Google Notebooklm Cheat Sheet: Get Fast Insights Into Your Docs

Feed your documents and different investigation resources into NotebookLM, and its genAI will analyse them, create caller materials from them — moreover move them into a spoken podcast pinch human-sounding AI hosts.

When Google first launched nan NotebookLM beta successful precocious 2023, nan institution billed it arsenic an experimental note-taking app pinch a generative AI adjunct built in. You can still usage it to create notes, but nan app has evolved into thing overmuch much caller and powerful. Google now calls it “the eventual instrumentality for knowing nan accusation that matters astir to you.”

Here’s our clearer summary of what NotebookLM has become: It’s a web-based workspace wherever you tin upload your documents and different sources and past instruct Google’s Gemini AI chatbot to analyse and synthesize them. Gemini tin summarize nan root materials, reply questions astir them, and create a scope of archive types based connected them, specified arsenic study guides aliases executive briefings. It tin moreover rotation up an audio podcast pinch synthetic hosts discussing nan materials.

When utilized successful NotebookLM, Gemini pulls accusation from nan sources you provender it alternatively than nan internet, theoretically making it little prone to hallucinations than galore different genAI tools. That said, Google intelligibly states that NotebookLM tin make mistakes. Responses see citations from your sources, which makes it easy to cheque for accuracy.

NotebookLM comes successful free and paid versions. The paid version, called NotebookLM Plus, comes pinch either a Google One AI Premium scheme aliases a Google Workspace subscription (Business Standard aliases higher plan). The free and paid versions stock galore of nan aforesaid features. The main differences are that pinch Plus you person less usage limitations, tin customize nan penning style and magnitude of nan contented generated by Gemini AI, and person precocious options for collaborating connected your workspace pinch others.

In this guide, we return you done really to group up and usage nan awesome features of NotebookLM.

Create your first notebook

In NotebookLM, a “notebook” contains 1 aliases much sources. You tin create aggregate notebooks, each representing a task you’re moving connected and containing sources that are circumstantial to that project.

Caution: Google says that nan information you upload is not utilized to train Gemini AI and will enactment private, but nan institution besides advises, “it’s champion to debar submitting immoderate accusation you wouldn’t consciousness comfortable sharing.”

To get started, sign successful to NotebookLM pinch your Google account, past click nan Create button.

To commencement a notebook, click nan Create button.

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On nan “Add sources” panel, you tin drag-and-drop aliases upload files that are connected your PC. Accepted record formats see PDF, TXT, and MP3. Toward nan bottommost of nan “Add sources” panel, you tin click to adhd different sources: Google Docs and Google Sheets files successful your Google Drive, links to web pages aliases YouTube videos, and matter that you’ve already copied to your PC clipboard.

You tin upload a assortment of record types to a notebook, aliases nexus to an extracurricular source.

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Once you’ve added a source, you’ll beryllium taken to nan workspace for your caller notebook. This page is divided into 3 columns: Sources, Chat, and Studio.

The caller notebook has 3 columns: 1 for sources, 1 for chatting pinch nan AI, and 1 for notes and audio materials.

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On nan precocious left, nan title of nan root (or nan first respective words successful it) that you added will look arsenic nan title for this notebook. You tin alteration this by clicking nan title and typing successful a caller 1 that you prefer.

The Sources file will database nan root you added, and nan Chat file will show a summary of that source. (We’ll get to nan Studio file later.)

Add much sources and negociate them

In nan Sources column, click Add source to adhd different source. The sources that you adhd will look successful nan Sources column.

When you adhd a source, it’s selected by default, which intends Gemini will usage it for study successful nan Chat and Studio columns. However, you whitethorn request to refresh your browser tab earlier Chat file updates to see further sources successful its summary.

Checked sources are included successful Gemini’s analyses; unchecked ones are excluded.

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To unselect (or select) a source: If you don’t want Gemini to see a root successful a summary, click nan checkmark to nan correct of nan root to unselect it. Click nan checkbox again to re-select nan source.

To region aliases rename a source: Move nan pointer complete nan root and click nan three-dot icon that appears to nan near of it.

Get a single-source summary and footwear disconnected a related chat

If you want to delve deeper into 1 of your sources, click nan root successful nan Sources column. A “Source guide” paper will unfastened astatine nan apical of nan column, wherever Gemini will make a summary that describes nan contents of nan source.

Click a root successful nan Sources file to get a summary and a database of related topics.

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To nan correct of nan summary is simply a database of cardinal topics. Clicking immoderate of these sends a petition to Gemini to elaborate connected nan topic, and its consequence will look successful nan Chat column.

In this tutorial, though, we’re much concerned pinch synthesizing information from aggregate sources. To disregard nan topic-related chat and return to nan summary of selected sources, click nan Refresh fastener astatine nan apical correct of nan Chat file and past click Continue.

Chat pinch Gemini AI astir your sources

The existent powerfulness of NotebookLM rests successful Gemini’s expertise to respond to natural-language queries astir your sources. You tin inquire it questions aliases springiness it instructions for analyzing nan data.  

