Google NotebookLM: The AI Research Tool Anyone Can Use

Open NotebookLM

Go to notebooklm.google.com in your browser. Sign in with your Google account — the same one you use for Gmail or Google Drive. NotebookLM is free to use.

You'll land on the home screen, which shows any existing notebooks and a button to create a new one. Click New Notebook.

Add your first source

Every notebook starts empty. You need to give NotebookLM something to read. Click Add source (or the large + button in the Sources panel on the left).

You'll see options to upload a file, paste a web URL, link a Google Doc or Slides file, or paste text directly. Choose the option that fits your material:

• For a PDF (a report, a book chapter, a contract): click Upload and choose the file.
• For a web article: paste the URL.
• For a YouTube video: paste the video link and NotebookLM will read the transcript.

You can add multiple sources to one notebook — up to a few dozen depending on size.

Wait for sources to load

After you add a source, NotebookLM processes it. This usually takes a few seconds to a minute depending on the file size. A progress indicator shows when it's ready. When the source appears in the left panel with a checkmark, it's done.

You can add more sources while others are still loading.

Ask your first question

Once your source is loaded, click in the chat box on the right side and ask anything about your document. Write naturally:

• "What are the main points of this report?"
• "Explain section 3 in simple terms."
• "Does this mention anything about deadlines?"

NotebookLM will answer using only what's in your uploaded sources. It also shows inline citations — small numbered markers that link to the exact passage it used. Click any citation to jump directly to that spot in the source document.

Use the Notebook Guide for instant overviews

Look for a panel called Notebook Guide (usually on the right side or accessible via a button at the top of the page). This gives you pre-built options like:

• Summary — a plain-English overview of all your sources combined
• FAQ — automatically generated questions and answers based on the content
• Study Guide — key concepts and review questions, useful for learning or preparing for a test

These are generated fresh from your documents. Click any of them to get a structured overview without typing a single question.

Generate an Audio Overview

One of NotebookLM's most popular features is Audio Overview. Find the Audio Overview button in the Notebook Guide panel and click Generate.

Two AI voices will have a conversation about the content of your documents — explaining key ideas, asking each other questions, and summarizing what they found. The result is a short podcast-style audio file, usually a few minutes long.

This is great for:

• Getting a feel for a long document before reading it in full
• Reviewing material while commuting, cooking, or doing something else
• Sharing a spoken summary of a complex document with someone who won't read the full text

Organize different topics with separate notebooks

Create a new notebook for each separate topic or project. NotebookLM keeps notebooks completely isolated — sources from one notebook don't affect another. Some examples of how to organize:

• One notebook per work project
• One for a trip you're planning (add itinerary PDFs, articles, hotel pages)
• One for a health topic you're researching (add doctor's notes, articles from trusted sources)
• One for a book or course you're working through