[2024] Notion PDF Annotation - Is It Possible? Complete Workaround

Part 1. What Is Notion App?

Notion lets you bag inspiring ideas, create documents, put together note-taking, and collaborate with others in one space you can customize according to your needs. It’s more like a central hub to help you organize your workflow.

Its best you start with simple notes and gradually learn the tools to build your knowledge of the app. Its block-based editing system allows for easy organization and rearrangement of content.

Notion’s ability to embed different types of documents, including PDFs and media files, truly makes it a popular choice for students, freelancers, or people who are a part of a large business.

One of Notion's standout features is its database functionality. You can create databases to store information in a structured way, same as spreadsheets, but with more flexibility. This makes it ideal for managing contacts, tracking expenses, or building to-do lists.

Notion also has many templates to help you get started with different use cases. This can range from personal journaling to complex project management systems.

You can use the Notion app on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. The online version works with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, running on the latest updates.

Part 2. Can you annotate PDFs with Notion?

Although Notion is a powerful tool for organizing and managing information, you can only create and edit text-based content. PDF files are static documents you can’t edit or annotate within the Notion platform itself.

Part 3. How to Annotate PDF in Notion? 11 Step Solution

As mentioned above, Notion does not support PDF annotation, but the good news is that there’s a workaround. You need to first annotate your PDF using an annotation tool like Afirstsoft PDF and then embed it as a block into a Notion page.

Below, we’ll show you how to do this with complete step-by-step instructions:

Step 1. Annotate Your PDF with Afirstsoft PDF

First off, go to the Afirstsoft PDF webpage, choose either Mac or Wndows version of the installer, and download it on your computer. Then, open the Download folder on your PC, click the downloaded file, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.

Next up, open the Afirstsoft PDF annotator on your device, make an account, and sign into it to access its dashboard. Now, click Open, choose your PDF file from where you’ve saved it on your system, and select Open again to import it to the dashboard.

Alternatively, simply drag and drop your file or click the + icon in the top bar to upload the PDF you want to annotate.

Next, go to the Comment tab from the top menu, and you can see different annotation tools on the top bar.

Step 2. Do Highlights

Now, click the Highlight option and choose the text you want to mark up. Otherwise, select the text on the PDF file first and then click the Highlight icon option from the pop-up menu.

Right-click the highlighted passage on the PDF file and choose the Pop-up Note option. Now, add your comment in the text box and press Enter on the keyboard.

To change the color of the highlighted text, click it, choose the Color icon from the menu, and select the shade you like.

Step 3. Underline Sections

If you identify passages that need revision or further clarification, use the Underline tool. To do this, select the text in the file, click the downward arrow next to Underline on the top bar, specify the color, and underline the content.

The other thing you can do is to click the Underline option first and then select the text.

Next, click the underlined passage and choose the Pop-up Note icon to add your review.

Step 4. Use Strikethroughs

Strikethrough is another annotation tool in Afirstsoft that you can use to cross out unnecessary content or indicate text that needs changes. To use it, select Strikethrough under the Comment tab and highlight the content on the file.

Then, click the crossed-out text and choose the Color icon. Now, select the strikethrough shaded from the presets or choose the multi-colored icon. Next, click Get Colors and use the eye dropper to extract a color pixel from anywhere on your PC screen.

After that, right-click the text with the strikethrough, choose Pop-up Note, and add your feedback to the sticky note.

Step 5. Utilize Tilde

For marking types, errors, or misspellings in your PDF files, Tilde is just the right tool in Afirstsoft PDF. Simply start by selecting the text you want to annotate and click Tilde in the top menu.

After that, click the text with the tilde and pick the color you prefer. Then, click the content once more to select the Open Pop-up Note icon and type in your content in the comment box to provide additional information, review, or add questions.

Step 6. Annotate with Stickers

Sticker is another annotation tool in Afirstsoft that you can use to draw attention to specific passages, approve/disapprove content, or add fun sticky notes to make them stand out. .

To mark up with stickers, click the Sticker option in the top bar and scroll through these categories to find the ideal shape or illustration:

• Afirstsoft (software category)
• Pin
• Mood
• Holidays
• Mark
• Label
• Number
• Pointer
• Tips
• Summer
• Write
• Note

Place the sticker in the appropriate position on the PDF file and use the transform handles to resize it. If you want to change its opacity, right-click the sticker, choose Properties, and open the Appearance tab. Now, use the slider or add a custom value next to Opacity and click Apply.

