# Add selected text to NotebookLM

Source: https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/selected-text-to-notebooklm  
Section: Import  
Last verified: November 2026  
Plan: Free

To save only a passage, select the text on any page, right-click and choose Add selected text to NotebookLM with NotebookLM Ultra Exporter installed. The selection becomes a text source in the notebook you pick. It is free, within 20 imports per day.

## Quick facts

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Where | Right-click menu on a text selection |
| Plan | Free |
| Allowance | Free: 20 successful source imports per local day, up to 5 per batch. Pro removes both limits. |
| Data flow | The material you select is sent to Google NotebookLM. Capture reads the source site from your browser. |

## Steps

1. Install [NotebookLM Ultra Exporter](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/notebooklm-ultra-exporter/afchokljnhhggkhedfbmkcmdagjmjchj) in desktop Chrome, then refresh any open NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) tab.
2. Select the passage on the page.
3. Right-click and choose **Add selected text to NotebookLM**.
4. Choose the target notebook and confirm.

## Limits to know

- The selection is saved as text; images inside it are not included.
- Give the source a clear name so you can find it later.
- Google's own limits still apply: sources per notebook, file size and accepted file types are decided by NotebookLM, and Pro does not raise them.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it free to add selected text to NotebookLM?

Yes. It is a basic import method. Free allows 20 successful source imports per local day and 5 items per batch; Pro removes both limits.

### Is the page link kept with the excerpt?

The full text is saved as a text source and embedded links in the selection are retained.

### What happens if a source is already in the notebook?

The import preview flags duplicates and items already in the target notebook, and you can skip them. If you import the same page again on purpose, NotebookLM creates a second copy.

## Related guides

- [Add a link to NotebookLM from the right-click menu](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/link-to-notebooklm)
- [Add a page behind a login to NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/login-or-paywalled-page-to-notebooklm)
- [Import all open browser tabs into NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/open-tabs-to-notebooklm)
- [Import every link on a page into NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/all-links-on-a-page-to-notebooklm)
- [Add a Reddit thread to NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/reddit-thread-to-notebooklm)
- [Crawl a website or sitemap into NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/website-crawl-to-notebooklm)