Google NotebookLM cheat sheet: Get fast insights into your docs

When Google first launched the NotebookLM beta in late 2023, the company billed it as an experimental note-taking app with a generative AI assistant built in. You can still use it to create notes, but the app has evolved into something much more novel and powerful. Google now calls it “the ultimate tool for understanding the information that matters most to you.”

Here’s our clearer summary of what NotebookLM has become: It’s a web-based workspace where you can upload your documents and other sources and then instruct Google’s Gemini AI chatbot to analyze and synthesize them. Gemini can summarize the source materials, answer questions about them, and create a range of document types based on them, such as study guides or executive briefings. It can even spin up an audio podcast with synthetic hosts discussing the materials.

When used in NotebookLM, Gemini pulls information from the sources you feed it rather than the internet, theoretically making it less prone to hallucinations than many other genAI tools. That said, Google clearly states that NotebookLM can make mistakes. Responses include citations from your sources, which makes it easy to check for accuracy.

NotebookLM comes in free and paid versions. The paid version, called NotebookLM Plus, comes with either a Google One AI Premium plan or a Google Workspace subscription (Business Standard or higher plan). The free and paid versions share many of the same features. The main differences are that with Plus you have fewer usage limitations, can customize the writing style and length of the content generated by Gemini AI, and have advanced options for collaborating on your workspace with others.

In this guide, we take you through how to set up and use the major features of NotebookLM.

Create your first notebook

In NotebookLM, a “notebook” contains one or more sources. You can create multiple notebooks, each representing a project you’re working on and containing sources that are specific to that project.

Caution: Google says that the data you upload is not used to train Gemini AI and will stay private, but the company also advises, “it’s best to avoid submitting any information you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing.”

To get started, sign in to NotebookLM with your Google account, then click the Create button.

To start a notebook, click the Create button.
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On the “Add sources” panel, you can drag-and-drop or upload files that are on your PC. Accepted file formats include PDF, TXT, and MP3. Toward the bottom of the “Add sources” panel, you can click to add other sources: Google Docs and Google Sheets files in your Google Drive, links to web pages or YouTube videos, and text that you’ve already copied to your PC clipboard.

You can upload a variety of file types to a notebook, or link to an outside source.
Howard Wen / Foundry

Once you’ve added a source, you’ll be taken to the workspace for your new notebook. This page is divided into three columns: Sources, Chat, and Studio.

The new notebook has three columns: one for sources, one for chatting with the AI, and one for notes and audio materials.
Howard Wen / Foundry

On the upper left, the title of the source (or the first several words in it) that you added will appear as the title for this notebook. You can change this by clicking the title and typing in a new one that you prefer.

The Sources column will list the source you added, and the Chat column will show a summary of that source. (We’ll get to the Studio column later.)

Add more sources and manage them

In the Sources column, click Add source to add another source. The sources that you add will appear in the Sources column.

When you add a source, it’s selected by default, which means Gemini will use it for analysis in the Chat and Studio columns. However, you may need to refresh your browser tab before Chat column updates to include additional sources in its summary.

Checked sources are included in Gemini’s analyses; unchecked ones are excluded.
Howard Wen / Foundry

To unselect (or select) a source: If you don’t want Gemini to include a source in a summary, click the checkmark to the right of the source to unselect it. Click the checkbox again to re-select the source.

To remove or rename a source: Move the pointer over the source and click the three-dot icon that appears to the left of it.

Get a single-source summary and kick off a related chat

If you want to delve deeper into one of your sources, click the source in the Sources column. A “Source guide” card will open at the top of the column, where Gemini will generate a summary that describes the contents of the source.

srcset='https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?quality=50&strip=all 753w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=214%2C300&quality=50&strip=all 214w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=729%2C1024&quality=50&strip=all 729w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=497%2C697&quality=50&strip=all 497w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=120%2C168&quality=50&strip=all 120w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=60%2C84&quality=50&strip=all 60w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=342%2C480&quality=50&strip=all 342w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=256%2C360&quality=50&strip=all 256w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-05-source-guide.png?resize=178%2C250&quality=50&strip=all 178w' width='729' height='1023' sizes='(max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px'>Click a source in the Sources column to get a summary and a list of related topics.
Howard Wen / Foundry

To the right of the summary is a list of key topics. Clicking any of these sends a request to Gemini to elaborate on the topic, and its response will appear in the Chat column.

In this tutorial, though, we’re more concerned with synthesizing data from multiple sources. To dismiss the topic-related chat and return to the summary of selected sources, click the Refresh button at the top right of the Chat column and then click Continue.

Chat with Gemini AI about your sources

The true power of NotebookLM rests in Gemini’s ability to respond to natural-language queries about your sources. You can ask it questions or give it instructions for analyzing the data.  

