NotebookLM

NotebookLM is Google’s AI note-taking tool designed to help students organize and understand study sources. You can upload lecture notes, PDFs, videos, and other file formats, and NotebookLM will automatically generate summaries, Q&A, quizzes, and flashcards based on your sources. You’ll need a Google account to get started, and the free tier is available right away.

How to Use NotebookLM: Quick Start Guide(2026)

1. Access and Login

Visit notebooklm.google.com and log in with your Google account. If you’re using a school account, you may need administrator approval first.

2. Create a New Notebook

Click “Create new notebook” and enter a name (e.g., “Final Exam Review”) to create a new notebook.

3. Upload Sources

In the “Sources” section on the left, click “Add source” to upload the following file types:

• PDF files: Upload local PDFs directly
• Google Docs/Presentations: Connect your Google Drive
• Website URLs: Enter web page links
• YouTube links: Paste video links
• Audio/Text files: Upload audio or text formats

Note: The free tier allows up to 50 sources per notebook. The screenshots shown here use the Pro version. If you want to get the educational discount and enjoy 12 months of free use, check out: Google AI Pro: Limited-Time Student Discount - Free for 1 Year.

4. Start Using

After uploading your sources, enter what you want to learn about in the chat box, or ask NotebookLM to help you understand difficult concepts.

NotebookLM Core Features: Usage Guide

How to Add Sources via Search

Besides manually uploading files, you can also ask NotebookLM to search and add relevant sources for you.

Enter the topic you want to research, and NotebookLM will search for relevant web pages, PDFs, or videos that you can selectively add to your notebook.

Usage Tip: Use specific keywords when searching, such as “Calculus Basics” instead of “Math,” to find more accurate sources.

How to Use Chat Q&A

Enter questions in the chat box in the middle, and NotebookLM will answer based on your uploaded sources.

Common Question Examples:

• “Summarize the key points of this chapter”
• “Create 10 quiz questions for me”
• “Explain this concept in simple terms with examples”
• “Compare views A and B”

Key Features:

• NotebookLM only answers based on your uploaded sources and doesn’t search the web for other information
• Answers include source citations that you can click to jump to the original content
• All information is traceable and verifiable

Usage Tips:

• The more specific your question, the more accurate the answer. For example, “Explain the process of photosynthesis” is better than “Explain this”
• You can ask follow-up questions to dive deeper based on previous answers
• Use the citation feature to return to the original content and verify key information

If you want more prompt tips, visit: AI Study Prompts Library for more AI learning prompt ideas.

How to Use Studio Generation Features

After uploading sources, the “Studio” section on the right will activate, allowing you to generate different types of study sources:

• Audio Overview: Converts document content into podcast-style conversations with two AI hosts discussing key points, perfect for listening during commutes or breaks
• Video Overview: Converts document summaries into visual slide-style videos with AI narration, images, and charts for a multimedia learning experience
• Study Guide: Generates comprehensive study guides that organize key points from your sources
• Mind Map: Automatically maps logical relationships between documents into mind maps to help you visually understand knowledge structures
• Reports: Generates detailed reports from uploaded documents, extracting key information for quick insights
• Flashcards: Extracts important concepts from documents to create memory cards for review
• Quiz: Creates quiz questions based on document content to help you self-assess your understanding
• Infographic: Visualizes data and information from documents into infographics for intuitive presentation
• Slide Deck: Generates presentation slides based on document content, suitable for reports and presentations
• Data Table: Extracts data from documents to create structured tables for analysis and comparison

Usage Tips:

• Choose different features based on your learning stage: Study Guide for initial learning, Flashcards and Quiz for review
• Audio and Video Overviews are great for learning during spare time and can be downloaded for offline use
• Mind Maps are perfect for organizing complex concepts, while Reports are ideal for quickly getting key points

How to Add Notes

Click the “add note” button on the right to add study notes for the current source. These notes will be saved in your notebook for easy access and editing.

Usage Tip: Add notes promptly while reading sources to record your understanding and questions, then use the chat feature to ask targeted questions later.

