Short answer: NotebookLM does not include a native "export sources" button. The NotebookLM Tools Chrome extension adds a per-notebook export — download the notebook's source list, content, and folder structure as a JSON or ZIP file you can archive, share, or re-import into another notebook.

Why You'd Export NotebookLM Sources

Common reasons:

Backup before deleting. Google NotebookLM has no recycle bin for deleted sources beyond its short-term trash. Exporting keeps a record before you clean up.
Share a source list. Your collaborators don't need the full notebook — just the list of references. Export and share the file.
Archive finished research. Completed project? Export the sources as a record, even if you later archive the notebook itself.
Move between notebooks or accounts. Export from one notebook, import into another — much faster than re-adding sources one by one.
External tools. Feed the source list into a citation manager, reading tracker, or documentation system.

What NotebookLM Exports Natively

As of April 2026, Google NotebookLM has:

No "export sources" button on individual notebooks.
No bulk download of source content.
Studio outputs (audio overviews, reports, mind maps) can be downloaded individually from the Studio panel.
Chat history cannot be exported.

Individual Google Drive sources can still be downloaded from Drive directly, since NotebookLM references them there. But NotebookLM itself doesn't package them for you.

How NotebookLM Tools Exports Sources

The extension packages every source in the current notebook into a JSON or ZIP file. The JSON export contains:

Notebook title and emoji
Each source's title, URL, and source type (PDF, web, YouTube, Google Doc, etc.)
Source content where the NotebookLM API returns it (for example, parsed Drive docs and web pages)
The folder structure within that notebook (if you're using source folders)

The ZIP export writes each source to its own Markdown file ({index}-{title}.md) with the URL as a blockquote header, followed by the source content.

What's Exported vs. What Isn't

Exported:

The source list with titles, URLs, and source types.
The source content the NotebookLM API returns for each source.
The folder structure within the exported notebook.

Not exported:

The original uploaded files (PDF, DOCX). The export carries the parsed text content, not the binary file.
Chat history — Google doesn't expose this.
Audio overviews, mind maps, or other Studio outputs — download those individually from NotebookLM's Studio panel.
Tags, saved prompts, and extension preferences. Those live in a separate settings backup accessible from the Backup page.

This export runs per-notebook. If you want to back up tags, saved prompts, source folders across all notebooks, and extension preferences, use the separate settings backup from the Backup page.

Importing Back

The JSON export can be re-imported into any notebook:

Open the destination notebook.
Choose Backup & Restore → Import.
Pick the JSON file.
Review the source list — the extension tells you which sources will be re-added.
Confirm. Sources are added in a single batch via the bulk import workflow.

Google Drive sources keep their links. Web pages and YouTube videos keep their URLs. Uploaded PDFs need to be re-uploaded — the extension has the file name but not the file content.

Export in Other Languages

Spanish (descargar fuentes de NotebookLM): el proceso es el mismo — instala NotebookLM Tools, abre Backup & Restore y exporta como JSON o ZIP.
Japanese (NotebookLM ソースエクスポート): 手順は同じです — NotebookLM Toolsをインストールし、Backup & RestoreからJSONまたはZIPとしてエクスポートします。
Korean (NotebookLM 소스 다운로드): 동일한 방법 — NotebookLM Tools를 설치하고 Backup & Restore에서 JSON 또는 ZIP으로 내보냅니다。
German (NotebookLM Quellen exportieren): Gleicher Ablauf — NotebookLM Tools installieren, Backup & Restore öffnen und als JSON oder ZIP exportieren.

Tips for Cleaner Exports

Name your sources before exporting. NotebookLM auto-names some sources based on file name or URL. If "Untitled.pdf" and "document-v2.pdf" aren't descriptive enough, rename them in NotebookLM first — the export will use whatever title is current.

Use folders to group sources for selective export. If you only want to export research for one sub-topic, put those sources in a folder first. The export lets you filter by folder.

Re-export after big changes. The export is a snapshot, not a live sync. If you add 20 sources next week, re-export to keep the backup current.

Version your backups. Save exports with a date in the filename (my-research-2026-04-17.json) so you can restore to a specific point in time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export all my notebooks at once?

The source export is per-notebook — open each notebook and run the export. A separate settings backup (from the Backup page) covers your tags, saved prompts, all source folders, and extension preferences in one file.

Does the export include the full PDF content?

No. The export contains source metadata (title, URL, type, folder). The PDF content itself is stored in NotebookLM and Google Drive — download originals directly if you need the full file.

Can I export NotebookLM chat history?

No. Google NotebookLM doesn't expose chat history via any API, so neither NotebookLM Tools nor any other extension can export it. Copy important chat output to a note manually before archiving.

What format is the export?

JSON or ZIP — JSON is human-readable and works in any text editor; ZIP bundles everything into a single archive. Pick whichever fits your workflow.

Is exporting free?

Yes. Backup & Restore is part of the free feature set. See pricing for what the optional Pro license adds.

Can I export to CSV or PDF instead of JSON?

Currently JSON and ZIP only. If CSV or PDF export would help you, submit a feature request.

Wrap-up

The export takes about a minute and gives you a portable copy of your source list — useful before any major cleanup, when handing a reference list to a collaborator, or as a recovery checkpoint. NotebookLM Tools handles it. See the backup and restore feature for the full workflow.

Related articles:

NotebookLM Tips #6: Backup and Restore — Full backup workflow, including restore.
Can You Merge Notebooks in NotebookLM? — Use export to move sources between notebooks.
NotebookLM Tips #3: All the Ways to Import Sources — The import flow export data slots back into.
Keep Your NotebookLM Sources Up to Date — Refresh exported sources when originals change.