Notebooks in the Gemini app give you a focused chat space for one project, like planning a trip or studying for an exam. You add sources, write custom instructions, and Gemini remembers all of it across every chat in that notebook. Notebooks sync automatically with Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM), so the same sources and chats show up in both places.
What You Need Before You Start
- A personal Google Account signed in to gemini.google.com or the Gemini mobile app. Work and school (Google Workspace) accounts are not supported yet.
- Any device with a browser, or the Gemini app on Android or iPhone/iPad.
- Files, Google Drive documents, website links, or pasted text if you want to add sources.
How Do You Create a Notebook in the Gemini App?
- Go to gemini.google.com on your computer, or open the Gemini app on your phone.
- On the top left, click Open Sidebar.
- Click New notebook.
- Give the notebook a name so you can find it later, both in Gemini and in Gemini Notebook.
- Type a prompt to start the notebook, describing what you’re working on.
- Click Add sources if you want to attach files, Google Drive documents, websites, or pasted text.
On Android, tap Menu in the top left of the Gemini app, then look under Notebooks and tap New notebook. The steps are otherwise the same.
How Does Syncing With Gemini Notebook Work?
Any notebook you create in the Gemini app also shows up in Gemini Notebook, Google’s rebranded name for NotebookLM as of July 2026. Sources, chats, and even the notebook’s name and icon stay in sync between the two. That means you can start a notebook in Gemini, then switch to Gemini Notebook to generate features exclusive to it, like Audio Overviews or Video Overviews, using the same sources you already added.
The reverse is also true: notebooks you create directly in Gemini Notebook appear in your Gemini app sidebar, unless someone shared that notebook with you rather than you creating it yourself.
How Many Sources Can You Add to a Notebook?
Your source limit depends on your Google AI plan. Free accounts can add up to 50 sources per notebook. Google AI Plus subscribers get 100, Pro subscribers get 300, and Ultra subscribers get up to 600. Supported source types include PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, images, audio files, text and markdown files, Google Drive files, websites, and pasted text.
How Do You Manage an Existing Notebook?
- Rename it: open the notebook, click More, then Rename.
- Add custom instructions: open the notebook, click More, then Notebook settings, and add formatting or tone instructions before clicking Save.
- Pin it: click More on a notebook, then Pin, to keep it at the top of your list.
- Delete it: click More, then Delete. This also deletes the linked notebook in Gemini Notebook, along with its sources and chats.
FAQ
Does a Gemini notebook work with a work or school account?
No. Notebooks in the Gemini app currently only work with a personal Google Account. Google Workspace (work or school) accounts are not supported.
How many sources can I add to a notebook?
Free users can add up to 50 sources per notebook. Google AI Plus subscribers get 100, Pro subscribers get 300, and Ultra subscribers get 600.
What’s the difference between Notebooks in the Gemini app and Gemini Notebook?
Notebooks in the Gemini app are a chat-based project space built into Gemini’s sidebar. Gemini Notebook, formerly called NotebookLM, is the dedicated research tool they sync with, and it adds extra features like Audio Overviews and Video Overviews.
Can I add an existing chat to a notebook?
Yes. Find the chat in your sidebar, click More next to it, choose Add to notebook, then pick the notebook. The chat syncs to Gemini Notebook automatically.
Notebooks are a simple way to keep a project’s chats and files in one place instead of hunting through your history. Once you’ve created one, try adding a few sources and see how Gemini uses them across your next few chats.
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