NotebookLM Usage Tips and Practical Scenarios

Tip 1: Efficient Material Review

After uploading lecture notes, use these questioning techniques:

Prompt Examples:

• “Explain this concept in simple terms with examples” — great for understanding complex concepts
• “Compare views A and B” — perfect for comparative analysis
• “What are the key points of this chapter?” — quick way to identify main points
• “Help me organize the knowledge points for this topic” — systematic learning

Advanced Tips:

• First generate a mind map with NotebookLM, then ask targeted questions about weak areas
• Combine Flashcards and Quiz features for learning and testing simultaneously
• Regularly generate Audio Overviews to review during spare time

Tip 2: Exploring New Sources

Click “Explore” in the “Sources” section and enter a topic (e.g., “Calculus Basics”). NotebookLM will:

• Recommend relevant web pages, PDFs, or videos
• Allow you to selectively import recommended sources (free tier has import limits)
• Help you expand your research scope

Usage Tips:

• The Explore feature is great for researching new areas and quickly finding relevant sources
• We recommend browsing recommended content first before deciding whether to import, to avoid wasting source limits
• After importing, remember to check the auto-generated guide to quickly understand new sources

Tip 3: Complete Exam Preparation Workflow

Practical Steps:

1. Organize Review Sources: Upload all relevant lecture notes, PDFs, and videos to one notebook
2. Generate Study Materials: Use Studio features to generate Study Guide, Flashcards, and Quiz
3. Practice Q&A: Ask questions through the chat feature to test your understanding
4. Audio Review: Generate Audio Overview to listen during commutes or breaks
5. Fill Knowledge Gaps: Continue asking questions and generating related materials for weak areas

Prompt Example:

I need to prepare for an exam on [topic], please:
1. Generate a study guide covering all important concepts
2. Create 20 quiz questions covering different difficulty levels
3. Generate a mind map to help me understand the knowledge structure
4. Provide targeted review suggestions for weak areas

Advanced Tips:

• Create separate notebooks for different subjects for better organization
• Regularly generate Quizzes for self-assessment to identify knowledge gaps
• Use Mind Maps to organize knowledge frameworks and build systematic understanding

Tip 4: Research Paper Preparation

Practical Steps:

1. Create a research topic notebook
2. Upload relevant papers, sources, and web links
3. Use the Explore feature to discover more relevant sources
4. Generate Reports to organize core viewpoints
5. Use the Q&A feature to deeply understand sources
6. Generate Slide Deck for presentations

Prompt Example:

I need to prepare a research paper on [topic], please:
1. Analyze all the papers I uploaded and extract core viewpoints
2. Compare the methods and conclusions of different studies
3. Generate a literature review outline
4. Identify research trends and future directions
5. Create a presentation outline based on these materials

Usage Tips:

• The Reports feature is particularly useful for paper preparation, as it can quickly extract key information
• Use citation features to ensure all viewpoints are supported by sources
• When generating Slide Decks, you can further optimize based on Reports

Tip 5: New Course Learning

Practical Steps:

1. Create separate notebooks for each course
2. Upload course videos, lecture notes, and supplementary sources
3. If sources contain time information, create a Timeline using the report feature to understand course progress (prompt: “Create a chronological timeline of course progress”)
4. Generate Mind Maps to organize knowledge structures
5. Regularly generate Audio Overviews for review
6. Use Quiz features to test learning effectiveness

Prompt Example:

I'm learning [Course Name], please:
1. Create a chronological timeline of course progress
2. Generate a mind map for each chapter
3. After completing each chapter, generate corresponding flashcards and quizzes
4. Regularly generate audio overviews for review

Usage Tips:

• Timeline features are particularly useful during course learning, helping you understand course progress and key time points. Although the dedicated button was removed, you can still create timelines using the report feature
• After completing each chapter, generate corresponding Flashcards and Quizzes
• Regularly review Mind Maps to consolidate knowledge structures

Tip 6: How to Handle Free Tier Limits

Usage Limits:

• Conversations: Approximately 50 conversations per day
• Audio Generations: 3 audio generations per day
• Source Count: Up to 50 sources per notebook

Coping Strategies:

1. Plan Usage Wisely:

   • Use conversations for quick questions; you can combine important questions
   • Save audio generations for important summary content; prioritize what you need most
   • Group related sources in one notebook to avoid spreading them out

2. Reset Limits:

   • Refresh your browser (sometimes this resets limits)
   • Wait for automatic reset the next day

3. Consider Upgrading:

   • If you use it frequently, consider upgrading to Plus, Pro, or Ultra versions
   • Paid versions offer higher usage limits and more features

Tip 7: Privacy Protection Usage Tips

• Only Uses Your Sources: NotebookLM only answers based on your uploaded sources and doesn’t search the web for other information
• Data Security: Your sources are only used to generate answers, ensuring privacy
• Citation Tracking: All answers include source citations for easy verification and traceability

Usage Tip: When uploading sensitive sources, you can create private notebooks to ensure data security.

