How to make a mind map from text
- Paste your text or type a topic. Lecture notes, a book chapter, meeting minutes or a blog post all work. A short topic such as "renewable energy" works too.
- Press Generate mind map. The AI finds the central idea, groups the rest into four to seven main branches, and adds two to four points under each.
- Edit the outline. Rename a branch, move a point or add your own ideas. One line per idea, two spaces of indent per level, and the drawing follows along.
- Download or present it. Save a PNG or SVG, copy the Mermaid code, or press Turn this into slides to start a presentation from the same structure.
Why make a mind map with AI
The slow part of a mind map is not drawing the bubbles. It is deciding what the main branches are. An AI mind map generator does that first pass for you: it reads the whole text, pulls out the handful of ideas everything else hangs from, and shortens each point to a few words. You start from a structure and spend your time correcting and adding to it, which is also the part that helps you learn.
Because the result is an outline underneath, nothing is locked. If the AI groups two ideas you would keep apart, move one line. If a branch is missing, type it in.
Ways to use it
For students: revision and essay planning
Paste a chapter summary and get a one-page map of the topic for revision. Before an essay, type the question and use the branches as paragraph headings, then add your own evidence under each one. Print the SVG at A3 for a wall poster that stays sharp.
For teachers: lesson overviews and handouts
Map a unit at the start of term so the class can see how the lessons connect, or make a blank version by deleting the sub-points and let students fill it in. The PNG drops straight into a worksheet or slide.
For teams: brainstorming and meeting notes
Paste the notes from a planning meeting and get a map of the themes that came up, ready to share in a chat or a wiki. Copy the Mermaid code into Notion or GitHub so anyone can edit the map later without a separate design tool.
Example: from paragraph to mind map
Paste a paragraph such as: "A healthy sleep routine starts with a fixed wake-up time. Light in the morning and darkness at night set the body clock. Caffeine after midday, screens in bed and late heavy meals all make it harder to fall asleep, while a cool, quiet room helps." The generator returns a centre of Healthy sleep routine with branches such as Timing, Light, Things to avoid and Bedroom, each carrying the short points from the text. Edit any line and the map redraws.
Tips for a clearer mind map
- One topic per map. If your notes cover two subjects, split them and make two maps.
- Paste real notes for anything specific. With only a topic, the AI uses general knowledge.
- Keep labels short. Two to five words per bubble reads best; detail belongs in your notes.
- Seven branches is plenty. Merge small branches in the outline if the map feels crowded.
From mind map to slides
A mind map is already the outline of a talk: the centre is the title and each branch is a section. Turn this into slides hands that outline to the SlideMaker deck builder, which drafts a presentation you can theme and edit. Building the deck needs a free account; the mind map never does.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AI mind map generator free?
Yes. SlideMaker is a free, non-commercial project. You can generate up to 10 mind maps a day without an account, and 30 a day with a free account. Editing the outline and downloading PNG or SVG files are unlimited.
Can I make a mind map from my own notes?
Yes, and it is the best way to use it. Paste up to 5,000 characters of notes, an article or a chapter summary. The AI picks the central idea, groups the rest into branches and keeps each label to a few words, using only what your text says.
How do I edit the mind map?
Use the outline under the drawing. Each line is one idea; indent a line by two spaces to make it a child of the line above. The first line is the centre. The mind map redraws as you type.
What can I do with the mind map afterwards?
Download a PNG for documents, slides and revision sheets, or an SVG that stays sharp when printed large. You can also copy the Mermaid code into Notion, GitHub or Obsidian, or turn the mind map into a slide deck.
Does it work in other languages?
Yes. The mind map is written in the language of your text, so notes in Spanish, Hindi or French give a mind map in that language.
Is my text stored?
Your text is sent to the AI model to build the mind map and is not saved to a SlideMaker account or shown to anyone else. Do not paste passwords or private personal data.
Can it make flowcharts or timelines too?
Yes. The AI diagram generator makes flowcharts, sequence diagrams, org charts and timelines from text in the same way.