Notion tutorial
How to add a dropdown list in Notion
In Notion, a dropdown list is a Select property: each row picks exactly one option from a list you set up. This video builds a Content Tracker table from an empty database and adds a Status property of type Select with three options: Idea, Filming and Published. It gives each option its own color, shows where to rename options, and drags them into workflow order. After setting two rows to different statuses, it adds a Platforms property of type Multi-select and creates YouTube, TikTok and Blog tags right from the cells, showing how a row can hold several tags.
- 4:24 video
- 11 steps
- Last verified November 5, 2026
Steps
- Create a new page called Content TrackerClick New page at the top of the sidebar and choose Page for a blank canvas.
- Add an empty databaseClick Database, then pick Empty database to turn the page into a table.
- Add a few rowsGive the table something to work with, like two content ideas.
- Add a Select property named StatusClick Add property and choose Select, not Status. Select gives each row exactly one option.
- Open Edit property from the column headerThis is where the dropdown's options live.
- Add the dropdown optionsClick Add an option, type Idea and press Enter, then add Filming and Published.
- Give each option a colorClick an option to pick its color. The same panel is where you rename it.
- Drag options to reorder themGrab the handle on the left so the list follows your workflow.
- Pick a value from the dropdownClick a Status cell and choose an option. The menu closes, since Select allows one choice.
- Add a Multi-select propertyClick the plus, name it Platforms and choose Multi-select, so a row can hold several tags.
- Create tags right from a cellType a new option in a cell and press Enter to create and apply it. Press Escape when done.
Transcript
0:00In this video, you'll learn how to add dropdown lists to a Notion table, using Select for one choice and Multi-select for several.
0:08First, create a fresh page with the New page button at the top of the sidebar.
0:13Choose Page to start with a blank canvas.
0:17Give it a title: Content Tracker.
0:24Next, click Database to turn this page into a table you can fill with content ideas.
0:30Skip the templates and pick Empty database so we can build it from scratch.
0:36Here's our empty table. Let's add a couple of content ideas first so we have rows to work with.
0:43The first one is a Studio tour vlog.
0:50Add one more row.
0:55And a Spring recipe roundup.
0:59Now for the dropdown. Click Add property to create a new column.
1:05Name the property Status.
1:11For the type, choose Select, not Status. Select gives you a simple dropdown where each row gets exactly one option.
1:20The Status column is ready. To set up its options, click the column header.
1:26Open Edit property. This is where the dropdown's options live.
1:30Click Add an option to create the first choice.
1:35Type Idea and press Enter.
1:39The box stays ready for more, so add Filming,
1:46and then Published.
1:51Notion picks colors at random, but you can choose your own. Click Idea to open its settings.
1:59Pick Blue for Idea. This same panel is where you rename an option. Just edit the name in this box at the top.
2:09Next, open Filming
2:13and make it Orange, so work in progress stands out.
2:18Finally, open Published
2:23and give it Green for done.
2:27To reorder options, grab the handle on the left and drag. Let's move Idea to the top, since it's the first stage.
2:36Then drop Published to the bottom, so the list follows your workflow.
2:40Now let's use it. Click the Status cell for the vlog and the dropdown opens.
2:47Your three options are waiting, in the order you set. This one's in progress, so pick Filming.
2:54The menu closes right away, because Select allows only one choice. Open the recipe roundup's cell next.
3:04It's still just a concept, so choose Idea.
3:08Two rows, two colored statuses, no typing needed. For the second dropdown, click the plus to add another property.
3:18Call this one Platforms.
3:24This time choose Multi-select, since a single post can go out on several platforms.
3:30Here's a shortcut: you can create options right from a cell. Click the vlog's Platforms cell.
3:38Type YouTube and press Enter to create and apply it.
3:43Notice the menu stays open. Add TikTok as well, and both tags sit side by side.
3:50Press Escape when you're done.
3:52The recipe roundup is headed for the blog, so open its Platforms cell
4:00and type Blog to create the third option. There's the difference: Status holds exactly one value per row, while Platforms can hold as many tags as you need. And that's it. You've built a Content Tracker with a colored Select dropdown for status, a Multi-select for platforms, and you know where to rename and reorder options.
Notion is a trademark of its owner. SayScreen isn't affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Notion; this video shows the public app as it looked when it was recorded, and we last checked the steps on November 5, 2026. If Notion has changed since, tell us at hey@sayscreen.com.
