How to get started with NotebookLM?
Go to notebooklm.google, sign in with a free Google account, and click Create new to start a notebook. Add at least one source (a PDF, Google Doc, website, or YouTube link), then ask a question in the chat or open the Studio panel to make a summary or audio overview. No install or payment is needed to begin.
Why — the first-principles explanation
Getting started is fast because NotebookLM is a web app tied to your Google account, there's nothing to install and the free tier needs no payment. The only real prerequisite is having sources, because NotebookLM does nothing until you give it documents to work from.
The mental model to adopt early is 'sources first.' Unlike a chatbot you just talk to, NotebookLM answers only from what you upload. So the productive first move is always to add a document, then start asking. A single good source is enough to see the magic: cited answers, instant summaries, and a podcast-style overview.
Once you understand that, the rest is exploration. The chat is for questions; the Studio panel is for repackaging your sources into audio, video, mind maps, flashcards, and quizzes. Beginners get the most value by starting with one document they actually care about, rather than dumping in everything at once.
An example that makes it click
It's like setting up a new messaging app: you sign in, and then you need at least one contact before anything happens. In NotebookLM, that 'first contact' is your first document.
Upload one PDF you care about, a lease, a research paper, a manual, and immediately ask, 'What are the key points?' Seeing it answer with citations from your own file is the moment it clicks.
How to do it
- Open notebooklm.google in your web browser.
- Sign in with your Google account (create a free one if needed).
- Click Create new to make your first notebook.
- Click Add source and upload a PDF, Google Doc, website URL, or YouTube link.
- Type a question in the chat, like 'Summarize the main points,' and click a citation to verify.
- Open the Studio panel and try generating an Audio Overview or study guide.
Key facts
- NotebookLM runs in a web browser at notebooklm.google, with a mobile app also available.
- It is free with a Google account; no install or payment needed to start.
- You must add at least one source before it can answer.
- Free plan includes 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook.
- The chat answers questions; the Studio panel generates audio, video, and study aids.
Upload your sources and get grounded answers and audio overviews.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.▶ The 60-second explainer (script)
Getting started with NotebookLM takes about two minutes. First, go to notebooklm.google in your browser and sign in with a Google account, it's completely free, and there's nothing to install. Click Create new to make your first notebook. Now here's the one rule to remember: NotebookLM only answers from sources you give it, so you have to add a document first. Click Add source and upload something you actually care about, a PDF, a Google Doc, a website, even a YouTube link. Once it finishes reading, just type a question in the chat, like 'summarize the main points,' and click the citation to see exactly where the answer came from. When you're ready to explore, open the Studio panel on the right and try turning your source into a podcast-style audio overview or a study guide. My tip for beginners: start with just one document, not a giant pile. Seeing it answer from your own file is the moment it all clicks.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Do I need to download an app?
No. NotebookLM works in your web browser, though a mobile app is also available if you prefer.
Is there a cost to start?
No. The free plan needs only a Google account, with no payment required.
What should my first source be?
Start with one document you care about, a PDF, doc, or article, so you can quickly see cited answers.
What do I do after uploading?
Ask a question in the chat, or open the Studio panel to generate an audio overview or study guide.