You just installed Notebook OS. Here is the fastest path from installation to something actually useful.
Step 1: Open the Side Panel (10 seconds)
Click the Notebook OS icon in your Chrome toolbar. The side panel opens on the right. It stays open as you move between tabs — that persistence is the whole point.
If you do not see the icon, click the puzzle piece icon in Chrome's toolbar and pin Notebook OS so it is always visible.
Step 2: Sign In and Sync (30 seconds)
Click Sign In inside the side panel. This connects Notebook OS to your Google account — the same one you use for Gemini Notebook. Once connected, click Sync. Your notebooks will appear in the panel.
You need a Google account because Notebook OS works with Gemini Notebook, which is a Google product. No separate account or password is needed — just your existing Google login.
Step 3: Open a Notebook with Sources (1 minute)
Navigate to Gemini Notebook and open a notebook that already has a few sources. The richer the notebook, the better the first artifact will be.
If you do not have a good notebook yet: create one, add 2–3 sources (a YouTube video, a web page, a PDF), and wait for Gemini Notebook to process them.
Step 4: Run a Studio Recipe (2 minutes)
In the Notebook OS side panel, switch to the Studio Recipes tab. Pick a recipe — start with Research Report or Audio Overview since these are the most intuitive.
Click the recipe. Notebook OS reads your notebook context, writes a prompt, and sends it to Gemini Notebook's Studio panel. Watch the artifact generate.
Your first artifact should appear within about 30–60 seconds depending on the size of your sources.
The Thing Most New Users Miss
Most people install Notebook OS and immediately try to explore every feature. The better approach: pick one feature and use it until it is automatic.
Start with Studio Recipes. Once you have run 5–10 recipes across different notebooks, the other features will make more sense in context. Academic Search feeds your notebooks. Prompt Library helps you explore. Voice Capture gets raw ideas in. Studio Recipes is where everything comes together.
Start there.