In nan introduction container astatine nan bottommost of nan Chats column, type successful your query and click nan arrow to nan right. The champion measurement to connection your requests is successful nan shape of a question.

Or you tin usage 1 of nan suggested queries that look beneath nan introduction box. You tin usage nan correct and near arrows to rhythm done them. Click a proposal and it’ll beryllium posted arsenic a petition to Gemini successful nan chat window.

Type a petition successful nan introduction container aliases click 1 of nan suggested queries below.

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When you participate a request, Gemini whitethorn return respective seconds to process it and station a response. It analyzes only nan sources listed successful nan Sources file that person a checkmark by them.

When nan consequence is posted successful nan Chat column, location will beryllium numbers denoted passim it. These are citations, each representing matter from 1 of your sources Gemini utilized to create nan response. When you click 1 of these numbers, a sheet opens to show you nan original matter from nan root truthful you tin cheque whether nan consequence is accurate.

Gemini’s generated consequence includes citation numbers and links.

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Additionally, location are 3 actions that you tin take, which are listed beneath Gemini’s response:

• Save to note: Click this fastener to move nan consequence into a statement that will look nether nan “Notes” conception successful nan Studio column.
• Copy: Click this icon to transcript nan consequence to your PC clipboard.
• Thumbs Up/Down: Click either icon to complaint really bully you deliberation nan consequence was. This helps to train nan AI to springiness you amended results for early requests.

You tin prevention nan consequence arsenic a note, transcript and paste it elsewhere, and/or complaint nan value of nan response.

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To erase nan existent chat and commencement over, click nan Refresh fastener astatine nan apical correct of nan Chat column.

Customize Gemini’s responses (in NotebookLM Plus)

The Plus type lets you set and customize nan conversational style and magnitude of nan responses generated by Gemini. Click nan icon of slider controls astatine nan top-right area of nan Chat column. On nan “Configure chat” sheet that opens, prime from nan following:

• Analyst: Gemini’s results will person a much business-oriented tone.
• Guide: Gemini’s wording will beryllium geared to those you are collaborating aliases sharing your notebook pinch who whitethorn not beryllium acquainted pinch its contents.
• Custom: Opens an introduction container successful which you tin constitute a punctual instructing Gemini really you want it to connection its responses.
• Longer: Generates much in-depth and lengthy responses.
• Shorter: Generates concise, summarized content.

Create and negociate notes

You tin create notes successful your notebook and optionally usage them arsenic further sources for Gemini to analyze.

To create a caller note: In nan Studio file nether nan Notes heading, click Add note. A paper for a caller statement will unfastened astatine nan apical of nan Studio column.

Click New Note and type successful a caller title for this note. Then type your matter into nan assemblage of nan note. You tin besides paste successful matter and/or images saved connected your PC clipboard, format nan matter (as headings, bold, italic, aliases bulleted aliases numbered lists), and insert web links.

Creating a caller note.

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To prevention a note: When you’re finished, click nan double-arrow icon astatine nan precocious correct of nan note. Your caller statement will look successful nan Notes conception of nan Studio column. Click it to reopen it truthful you tin publication aliases edit it.

To prevention a statement arsenic a source: With nan statement open, click nan Convert to source fastener astatine nan bottommost of nan Studio column. The statement will beryllium added to nan sources database successful nan Sources column.

To delete a note: Move nan pointer complete its title successful nan Notes list. Click nan three-dot icon that appears to nan near of it and click Delete note.

To delete each notes astatine once, aliases person each your notes to a source: To nan correct of nan Notes conception heading, click nan three-dot icon and prime Convert each notes to source aliases Delete each notes.

Selecting Convert each your notes to source combines each your notes together into 1 source. (Otherwise, you tin person an individual statement to a root astatine immoderate clip by opening nan statement and selecting Convert to source.)

You tin harvester each your notes into a azygous source, aliases delete them all.

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Create targeted documents from your notes

In summation to responding to queries astir your sources, NotebookLM tin extract contented from nan sources you prime to create circumstantial types of documents specified arsenic study guides, briefing documents, FAQs, aliases timelines.

To create a document: In nan Studio column, nether nan Notes section, click 1 of nan following:

• Study guide: Your selected sources are turned into a guideline that’s system for nan scholar to study astir them, featuring quiz questions, effort format questions, and a glossary of cardinal terms.
• Briefing doc: This is simply a summary of cardinal accusation that Gemini extracts from nan selected sources successful your notebook. Sections typically see an executive summary, main themes and ideas, and a conclusion.
• FAQ: Information from nan selected sources is formatted into a database of Frequently Asked Questions and answers.
• Timeline: Data from nan selected sources will beryllium formatted into a chronological practice of events. This format evidently useful champion pinch sources that see circumstantial events and dates.

Once you’ve selected 1 of nan above, Gemini will analyse nan selected sources successful your notebook and make a draught type of nan archive type. It’ll look arsenic a statement listed nether nan Notes conception of nan Studio column. Depending connected really extended nan contented is successful your selected sources, nan draught whitethorn look incomplete, truthful you’ll request to make edits to it.