In the entry box at the bottom of the Chats column, type in your query and click the arrow to the right. The best way to word your requests is in the form of a question.

Or you can use one of the suggested queries that appear below the entry box. You can use the right and left arrows to cycle through them. Click a suggestion and it’ll be posted as a request to Gemini in the chat window.

srcset='https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?quality=50&strip=all 675w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=199%2C300&quality=50&strip=all 199w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=461%2C697&quality=50&strip=all 461w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=111%2C168&quality=50&strip=all 111w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=56%2C84&quality=50&strip=all 56w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=318%2C480&quality=50&strip=all 318w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=238%2C360&quality=50&strip=all 238w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-06-chat-with-gemini-about-sources.png?resize=165%2C250&quality=50&strip=all 165w' width='675' height='1020' sizes='(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px'>Type a request in the entry box or click one of the suggested queries below.
Howard Wen / Foundry

When you enter a request, Gemini may take several seconds to process it and post a response. It analyzes only the sources listed in the Sources column that have a checkmark by them.

When the response is posted in the Chat column, there will be numbers denoted throughout it. These are citations, each representing text from one of your sources Gemini used to create the response. When you click one of these numbers, a panel opens to show you the original text from the source so you can check whether the response is accurate.

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Howard Wen / Foundry

Additionally, there are three actions that you can take, which are listed below Gemini’s response:

Save to note: Click this button to turn the response into a note that will appear under the “Notes” section in the Studio column.

Copy: Click this icon to copy the response to your PC clipboard.

Thumbs Up/Down: Click either icon to rate how good you think the response was. This helps to train the AI to give you better results for future requests.

srcset='https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-08-chat-pane-actions-toolbar.png?quality=50&strip=all 799w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-08-chat-pane-actions-toolbar.png?resize=300%2C50&quality=50&strip=all 300w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-08-chat-pane-actions-toolbar.png?resize=768%2C128&quality=50&strip=all 768w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-08-chat-pane-actions-toolbar.png?resize=150%2C25&quality=50&strip=all 150w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-08-chat-pane-actions-toolbar.png?resize=640%2C107&quality=50&strip=all 640w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/google-notebooklm-08-chat-pane-actions-toolbar.png?resize=444%2C74&quality=50&strip=all 444w' width='799' height='133' sizes='(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px'>You can save the response as a note, copy and paste it elsewhere, and/or rate the quality of the response.
Howard Wen / Foundry

To erase the current chat and start over, click the Refresh button at the top right of the Chat column.

Customize Gemini’s responses (in NotebookLM Plus)

The Plus version lets you adjust and customize the conversational style and length of the responses generated by Gemini. Click the icon of slider controls at the top-right corner of the Chat column. On the “Configure chat” panel that opens, select from the following:

Analyst: Gemini’s results will have a more business-oriented tone.

Guide: Gemini’s wording will be geared to those you are collaborating or sharing your notebook with who may not be familiar with its contents.

Custom: Opens an entry box in which you can write a prompt instructing Gemini how you want it to word its responses.

Longer: Generates more in-depth and lengthy responses.

Shorter: Generates concise, summarized content.

Create and manage notes

You can create notes in your notebook and optionally use them as additional sources for Gemini to analyze.

To create a new note: In the Studio column under the Notes heading, click Add note. A card for a new note will open at the top of the Studio column.

Click New Note and type in a new title for this note. Then type your text into the body of the note. You can also paste in text and/or images saved on your PC clipboard, format the text (as headings, bold, italic, or bulleted or numbered lists), and insert web links.

Creating a new note.
Howard Wen / Foundry

To save a note: When you’re finished, click the double-arrow icon at the upper right of the note. Your new note will appear in the Notes section of the Studio column. Click it to reopen it so you can read or edit it.

To save a note as a source: With the note open, click the Convert to source button at the bottom of the Studio column. The note will be added to the sources list in the Sources column.

To delete a note: Move the pointer over its title in the Notes list. Click the three-dot icon that appears to the left of it and click Delete note.

To delete all notes at once, or convert all your notes to a source: To the right of the Notes section heading, click the three-dot icon and select Convert all notes to source or Delete all notes.

Selecting Convert all your notes to source combines all your notes together into one source. (Otherwise, you can convert an individual note to a source at any time by opening the note and selecting Convert to source.)

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Howard Wen / Foundry

Create targeted documents from your notes

In addition to responding to queries about your sources, NotebookLM can extract content from the sources you select to create specific types of documents such as study guides, briefing documents, FAQs, or timelines.

To create a document: In the Studio column, under the Notes section, click one of the following:

Study guide: Your selected sources are turned into a guide that’s structured for the reader to learn about them, featuring quiz questions, essay format questions, and a glossary of key terms.

