Gemini Notebook Tutorial, Part 2: Account Setup and the Three-Panel Interface

Part 2 of 5 of the Gemini Notebook tutorial for small business owners.

Setting Up Your Gemini Notebook Account

You are ready to stop reading about AI and actually use it. In this section, you will set up Gemini Notebook, adjust a few key preferences, and create the workspace you will use for your YouTube experiment.

You can follow these steps even if you are not confident with new tools. Treat this like setting up a new email account or online banking profile. One step at a time.

Step 1: Make Sure You Have A Google Account

Gemini Notebook runs on your Google account. If you already use Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Calendar, you are set. Use that same account so your documents and notebooks stay in one place.

If you do not have a Google account yet, you can create one in a few minutes from the main Google sign up page. When you set it up:

• Use an email address that you are comfortable connecting to business information.
• Store your login details in a password manager or a secure place.
• Turn on two step verification if that fits your security habits.

Once your Google account is ready, you can move on to Gemini Notebook itself.

Step 2: Open Gemini Notebook For The First Time

Gemini Notebook is available as a web app and inside the Gemini app on mobile. For this tutorial, start in your browser, since it is usually easier to see all the panels on a larger screen.

1. Open your browser on your computer.
2. Sign in to your Google account if you are not already signed in.
3. Go to https://notebooklm.google/ — that is the official address. The product kept its old NotebookLM domain when it was renamed in July 2026.

The first time you arrive, you may see a short welcome screen or terms. Read through the key points, then confirm that you agree and want to continue.

You should now see the Gemini Notebook homepage, which usually includes:

• A list or grid of notebooks, which will be empty if this is your first visit.
• Buttons to create a new notebook.
• Sections for featured or public notebooks, which you can explore later.

Your goal in this step is simple, reach the homepage where you can create a new notebook.

Step 3: Choose Your Plan And Understand Limits

Gemini Notebook has a free tier and paid tiers tied to Google AI plans named Plus, Pro, and Ultra (Ultra splits by storage size). Here are the actual limits, from Google’s own documentation. Last checked: August 18, 2026 — these change, so treat the current help pages as the authority.

Plan	Notebooks	Sources per notebook	Chats per day	Audio overviews per day
Free	100	50	50	3
Plus	200 per user	100	200	6
Pro	500 per user	300	500	20
Ultra (20 TB)	500 per user	500	2,500	100
Ultra (30 TB)	500 per user	600	5,000	200

Each source can hold up to 500,000 words, or 200MB for local uploads.

Here is the honest read: the free tier is genuinely generous. 100 notebooks with 50 sources each is more room than most small businesses will ever use — you are unlikely to hit the storage limits at all. The one limit you will actually feel is the daily chat cap of 50 queries. If you ever outgrow the free plan, that is almost certainly why.

For now, start free. It lets you:

1. Create at least one notebook.
2. Add at least one YouTube video as a source.
3. Use basic chat and at least some Studio outputs.

You can always upgrade later once you see how often you use it in your business.

Step 4: Create Your First Notebook

With your account and plan ready, it is time to create the workspace where you will store your YouTube experiment.

1. From the Gemini Notebook homepage, click the button that says something like New notebook or Create notebook.
2. A new notebook will open, usually in a three panel layout, sources on the left, chat in the middle, and Studio on the right.
3. Give your notebook a clear name so you recognize it later. Use a format like [Business Area] Notebook or [Project Name] Notebook. For this tutorial, you might name it YouTube Training Experiment.

Some interfaces let you add a description. If you see that field, type a short note such as Using one YouTube video to create guides and checklists for my business.

Pause here and confirm: you are looking at a three panel notebook with a name that makes sense to you. This is your main workspace.

Step 5: Check And Set Your Core Preferences

Before you add sources, take a minute to adjust basic settings. This will save you confusion later, especially around language and privacy.

Look for a settings icon, usually in the top or side menu. When you open settings, pay attention to these areas.

1. Language And Style Settings

• Interface language should be set to English if that is your primary language for work.
• Output language can also be set to English. If you work with customers or team members in another language, you can revisit this later, since Gemini Notebook supports multiple output languages.
• Tone or style presets may appear in some versions. If available, choose a setting that matches how you like to communicate, such as neutral, professional, or friendly. You can always override tone in individual prompts.

2. Privacy And Data Handling

Google’s own wording on this is: “Your data will never be shared by Gemini Notebook.” Your sources stay private to your account and to anyone you explicitly share a notebook with. Still, check the privacy notes inside the product so you understand how your data is handled.

• Look for any toggle that mentions sharing data for product improvement and set it to your preference.
• Confirm which parts of your Google account are visible inside Gemini Notebook, such as Docs, Sheets, and Drive folders.
• If you share your Google account with other team members, consider creating a separate account or clear folder structure for sensitive materials.

3. Notifications And Email Preferences

Some versions of Gemini Notebook or related Google AI products offer notifications for shared notebooks or updates.

• Decide if you want email notices about collaboration or new features.
• Turn off any notification types that would clutter your inbox.

