This NotebookLM tutorial walks you through your first notebook from scratch. If you are new to Google's research assistant and want to know how to use Google NotebookLM without getting lost in menus, follow the seven steps below. By the end you will have a real notebook, at least one source inside it, and your first chat answer grounded in that material.
NotebookLM is not a general chatbot. It reads the documents and videos you give it, then answers questions based on those sources. That is what makes it useful for studying, research, and turning long reads into something you can actually query. New to the product? Read what NotebookLM is first, then come back here for the hands-on walkthrough.
Before you start
You need two things: a Google account (Gmail works fine) and a modern web browser. Google Chrome is recommended because NotebookLM runs in the browser and Chrome tends to have the fewest compatibility hiccups. Safari and Firefox work too, but if you plan to import YouTube videos or web pages with a helper extension later, Chrome is the path of least resistance.
NotebookLM is free for personal use. You do not need a credit card or a Google Workspace subscription to get started. For a full breakdown of limits and pricing, see is NotebookLM free?
Pick one piece of content to practice with: a PDF you already have (a syllabus, article, or report) or a public YouTube video on a topic you care about. Having something real to upload makes every step below click faster.
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Step 1: Open notebooklm.google.com and sign in
Go to notebooklm.google.com in your browser. If you are not signed in, Google will prompt you to log in with your account. Use the same Google account you want your notebooks tied to; switching accounts later means starting over in a different library.
Once signed in, you should see the NotebookLM home screen with any existing notebooks listed, or an empty state inviting you to create one. If the page looks blank or stuck loading, refresh once and confirm you are on the correct URL. A common beginner mistake is landing on a Google Docs or Gemini page by accident.
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Step 2: Create your first notebook and name it well
Click Create new (or the equivalent button on the home screen) to start a fresh notebook. Give it a name you will recognize next week. Vague titles like "Notebook 1" become confusing fast. Better examples: "Marketing 101 readings," "Q3 product research," or "Spanish podcast notes."
Think of each notebook as a folder for one project or topic. You can have many notebooks, but sources inside a notebook should relate to each other. That way when you ask a question in chat, NotebookLM searches across everything in that notebook and gives you a coherent answer.
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Step 3: Add your first source (PDF or YouTube)
Inside your new notebook, look for Add source or the plus icon in the sources panel. NotebookLM accepts several input types; for your first run, try either a PDF upload or a YouTube URL.
Adding a PDF: Choose upload or drag your file into the window. Lecture slides, scanned chapters, and exported reports all work. Keep the file under NotebookLM's size limits (most everyday documents are fine). If the PDF is password-protected, remove the lock first or NotebookLM cannot read it.
Adding a YouTube video: Select the YouTube option and paste the full watch-page URL (the link from your browser address bar). The video should be public. NotebookLM pulls the transcript and audio content so you can summarize and ask questions without rewatching the whole thing. For a deeper walkthrough on video imports, see our guide on summarizing YouTube videos in NotebookLM.
You can add more sources later. For now, one solid PDF or one clear YouTube video is enough to learn the workflow.
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Step 4: Wait for processing to finish
After you add a source, NotebookLM needs a moment to ingest it. You will usually see a processing indicator next to the source name. Short PDFs and typical YouTube videos often finish in under a minute. Longer videos or large documents can take a few minutes.
Do not rush into chat while the source is still spinning. Answers you get before processing completes may be thin or incomplete. Wait until the source shows as ready (no loading icon). If processing fails, check that the PDF is not corrupted, the YouTube link is public, and you are signed into the same Google account that owns the notebook.
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Step 5: Ask your first question in chat
Open the chat panel on the right side of the notebook. Type a question in plain English. NotebookLM will answer using only the sources in this notebook and will often cite which document or video a claim came from. That citation habit is one of the best reasons to use NotebookLM instead of a generic AI chat tool.
Try these three example prompts on your first source:
- "Summarize this in five bullet points a beginner would understand."
- "What are the three most important ideas here, and why do they matter?"
- "List any terms I should look up, with a one-sentence definition for each."
Read the answer, then ask a follow-up. NotebookLM remembers the conversation within the session, so you can drill into a single bullet point or ask for a simpler explanation. If an answer feels off, check that the source actually contains that information. NotebookLM is designed to stay grounded in your uploads, not invent facts from the open web.
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Step 6: Try Audio Overview (optional but fun)
Once your source is processed, look for Audio Overview in the notebook tools. NotebookLM can generate a podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts that discusses your sources. It is a surprisingly good way to hear the main ideas while you cook, commute, or take a walk.
Generating an Audio Overview takes a bit longer than a chat reply, so treat it as a bonus step, not a requirement. Listen once for the big picture, then return to chat when you want precise quotes or detailed follow-ups. Not every beginner needs this on day one, but it is worth trying so you know the feature exists.
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Step 7: Optional speed boost with NotebookTools
Copying YouTube URLs and switching back to NotebookLM works, but it gets tedious if you import videos or articles often. NotebookTools is a free Chrome extension that adds an import button on YouTube watch pages and web articles. Click it, pick your notebook, and the source appears without manual paste. Install from the Chrome Web Store and stay signed into the same Google account in both NotebookLM and Chrome.
You do not need NotebookTools to complete this tutorial. Steps 1 through 6 work entirely inside NotebookLM. The extension just saves time once you are hooked on the workflow.
Common beginner mistakes
Wrong URL. NotebookLM lives at notebooklm.google.com. Bookmark it so you do not end up in Gemini, Google Drive, or an old Labs page that looks similar but behaves differently.
Not signed in. If you see a sign-in wall or an empty library that never loads notebooks, check which Google account is active in the browser. Incognito windows and shared computers are frequent culprits.
Empty notebook. Chat is only useful when sources are inside the notebook. If answers feel generic or NotebookLM says it cannot find information, confirm you added at least one processed source and that processing finished before you asked.
Asking before processing completes. Give each upload time to finish. A few extra seconds of waiting beats a vague first answer.
You are ready to go deeper
You now have the core loop: create a notebook, add sources, wait, chat, and optionally listen. From here you can add more PDFs, stack several YouTube lectures in one place, or branch into study-specific workflows. The product stays the same; you just feed it richer material over time.
FAQ
Is NotebookLM free for beginners?
Yes. Core features are free with a Google account. See is NotebookLM free? for details on limits.
What file types can I add besides PDF and YouTube?
NotebookLM also accepts Google Docs, pasted text, web URLs, and other formats depending on your region. PDF and YouTube are the easiest starting points.
Do I need to install anything to use NotebookLM?
No. NotebookLM runs in the browser. NotebookTools is optional and only helps with faster imports from Chrome.
Can NotebookLM answer questions about anything on the internet?
No. It answers from the sources in your notebook. That is the point: grounded answers you can trace back to your own materials.