How-To

How to Use the New Notebook in Gemini Chat: Step-by-Step Guide

10/15/2026 Level: Beginner

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself chatting with an AI like Gemini, asking great questions, only to lose track of where the conversation went three days later? Or perhaps you wished Gemini already knew the details of a family recipe collection, a work manual, or research notes you spent hours writing, without having to paste the same background information into every single prompt?

If that sounds familiar, you are going to love the new Notebooks feature inside Gemini Chat.

Google has integrated the power of NotebookLM directly into the everyday Gemini interface. Think of a Gemini Notebook as a clean, digital three-ring binder. Instead of one chaotic, never-ending list of chats in your sidebar, you can now create dedicated notebooks for your specific projects, upload your trusted documents, and have Gemini answer your questions grounded directly in your own material.

In this guide, we will walk through how to use Gemini Notebooks together, one smooth step at a time. No technical jargon, no rushing—just a gentle, clear walkthrough.

What You Will Need

Before we begin, make sure you have:

  • A standard Google account (personal or Google Workspace).
  • Access to Gemini web chat at gemini.google.com.
  • One or two sample documents (such as a PDF, a Google Doc, or a webpage link) that you would like to explore.

Step 1: Finding the Notebooks Tab in Gemini

Let’s start right at the beginning by opening Gemini in your browser.

  1. Navigate to gemini.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
  2. Look at the left sidebar menu (where your recent chat history normally lives).
  3. Under the main “New Chat” and “Gems” sections, look for the Notebooks icon (it looks like a small open notebook).
  4. Click on Notebooks to expand your notebook library.

[!TIP] Can’t find the Notebooks button? If your sidebar is collapsed, click the menu icon (the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner) to expand it. If you still don’t see it, Google may still be rolling out the feature to your region or account type. Refreshing your browser or checking back shortly usually helps.

Step 2: Creating Your First Project Notebook

Now that you are in the Notebooks area, let’s create a dedicated space for a project.

  1. Click the + New Notebook button.
  2. A new workspace will open in your main screen.
  3. At the top of the page, click the placeholder title (such as “Untitled Notebook”) and type a clear, friendly name. For example:
    • “Home Gardening Plans”
    • “Work Conference Notes 2026”
    • “Family Reunion Planning”
  4. Add a short description if prompted. This helps you remember the notebook’s purpose whenever you return to it.

You now have a clean, focused workspace that is completely separate from your casual everyday chats.

Step 3: Adding Your Trusted Sources (Source Grounding)

The true magic of a Notebook is grounding. In simple terms, grounding means telling Gemini: “Please read these specific documents first, and base your answers on what they actually say.” This helps prevent guesswork or hallucinations.

  1. Inside your notebook, look for the Sources panel (usually on the left side or top of the workspace).
  2. Click Add Sources (or the + button).
  3. Choose the type of source you want to add:
    • Google Drive / Docs: Select an existing document, slide deck, or sheet from your Google Drive.
    • Upload Files: Choose a PDF, Word document, or text file stored on your computer.
    • Web Links & URLs: Paste the address of a helpful article or reference page.
    • Copied Text: Paste text directly from an email or note.
  4. Once added, your files will appear in the source list with a checkbox next to each one.

[!NOTE] You can add multiple sources to a single notebook. If you only want Gemini to focus on one specific document for a question, simply check that document’s box and uncheck the others.

Step 4: Asking Grounded Questions

Now that Gemini has your reference material, let’s start a conversation.

  1. Look at the chat input box at the bottom of your notebook.
  2. Notice the indicator showing how many sources are currently active (e.g., “3 sources selected”).
  3. Type a natural question about your material. For example:
    • “What are the key deadlines mentioned in my conference notes?”
    • “Summarize section 2 in three simple bullet points.”
    • “Based on my gardening guide, when should I plant tomatoes in zone 7?”
  4. Press Enter or click the send arrow.

When Gemini responds, notice the small numbered citation badges next to the sentences. Clicking on any number will highlight the exact paragraph in your source document where Gemini found that information. This gives you instant confidence that the answer is accurate.

Step 5: Moving Existing Chats into Your Notebook

If you previously had a great conversation in regular Gemini chat and want to keep it inside your project notebook, you don’t have to start over:

  1. Click on your regular Chats list in the sidebar to open the past conversation.
  2. Look at the top right of the conversation window for the More options icon (three vertical dots).
  3. Select Add to Notebook (or Move to Notebook).
  4. Pick the notebook you created in Step 2.

Gemini will file that conversation inside the notebook, keeping your sidebar clutter-free and keeping all your related ideas in one safe spot.

Step 6: Exploring the NotebookLM Sync (Audio Overviews & Deep Research)

Because Gemini Notebooks sync bidirectionally with Google’s dedicated research tool, NotebookLM, you can unlock even deeper features whenever you need them:

  1. Visit notebook.google.com.
  2. Sign in with the same Google account. You will see the notebook you just created in Gemini waiting for you!
  3. Click on your notebook, then open the Notebook Guide.
  4. Here you can generate:
    • Audio Overview: A fascinating, conversational podcast where two AI hosts discuss your sources in plain English.
    • Study Guides & FAQs: Instant structured review sheets.
    • Briefing Documents: Clean executive summaries of your materials.

Troubleshooting Common Questions

Issue: “Gemini says it cannot find the information in my sources.”

  • Solution: Make sure the checkbox next to your source in the Sources panel is checked. Also confirm that the uploaded file contains readable text (scanned image PDFs without selectable text may need OCR before Gemini can read them).

Issue: “Can other people see the personal files I upload?”

  • Solution: No. Your notebooks and uploaded sources are private to your Google account. Google does not use your private notebook sources to train public models.

Issue: “My file upload fails or times out.”

  • Solution: Check file size limits. Most text documents and PDFs under 100 MB upload quickly. If a PDF is very long (over 500 pages), consider splitting it into smaller chapters.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Congratulations! You have taken a big step toward a calmer, more organized AI experience. By using Notebooks in Gemini Chat, you transform AI from a noisy, unpredictable chatbot into a personalized digital assistant that works directly with your own knowledge.

Take your time exploring your new notebook. Remember: you never need to rush. When you’re ready, check out our companion resources below.

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