You can revisit settings at any time. For now, your goal is to make sure the language feels right, privacy choices match your comfort level, and you are not signing up for noise you do not want.

Step 6: Take A Quick Tour Of The Three Panel Layout

You will learn the interface in detail in the next section, but a quick orientation now will make your first setup tasks smoother.

• Left panel, Sources. This is where you will add your YouTube video URL, documents, and other files.
• Center panel, Chat. This is where you type questions and instructions like you would with a person.
• Right panel, Studio. This is where you generate structured outputs such as reports, audio overviews, and tables.

Single line zinger

Think of it this way, the left side is what you know, the middle is the conversation, the right side is what you create.

Click on each panel header, if they are labeled, so you get comfortable with the layout. You do not need to change anything yet. Just notice how your mouse moves between the three areas.

Step 7: Prepare Your Notebook For The YouTube Experiment

Before the next section, you will do a tiny bit of prep so your notebook is ready for real work.

1. Confirm your notebook name still matches your YouTube experiment idea. Rename it if needed using the notebook title area.
2. Decide on a simple folder or naming system for this project inside your Google Drive, in case you later export notes or reports. For example, you might create a folder called Gemini Notebook Outputs with subfolders for each notebook name.
3. Keep your chosen YouTube URL and objective close by, either in a text file, sticky note, or paper next to you.

At this point, you should have:

• A working Google account.
• Access to Gemini Notebook in your browser.
• Your first notebook created and named.
• Basic settings adjusted for language, privacy, and notifications.
• Your YouTube link and business goal ready to go.

You are now set up. In the next section, you will learn how to navigate each part of the Gemini Notebook interface with confidence, then you will add that YouTube video as a source and start using AI on something that directly supports your business.

Navigating the Gemini Notebook Interface

You have your Gemini Notebook account set up. Now the goal is simple, get comfortable moving around the interface so it feels like a familiar workspace, not a mystery dashboard.

Sources feed the middle; the middle cites them back; Studio turns the result into finished assets.

You will walk panel by panel, button by button, in plain language. By the end of this section, you will know exactly where to click to add your YouTube video, ask questions, and create useful outputs for your business.

Key idea, Gemini Notebook uses a three panel layout, and each panel has a specific job.

• Left: Sources panel.
• Center: Chat panel.
• Right: Studio panel.

Think of it as, inputs on the left, conversation in the middle, finished assets on the right.

The Homepage: Your Notebook Hub

Before you enter a specific notebook, it helps to understand the homepage view. This is where you see everything you have built so far.

On the Gemini Notebook homepage, you will usually see areas that look like this.

• Notebook list or grid: Tiles or rows, each representing a notebook. You will see the name, and sometimes a short description or last edited time.
• Create buttons: One or more buttons with labels such as New notebook or Create.
• Search bar: A search field that lets you find notebooks by name or keyword.
• Navigation menu: Often on the left or top, with links such as Home, Featured notebooks, or Shared notebooks.

Use this space to stay organized as you grow.

• Click the notebook title to open it.
• Use the three dot menu on a notebook (if available) to rename, duplicate, or delete it.
• Use search when you have several notebooks and cannot remember which name you used.

Practical tip, start with a small number of notebooks. Create one per project or business area instead of one per file. That keeps navigation simpler.

The Three Panel Layout Inside A Notebook

Open your YouTube Training Experiment notebook or any notebook you created. You should see the three panel layout. Let us break each part down.

Left Panel, The Sources Area

The left panel is where you control what Gemini Notebook is allowed to read. Think of it as your bookshelf for that specific notebook.

Main elements in the Sources panel

• Add source button: A clear button with wording like Add, Add source, or an icon with a plus sign. This is where you start.
• Source list: A vertical list of everything you have added to this notebook, such as: - Uploaded PDFs and documents.
• Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides from your Drive.
• Website links and YouTube URLs.
• Audio files.
• Notes that you have converted into sources.
• Source controls: Small icons or checkboxes next to each source that let you: - Select or deselect a source for your current questions.
• Rename or relabel a source for clarity.
• Open the source preview.
• Remove a source from the notebook.

How to add your first sources

1. Click the Add source button.
2. Choose the type of source you want to add: - Upload a file from your computer.

• Select a Google Drive file.
• Paste a URL, including your chosen YouTube link.
• Paste raw text.

3. Confirm or upload. Wait for Gemini Notebook to finish processing. You will usually see a short loading indicator.

Once processed, your sources will appear in the list. Some versions show small icons that indicate file type, such as a video icon for YouTube or a spreadsheet icon for Sheets.

Selection matters: Gemini Notebook pays more attention to sources that are selected. Before you ask a question, check the checkboxes or selection toggles next to each source. If you want to focus only on your YouTube video, select only that source.

As you add more materials later, labels and categories may appear automatically once you pass a certain number of sources. Use these to group related materials by topic or type.

Center Panel, The Chat Area

The center panel is where you “talk” to Gemini Notebook. You type questions and instructions just like you would in a chat app.

