[!CAUTION]
This project has been merged into NotebookLM MCP CLI.
No further updates will be made to this repository. The new package includes both the CLI (
nlm) and MCP server (notebooklm-mcp) in a single installation.
‼️ ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This CLI uses internal APIs that are undocumented and may change without notice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. Use at your own risk for personal/experimental purposes. See also: notebooklm-mcp-cli for the unified CLI + MCP server.
Watch a ~12 minute overview of the CLI in action:
- Full NotebookLM API Coverage — Notebooks, sources, audio podcasts, reports, quizzes, flashcards, mind maps, slides, infographics, videos, and data tables
- Seamless Authentication — Uses Chrome DevTools Protocol for reliable, automatic cookie extraction
- AI-Teachable — Run
nlm --aito output comprehensive documentation that AI assistants can consume - Alias System — Create memorable shortcuts for long UUIDs (e.g.,
myprojectinstead ofabc123-def456-...) - Multiple Output Formats — Rich tables, JSON, quiet (IDs only), or full details
- Profile Support — Manage multiple Google accounts with named profiles
- Research Integration — Deep web search or Google Drive search to discover and import sources
Install from PyPI using your preferred package manager:
# Using pip
pip install notebooklm-cli
# Using pipx (recommended for CLI tools)
pipx install notebooklm-cli
# Using uv
uv tool install notebooklm-cliRequirements:
- Python 3.10+
- Google Chrome (for authentication)
nlm loginThis launches Chrome, navigates to NotebookLM, and automatically extracts your session cookies. You'll need to log in to your Google account if not already signed in.
nlm notebook list# Create a new notebook
nlm notebook create "My Research"
# Output: Created notebook: abc123-def456-...
# Add a URL source
nlm source add abc123-def456 --url "https://example.com/article"
# Add a YouTube video
nlm source add abc123-def456 --url "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..."
# Add pasted text
nlm source add abc123-def456 --text "Your content here" --title "My Notes"nlm audio create abc123-def456 --confirmnlm studio status abc123-def456Tired of typing long UUIDs? Create aliases:
# Set an alias
nlm alias set myproject abc123-def456-... # Types are auto-detected!
# Now use the alias anywhere
nlm notebook get myproject
nlm source list myproject
nlm audio create myproject --confirm
# Manage aliases
nlm alias list # List all aliases
nlm alias get myproject # Resolve to UUID
nlm alias delete myproject # Remove aliasThe --ai flag outputs comprehensive, structured documentation designed for AI assistants:
nlm --aiThis prints a 400+ line guide covering all commands with exact syntax, authentication flow, error handling, complete task sequences, and 12 tips for AI automation.
Use case: Paste the output of nlm --ai into your AI assistant's context to teach it how to use the CLI.
For AI coding assistants that support skills (Claude Code, Gemini CLI/Antigravity, etc.), we provide a pre-packaged skill.
- Download: Click here to download nlm-cli-skill.zip (hosted in this repo).
- Install: Extract the zip file into your AI tool's skills directory (e.g.,
~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/,~/.claude/skills, etc.).
