You have built a NotebookLM source library you want to share with a collaborator — but not with the entire internet. The distinction between public and private sharing in Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) is not straightforward. Here is what the settings actually control.
The Two Share Modes
Public Link (Globe Icon)
Any notebook can be made accessible via a public URL. Only the owner or an editor can generate this link. When you toggle the globe icon, anyone with the URL can read the notebook — including all uploaded sources.
Never treat chat-only as a privacy control — treat it as a convenience for letting someone see the conversation without allowing them to dump your entire document library.
This mode copies everything: the full source panel, every saved note, and every chat history visible in that session. If you have sensitive documents inside a source (e.g., internal strategy memos, client data), a public link exposes them.
Google notes that a public notebook will also appear in search results if indexed. That is rare, but possible.
Chat-Only Link (Copy Link to Chat View)
Introduced specifically to limit visibility, this option mints a URL that shows only the chat pane. The source panel on the left is hidden from the viewer.
Critical nuance: this does not revoke access to the sources. The viewer cannot browse them, but the AI still references them in its answers. And if the owner later upgrades the link to full public, the hidden sources reappear. Never treat chat-only as a privacy control — treat it as a convenience for letting someone see the conversation without allowing them to dump your entire document library.
When Public Sharing Backfires
- Workspace accounts cannot share notebooks that contain a Gemini Chat source. The share button remains disabled for those notebooks even for editors.
- Personal accounts share across devices but cannot share a notebook that includes a Gemini Chat source at all. The system rejects the share request with no workaround.
- Deleted sources: if you remove a source after sharing, the link breaks for anyone who had it. Recipients see a “source not found” error inside the notebook.
Who Controls the Link
Only owners and editors can change sharing settings. Viewers cannot. If you give editor access to someone, they can promote the notebook to public without your explicit authorization — the permission model is not granular. There is no read-only share that also hides sources; chat-only is the closest, but it still allows the AI to read everything.
Real-World Recommendation
For peer review of a notebook that contains proprietary data:
- Duplicate the notebook and strip out any sensitive sources first.
- Share the sanitized copy via public link with the globe icon.
- Do not rely on chat-only links for confidentiality.
If you need collaborative editing without exposure, use a shared Drive folder with linked sources that sync automatically — then control Drive permissions instead. The notebook inherits the access control of its Drive documents, not the notebook’s own share setting.
What exactly does a “chat-only” link hide from the viewer?
A chat-only link hides the source panel on the left, so viewers cannot browse your uploaded documents. However, the AI still reads those sources when answering questions, and the owner can later upgrade the link to full public access. It is not a privacy guarantee.
Can a collaborator with edit access make my notebook public without me knowing?
Yes. Anyone with editor role on a notebook can toggle the globe icon. The permission model does not distinguish between editing content and changing sharing settings. You should only grant editor access to people you fully trust.
Why does my notebook say “cannot be shared” even though I’m the owner?
This happens if the notebook contains a Gemini Chat source (a chat imported from the Gemini app). Personal accounts block all sharing for notebooks with that source type. Workspace accounts also block sharing, but only if a Gemini Chat source is present. Remove the chat source to re-enable sharing.
- What does a public link in Gemini Notebook expose?A public link exposes all uploaded sources, including sensitive documents, notes, and chat history.
- What is the difference between a public link and a chat-only link?A public link shows the full notebook, while a chat-only link hides the source panel but still allows the AI to reference sources.
- Who can change sharing settings in a Gemini Notebook?Only owners and editors can change sharing settings; viewers cannot.
- What happens if you delete a source after sharing?The link breaks and recipients see a 'source not found' error.
