How to Make Flashcards in Notion the Simple Way

Table of contents

• Step-by-Step Guide to Make Flashcards in Notion
• 1. Create a new page and add a database.
• 2. Name your database and hide the title.
• 3. Rename the Name property.
• 4. Add a new text property called “Answer”.
• 5. Add a select property for difficulty.
• 6. Add a checkbox property called “Reveal”
• 7. Add a formula property for showing answers.
• 8. Open the formula editor.
• 9. Enter your answer reveal formula.
• 10. Add another checkbox for archived cards.
• 11. Click the Settings menu of your database. Switch your layout to board view.
• 12. Organize your board by difficulty.
• 13. Set visible properties for each card.
• 14. Add a filter to hide archived cards.
• 15. Rename your current view to “Active Cards”.
• 16. Duplicate the board view for your archive.
• 17. Set the archive filter.
• 18. Change the archive view layout to gallery
• 19. Adjust property visibility for the archive view
• Flashcard features to improve your learning
• Use spaced repetition in Notion
• Track progress with difficulty levels
• Archive cards to stay focused
• Optional aesthetic enhancements
• Best practices for using Notion flashcards
• Easiest way to keep learning in Notion

Flashcards aren’t new. They’ve been around for decades because they work. One glance gives you a question, the next reveals an answer. Simple. But that moment of recall, where your brain pauses, searches, and finds the right response, is where the learning really sticks. That’s why students, professionals, and language learners keep coming back to them.

What makes Notion a strong choice for flashcards is its flexibility. You're not locked into a single layout or limited by a rigid tool. You can shape the system to match how you think. Want to show answers using a checkbox? Add spaced repetition? Sort cards by difficulty or subject? All of that is possible with Notion’s board view, formulas, and easy-to-use databases. And no, you don’t need to be a Notion expert to make it work.

Apps like Anki and Quizlet focus entirely on flashcards. They do the job well, but they live in their own world. Notion gives you more. Your flashcards can sit right beside your notes, your study plan, your to-do list. If you're ready to learn how to make flashcards in Notion in a way that's both simple and customizable, this guide will walk you through it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Make Flashcards in Notion

Creating flashcards in Notion is easier than it looks. No code, no complicated setup. Just a few database tweaks and you're ready to go. Follow these steps to build your own functional and customizable Notion flashcard system.

1. Create a new page and add a database.

Start with a blank page. Type /database and choose Database – Inline to create a table where your flashcards will live.

2. Name your database and hide the title.

Label your new database “Flashcards” (or anything you like). Then click the three-dot menu and select Hide database title for a cleaner look.

3. Rename the Name property.

Click on the “Name” property and rename it to something like “Questions.” This will act as the front side of your flashcard.

4. Add a new text property called “Answer”.

Click the plus (+) button to add a new Text property. Rename it to “Answer”, then enter the correct answer for each card.

5. Add a select property for difficulty.

Add another property and choose Select. Call it Difficulty, then add the following options:

• New
• Hard
• Medium
• Easy

You can assign colors to each for visual sorting.

6. Add a checkbox property called “Reveal”

Add a new Checkbox property and name it Reveal. You’ll use this to show or hide the answer on each card.

7. Add a formula property for showing answers.

Click + Add property, select Formula, and name it Revealed Answer.

8. Open the formula editor.

Click into the formula field, then select Edit formula to begin entering the logic.

9. Enter your answer reveal formula.

Use this formula inside the field:

if (Reveal == true, Answer, "")

Make sure to insert the actual “Reveal” and “Answer” properties from the dropdown, not just the text.

Now when you tick the Reveal box, the answer will appear. When unchecked, it stays hidden.

10. Add another checkbox for archived cards.

Create another Checkbox property and name it Archive. You’ll use this to hide flashcards you’ve already learned or want to skip for now.

11. Click the Settings menu of your database. Switch your layout to board view.

Click the database’s three-dot menu, go to Layout, and change it from Table to Board.

12. Organize your board by difficulty.

Arrange the board columns in the order you prefer, such as: New → Hard → Medium → Easy

Drag and drop flashcards between columns as you study.

Click the menu for “No Difficulty” and choose Hide group to keep things tidy.

13. Set visible properties for each card.

Go to the database settings and click Property visibility. Make sure the following are turned on and ordered as:

• Reveal
• Revealed Answer
• Difficulty
• Archive

This keeps your flashcards focused and functional.

14. Add a filter to hide archived cards.

Click the Filter icon and filter your view to show cards where Archive is unchecked. This way, only active flashcards appear.

15. Rename your current view to “Active Cards”.

Right-click on your current board tab and rename it Active Cards.

16. Duplicate the board view for your archive.

Right-click the Active Cards view and duplicate it. Rename the new view Archive.

17. Set the archive filter.

In the Archive view, click the Filter icon and choose Archive is checked. This view will now only show your completed or hidden cards.

18. Change the archive view layout to gallery

Open the settings menu, switch the Layout to Gallery, and set Card preview to None.

