A Faster Way to Save Links to Notion (or any API) on Android

Notion isn't exactly known as a speed demon... On Android it can take 30+ seconds to share a URL to the Notion app. It's faster to paste the link in the Notion app directly. I know because I do it 10-20 times per week to save articles/jobs/events for UrbanismNow.com.

Since Google's free AI Studio added the ability to generate full Android apps in your browser, I thought I'd make one to save me from this toil. Thankfully, I was smart enough to ask AI first if there's another way.

Turns out there's a FOSS app built with the express purpose of making shortcuts that do GET/POST/etc requests. It's called HTTP Shortcuts. I tried setting it up months back but gave up. This time I noticed the "Import from cURL command" (that mostly worked).

It's still kinda painful to configure in the GUI so I recommend just tweaking the JSON below and importing it directly.

Importing The Config

Three steps:

1. Create a .json file with data below

2. Update the fields

3. Open HTTP Shortcuts, go to Settings > Import & Export, and select Import from File.

Update these fields in the JSON:

• authToken (your Notion API key)

• database_id (make sure the API key has permission to this specific database)

• name (what you'll see on the share menu)

They are marked with "ZZZ" placeholders for easy replacement.

The config includes sensible defaults such as toast notifications and waiting until you're online before making the request.

Right now I'm using this for Notion but it would work equally well with Grist (which is like a FOSS version of Airtable or Google Sheets).

{
  "categories": [
    {
      "id": "a6f08775-5c85-45f0-aaab-6f8452cc4045",
      "name": "My Shortcuts",
      "shortcuts": [
        {
          "authToken": "ntn_ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ",
          "authentication": "bearer",
          "bodyContent": "{\n  \"parent\": {\n    \"database_id\": \"182c606cZZZZZZZZZZZ\"\n  },\n  \"properties\": {\n    \"URL\": {\n      \"url\": \"{{dcb2c089-5888-45a4-b4fc-2b44053d0691}}\"\n    }\n  }\n}",
          "contentType": "application/json",
          "headers": [{ "key": "Notion-Version", "value": "2022-06-28" }],
          "iconName": "flat_color_brightness_7",
          "id": "05765614-4b00-464f-963c-c24f0626ee15",
          "method": "POST",
          "name": "Urbanism Now ZZZZZZZZZZZ",
          "responseHandling": {
            "actions": ["rerun", "share", "save"],
            "successMessage": "Adding {{dcb2c089-5888-45a4-b4fc-2b44053d0691}}",
            "successOutput": "message",
            "uiType": "toast"
          },
          "timeout": 5000,
          "url": "https://api.notion.com/v1/pages",
          "waitForInternet": true
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "compatibilityVersion": 90,
  "createdAt": "2026-06-05T07:08:19.882005Z",
  "originDeviceId": "Y8KJPJEHRW",
  "variables": [
    { "id": "dcb2c089-5888-45a4-b4fc-2b44053d0691", "isShareText": true, "key": "shared_url" }
  ],
  "version": 91
}

GUI Configuration

I'd avoid this method. I wrote it out in case I need to try again in the future or someone's AI could benefit from a little clarity.

Setup The Global Variable

1. From the app home, tap the three dots

2. Tap Global Variables

3. Tap the + icon

4. Tap Static Variable

5. Name it “shared_url”

   1. Note: In the JSON above the id is used in the request body. This is what the app uses under the hood.

6. Select Allow Receiving Value from Share Dialog (and keep the default of Text only)

Setup the Shortcut

Creating a new shortcut has many steps but in brief:

1. Use the Import from cURL command option (paste your own cURL).

2. Delete the {shared_url} value you added to your body and replace it with Global Variable by tapping the {} button.

3. Configure other things to your taste (for example to show a toast instead of a full screen response JSON).

Alternatives

If you're on a computer a lot like me then the Notion Web Clipper is the way to go. Fans of Tasker can accomplish the same thing but with more steps. For iOS users, Apple's native Shortcuts app (often paired with helpers like Nautomate) should be able to accomplish something similar.