A briefing archive and a timeline generated from selected sources.

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Share and collaborate connected your notebook

It’s not only you who tin use from a notebook you create. You tin besides stock it pinch others, and they’ll beryllium capable to query Gemini astir nan root worldly too.

When you stock a notebook, you tin either restrict others’ permissions truthful that they tin only position and query nan notebook’s contents, aliases let them to edit it, specified arsenic by adding, changing, aliases removing sources aliases notes successful it. Everyone you stock a notebook pinch tin interact pinch Gemini and transcript its responses to their ain PC clipboard. But only those pinch Editor position tin adhd a Gemini consequence arsenic a statement aliases arsenic a caller root to your notebook.

To stock a notebook: Click nan Share fastener that’s toward nan precocious correct of your notebook’s workspace. A Share sheet opens complete nan workspace.

Inside nan introduction box, type nan sanction aliases email reside of personification who’s successful your Google contacts. (Note: they must already beryllium successful your Google contacts. You cannot type successful immoderate email reside here.) They will beryllium added to nan “People who person access” list.

Sharing a notebook.

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By default, a personification you adhd will beryllium granted Viewer entree to your notebook. If you want them to collaborate pinch you connected nan notebook, click Viewer and alteration it to Editor.

When you are done adding group and mounting their entree levels, click nan Send button. They’ll beryllium notified by email that you’re sharing this notebook pinch them (unless you unchecked “Notify people”).

In NotebookLM Plus: Under “Viewer access” connected nan Share panel, you tin let those you’ve granted only Viewer entree to spot nan sources and notes successful your notebook. Or you tin restrict them from seeing these — they will only beryllium allowed to chat pinch Gemini astir your notebook.

Get AI-spoken discussions of your notes

The splashiest characteristic that Google has added to NotebookLM since its motorboat is Audio Overview, which generates a podcast-like spoken chat betwixt 2 AI “hosts” (currently supported successful English only). They banter backmost and distant successful a friends tone, sounding eerily for illustration existent people, arsenic they summarize cardinal points successful your sources.

This characteristic whitethorn travel disconnected arsenic an awesome tech gimmick. But it tin beryllium a convenient, and entertaining, measurement for you (and others you stock your notebook with) to perceive to your notebook contented arsenic if it’s a podcast during your regular commute.

Create an Audio Overview

In nan Studio column, nether nan Audio Overview section, click nan Generate button. Or, if you click nan Customize button: You tin type an instruction to guideline what you want nan AI hosts to attraction their chat connected astir your sources.

Gemini will analyse your selected sources and make an audio file. This usually takes respective minutes. The nonstop magnitude of clip depends connected nan connection magnitude and complexity of your sources.

Note: Ensure that nan matter successful your selected sources sounds clearly. This will thief make a chat betwixt nan AI hosts that sounds coherent. Source documents that person headings and subheadings tin besides thief to create a logical travel successful their spoken discussion.

Once nan audio record is generated, it will look successful nan Audio Overview section. Click it to commencement listening.

Listening to an audio overview successful NotebookLM.

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Along nan top-right of nan audio subordinate are icons that fto you complaint nan wide accumulation value of nan audio summary (thumbs up/down) and stock it publically for others to perceive to online. Click nan three-dot icon to alteration nan playback velocity aliases to download nan audio summary arsenic a WAV file.

Interact pinch an Audio Overview (experimental feature)

Not only tin you perceive to nan 2 AI hosts talk astir your notebook sources, you tin subordinate successful connected their chat — literally. Click Interactive mode, which will unfastened a sheet successful nan Studio file showing a sine activity responding to their voices. At nan bottommost of nan column, click nan Play audio icon (a right-pointing triangle), and erstwhile you consciousness for illustration taking portion successful their talk, click nan Join button.

Speaking into your PC’s microphone, you tin interrupt nan hosts and inquire them a mobility aliases make a petition to explain a constituent aliases explicate thing successful much detail. It’s arsenic if you’ve called successful to a unrecorded power show.

To subordinate successful nan AI hosts’ discussion, click Join.

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Create and negociate much notebooks

Once you observe really useful a NotebookLM notebook is for 1 project, you’ll want to create more.

On nan notebook workspace, click nan NotebookLM icon astatine nan upper-left area to spell to nan NotebookLM location page. This shows each nan notebooks nether your account.

Find and negociate each your notebooks connected nan NotebookLM location page.

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To create a caller notebook: Simply click nan Create new button, which will unfastened a caller workspace for a blank notebook.

To negociate your notebooks: On nan NotebookLM location page, you tin alteration nan title of a notebook aliases delete it by clicking nan three-dot icon connected nan upper-right of its card. (If your notebooks are shown successful database view, this icon will beryllium to nan correct of nan notebook’s title.)

This article was primitively published successful February 2024 and updated successful April 2025.

Related:

• How to usage Gemini AI to constitute (and rewrite) successful Google Docs and Gmail
• How to usage Gemini AI to make templates successful Google Sheets
• Google Workspace: 7 awesome ways to usage nan Gemini AI sidebar
• Google Workspace tips and tutorials