You can also choose to attach a sticky note to the sticker. To do this, right-click it and choose Pop-up Note. Then, type in your feedback and press Enter.

Step 7: Add Text Box

If you want to give some additional feedback on your PDF file, go to the Edit tab from the top bar and click Add Text. Now, click anywhere on the PDF pages to add a text box and type your content.

To change the text style, select the font from the drop-down menu under Font in the Properties panel. You can also adjust the size of the fonts, change color, and apply bold, underline, italic, or strickthrough options.

Step 8. Export PDF

After you are done with reviews, click Save in the top left corner of the Afirstsoft interface, select the location where you want to export the annotated PDF file, and choose Save again.

Alternatively, select the File option, choose Export and select the PDF/A option from the drop-down menu. Select the Custom Directory Under Output Folder, browse a location where you want to save your PDF file and click Convert.

You can also export the PDFs from the Save As option under the File menu.

Step 9. Embed PDF in Notion

Next, sign into your Notion workspace and click Create a New page in the top right of the left panel.

Now, click the Embed PDF option in the left menu or type /pdf command and select Embed a PDF.

Image name: notion-pdf-annotation-9.webp

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Image alt: embedding pdf in notion

Click Choose a File In the Upload tab, select the annotated file from your computer, and choose Open to import it.

Your PDF file will now see the PDF block on the page. You can use the handles to adjust the size of the block to your liking.

Another way to embed your PDF files in notion is through Google Drive. To put it simply, you have to copy a sharable link from your PDF file in the drive and paste it into your new Notion page.

Here, Notion will give you four options:

• Preview - Let others preview the PDF document as a block.
• Mention - others can click the link to open the PDF file on a new browser page.
• URL - simple link to access the PDF file on your Google Drive.
• Embed - insert the link on the Notion page.

If you just want to save the PDF file on the Notion page so others can download it easily, try uploading it as a file. To do this:

• Open the Notion page.
• Choose the + icon next to the cursor or type /file command.
• Select File.
• Click Choose a File to import your PDFs.

To extract information from the annotated PDF file and add it as editable text to your Notion page, open the Notion page and click the three dots in the top right corner.

Select the Import option, click PDF, choose the file from your PC, and click Open.

Step 10: Export Embedded PDF in Notion

Once the annotated PDF file is embedded in the Notion page, your co-workers can easily access and export it from the shared workspace.

Ask them to simply open the Notion page on their PC and click the three dots in the top right corner. Next, click Export from the drop-down menu, and a window will pop up on your device’s screen. Now, choose PDF from the drop-down next to the Export Format option and configure these settings:

• Include Content - specify whether you want to exclude images/files or export everything.
• Page Format - set the page size to A4, A3, Letter, Legal, or Tabloid.
• Scale Percent - adjust page scale.
• Include Databases - current or default view.

Finally, choose Export and select the location where they want to save the PDF file.

If they use Notion on a mobile device, tell them to open the app and go to the page where you’ve embedded the annotated PDF file. Then, tell them to tap the three dots in the top right corner of the screen and choose Export.

Now, they can set the Export Format and Page Format and tap Export. They can also use the share menu to:

• Copy and then paste the downloaded PDF link into a browser to export the file.
• Save the download link for later use.
• Send PDF to Mac via AirDrop.

Your peers can now make corrections to the PDF file and embed it again on the Notion page using the above steps so you can review it again.

Step 11: Export PDF Block for Further Reviewing

Finally, use the above method to export the PDF file on the device you are using with Notion. Then, review it on Afirstsoft on a PC for adding feedback or more comments as needed.

Part 4. Conclusion

 In conclusion, you’ve learned that annotating PDFs in the Notion app is simply not possible for now unless the developers release a new update with this feature. For now, you need to review your document with a PDF annotation tool and then share it in Notion.

That’s where Afirstsoft PDF comes into play. It helps you quickly annotate your PDF files, which you can then embed in Notion and collaborate easily. So why wait? Download the software now and be a part of the solution!