Create a notebook in NotebookLM

Important:At this time, the NotebookLM mobile app may have limitations to this feature. Learn more about the supported features in the NotebookLM mobile app .

In NotebookLM, you can create individual notebooks. A notebook is a collection of sources for a specific project.

Tip:Each notebook is independent. NotebookLM can’t access information across multiple notebooks at the same time.

Get started with your first notebook

1. On your device, open NotebookLM .
2. To create a new notebook, selectCreate new notebook.
3. To add a source, in the pop-up window, select Upload a source.
4. Select the sources you want to upload for your notebook or discover new sources.
5. To start collaborating with NotebookLM:
   • The “Chat” panel displays a generated summary of all your sources. You can ask questions about your sources, give instructions to perform actions, or choose from suggested options. Learn more about chats.
   • The “Studio” panel is where outputs based on your sources are generated. In the studio panel, you can create and view:
     • Notes. Learn more about Notes.
     • Audio Overviews. Learn more about Audio Overview .
     • Video Overviews. Learn more about Video Overviews.
     • Mind maps. Learn more about Mind Maps .
     • Reports.
       • Create your own, or choose from FAQ, study guide, briefing document, or an AI suggested report type.
       • Open the three dots menu next to your generated report to select “Export to Docs.” If there are data tables in your report, “Export to Sheets” will populate each table in its own tab in a Google Sheets.
     • Data Tables
       • Click to generate, or customize by selecting the pencil icon. Choose a language, or use the prompt box to customize your data table. For example, you can describe the rows and columns for a more focused, precise table.
       • Open the three dots menu next to your generated Data Table to select “Export to Sheets.” The content of your data table will populate the first tab of a new Google Sheet, and any citations will populate the second tab.
     • Flashcards or Quizzes.
       • With the option to customize the number of questions (fewer, standard, and more) and difficulty (easy, medium, hard).
       • Explain cards or answers by clicking the “Explain” button within Flashcards & Quiz
     • Slide Decks. Learn more about Slide Decks .
     • Infographics. Learn more about Infographics .

     • To help you get started, you may see a report, flashcards, infographic, slide decks, audio, or a video overview created automatically sometimes, when you first add sources to a notebook. These are generated once and do not contribute to limits. Learn more about usage limits.

Tip:You can add or remove sources in your notebook by selecting + Addor unselecting individual sources in the “Sources” panel.

Tip: to view the prompt used to generate your audio overview, video overview, flashcards, quizzes, or reports, select “View custom prompt” within the three dots menu next to your artifact in the Studio panel. For flashcards, quizzes, and videos, a “Show prompt” is also available next to the title in the viewer.

Tip: Any modifications made within exported Docs or Sheets files do not synchronize with your original NotebookLM content. Sharing permissions do not carry over from NotebookLM to exported files.

Update Notebook Emoji

After you upload sources, NotebookLM will automatically assign an emoji to represent your notebook. 

To update the emoji:

1. Open an existing notebook
2. In the chat panel, select the current emoji 
3. Use the emoji search to choose a new emoji to represent your notebook

Share notebooks privately

1. Open a notebook.
2. Select Share.

You can grant “Viewer” or “Editor” access to another user by adding their email address.

• A viewer has read-only access to all the source documents and notes you shared with them in the shared notebook.
• An editor can view, add, or remove sources and notes in your shared notebook as well as share it further with other users.
• Notebook owners and editors who have upgraded access can share a "Chat-only" notebook to viewers and set a welcome note for everyone who can access this notebook. 

Tips:

• Personal Gmail accounts can share a notebook with up to 50 users but can't share with Google Groups.
• Enterprise and Education accounts, like email@mycompany.com or email@uni.edu, can share a notebook with an unlimited number of individual users and Google Groups within the same organization.
• When notebooks are shared with a group, users do not receive any welcome emails or notifications. 

Share notebooks publicly

You can make your notebook public and share a link with anyone with a Google account. Learn how to share a notebook publicly in NotebookLM .

Usage analytics

Users can check the past-seven-day usage analytics of their notebooks by selecting Analytics.

• 2 metrics are currently supported:
  • Users per day:The number of users who made at least one query per day. This includes the owner.
  • Queries per day:The number of queries made by the users per day. This includes the queries made by the owner.
• To get analytics, the notebook must be shared with at least 4 other users and have some chat activity within the past 7 days.
• Analytics update approximately every 24 hours.

Related resources

• Create & add notes in NotebookLM
• Generate an Audio Overview in NotebookLM
• Add or discover new sources for your Notebook