Help centre
Answers to the things people ask most, plus a direct line to a human when they are not enough.
Typical reply time: under two business daysEmail support
Write to info@notebooklm.work. Include your device model and iOS version and we can usually answer in one reply.
Privacy questions
Everything we do and do not collect is written out in the Privacy Policy. Requests about your data go to the same address.
Report a problem
Found a bug or something that looks wrong in an answer? Tell us what you did and what you expected — report it here.
Getting started
The basics, in the order you will hit them.
How do I add a document?
Open a notebook and tap Add source. You can import from Files or iCloud Drive, paste a link, paste or type text directly, or use the iOS share sheet from Safari, Mail or any app that can share a PDF — choose NotebookLM.work from the share options and pick the notebook.
What file types are supported?
PDF, plain text, Markdown, RTF and Word (.docx), plus web links and text you paste in. Scanned PDFs work best when they already contain a text layer; image-only scans may extract poorly.
Why is a source not producing good answers?
Usually one of three things: the PDF is an image scan with no selectable text; the document is extremely long and the relevant passage is ambiguous; or the question is broader than the sources can support. Try asking a narrower question, or splitting a very large document into sections.
How do I organise multiple projects?
Use one notebook per topic. Answers are drawn only from the sources inside the active notebook, so keeping subjects separate makes responses noticeably sharper.
Can I export my notes and summaries?
Yes. Use the share button on any summary, answer or study guide to copy it, save it to Files, or send it elsewhere. Since your data lives only on your device, exporting is also how you back it up.
What happens if I delete the app?
All notebooks and sources are deleted permanently along with it. There is no server-side copy and no account to restore from, so export anything you want to keep before deleting.
Troubleshooting
Generation fails or times out
Summaries and answers need an internet connection. Check that you are online, that NotebookLM.work is allowed to use mobile data in iOS Settings › NotebookLM.work, and that a VPN or content blocker is not interfering. If it persists, force-quit and reopen the app, then retry with a shorter selection.
The app is slow with a large library
Indexing happens on device, so very large documents take a moment the first time they are added. Keeping notebooks focused — rather than one notebook with everything — keeps both indexing and answers fast.
An import failed
Password-protected and DRM-restricted PDFs cannot be imported. Remove the protection first, or export an unprotected copy from the source app. Files stored in iCloud must finish downloading before they can be imported.
A purchase is not showing up
Open the app’s settings and tap Restore purchases, making sure you are signed in with the same Apple Account used for the original purchase. Billing questions and refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
How do I delete all of my data?
In the app, go to Settings › Reset all data, or simply delete the app from your device. Either removes everything permanently. See Deleting your data.
What you need
- iPhone or iPad running a currently supported version of iOS or iPadOS.
- An internet connection for generating summaries, answers and audio overviews.
- Free storage proportional to your library — sources are kept on device.
- No account, no subscription required to get started.
Still stuck?
Send us the details and we will work it out with you. Real replies from the people who build the app.