# How do I upload a PDF that is too large for NotebookLM?

Source: https://nlmexporter.com/guides/questions/how-to-upload-a-large-pdf-to-notebooklm  
Section: Questions  
Last verified: November 2026  
Plan: Pro

A PDF over 200 MB or 500,000 words is rejected by NotebookLM. Split it into parts and upload each part as its own source. NotebookLM Ultra Exporter Pro does this on import: it splits by the PDF bookmarks, or by pages if there are none, into smaller PDFs that keep their layout.

## What to know

- Splitting by chapter also gives more precise citations.
- The original file is not changed.
- No OCR is performed; a scanned PDF without text stays unreadable.

> Google changes these menus often. The item's own menu in your notebook shows what is built in today.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I split a PDF for free?

Yes, with any PDF tool, then upload the parts by hand. The Pro import automates splitting and uploading.

## Related guides

- [Split a large PDF into parts for NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/large-pdf-split-to-notebooklm)
- [Import an EPUB book into NotebookLM by chapter](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/epub-book-to-notebooklm)
- [Can NotebookLM update sources automatically?](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/questions/can-notebooklm-update-sources-automatically)
- [What is the NotebookLM source limit?](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/questions/what-is-the-notebooklm-source-limit)
- [How do I work around the NotebookLM source limit?](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/questions/how-to-get-around-the-notebooklm-source-limit)
- [How do I add multiple URLs to NotebookLM at once?](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/questions/how-to-add-multiple-urls-to-notebooklm)