How to Use NotebookLM

Getting started with NotebookLM

In this guide, you will learn how to use NotebookLM, Google's AI research assistant that provides answers based on your own documents. By the end, you'll be able to upload documents and receive summarised information tailored to your content.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to notebooklm.google.com.
2. Click on the “Get Started” button.
3. Sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, click on “Create account” and follow the prompts.
4. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be taken to the main dashboard where you can start using NotebookLM.

Step 2: Your first document upload

1. On the dashboard, click on the “Upload Document” button.
2. Select a document from your computer (e.g., a PDF or Word file) that you want to work with.
3. After uploading, you’ll see the document listed in your workspace. Click on it to open.
4. Use the text box labelled “Ask a question about this document” to enter a query, such as “What are the main arguments?”.
5. Press the “Ask” button to receive a summarised response based on your document.

Step 3: Get better results

1. To refine your queries, be specific. Instead of asking general questions, try something like “Summarise the findings from section 3”.
2. Explore the “Related Questions” section to see what others have asked about similar documents, which can inspire your own queries.
3. Use the “Highlight” tool to mark important sections of your documents for easy reference later.

Pro tip

Instead of uploading one document at a time, consider combining related documents into a single PDF before uploading. This allows you to ask questions across multiple sources and get a more comprehensive answer.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid asking vague or overly broad questions like “Tell me about this document.” Instead, focus on specific sections or topics within the document to get more accurate and useful responses.