diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 46ac351..154f694 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -19,4 +19,5 @@ native-dialog = "0.6"
 hex = "0.4"
 sha2 = "0.10"
 argon2 = "0.5"
-fs_extra = "1.3"
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+fs_extra = "1.3"
+rfd = "0.11"
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diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 87328dc..d6322d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ This is a simple and experimental password-based note-taking app with built-in
 ## To-Do list
 - [x] Improve password checking
 - [x] Allow the addition of arbitrary metadata when creating a note
+- [ ] Add basic settings (export and import notes, change data directory, etc)
 - [ ] Add basic markdown support (bold, italics, underline)
 - [ ] Improve performance (duplicate decryption operations, tons of copying/cloning, etc)
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 110bd57..2418075 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ enum CurrentMode {
     View,
     Compose,
     PasswordInput,
+    Settings,
 }
 
 struct App {
@@ -159,6 +160,9 @@ impl eframe::App for App {
                         if ui.button("want to add one note?").clicked() {
                             self.mode = CurrentMode::Compose;
                         }
+                        if ui.button("settings").clicked() {
+                            self.mode = CurrentMode::Settings;
+                        }
                     });
                     ui.separator();
 
@@ -316,6 +320,51 @@ impl eframe::App for App {
                     }
                 });
             }
+            CurrentMode::Settings => {
+                egui::CentralPanel::default().show(ctx, |ui| {
+                    ui.heading("settings");
+                    ui.horizontal(|ui| {
+                        ui.label("manage encryption, export your notes, and other settings");
+                        ui.add_space(7.5);
+                        if ui.button("return to view mode?").clicked() {
+                            self.mode = CurrentMode::View;
+                        }
+                    });
+                    ui.separator();
+
+                    if let Some(password) = &self.password {
+                        ui.label(RichText::new("export notes").size(14.0));
+                        ui.label("decrypt your notes and export them in a portable JSON format.");
+                        ui.label("note: this action may take a while to finish!");
+                        ui.add_space(5.0);
+                        if ui.button("export decrypted notes").clicked() {
+                            let current_date = SystemTime::now()
+                                .duration_since(SystemTime::UNIX_EPOCH)
+                                .unwrap()
+                                .as_millis()
+                                .to_string();
+
+                            let save_path = rfd::FileDialog::new()
+                                .add_filter("JSON", &["json"])
+                                .set_title("where to save the decrypted notes")
+                                .set_file_name(&format!("note_export_{}.json", current_date))
+                                .save_file();
+
+                            if let Some(save_path) = save_path {
+                               let notes: Vec<Note> = self.notes.clone()
+                                    .iter()
+                                    .map(|note| note.decrypt(password).expect("failed to decrypt note"))
+                                    .collect();
+
+                                let json_notes = serde_json::to_string(&notes).unwrap();
+
+                                fs::write(save_path, json_notes)
+                                    .expect("failed to save decrypted notes")
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                });
+            }
         }
     }
 }
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