IMPORT · FILES, BOOKS AND PAPERS
Import an Obsidian vault into NotebookLM
Short answer
To query your Obsidian notes in NotebookLM, pick the vault folder in the NotebookLM Ultra Exporter import center. Markdown notes become text sources, and you can merge them into as few sources as possible to stay within the notebook source limit. Free allows 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, then pick the vault folder or a subfolder.
- Turn on Merge text files into fewer sources if the vault has many small notes.
- Review the list and submit.
Limits to know
- A large vault exceeds the source limit quickly; merge notes or import one folder at a time.
- Wiki-links are imported as text, not as links between sources.
- This is a one-time copy. Re-import after your notes change.
- 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 an Obsidian vault 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.
Can NotebookLM content go back to Obsidian?
Yes. See NotebookLM to Obsidian.
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 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 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.
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.