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Turn your NotebookLM sources into a mind map you can explore

Upload the PDFs, notes, or photographed pages you study from, and get an editable mind map with branches you can expand, rearrange, and check against the original material.

Create mind maps nowFree · No credit card required

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates mind maps in seconds

Why a mind map helps with NotebookLM material

Many students keep reading in NotebookLM, then struggle to see how the sources fit together. A NotebookLM mind map puts the main ideas on one page, so you can trace each branch back to the material it came from. DeckOwl builds that map from your own PDF, DOCX, or PPTX files, plain notes, or photos of pages, then lets you edit and explore it.

  • Keep one map per exam unit so branches stay focused.
  • Check every branch against the passage it summarizes before you rely on it.
  • Expand sub-points you find confusing and collapse the rest to reduce clutter.
  • Turn the finished map's topics into flashcards or quiz questions for active recall.
Example NotebookLM concepts to map as branches
Source groundingAnswers are limited to uploaded files · Citations point to the passage used · You can check each claim against the original
Notebook sourcesAccepts PDFs, Google Docs, websites, and pasted text · Every source feeds the same notebook · Removing a source changes what it can answer
Summaries and FAQsGenerated from the notebook's sources · Useful as a first pass · Still verify important facts against the originals
Audio OverviewsAI-generated spoken discussion of your sources · Good for review away from the desk · Use it to find topics to check in the text
Mind maps from sourcesBranches come from your material · Expand or collapse nodes · Edit the map to match your course outline
Generate the full set

Built from your own files

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or images of pages. Text recognition reads photographed pages so every branch comes from material you chose.

Editable branches

Rename, move, or delete nodes until the map matches how your course is organized. The map is a starting point you shape, not a fixed output.

Explore at your own pace

Expand or collapse branches to focus on one topic at a time, then turn the same material into flashcards or quizzes when you are ready to practice recall.

How it works

Upload your sources

Add the files or notes for one unit or lecture. Smaller, focused inputs give cleaner branches.

Generate the mind map

DeckOwl reads the text and proposes a central topic with main branches and sub-points.

Edit and explore

Adjust the nodes, check each branch against the original passage, and study the map in your browser.

Start with a few chapters or one lecture at a time. Smaller inputs give cleaner branches, and you can rename, move, or delete nodes until the map matches what your exam will actually cover.

Explore related topics

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Frequently asked questions

How many sources should I put in one NotebookLM notebook for review?

Start with the chapters or lectures for a single exam unit, which keeps the answers focused. Larger collections mix topics, so a map built from them tends to have vague branches.

How do I check a mind map against the original sources?

Open each branch and find the passage it summarizes in the source file. If a node has no matching passage, edit or remove it before you study from it.

Is the mind map generator free to use?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, but no exports. Plus, at $39/year or $7.99/month, adds unlimited generations and PDF, DOCX, Anki, and CSV export.

Does DeckOwl connect to NotebookLM directly?

No, DeckOwl does not connect to NotebookLM. Upload the PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or text files you use there, and the mind map is generated from those files.

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