed completely. If a site blocks iFrames or the view keeps breaking on mobile, a clear link can be more reliable than any Notion iFrame. You still give people access to the content, just without squeezing it into a frame that does not want to cooperate.
A helpful pattern is to keep a short summary in Notion and place an “Open in new tab” link right beside it. You can also add a small screenshot of the dashboard or document so readers see what they are about to open. For static documents, you might upload the file into Notion and link to that instead, which removes any third party loading issues.
Use third party widgets or proxy tools as a bridge
When you really want an embedded view and the original site does not play nicely, third party widget services can act as a bridge. Many of these tools take a source such as a calendar, a metric or a social feed and turn it into a Notion iFrame friendly widget that comes with a simple share link. You paste that link into an Embed block and let the service handle the tricky iframe logic in the background.
This path has clear pros and cons. On the plus side, it often works with tools that do not embed cleanly on their own and can give you nicer designs. On the minus side, it adds another service to your stack and sometimes a cost. It is usually worth it for recurring views that matter to your workspace, such as always on dashboards or key widgets you want on every page; for one off needs, a normal link might still be the more practical choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I paste custom HTML or JavaScript into Notion?
No, Notion does not run custom HTML or JavaScript inside pages. You need to use embeds that accept a URL instead, which is why learning how to embed iFrame in Notion always starts with a shareable link, not raw code.
Why does my iFrame URL work in a browser but not inside Notion?
If a link works in your browser but fails in an iFrame in Notion, the site is probably blocking embeds with its security settings. In that case, you need a special embed view from that tool or a different service that allows embedding.
Do iFrames in Notion still work if I publish my pages as a website?
In most cases, if an embed works inside your page, it will also work when the page is published or turned into a simple website. It still follows the same rules though, so any site that blocks iFrames will stay blocked.
Can I embed one Notion page inside another as an iFrame?
You cannot use a true Notion iFrame to show one full page inside another. Instead, you can link to other pages, use synced blocks, or create linked database views to connect content.
Are iFrames in Notion safe to use?
iFrames in Notion are generally as safe as the sites you choose to embed. Stick to tools you trust and be careful not to expose private or sensitive data inside those embedded views.
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