Google NotebookLM has quickly become one of the most powerful AI-assisted research and note-taking tools available today. Powered by Google Gemini, it allows developers, researchers, and technical writers to grounded AI notes on uploaded documents, slides, and code docs. However, because Google delivers NotebookLM primarily as a web application, many users search for how to download Notebook LM on Windows as a standalone desktop program.

While there is no standalone .exe installer distributed directly on Microsoft Store, you can easily install and run NotebookLM as a native-feeling Windows desktop app using two developer-friendly approaches: installing it as a Progressive Web App (PWA) via Chrome/Edge, or building a native Windows desktop wrapper using Flutter.

Method 1: Install NotebookLM on Windows as a PWA (Recommended for Most Users)

Installing Google NotebookLM as a Progressive Web App (PWA) allows it to run in its own window, pin to your Windows Start Menu and Taskbar, and operate without standard browser chrome elements like address bars and bookmarks.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge

Launch Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on your Windows PC and navigate to notebooklm.google.com. Log in with your Google account.

Step 2: Trigger the App Installation

Depending on your web browser, follow these steps:

  • In Google Chrome: Click the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner, navigate to Save and share, and select Install page as app... (or click the install icon directly in the right side of the address bar).
  • In Microsoft Edge: Click the three horizontal dots in the top right, navigate to Apps, and click Install this site as an app.

Step 3: Confirm and Pin to Taskbar

A modal prompt will appear asking to confirm the app name. Click Install. Once installed, Windows will launch NotebookLM in an isolated app window. You will also see options to pin the icon to your Windows Taskbar and Start Menu for quick one-click access.

Tip: PWA installation automatically keeps NotebookLM updated whenever Google pushes new features, meaning you never have to manually download application updates.

Method 2: Wrap NotebookLM in a Custom Flutter Windows Desktop App

For developers who want tighter operating system integration—such as system tray access, global hotkeys, or offline resource indexing—you can build a custom Windows wrapper using Flutter Desktop and the WebView package.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the Flutter SDK installed and configured for Windows desktop development:

  • Flutter SDK (latest stable release)
  • Visual Studio 2022 with the "Desktop development with C++" workload installed
  • Windows 10 or 11 host operating system

Creating the Desktop Project

Initialize a new Flutter desktop project from your terminal:

Code
flutter create --platforms=windows notebook_lm_desktop
cd notebook_lm_desktop
flutter pub add webview_windows

Implementation: Full Dart Code

Replace the contents of your lib/main.dart with the following runnable code to create a clean native Windows container for NotebookLM:

Dart / Flutter
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:webview_windows/webview_windows.dart';

void main() {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
  runApp(const NotebookLMDesktopApp());
}

class NotebookLMDesktopApp extends StatelessWidget {
  const NotebookLMDesktopApp({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'NotebookLM Desktop',
      debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
      theme: ThemeData(
        useMaterial3: true,
        colorSchemeSeed: Colors.blue,
      ),
      home: const MainWebViewScreen(),
    );
  }
}

class MainWebViewScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  const MainWebViewScreen({super.key});

  @override
  State<MainWebViewScreen> createState() => _MainWebViewScreenState();
}

class _MainWebViewScreenState extends State<MainWebViewScreen> {
  final WebviewController _controller = WebviewController();
  bool _isInitialized = false;

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
    _initializeWebView();
  }

  Future<void> _initializeWebView() async {
    try {
      await _controller.initialize();
      await _controller.setBackgroundColor(Colors.transparent);
      await _controller.setPopupWindowPolicy(WebviewPopupWindowPolicy.deny);
      await _controller.loadUrl('https://notebooklm.google.com');

      if (!mounted) return;
      setState(() {
        _isInitialized = true;
      });
    } catch (e) {
      debugPrint('Failed to initialize WebView: $e');
    }
  }

  @override
  void dispose() {
    _controller.dispose();
    super.dispose();
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: const Text('Google NotebookLM'),
        actions: [
          IconButton(
            icon: const Icon(Icons.arrow_back),
            onPressed: () => _controller.goBack(),
            tooltip: 'Back',
          ),
          IconButton(
            icon: const Icon(Icons.refresh),
            onPressed: () => _controller.reload(),
            tooltip: 'Reload',
          ),
        ],
      ),
      body: _isInitialized
          ? Webview(_controller)
          : const Center(
              child: CircularProgressIndicator(),
            ),
    );
  }
}

Running Your Application

Execute the app on your Windows target by running:

Code
flutter run -d windows

This creates a native Windows desktop executable that embeds Microsoft Edge WebView2, serving as a dedicated executable environment for NotebookLM.

Comparing PWA vs. Custom Flutter Wrapper

  • PWA Method: Zero code required, low resource footprint, automatic background updates, and ideal for standard daily use.
  • Flutter Desktop Method: Custom window controls, ability to intercept URLs, potential to build custom desktop sidebars, and full developer control over hardware acceleration settings.

Conclusion

While an official offline installer does not exist, learning how to download Notebook LM on Windows using Progressive Web App standard features or building a dedicated Flutter desktop shell gives you a native desktop experience. Choose the PWA approach for quick setup or the Flutter approach if you plan to customize your desktop workflow integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an official .exe file to download Notebook LM on Windows?

No, Google does not distribute an official standalone .exe installer. NotebookLM is hosted as a web application, but it can be installed on Windows using Progressive Web App (PWA) functionality or wrapped in a native Flutter application.

Can I use NotebookLM offline on Windows?

No. NotebookLM relies on Google's cloud-based Gemini LLMs to process documents, extract insights, and summarize text, requiring an active internet connection.

Does installing NotebookLM as a PWA work on Windows 10 and 11?

Yes, PWA installation via Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge works identically on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Is Google NotebookLM free to use on Windows?

Yes, NotebookLM is currently offered as a free product by Google for personal accounts and Workspace users.