FAQ
Common questions.
What is Notebook OS?
Notebook OS is a free Chrome extension that adds a persistent side panel and workflow layer on top of NotebookLM. It gives you Studio Recipes (turn chat into artifacts automatically), Capture Spoken Thoughts (record audio as a source), Academic Search (find papers without leaving your notebook), and more — all without replacing anything NotebookLM already does well.
Is it really free?
Yes. Most of Notebook OS is free with no limits — Note Studio, Studio Recipes (all 9 artifact types), the YouTube tools, the Prompt Library, custom recipes, folders & tags, and more. A few features are free up to a monthly limit: YouTube Search, Academic Search, Concept Map, Capture Spoken Thoughts, and Web Snip. Pro removes those limits and unlocks Pro-only tools like Premium Deck View, Artifact Shelf, Library Map, and Library Hygiene. No core feature will ever be paywalled.
Do I need a NotebookLM account?
Yes — Notebook OS works with your existing NotebookLM account. It reads your notebooks via the NotebookLM interface in Chrome. There's no separate Notebook OS login or account.
Does it send my notebook data anywhere?
No. Notebook OS reads the NotebookLM page to enable its features — for example, reading your chat to write a Studio Recipe prompt. It does not transmit your notebook content to any external server. Everything runs locally in your browser. Your data goes only between your browser and Google's NotebookLM.
How is this different from other NotebookLM extensions?
Other NotebookLM extensions focus on organizing your inputs — library management, bulk source import, tag systems. Notebook OS focuses on your outputs and workflows — Studio Recipes, Capture Spoken Thoughts, Web Snip, and Academic Search are unique to Notebook OS. The persistent side panel that works on any Chrome page (not just NotebookLM) is also unique.
What exactly are Studio Recipes?
Studio Recipes are one-click workflows that turn a NotebookLM conversation into a structured artifact. You pick a type (Report, Slides, Flashcards, etc.), Notebook OS reads your chat and notebook sources, writes a customized prompt, and automatically triggers NotebookLM's native artifact generator. The result appears in NotebookLM's Studio panel as if you had written the perfect prompt yourself.
What is Premium Deck View, and is it really watermark-free?
Premium Deck View is a full-screen presentation mode for the slide decks NotebookLM generates. When a deck is on screen, a floating “Present” button appears (or press P) and Notebook OS opens a dark, distraction-free stage you drive entirely from the keyboard — ← → Space to move, F for fullscreen, Esc to exit. While you present, it also hides the small “NotebookLM” watermark in the corner of each slide, so the stage is clean enough to screen-share, record, or project. The clean-up is purely visual and only happens inside Premium Deck View — it never modifies or re-uploads Google’s files, and if you download the deck the original watermark is still there. Premium Deck View is a Pro feature.
Does Capture Spoken Thoughts transcribe my audio?
No — and that's by design. Notebook OS uploads the raw audio file directly to NotebookLM as a source. NotebookLM's own AI (powered by Gemini) handles the transcription natively — and it does a remarkable job. Gemini's accuracy holds up even for technical vocabulary and domain-specific terms. It also handles mixed-language recordings exceptionally well: if you switch between English and Vietnamese, or English and any other language mid-session, NotebookLM typically follows along without losing context. Your audio never touches a third-party transcription service.
What if NotebookLM updates its interface?
Notebook OS tracks NotebookLM's DOM structure and updates when Google changes the interface. Enable auto-update in Chrome's extension settings (chrome://extensions) to stay current. If something breaks between updates, submit a bug report and we patch it quickly.
Does it work on Microsoft Edge, Brave, or other Chromium-based browsers?
Yes. Notebook OS is a standard Chrome Manifest V3 extension and works on any Chromium-based browser that supports Chrome extensions — including Microsoft Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Arc, and Opera. Install it directly from the Chrome Web Store in any of these browsers.
Does it work on mobile?
No. Notebook OS uses browser extension APIs that are desktop-only. It requires Chrome or Firefox on macOS, Windows, or Linux. Mobile browsers do not support extensions.