# How to back up your NotebookLM notebooks

Source: https://nlmexporter.com/guides/use-cases/notebooklm-for-backup-and-archiving  
Section: Use cases  
Last verified: November 2026  
Plan: Free + Pro

Google provides no full export of a notebook, so a deleted notebook or a lost account takes the notes, chats and Studio outputs with it. NotebookLM Ultra Exporter archives a whole notebook as an indexed ZIP: one full archive is free, and Pro adds unlimited archives and incremental sync to a local folder.

## Quick facts

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Stages | Collect sources, work in NotebookLM, export the result |
| Outputs | One notebook (.zip); Ongoing sync (local folder); Obsidian vault (folder); Rebuild later (restore) |
| Cost to start | Free. Each linked guide states whether its output is Free or Pro. |

## 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. Create a notebook for this piece of work and add the sources listed below.
3. Generate and save the answers, reports or Studio items you need.
4. Export each result in the format its destination accepts, then check the file.

## 1. Collect the sources

- Nothing to add. Open the notebook you want to protect.

## 2. Work in NotebookLM

- Click the archive button at the top of the Studio panel.
- Choose what to include: notes, reports, chat history, Studio items and source text.
- With Pro, pick a folder once; later syncs write only what changed.

## 3. Get the result out

| Output and guide | Format |
| --- | --- |
| [One notebook](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notebook-to-zip-backup) | .zip |
| [Ongoing sync](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notebook-to-local-folder) | local folder |
| [Obsidian vault](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notebook-to-obsidian-vault) | folder |
| [Rebuild later](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/restore-archive-to-notebooklm) | restore |

> An archive is a copy of content, not a server snapshot. Restore creates a new notebook from links and text; interactive Studio items come back as text.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Google Takeout include NotebookLM?

Check Google Takeout for your account, because what it covers changes over time. Whatever it includes, an archive made from the notebook page gives you readable files of the notes, chats and Studio outputs.

### Where do the exported files go?

To your browser's download folder. Document conversion runs in your browser; the extension does not upload your notes to its own server to convert them.

## Related guides

- [Back up a whole NotebookLM notebook as a ZIP archive](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notebook-to-zip-backup)
- [Sync a NotebookLM notebook to a local folder](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notebook-to-local-folder)
- [Export a whole NotebookLM notebook to an Obsidian vault](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notebook-to-obsidian-vault)
- [Restore a NotebookLM archive into a new notebook](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/import/restore-archive-to-notebooklm)
- [NotebookLM for consultants: client documents to deliverables](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/use-cases/notebooklm-for-consultants)
- [NotebookLM for lawyers and legal research](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/use-cases/notebooklm-for-lawyers)