NotebookLM Subscription Plans Selection Guide

NotebookLM offers multiple subscription plans, and students can get Google AI Pro FREE for one year, which includes enhanced NotebookLM features. Understanding the differences helps you choose the plan that best fits your learning needs.

🎓 Free for Students - Google AI Pro (One Year)

Price: FREE for college students for one year (normally $19.99/month)

How to Get: See detailed application guide → Google AI Pro: Limited-Time Student Discount - Free for 1 Year

NotebookLM-Related Features:

• 5x Audio Overviews and Notebooks: 5 times more audio generations and notebooks than the free tier
• More Sources: Each notebook can have more sources
• Higher Conversation Limits: More conversations per day
• All Google AI Pro Features: Including Gemini 3 Pro access, Deep Research, image generation, and more

Suitable for: Students who need to use NotebookLM extensively for learning

Free Tier

Price: Free

Features:

• Up to 50 sources per notebook
• Approximately 50 conversations per day
• 3 audio generations per day
• Basic Studio generation features

Suitable for: Students trying NotebookLM for the first time, everyday use

Plus/Pro/Ultra Versions

Price: Based on Google AI Pro/Ultra subscription plans

NotebookLM-Related Features:

• Higher usage limits than the free tier
• More Audio Overviews and notebooks
• More sources and conversations
• Priority access to new features

Suitable for: Students who need to use NotebookLM extensively for in-depth research

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Free Tier	Google AI Pro (Free for Students One Year)
Sources per Notebook	50	More
Daily Conversations	~50	More
Daily Audio Generations	3	5x (15)
Notebook Count	Limited	5x
Studio Generation	✅	✅ Enhanced
Explore Feature	✅	✅ Enhanced
Citation Tracking	✅	✅

Selection Recommendations:

• 🎓 Student Free (Google AI Pro): Best option for college students! Get Google AI Pro FREE for one year, including 5x Audio Overviews and notebooks for NotebookLM. Perfect for students who need to use NotebookLM extensively for learning.

• Free Tier: Suitable for students trying NotebookLM for the first time or with low usage frequency, provides basic features.

• Plus/Pro/Ultra: If you don’t qualify for the student discount or need more features after your free year, consider upgrading.

Important Notes

⚠️ Academic Integrity

• Use as a Learning Tool: NotebookLM is a learning assistance tool and should not be used to directly submit AI-generated content
• Understand Content: Make sure you understand the generated content rather than copying it directly
• Check School Policies: Understand your school’s policies on AI tool usage

⚠️ Information Accuracy

• Verify Key Information: Although NotebookLM answers based on your sources, you should still verify important information
• Cross-Check: For key concepts, we recommend consulting original sources to confirm
• Use Citations: Utilize citation features to return to original sources and confirm information

⚠️ Responsible Use

• Plan Usage: Be aware of free tier limits and plan daily usage accordingly
• Organize Sources: Group related sources together for better efficiency
• Regular Review: Use generated study sources for regular review

Summary

NotebookLM is a practical learning assistance tool, especially suitable for students who need to organize large amounts of study sources. By mastering these NotebookLM usage tips, you can:

• Quickly generate various study sources (flashcards, quizzes, mind maps, etc.)
• Deepen understanding through Q&A
• Use audio and video overviews for multi-sensory learning
• Organize and visualize complex information

💡 Usage Advice: Make full use of the free tier features and plan usage limits wisely. Use NotebookLM as a learning assistance tool, not as a replacement for thinking. By combining various generation features, you can comprehensively improve learning efficiency. Remember, the key to mastering how to use NotebookLM is to practice more, experiment more, and find the learning approach that works best for you.

🎓 Student Special Offer: If you’re a college student, you can get Google AI Pro FREE for one year, including 5x Audio Overviews and notebooks for NotebookLM. Visit gemini.google/subscriptions and verify your student status to get started.