Collaboration · All levels

How to Share NotebookLM Notebooks

Private sharing, public links, Chat-only mode, and collaboration best practices for teams.

DifficultyBeginner

Steps4

Reading time4 min

Last updatedMar 2026

TL;DR

NotebookLM lets you share notebooks privately (with specific Gmail users, like Google Docs) or publicly (via a shareable link). Plus subscribers can create "Chat-only" shared notebooks that hide the underlying sources.

Sharing features verified against NotebookLM's current capabilities as of March 2026. Collaboration workflows tested with small research teams.

Yes. Two sharing modes via the Share button in the top-right corner:

Private sharing — Invite specific Gmail users by email, like sharing a Google Doc.
Public sharing — Generate a public link anyone can use. A globe icon appears when publicly shared.

Open the notebook you want to share

Navigate to the notebook in your NotebookLM dashboard.

Click the Share button

Top-right corner. A lock icon indicates private; it changes to shared or globe when sharing is enabled.

Choose your sharing method

Private: Enter collaborator email addresses. Public: Toggle the public link and copy the URL.

(Optional) Enable Chat-only mode

Plus subscribers can share in "Chat-only" mode — recipients interact with the AI without seeing your source documents.

Sharing type	Who can access	Can they see sources?	Plan required
Private (default)	Only you	N/A	Free
Private sharing	Specific Gmail users	Yes (full access)	Free
Public link	Anyone with link	Yes	Free
Chat-only	Invited recipients	No (sources hidden)	Plus+

Collaboration best practices

One notebook per project — Keep research topics separate for cleaner collaboration.
Assign a notebook owner — One person manages sources; others contribute via chat.
Save insights as shared notes — Promote findings to notes so all collaborators can reference them.
Chat-only mode for clients — Share analysis without exposing proprietary documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can collaborators edit my sources?

Collaborators can add new sources and notes but cannot modify or delete your original source documents.

Can I revoke access after sharing?

Yes. Return to Share settings and remove individual users or disable the public link at any time.