Then open Group by settings and set it to None as well. This gives your archive a clean, ungrouped layout.

19. Adjust property visibility for the archive view

Go back to Property visibility and show:

• Reveal
• Revealed Answer
• Difficulty
• Archive

This allows you to still test yourself on archived flashcards or bring them back to active if needed.

You now have a fully working flashcard system inside Notion, fully customizable, practical, and ready for any subject!

Flashcard features to improve your learning

Once you’ve built your flashcards in Notion, there are small upgrades you can add to make them more effective. These features don’t require complicated setup, but they do go a long way in keeping your study sessions efficient, organized, and just a little more enjoyable.

Use spaced repetition in Notion

Spaced repetition works by reviewing cards right before you’re likely to forget them. This timing strengthens memory and saves you from rereading material you’ve already mastered. It’s one of the most proven methods in memory science, and you can replicate it inside Notion.

To start, add a Date property called Next Review to your flashcard database. This field will hold the next time you plan to review the card. You can go one step further and use a formula property that updates the date based on the difficulty level you select. For example, cards marked “Hard” could show up in one day, while “Easy” ones return in four.

This approach doesn’t need to be perfect right away. Even a simple system using manual dates works well. You can always improve it later by using more advanced formulas or adding review intervals that match your study habits. If you’re serious about learning how to study smarter with Notion, building your own version of spaced repetition in Notion is a great next step.

Track progress with difficulty levels

As you review your flashcards, your recall will improve, and tracking that is important. After each review, you can adjust the difficulty based on how well you remembered the answer. It’s quick and helps you avoid wasting time on cards you already know.

The visual layout of Notion’s board view makes this process easier. You can move flashcards between columns like “New,” “Hard,” “Medium,” and “Easy,” giving you a clear view of what needs more attention. This simple system turns your flashcard deck into a dynamic study flow that adapts as you improve.

Archive cards to stay focused

Over time, some flashcards will become second nature. Keeping them in your active view only adds clutter. Archives help you stay focused by hiding cards you’ve already mastered.

Once you check the Archive box, the flashcard disappears from your “Active Cards” view. You can still find it later in the “Archive” tab. And if you ever feel the need to bring it back, just uncheck the box. This setup keeps your review sessions clean and distraction-free, which makes it easier to stay on track.

Optional aesthetic enhancements

Function matters, but it’s also nice when your flashcards look good. Adding visual touches can make studying feel less like a chore.

Start with simple tweaks. Use emojis in your Difficulty tags or as icons on cards. Add page covers if you’re using Gallery view. They help distinguish topics and add a little color. If you want to personalize your flashcards even more, you can use a font generator to make your Notion flashcard titles or answers stand out. Bold, italic, or cursive text can add just enough flair without distracting from your workflow.

Lastly, take a moment to reorder your visible properties. Place “Reveal” and “Revealed Answer” at the top so they’re easy to interact with. Small adjustments like these can make your system more comfortable to use day after day.

Best practices for using Notion flashcards

Building a good flashcard system is one thing. Making it work for you over time is another. Here are some simple habits to get the most out of your setup and actually remember what you’re studying.

1. Review your flashcards daily. You don’t need to spend hours. Just set aside 10 to 15 minutes to go through a few cards. You can even set reminders inside Notion or use third party widgets that prompt you to check in. Small, consistent reviews make a big difference.
2. Avoid dumping everything into one giant deck. Instead, create a separate Notion flashcard database for each subject or category. This keeps things organized and helps you focus on one topic at a time. A single board for languages. Another for test prep. One for personal growth. Keeping things split makes your study time more manageable.
3. Don’t overload yourself with too many new cards in one sitting. Spread them out. Mix in cards you’ve seen before with newer ones. It’s easier on your brain and makes learning feel less forced.
4. If you're using Notion flashcards on mobile, a few tweaks can help. Stick to views that are swipe friendly like Gallery or Board. Make sure your “Reveal” and “Revealed Answer” fields are placed at the top of each card for quick access. It’s these little adjustments that make mobile study smoother, especially if you're reviewing flashcards on the go.

The setup may start simple, but the way you use it is what keeps it effective. Stick to what works, adjust when needed, and your Notion flashcard system will keep you sharp long term.

Easiest way to keep learning in Notion

Building your own flashcard system doesn’t need to be complicated. With a few simple properties and a bit of structure, you can create a setup that’s flexible, functional, and actually enjoyable to use. The best part is that Notion flashcards live inside your workspace, right alongside your notes, tasks, and study plans.

You don’t have to start with a fully loaded system. Begin with the basics. Add a checkbox, a formula, and a few cards. Over time, you can layer in spaced repetition, archiving, or visual upgrades. The more you use it, the more you’ll figure out what helps you stay consistent and what doesn’t.

If you’ve been wondering how to make flashcards in Notion, now you have everything you need to get started. You can build it from scratch or pick up a Notion flashcard template to speed things up. Either way, the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll have a system that actually works for you.

Get Super’s bi-weekly Notion Newsletter