IMPORT · FILES, BOOKS AND PAPERS
Split a large PDF into parts for NotebookLM
Short answer
When a PDF is too large for one NotebookLM source, the book import in NotebookLM Ultra Exporter Pro splits it into smaller PDFs that keep their layout, by bookmarks or by pages if there are none, and imports the parts you select. No OCR is applied.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Import center, book chapters method |
| Plan | Pro |
| Allowance | Pro only. No extension daily quota; individual tools still have task caps. |
| Data flow | The material you select is sent to Google NotebookLM. Capture reads the source site from your browser. |
Steps
- Install NotebookLM Ultra Exporter in desktop Chrome, then refresh any open NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) tab.
- Connect Pro: open the extension's account panel and sign in with the Google account you bought Pro with.
- Open the import center and choose book chapters.
- Select the PDF; the original file is not modified.
- Review the parts, tick the ones to import and submit.
Limits to know
- Scanned PDFs without a text layer are not made searchable; there is no OCR.
- Splitting follows bookmarks where they exist, otherwise page ranges.
- 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.
Free or Pro?
Requires Ultra Exporter Pro (annual or one-time). Pro covers the extension only; it does not include a Google subscription or raise NotebookLM's own limits. Current prices are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to split a large PDF into parts for NotebookLM?
No. This import method is part of Ultra Exporter Pro. The basic methods (links, pasted text, files, tabs, the current page, RSS and YouTube) are free within 20 imports per day.
What is the NotebookLM size limit for one source?
Google documents a per-source limit of 500,000 words or 200 MB. A file over either limit must be split.
How do I know the import finished?
Imports run as background tasks that continue when you switch pages. Submitted means Google received the item; Ready means processing was confirmed. Check the tasks view and retry only the failures.
Related guides
To build a literature notebook, paste paper URLs or DOIs into the papers import of NotebookLM Ultra Exporter Pro.
To add arXiv papers in bulk, paste arXiv links or identifiers into the papers import of NotebookLM Ultra Exporter Pro.
To collect biomedical literature, paste PubMed links or identifiers into the papers import of NotebookLM Ultra Exporter Pro.
To add many files at once, drop them, or a whole folder, into the NotebookLM Ultra Exporter import center.
To query your Obsidian notes in NotebookLM, pick the vault folder in the NotebookLM Ultra Exporter import center.
To add Markdown notes or documentation, select the .md files in the NotebookLM Ultra Exporter import center.
To study a book in NotebookLM, use the book import in NotebookLM Ultra Exporter Pro. It parses the EPUB, previews it by chapter, and imports each selected.
When a notebook reaches its source limit, NotebookLM Ultra Exporter can combine several sources into one text source that keeps a table of contents, the.