How to Fix Notion Desktop App Stuck on Loading or Black Screen

By Muhammad ZubyanPublished on July 27, 2025

Zubyan is a certified PCHP and Google IT Support Professional.

The Notion desktop app may sometimes fail to load, leaving it stuck on a loading screen or displaying only a black window. This issue occurs when the application cannot establish a stable connection to its servers or fails to load the required startup files.

The most common reasons include server outages, unstable internet connections, corrupted cache files, incomplete shutdowns, or VPN-related conflicts. Before applying any fixes, it is recommended to check the Notion status page to confirm if there are any ongoing service issues. If the servers are working normally, you can proceed with the troubleshooting methods below to resolve the problem.

1. Terminate the Notion App from Task Manager

If the app isn’t properly terminated, it may leave frozen or failed processes running in the background, causing the loading error. For instance, failed updates or stuck background processes like GPU acceleration or server requests can prevent the app from launching correctly.

Terminating the app through Task Manager closes all these processes, resets the app, and gives it a fresh start, which often resolves the issue.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
In the Processes tab, type “Notion” in the search box (top-right) to filter and quickly find all related processes.
End all the processes related to Notion.
Reopen the Notion app and check if the issue is resolved.

2. Switch to Mobile Data

Sometimes the app cannot connect to its servers due to issues with your Wi-Fi or the IP address assigned to your device. A slow Wi-Fi speed or a problematic IP route can prevent the app from establishing a connection.

Before switching networks, you can also try flushing your DNS or renewing your IP, which may fix the issue without changing connections. If this doesn’t work, switching to a different network, such as mobile data, provides a fresh connection and may allow the app to connect to its servers without issues.

Enable mobile data on your phone and turn on the mobile hotspot feature.
Disconnect your PC from Wi-Fi and connect it to the mobile hotspot.
Once connected, try opening the Notion app again.

3. Turn Off VPN Connection

A VPN can sometimes cause loading problems if Notion’s content delivery network (CDN) rate-limits or flags VPN-assigned IP addresses, especially when using free VPN services. Additionally, VPNs can slow down your connection, leading to handshake failures with the servers.

Disabling the VPN removes these restrictions, restores a direct connection to Notion’s servers, and can also improve connection speed.

Open your VPN app.
If the VPN is connected, click on “Disconnect”.
Reopen the Notion app and check if it loads properly.

4. Clear Notion App Caches

Corrupted cache files can prevent the app from launching and cause it to freeze on the loading screen. Clearing these files removes the problematic data, allowing the app to rebuild fresh caches and start without issues.

Warning: Clearing caches will remove all offline content stored in the app. Make sure to sync your data before proceeding.

Close the Notion app from Task Manager.
Navigate to:
```
C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming
```
In the Roaming folder, delete the “Notion” folder.
Restart your PC.
After rebooting, open the Notion app again.

5. Open Notion App from the Browser

Launching the desktop app through the browser can help bypass certain startup errors. This method forces the browser to communicate directly with the desktop client, which can restart the app and help it load successfully.

Note: This option is available on Chrome and Edge. If you are using another browser, you may not see this feature.

Open Notion in your browser.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
Scroll down and click on “Open in Windows App”.
Click on “Open Notion” when prompted.
The desktop app will open automatically.

6. Reinstall the Notion App

Reinstalling the app ensures all files are fresh and up-to-date. This process removes corrupted or outdated files that may be causing the loading problem.

Warning: Reinstalling will remove local data and sign you out of your account. Ensure you know your login credentials before starting.