NotebookLM (notebooklm.google.com) Browsing Skill

Reference for automating NotebookLM video/audio creation using the headed visible browser (visible_browser MCP server).

[!CAUTION] DOM Bridge Deprecation for NotebookLM: As of 2026-04-27, the Edge DOM Bridge is considered UNRELIABLE for NotebookLM. It frequently times out during the get_elements call, possibly due to NotebookLM's heavy React structure or shadow DOM changes. SOLUTION: Always use the visible_browser MCP tools.

Visible Browser MCP: Detailed Generation Steps

When using the visible_browser MCP tools to generate a video or audio, use this exact sequence of actions:

0. PRE-FLIGHT STATE CHECK (MANDATORY): If a NotebookLM tab is already open, take a screenshot FIRST (capture_screenshot). Check: Is a video/audio already generating (progress bar visible)? Is one already finished (download button visible)? If generation is already in progress or complete, DO NOT start a new one.
1. ONE action per step. Click one thing, capture a screenshot to verify, then proceed. Never chain clicks.
2. If a click doesn't register, retry. Always check the screenshot for the expected UI change.
3. Selecting Explainer reveals extra UI. When you click Explainer, the modal EXPANDS to show "Choose language" and "Choose visual style" sections. This pushes the customization text box and Generate button OFF SCREEN. You MUST scroll down or click element selectors carefully to find them.
4. The customization text box may auto-fill. NotebookLM sometimes pre-fills a suggested prompt based on the source content. You must clear this and type your own prompt.
5. Use click_element and type text. Always ensure focus is correct by inspecting screenshots.
6. NEVER click Generate without a verification screenshot showing: (a) format checkmark visible, (b) customize prompt text visible in the box, (c) Generate button visible.
7. If something goes wrong, STOP and return. Do NOT try to fix mistakes by generating additional videos. Report the failure immediately.
8. IGNORE SAMPLE PROMPT BUTTONS. Underneath the customization text box, there are various dynamic buttons that change names depending on the context. These just populate sample prompts. Ignore all of them completely regardless of what they say. Just focus on clicking inside the empty customization text box and typing your custom prompt.

Blob URL Cache Extraction (CRITICAL)

When you click "Download" on a NotebookLM video, the browser may NOT save it to the Downloads folder because NotebookLM generates a Blob URL. Instead, the video gets cached as a raw file without an extension in the profile cache directory (Cache_Data or similar for the active debugging profile).

• Because these files lack names, you CANNOT download multiple videos at once, or you won't know which is which.
• You must download them one by one.
• For each video:
  1. Clear the Cache_Data folder via PowerShell BEFORE downloading.
  2. Click Download.
  3. Wait 20 seconds.
  4. Retrieve the new >10MB file from the cache, rename it immediately with the proper .mp4 or .wav name, and move it to the destination.
  5. Only then can you move to the next tab to download the next video.

Past Mistakes (Learn From These)

1. Didn't take screenshot before Generate (2026-04-26): Selected Explainer, then immediately scrolled down to paste the customize prompt without screenshotting first. Couldn't verify the format was correct after scrolling. Fix: always screenshot after selecting format, before scrolling.
2. Clicked dynamic elements expecting static selectors (2026-04-26): Mat-radio-button IDs are dynamic and change each time the dialog opens. Fix: Query text content or stable selector properties instead.
3. Audio/Video UI confusion: Video and Audio have completely different UIs — never assume options from one exist in the other. Always read the screen and verify.
4. Accidental trigger of extra features: Do not explore extra features (like Flashcards) in the Studio panel. Only interact with the specific Studio feature you need.
5. Generate click failure without check: Always verify clicks via screenshot before calling subsequent tools.
6. Generating duplicate videos: If something goes wrong, STOP immediately and return an error. Never try to fix by generating additional videos.
7. Modal expansion handling: Remember that selecting formats expands the modal and pushes customization inputs off-screen. Scroll down to expose elements before clicking or typing.
8. Pasting raw code as source: ALWAYS synthesize raw technical files into clean prose essays before uploading to NotebookLM.
9. No pre-flight check before launching generation: If a previous run was cancelled mid-generation, always screenshot the tab first and check the current state before initiating a duplicate run.