Structure:
nlm-cli-skill/
├── SKILL.md # Main skill file with 10 critical rules
└── references/
├── command_reference.md # Complete command signatures
├── troubleshooting.md # Error diagnosis & solutions
└── workflows.md # End-to-end task sequences
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm login |
Authenticate with NotebookLM (opens Chrome) |
nlm auth status |
Check if current session is valid |
nlm notebook list |
List all notebooks |
nlm notebook create "Title" |
Create a new notebook |
nlm notebook get <id> |
Get notebook details |
nlm notebook describe <id> |
Get AI-generated summary |
nlm notebook query <id> "question" |
Chat with your sources |
nlm notebook delete <id> --confirm |
Delete a notebook |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm source list <notebook-id> |
List sources in a notebook |
nlm source list <notebook-id> --drive |
Show Drive sources with freshness |
nlm source list <notebook-id> --drive -S |
Faster listing, skip freshness checks |
nlm source add <id> --url "..." |
Add URL or YouTube source |
nlm source add <id> --text "..." --title "..." |
Add pasted text |
nlm source add <id> --drive <doc-id> |
Add Google Drive document |
nlm source describe <source-id> |
Get AI summary of source |
nlm source content <source-id> |
Get raw text content |
nlm source stale <notebook-id> |
List outdated Drive sources |
nlm source sync <notebook-id> --confirm |
Sync Drive sources |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm research start "query" --notebook-id <id> |
Start web search (~30s) |
nlm research start "query" --notebook-id <id> --mode deep |
Deep research (~5min) |
nlm research start "query" --notebook-id <id> --source drive |
Search Google Drive |
nlm research status <notebook-id> |
Check research progress |
nlm research import <notebook-id> <task-id> |
Import discovered sources |
All generation commands require --confirm (or -y) to execute:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm audio create <id> --confirm |
Generate podcast/audio overview |
nlm report create <id> --confirm |
Generate briefing doc or study guide |
nlm quiz create <id> --confirm |
Generate quiz questions |
nlm flashcards create <id> --confirm |
Generate flashcards |
nlm mindmap create <id> --confirm |
Generate mind map |
nlm slides create <id> --confirm |
Generate slide deck |
nlm infographic create <id> --confirm |
Generate infographic |
nlm video create <id> --confirm |
Generate video overview |
nlm data-table create <id> "description" --confirm |
Extract data as table |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm studio status <notebook-id> |
List all generated artifacts |
nlm studio delete <notebook-id> <artifact-id> --confirm |
Delete an artifact |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm chat start <notebook-id> |
Start interactive REPL session |
nlm chat configure <notebook-id> |
Configure chat goal and response style |
nlm notebook query <id> "question" |
One-shot question (no session) |
Chat REPL commands: /sources, /clear, /help, /exit
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm config show |
Show current configuration |
nlm config get <key> |
Get a specific setting |
nlm config set <key> <value> |
Update a setting |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nlm login |
Authenticate with Chrome |
nlm login --check |
Verify current credentials |
nlm auth status |
Check session validity |
nlm auth list |
List all profiles |
nlm auth delete <profile> --confirm |
Delete a profile |
Most list commands support multiple output formats:
nlm notebook list # Rich table (default)
nlm notebook list --json # JSON output
nlm notebook list --quiet # IDs only (for scripting)
nlm notebook list --title # "ID: Title" format
nlm source list --url # "ID: URL" format
nlm notebook list --full # All columnsManage multiple Google accounts with named profiles:
# Login to a specific profile
nlm login --profile work
nlm login --profile personal
# Use a profile for commands
nlm notebook list --profile work
# List all profiles
nlm auth list
# Delete a profile
nlm auth delete work --confirmEnable tab completion for faster command entry:
# Auto-install for your current shell
nlm --install-completion
# Or show the completion script to install manually
nlm --show-completionNotebookLM sessions typically last ~20 minutes. If commands start failing with authentication errors, simply re-run:
nlm loginHaving issues? See the Troubleshooting Guide for solutions to common problems including authentication, network issues, and OpenAI Codex sandbox configuration.
For detailed technical documentation on the internal API and advanced usage, see the docs/ folder:
- Troubleshooting — Common issues and solutions
- CLI Test Plan — End-to-end testing procedures
- Technical Deep Dive — Internal API details
For AI assistants, run nlm --ai to get the full command reference.
Contributions are welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
# Quick start for contributors
git clone https://github.com/jacob-bd/notebooklm-cli.git
cd notebooklm-cli
uv pip install -e ".[dev]"
uv run pytest- Rate limits: Free tier has ~50 queries/day
- No official support: API may change without notice
- Cookie expiration: Need to re-authenticate every few weeks
Full transparency: this project was built by a non-developer using AI coding assistants. If you're an experienced Python developer, you might look at this codebase and wince. That's okay.
The goal here was to scratch an itch—programmatic access to NotebookLM—and learn along the way. The code works, but it's likely missing patterns, optimizations, or elegance that only years of experience can provide.
This is where you come in. If you see something that makes you cringe, please consider contributing rather than just closing the tab. PRs and issues are welcome.
MIT License. See LICENSE for details.