IMPORT · FILES, BOOKS AND PAPERS
Import Markdown files into NotebookLM
Short answer
To add Markdown notes or documentation, select the .md files in the NotebookLM Ultra Exporter import center. Each file becomes a text source, or several are merged into fewer sources to save slots. It is free, within 20 imports per day.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Import center, local files method |
| 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
- Install NotebookLM Ultra Exporter in desktop Chrome, then refresh any open NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) tab.
- Open the import center and choose local files.
- Select the .md files or their folder.
- Choose whether to merge them, confirm the target notebook and submit.
Limits to know
- Images referenced from Markdown are not imported with the text.
- Merged sources keep a table of contents with the original titles.
- 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?
Free, with no daily export quota and no website account needed. 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 import Markdown files into 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.
Should I merge Markdown files?
Merge when you have many short files and limited source slots. Keep files separate when you want citations to point to a specific document.
Does importing count toward the NotebookLM source limit?
Yes. Every imported item becomes a source in the notebook and counts toward its source limit, which depends on your Google plan. To free up slots, see merge sources into one.
Related guides
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 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.
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.
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.