Get started with NotebookLM: create your first notebook

Create your first NotebookLM notebook, upload a source, and receive your first AI-generated answer with inline source citations in under five minutes.

This guide walks you through creating your first notebook, adding a source, and getting an AI-generated answer—all in a few minutes. You only need a Google Account to get started.

All answers NotebookLM gives you are grounded exclusively in the sources you add to your notebook. The AI does not use outside knowledge or the web.

Create your first notebook

1. Sign in to NotebookLM

   Go to notebooklm.google.com and click Sign in. Choose the Google Account you want to use. If you do not have a Google Account, you will need to create one first.

2. Create a new notebook

   On the NotebookLM home page, click New notebook. Give it a descriptive name that reflects your project or topic—for example, “Q3 Research Report” or “Biology 101 Exam Prep”. A clear name makes it easier to find the notebook later.

3. Add your first source

   In the Sources panel on the left, click the + button (or Add source). You can upload a file from your computer, link to a Google Doc or Google Drive file, paste in a URL, or add a YouTube link. For your first notebook, a PDF or Google Doc works well.

   Supported source types include PDFs, Google Docs, Google Slides, web pages, YouTube videos, audio files, and pasted text. See Supported formats for the full list.

4. Wait for the source to process

   After you add a source, NotebookLM analyzes and indexes it. Most sources process in a few seconds; longer documents may take a moment longer. A progress indicator appears in the Sources panel. Wait until the source shows a checkmark before asking questions.

5. Ask a question in the chat panel

   Click in the chat input at the bottom of the page, type a question about your source, and press Enter (or click the send button). For example: “What are the main arguments in this document?” or “Summarize the key findings.”

6. Review the answer and check citations

   NotebookLM responds with an answer based on your source. Inline citation numbers (like ¹ or ²) appear in the response—click them to jump directly to the relevant passage in the original document. Use citations to verify the answer and explore the source material in more detail.

Add multiple sources to get richer, more comprehensive answers. NotebookLM can synthesize information across all the sources in a notebook—so the more relevant material you include, the more thorough its responses will be. You can add up to 50 sources per notebook.

Next steps

Add more sources

Learn how to add different file types and links to your notebook.

Notebook Guide

Auto-generate study guides, FAQs, briefing documents, and timelines.

Audio Overview

Turn your sources into a podcast-style audio discussion.

Sign in and access

Learn how to switch accounts and access notebooks across devices.