Briefing doc: This is a summary of key information that Gemini extracts from the selected sources in your notebook. Sections typically include an executive summary, main themes and ideas, and a conclusion.

FAQ: Information from the selected sources is formatted into a list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers.

Timeline: Data from the selected sources will be formatted into a chronological representation of events. This format obviously works best with sources that include specific events and dates.

Once you’ve selected one of the above, Gemini will analyze the selected sources in your notebook and generate a draft version of the document type. It’ll appear as a note listed under the Notes section of the Studio column. Depending on how extensive the content is in your selected sources, the draft may look incomplete, so you’ll need to make edits to it.

A briefing document and a timeline generated from selected sources.
Howard Wen / Foundry

Share and collaborate on your notebook

It’s not only you who can benefit from a notebook you create. You can also share it with others, and they’ll be able to query Gemini about the source material too.

When you share a notebook, you can either restrict others’ permissions so that they can only view and query the notebook’s contents, or allow them to edit it, such as by adding, changing, or removing sources or notes in it. Everyone you share a notebook with can interact with Gemini and copy its responses to their own PC clipboard. But only those with Editor status can add a Gemini response as a note or as a new source to your notebook.

To share a notebook: Click the Share button that’s toward the upper right of your notebook’s workspace. A Share panel opens over the workspace.

Inside the entry box, type the name or email address of someone who’s in your Google contacts. (Note: they must already be in your Google contacts. You cannot type in any email address here.) They will be added to the “People who have access” list.

Sharing a notebook.
Howard Wen / Foundry

By default, a person you add will be granted Viewer access to your notebook. If you want them to collaborate with you on the notebook, click Viewer and change it to Editor.

When you are done adding people and setting their access levels, click the Send button. They’ll be notified by email that you’re sharing this notebook with them (unless you unchecked “Notify people”).

In NotebookLM Plus: Under “Viewer access” on the Share panel, you can allow those you’ve granted only Viewer access to see the sources and notes in your notebook. Or you can restrict them from seeing these — they will only be allowed to chat with Gemini about your notebook.

Get AI-spoken discussions of your notes

The splashiest feature that Google has added to NotebookLM since its launch is Audio Overview, which generates a podcast-like spoken discussion between two AI “hosts” (currently supported in English only). They banter back and forth in a friendly tone, sounding eerily like real people, as they summarize key points in your sources.

This feature may come off as an impressive tech gimmick. But it can be a convenient, and entertaining, way for you (and others you share your notebook with) to listen to your notebook content as if it’s a podcast during your daily commute.

Create an Audio Overview

In the Studio column, under the Audio Overview section, click the Generate button. Or, if you click the Customize button: You can type an instruction to guide what you want the AI hosts to focus their discussion on about your sources.

Gemini will analyze your selected sources and generate an audio file. This usually takes several minutes. The exact amount of time depends on the word length and complexity of your sources.

Note: Ensure that the text in your selected sources reads clearly. This will help generate a discussion between the AI hosts that sounds coherent. Source documents that have headings and subheadings can also help to create a logical flow in their spoken discussion.

Once the audio file is generated, it will appear in the Audio Overview section. Click it to start listening.

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Howard Wen / Foundry

Along the top-right of the audio player are icons that let you rate the overall production quality of the audio summary (thumbs up/down) and share it publicly for others to listen to online. Click the three-dot icon to change the playback speed or to download the audio summary as a WAV file.

Interact with an Audio Overview (experimental feature)

Not only can you listen to the two AI hosts talk about your notebook sources, you can join in on their discussion — literally. Click Interactive mode, which will open a panel in the Studio column showing a sine wave responding to their voices. At the bottom of the column, click the Play audio icon (a right-pointing triangle), and when you feel like taking part in their talk, click the Join button.

Speaking into your PC’s microphone, you can interrupt the hosts and ask them a question or make a request to clarify a point or explain something in more detail. It’s as if you’ve called in to a live radio show.

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Howard Wen / Foundry

Create and manage more notebooks

Once you discover how useful a NotebookLM notebook is for one project, you’ll want to create more.

On the notebook workspace, click the NotebookLM icon at the upper-left corner to go to the NotebookLM home page. This shows all the notebooks under your account.

Find and manage all your notebooks on the NotebookLM home page.
Howard Wen / Foundry

To create a new notebook: Simply click the Create new button, which will open a new workspace for a blank notebook.

To manage your notebooks: On the NotebookLM home page, you can change the title of a notebook or delete it by clicking the three-dot icon on the upper-right of its card. (If your notebooks are shown in list view, this icon will be to the right of the notebook’s title.)

This article was originally published in February 2024 and updated in April 2025.

Related:

How to use Gemini AI to write (and rewrite) in Google Docs and Gmail

How to use Gemini AI to make templates in Google Sheets

Google Workspace: 7 great ways to use the Gemini AI sidebar

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