Main elements in the Chat panel

• Prompt box: The text field at the bottom where you type your question or task.
• Send button: Often a paper airplane or arrow icon that you click to submit your prompt.
• Conversation thread: A vertical stream of your prompts and AI responses.
• Suggested prompts: Short buttons or text chips that suggest common questions, such as “Summarize these sources” or “List key themes.”
• Response tools: Small buttons next to each answer that let you: - Save the answer as a note.
• Copy the text.
• Regenerate or refine the answer.

How to ask a focused question

1. Check the Sources panel and confirm the correct sources are selected.
2. Click inside the prompt box.
3. Type a clear request, for example, “From the selected sources, summarize the main steps in [process] in [number] bullet points.”
4. Click the send button.

When the response appears, look for:

• Citations: Usually small reference markers you can click to see the exact quote or timestamp from your YouTube video or document.
• Follow up suggestions: Built in buttons like “Make this shorter” or “Create a checklist from this.”

If the response is useful, use the Save as note option. This moves it into your notebook’s notes area, which you will see connected to Studio and sometimes the Sources panel, depending on the interface version.

Chat settings most people miss

Look around the Chat panel for a small gear icon or menu. In that area you may find settings such as:

• Response length: Shorter or longer answers.
• Detail level: High level summaries vs more detailed breakdowns.
• Tone presets: Professional, casual, or neutral wording.

Adjust these to match how you like to read and work. You can override tone and length in each individual prompt, but default settings save time.

Right Panel, The Studio Area

The right panel is where Gemini Notebook turns your sources and chat into structured assets. Think of Studio as your “production line” for reports, summaries, guides, and media.

Main elements in the Studio panel

• Output types: Buttons or tabs for different formats, such as: - Audio overview.
• Video overview.
• Report or brief.
• FAQ or Q and A.
• Mind map.
• Table or data view.
• Study guide, flashcards, or quizzes.
• Configuration fields: Text fields and options where you describe what you want, such as: - Title of the output.
• Target audience, such as “new employee” or “existing customer.”
• Length or depth preferences.
• Specific focus, for example “only include steps that are mentioned in the YouTube video.”
• Generate button: The button that starts creation of the chosen output.
• Output viewer: The area where your generated document, map, or media appears once ready.
• Export and save controls: Options to: - Export to Google Docs, Sheets, or other formats.
• Save the output as a note.
• Update or regenerate based on new instructions.

How to create your first Studio output

1. In the Sources panel, select the YouTube video you chose for this tutorial. Add other related sources only if they are directly relevant.
2. In the Studio panel, choose one format that fits your goal. For a quick win, pick something like a Report or Study guide.
3. Fill in configuration fields. For example: - Title, [Insert process] from [YouTube title] summarized for my team.

• Audience, internal team, familiar with our business, new to this process.
• Instructions, for instance, Focus on clear, numbered steps, keep it concise, and only use information from the selected video.

4. Click the Generate button and wait for the output.

When the output appears, skim the headings first. Then spot check a few sections by clicking the citations. This connects what you see in Studio to the actual parts of the YouTube video or other sources.

If it looks useful, use the export or save buttons. For example, send a report to Google Docs and file it in the Gemini Notebook Outputs folder you created earlier.

Menus, Toolbars, And Helpful Controls Around The Edges

A few navigation areas sit around the main three panels. These often control account level and notebook level behavior.

Top bar controls

• Notebook title: Click to rename the notebook.
• Back to homepage: An icon or logo that takes you back to the list of notebooks.
• Share button: Lets you share the notebook with others. You can often choose: - Private, only you.
• Shared with specific people.
• Public link for viewing or copying.
• Settings or gear icon: Opens notebook settings or global settings.

Side menus and tabs

Some versions show extra tabs toggling between:

• Sources, Notes, and Studio views.
• Chat history per notebook.
• Recent outputs such as reports and audio files.

Spend a few minutes clicking each tab or icon. Do not worry about breaking anything. You are only changing views, not your underlying data.

A Simple Navigation Routine For Everyday Use

To keep Gemini Notebook from feeling overwhelming, use the same simple routine every time you start work in a notebook.

1. Check the notebook title at the top. Confirm you are in the right project.
2. Look at the Sources panel. Add any new materials you need. Select only the ones that matter for the task you are about to do.
3. Decide where you will work first: - Use the Chat panel if you want a specific answer, summary, or draft.

• Use the Studio panel if you are ready to generate a structured asset, such as a guide or report.

4. Save valuable outputs as notes. From chat responses or Studio outputs, use the save options so you build a reusable knowledge base inside the notebook.
5. Export finished pieces to your usual tools, such as Google Docs or Sheets, when they are ready for your team.

One clear rule, whenever something feels confusing, look left. Confirm which sources are selected. Then look center or right and check that your prompt or Studio configuration clearly tells Gemini Notebook what you want from those sources.

In the next part, you will focus on creating and managing notes inside this interface so your best AI generated content does not get lost and instead becomes a reliable part of your daily workflow.

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Next: Part 3 — Notes, Organization, and Your Workflow