NotebookLM Introduces Public Sharing for Notebooks with Read-Only Access

By Tin-Yun Ho | Group Product Manager, NotebookLM

June 3, 2025

NotebookLM is rolling out a new feature that simplifies the process of sharing notebooks publicly. This update aims to enhance collaboration and curation by allowing users to generate public links for their notebooks. Whether you're creating an overview of your nonprofit's projects, product manuals for your business, or study guides for your class, this feature makes it easy to share your work with anyone using NotebookLM.

What Changed Technically

• Public Links: Users can now create a public link for any notebook by selecting the "Share" button and setting access to "Anyone with a link."

  • This change simplifies the sharing process, eliminating the need for manual permission management.
  • Public links are read-only, ensuring that source content remains protected from unauthorized edits.

• Domain Restrictions: As of August 1, 2025, public sharing is enabled only for personal accounts. Workspace and Education users can share notebooks within their domain but not publicly.

  • This restriction helps maintain security and compliance for enterprise and educational environments.

Why It Matters to Practitioners

• Enhanced Collaboration: Public links make it easier to collaborate with a broader audience, including individuals who may not be part of your immediate network.

  • For example, educators can share study materials with students outside their institution, and businesses can distribute product manuals to clients without setting up complex access controls.

• Interactive Content: Viewers can interact with public notebooks by asking questions or exploring AI-generated content such as audio overviews, FAQs, and briefing documents.

  • This interactivity enhances the value of shared notebooks, making them more engaging and useful for a wide range of applications.

Implementation Details

• User Interface:

  • The "Share" button now includes an option to set access to "Anyone with a link."
  • A modal dialog guides users through the process of generating and managing public links.
  • Users can revoke or modify access settings at any time.

• Security Measures:

  • Public notebooks are read-only by default, preventing unauthorized edits.
  • Domain restrictions ensure that Workspace and Education users maintain control over their data within organizational boundaries.
  • NotebookLM employs robust security protocols to protect user data and prevent misuse of public links.

Example Use Cases

• Nonprofits: Share project overviews with donors and volunteers to increase transparency and engagement.
• Businesses: Distribute product manuals and training materials to clients and partners, ensuring everyone has the latest information.
• Educators: Create study guides and interactive learning resources for students, even those outside your institution.

Future Updates

NotebookLM is committed to continuously improving this feature based on user feedback. We are excited to see how the community leverages public sharing to enhance collaboration, exploration, and creation.

For more information and updates, stay tuned to the NotebookLM blog.