NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook) Guide: For Students and Creators

An ordinary chatbot answers from the "memory" of the whole internet, and sometimes it even makes things up. Google's NotebookLM is different: it answers mostly from the documents that you yourself give it, and with every answer it shows exactly where the information was taken from. In July 2026 Google renamed it Gemini Notebook. The product is the same and your old notebooks are still safe; only the name and logo are new. In this article, both names are used for the same tool.

In this guide you will learn how to create a notebook, how to upload sources, how to ask questions with references (citations), how to make an Audio Overview and a study guide, how to use it for researching YouTube scripts, and what its limitations are.

How to get started

1. Open notebooklm.google.com in your browser (this address now takes you straight to the new Gemini Notebook page), or install its official app from the Play Store. The developer name should be Google LLC.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Click Create new or the button for a new notebook.
4. Give the notebook a name, such as "FSc Chemistry Chapter 3" or "Video: looking after your mobile battery".

Keep each notebook limited to one topic or one project. If you put everything into a single notebook, the answers become scattered.

Uploading sources

Sources are the foundation of a notebook. By clicking Add source, you can add the following:

• PDF files, such as your own notes or a chapter of a book that you legally have access to
• Google Docs and Google Slides
• A website link
• A YouTube video link (the tool works from the video's transcript, so a video without captions may not be possible to add)
• Copied text (paste text)
• Some audio files

On the free plan there is a limit on the number of sources in one notebook and on the size of each source, and these limits are higher on bigger plans. The limits keep changing, so check the latest information on the plans page in Gemini Notebook Help.

Tip: keep your sources reliable. If you add a file with wrong or outdated information, the answers will be just as wrong or outdated.

Asking questions with citations

Once your sources are added, type your question in the chat section in the middle. Small numbers will appear in the answer; clicking or hovering over them opens the exact part of the source the information came from. This is the tool's biggest strength: you can check every statement yourself.

Examples of useful questions:

Summarize the main ideas of these sources in 7 bullet points.

What are the differences between [concept A] and [concept B] according to my notes?

Which important points from chapter 3 are most likely to be asked in an exam? Explain each in simple words.

To get answers in Urdu, go to Settings at the top right and choose Urdu under Output Language. According to Google's Help Center, this setting applies not only to chat but also to things like study guides and Audio Overview, although not every feature works the same way in every language. In the list of sources on the left, you can also untick a source's checkbox to temporarily leave it out of the answers.

Audio Overview: a podcast of your own notes

In the Studio section, Audio Overview is a popular feature. It turns your sources into a conversation between two AI hosts, like a podcast. It is great for listening while travelling or while you work.

• Several styles are available, such as a detailed conversation (Deep Dive), a short summary (Brief), a critical review (Critique) and a debate (Debate).
• Under Customize you can write instructions, such as "Focus only on chapter 2 and explain it for a beginner".
• The audio can take a few minutes to generate.

Remember that the AI hosts can also make mistakes or exaggerate something. Always compare important points with the original source. Before uploading this audio to your YouTube channel, be sure to read Google's terms and YouTube's policies on AI/synthetic content; it is best to use it for research and understanding, and to create your own content yourself.

Study Guide, FAQ, Flashcards and Quiz

The Studio also has several other options that are very useful for students. Their names and positions change over time, but you will usually find these:

• Reports: written documents such as a study guide, a briefing doc or an FAQ. A study guide usually contains the key terms and short questions.
• Flashcards: a question on one side and the answer on the other, for memorising.
• Quiz: MCQs you can use to test yourself.
• Mind Map: a diagram that shows how the parts of a topic are connected to each other.
• Video Overview: a short explainer video made from your sources.

One way to prepare for exams:

1. Upload your notes for one chapter along with the relevant part of the textbook.
2. First look at the outline of the whole chapter using the Mind Map.
3. Create a study guide and read it.
4. Memorise the key terms with the Flashcards.
5. Finally, take the Quiz, and for any wrong answer ask in the chat: "Why did I get this wrong?"

Making all of this is easy, but the work of actually understanding it is something you will have to do yourself. More ways to study with ChatGPT and Gemini are in the AI for students article.

For researching YouTube scripts

For creators, NotebookLM is an excellent research assistant, because it gives a reference for every statement.

1. One video, one notebook: add reliable articles, official pages and your own notes on the topic of the video.
2. Pull out the facts:

List every fact, date and number in these sources about [topic], with the source for each.

1. Find the questions: "What questions would a beginner ask about this topic that these sources answer?" These questions become the sections of your video.
2. Make an outline: "Create an outline for a 7-minute video based only on these sources."
3. Write the script yourself: using the outline and the facts, write the script in your own style. This stage is covered in detail in Writing YouTube scripts with AI, and to find new topics, see Video ideas with AI.

Caution: using other creators' videos as a source and repeating what they said under your own name is not original content. Take ideas from them, but add your own research, your own analysis and your own examples.

Limitations to keep in mind

• Mistakes are possible: despite the citations, the AI can sometimes misunderstand a source. Always open the citation and check anything important.
• The better the source, the better the answer: whatever is not in your sources will not appear reliably in the answers.
• Language: Urdu sources (especially scanned PDFs) are sometimes not read correctly. If that happens, copy the text and paste it instead.
• Limits and features change: the number of sources, daily generations and new features can differ depending on your plan and your country.
• Privacy: do not upload personal documents, a photo of your CNIC or confidential office files. Be sure to read Google's privacy policy.
• Copyright: only upload material that you have the right to use, and when sharing a notebook, take care not to spread someone else's book or course further.

Summary

• NotebookLM's new name is Gemini Notebook; it answers with citations from the sources you give it.
• Keep one notebook per topic and add reliable sources.
• Choose Urdu under Output Language to get answers in Urdu.
• Make studying easier with Audio Overview, study guides, flashcards and quizzes.
• Creators should use it for research and outlines, but keep the script and the analysis their own.
• Check every important point through its citation, and do not upload personal or copyrighted material.