How to Use NotebookLM

Getting started with NotebookLM

In this guide, you'll learn how to upload documents and interact with them using NotebookLM, Google's AI tool that allows you to chat, summarise, and generate insights from your files. By the end, you’ll be able to effectively engage with your documents and extract valuable information.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to NotebookLM.
2. Click on the "Sign in" button at the top right corner.
3. Log in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, create a free account by following the prompts.
4. Once logged in, you’ll be taken to the main dashboard where you can start uploading documents.

Step 2: Your first document upload

1. On the dashboard, locate and click the "Upload" button (usually a paperclip icon).
2. Choose the document you want to analyse (supports PDFs, Google Docs, etc.).
3. After the upload is complete, click on the document title to open it.
4. Use the chat interface on the right side to ask questions about the document, such as "What are the key points?" or "Can you summarise this section?"

Step 3: Get better results

1. To get more detailed insights, use specific prompts. For example, instead of asking "What is this about?", try "Summarise the main arguments in the introduction."
2. Explore the "Settings" menu to adjust any preferences for how responses are generated, such as the length of summaries.
3. Regularly check for updates or new features in the "Help" section to keep your usage efficient.

Pro tip

Use the "Save" feature after generating insights or summaries. This allows you to keep important information handy without needing to re-upload the document.

Common mistake to avoid

A common mistake is uploading very large documents. NotebookLM may struggle with files over 50MB, leading to errors or timeouts. Break larger documents into smaller sections for better performance.