1. Use both product names while Google completes the rename
Google announced on July 16, 2026 that NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook. Google says it remains a standalone research product, existing shared notebooks and links continue through automatic redirects, and the updated name and logo are rolling out across interfaces over several weeks.
That means the browser, help pages, mobile app, shared links, and search results may not all show the same name yet. This guide uses NotebookLM for the established search language and Gemini Notebook for the current product name; it does not treat them as two separate apps.
2. Focus the Chat prompt box before starting Mac Dictation
Open the intended notebook and place the insertion point in its Chat prompt box. Start the shortcut shown under System Settings → Keyboard, speak, stop Dictation, and confirm the transcript appeared in the prompt box rather than browser search, a note, or another tab.
The current official Gemini Notebook chat instructions reviewed here describe a prompt box and explicit chat workflow but do not identify a native desktop chat microphone. This is a description of the documented workflow, not a promise that Google will never add or test another control.
- Open the correct notebook before speaking.
- Select the sources the answer should use.
- Stop Dictation and review the prompt before sending.
3. Choose sources before asking a source-grounded question
Google says each source has a checkbox that includes or excludes it from the answer. Dictation only creates prompt text; it does not upload a source, select a checkbox, discover material, or decide which evidence is authoritative.
Ask one bounded question and name the expected output when useful—for example, a comparison with quoted evidence or a list of disagreements among selected sources. Then inspect every important citation in its original context instead of treating fluent output as proof.
4. Keep citations, chat settings, and saved notes explicit
Gemini Notebook can cite direct quotes, text, and images from selected sources, and selecting a citation can navigate to the quoted location. Google also documents separate controls for conversational style, response length, and custom instructions.
After reviewing an answer, use Save to note when you want to keep its original formatting and clickable inline citations. Voice input does not configure Chat, verify a citation, save a response, clear history, or turn an answer into an approved research conclusion.
5. Do not confuse Dictation with Audio Overview or Gemini Live
Mac Dictation converts your speech into editable prompt text. Gemini Notebook’s Audio Overview is a separate generated output based on notebook material. One is input; the other is an artifact created after sources and notebook controls are involved.
Gemini Live is also a different two-way spoken experience in the Gemini app. Use the product whose interaction model matches the job rather than assuming every microphone, spoken output, and notebook feature shares one processor or retention boundary.
6. Troubleshoot the input layer before changing notebook settings
If Dictation fails everywhere, test one short sentence in TextEdit and follow Apple’s checks for Keyboard settings, shortcut, language, microphone, Voice Control, and connectivity. If TextEdit works, system recognition is available.
If only Gemini Notebook fails, confirm the prompt box is editable, focus is still visible inside it, and no browser shortcut or extension intercepted the keys. Website microphone permission belongs to a site feature that directly captures audio; macOS Dictation is a separate input path.
7. Add IraVoice only for local cross-app or structured input
Use macOS Dictation first for an occasional notebook question. Use Gemini Notebook’s own source, citation, chat, note, and output controls for the research workflow it owns.
IraVoice 0.7.1 is the separate option for macOS 26+ Apple-silicon Macs when speech recognition and supported formatting should run on the Mac across supported apps, or when a longer spoken research request should become reviewable Markdown before you choose a notebook. IraVoice does not sign in to Google, upload or read notebook sources, choose citations, press Send, save notes, create Audio Overviews, or run Gemini Notebook actions.