Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. Notion has a built in Evernote importer, but it connects to your live Evernote account rather than reading a .enex file, and it caps out around 5,000 notes. If you only have exported ENEX files, or want cleaner results, convert the ENEX to Markdown first, since Notion imports Markdown readily.
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Why move from Evernote to Notion?
Evernote leans on a paid plan and a fairly fixed layout, while Notion folds notes, databases, wikis and project tracking into one flexible workspace with a generous free tier. That mix is why a lot of people switch, they want pages they can shape, real time collaboration on shared docs, and templates they can bend to how they work. If you have decided to make the move, the task is simply getting your notes across cleanly. The route depends on one thing, whether you still have a live Evernote account or just a pile of exported ENEX files.
How Notion actually imports Evernote?
This is where a lot of older guides get it wrong, so it is worth setting straight. Notion cannot open a .enex file directly. ENEX is not on the list of formats Notion accepts, which is Markdown, CSV, HTML, Word, plain text and PDF. What Notion does have is an Evernote importer that connects to your live Evernote account and pulls the notebooks across, it does not ask you to upload an ENEX file. So there are really two honest paths, use Notion’s account based importer if you are still signed in to Evernote, or convert your ENEX files to Markdown and import those if you are not.
A live account imports directly, while orphan ENEX files go through Markdown first.
Use Notion’s importer with a live account, or convert to Markdown when you only have files.
Use Notion’s built in Evernote importer
If you are still signed in to Evernote, this is the simplest route and it needs no extra software.
Step 1. In Notion, open Settings from the sidebar, then Import.
Step 2. Choose Evernote from the list of apps.
Step 3. Sign in to your Evernote account and authorize Notion to connect.
Step 4. Tick the notebooks you want and click Import. Notebooks come in as pages, and the notes inside them as a list database.
For a tidy, still active Evernote account this works well and keeps your structure. Just know its limits before you rely on it.
Where the built in importer falls short?
Notion’s importer is handy but not unlimited. It is reliable up to roughly 5,000 notes, and larger libraries can fail partway with no progress bar to tell you where it stopped, partly because Evernote rate limits the connection. Images inside notes do not always render correctly and can need cleanup afterwards. It only works with the standard edition of Evernote, not the China or Business variants. And the big one, it needs a live account you can sign into, so if all you have are exported .enex files and no working Evernote login, this route is closed to you. That is exactly where the Markdown path comes in.
“The detail people miss is that ENEX is not an import format for Notion at all, so a loose .enex file has nowhere to go on its own. Markdown is the clean bridge here, it is plain, portable and Notion reads it happily, so converting ENEX to Markdown first turns an awkward file into a straightforward import. It is also the only sensible route once you no longer have a live Evernote account to connect.” Shubham Dixit, Data File reviewer (draft, pending approval)
Convert ENEX to Markdown, then import
Since Notion imports Markdown cleanly but cannot read ENEX, the reliable file based route is to convert first. This is the way to go if you have orphan ENEX exports with no live account, a library past Notion’s comfortable limit, or you simply want tidier formatting. The PCDOTS Evernote Converter loads one or many ENEX files and converts them to Markdown in bulk, keeping text, images and attachments, and it runs without Evernote installed. You then import the resulting .md files into Notion through its Markdown import. A free trial converts a limited number so you can test it first.
Converting ENEX to Markdown so Notion can import your notes cleanly.
Here are the steps with the screens.
Step 1. Download, install and start the converter on your Windows PC.
Step 2. Click Open and choose the Files or Folder option to add your Evernote ENEX files.
Step 3. Browse, select and import the files, then preview the notes in the panel.
Step 4. Open the Export menu, choose MD, set a save location, and click Save. Then import the .md files into Notion.
The two routes compared
Which one fits depends on whether you still have a live Evernote account.
| Route | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Notion Evernote importer | A live account, under 5,000 notes | Connects to account, not a file |
| ENEX to Markdown | Orphan files, large or tidy imports | Convert first, then import MD |
Frequently asked questions
Can Notion import Evernote ENEX files directly?
No. Notion cannot read a .enex file. Its Evernote importer connects to your live Evernote account instead. For loose ENEX files, convert them to Markdown and import that.
How do I transfer Evernote notes to Notion?
If you still use Evernote, go to Notion Settings, Import, choose Evernote, sign in and pick your notebooks. If you only have ENEX files, convert them to Markdown first, then import the Markdown into Notion.
Is there a limit to Notion’s Evernote import?
Yes. It is reliable up to about 5,000 notes, larger libraries can fail, and it needs a live standard Evernote account. Images may also need tidying after import.
How do I move Evernote to Notion without an Evernote account?
Use your exported ENEX files. Convert them to Markdown with a converter, then import the .md files into Notion, which does not need Evernote to be connected.
Why convert ENEX to Markdown for Notion?
Notion imports Markdown cleanly and reliably, whereas it cannot read ENEX at all. Markdown is lightweight and keeps formatting readable, so the import comes through with fewer errors.
Will images and attachments come across?
A good converter keeps images and attachments with the notes. On Notion’s direct account import, images sometimes need cleanup afterwards, so check either result once it lands.
Your notes, moved into Notion
Getting from Evernote to Notion is mostly about which door you can use. Still signed in to Evernote and under a few thousand notes, Notion’s built in importer connects to your account and brings the notebooks over. Working from exported files, or past that limit, convert the ENEX to Markdown and import that instead, since Notion cannot read ENEX but takes Markdown happily. Either way, check the images once the notes arrive, and your workspace is ready in Notion.
