diff --git a/src/main/backup.ts b/src/main/backup.ts
index ba9c651..9d93187 100644
--- a/src/main/backup.ts
+++ b/src/main/backup.ts
@@ -70,3 +70,132 @@ export function ensureRecoveryBackup(bookPath: string): string | null {
 export function _resetSessionBackupGuard(): void {
   sessionBackedUp.clear();
 }
+
+// ---- Continuous snapshots -----------------------------------------------
+// Unlike the migration recovery backup above (external location, once per
+// session), snapshots are periodic copies of the whole book used as an
+// ongoing safety net while writing. Defaults keep them next to the work:
+//
+//   <book>/Folio-Backups/<bookName>-<stamp>/
+//
+// A custom root can be chosen in Settings; it then applies to every book.
+// Only the newest `keep` snapshots are retained (oldest pruned).
+
+export const SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME = "Folio-Backups";
+export const SNAPSHOT_KEEP_DEFAULT = 20;
+
+export function getSnapshotRoot(bookPath?: string): string {
+  const custom = store ? store.get<string>("snapshotLocation", "") : "";
+  if (custom && custom.trim()) return path.resolve(custom.trim());
+  if (bookPath) return path.join(path.resolve(bookPath), SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME);
+  return getRecoveryRoot();
+}
+
+function snapshotPrefix(bookPath: string): string {
+  return `${path.basename(path.resolve(bookPath)) || "book"}-`;
+}
+
+// Snapshot directories for a book, oldest first.
+export function listSnapshots(bookPath: string): string[] {
+  const root = getSnapshotRoot(bookPath);
+  const prefix = snapshotPrefix(bookPath);
+  let entries: string[];
+  try {
+    entries = fs.readdirSync(root);
+  } catch {
+    return [];
+  }
+  return entries
+    .filter((e) => e.startsWith(prefix))
+    .sort()
+    .map((e) => path.join(root, e));
+}
+
+// True when any file in the book (outside its own snapshot dir) changed
+// after `sinceMs`. Lets the interval timer skip quiet periods instead of
+// piling up identical copies.
+export function bookChangedSince(bookPath: string, sinceMs: number): boolean {
+  const key = path.resolve(bookPath);
+  const snapRoot = path.join(key, SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME) + path.sep;
+  const stack: string[] = [key];
+  while (stack.length) {
+    const cur = stack.pop() as string;
+    let stat: fs.Stats;
+    try {
+      stat = fs.statSync(cur);
+    } catch {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (stat.isDirectory()) {
+      if ((cur + path.sep).startsWith(snapRoot)) continue;
+      let kids: string[];
+      try {
+        kids = fs.readdirSync(cur);
+      } catch {
+        continue;
+      }
+      for (const k of kids) stack.push(path.join(cur, k));
+    } else if (stat.mtimeMs > sinceMs) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+export function pruneSnapshots(bookPath: string, keep: number): void {
+  const n = Number.isFinite(keep) && keep >= 0 ? Math.floor(keep) : SNAPSHOT_KEEP_DEFAULT;
+  const snaps = listSnapshots(bookPath);
+  const excess = snaps.length - n;
+  for (let i = 0; i < excess; i++) {
+    try {
+      fs.rmSync(snaps[i], { recursive: true, force: true });
+    } catch {
+      // best-effort pruning only; a leftover old snapshot is harmless
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// Copy the book to a new timestamped snapshot directory (excluding the
+// snapshot dir itself so snapshots never nest). Returns the new directory,
+// or null when the book path does not exist.
+export function createSnapshot(bookPath: string, keep?: number): string | null {
+  const key = path.resolve(bookPath);
+  let stat: fs.Stats;
+  try {
+    stat = fs.statSync(key);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (!stat.isDirectory()) return null;
+  const root = getSnapshotRoot(bookPath);
+  const stamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, "-");
+  let dest = path.join(root, `${snapshotPrefix(bookPath)}${stamp}`);
+  // Same-millisecond snapshots (e.g. double-clicked "Snapshot now") must not
+  // silently merge into one directory.
+  for (let n = 2; fs.existsSync(dest); n++) {
+    dest = path.join(root, `${snapshotPrefix(bookPath)}${stamp}-${n}`);
+  }
+  fs.mkdirSync(root, { recursive: true });
+  try {
+    // Copy entry-by-entry (skipping the snapshot dir) instead of one cpSync
+    // of the book root: Node refuses to copy a directory into a subdirectory
+    // of itself even when a filter excludes the destination.
+    const entries = fs.readdirSync(key);
+    fs.mkdirSync(dest, { recursive: true });
+    for (const e of entries) {
+      if (e === SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME) continue;
+      fs.cpSync(path.join(key, e), path.join(dest, e), { recursive: true });
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    // A half-copied directory is worse than none — it looks like a good
+    // snapshot. Remove the partial copy, then surface the failure.
+    try {
+      fs.rmSync(dest, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    } catch {
+      // best-effort cleanup only
+    }
+    throw err;
+  }
+  pruneSnapshots(bookPath, keep ?? SNAPSHOT_KEEP_DEFAULT);
+  return dest;
+}
diff --git a/src/main/index.ts b/src/main/index.ts
index 3f83fb3..9db9721 100644
--- a/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/src/main/index.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,14 @@ import {
 import { combineMarkdown, buildZip } from "./export.js";
 import {
   bindBackupSettings,
+  bookChangedSince,
+  createSnapshot,
   getRecoveryRoot,
+  getSnapshotRoot,
+  listSnapshots,
+  pruneSnapshots,
   setRecoveryRoot,
+  SNAPSHOT_KEEP_DEFAULT,
 } from "./backup.js";
 import { sanitizeBookFolderName } from "./ids.js";
 import { buildDocx, buildOdt } from "./office-export.js";
@@ -752,6 +758,118 @@ handleIpc("folio:setBackupLocation", (_e, loc: unknown) => {
   return { ok: true };
 });
 
+// ---- Autosave + continuous snapshots --------------------------------------
+// Settings keys (all in the shared settings store, defaults = on / sane):
+//   autosaveEnabled   background autosave while typing (default true)
+//   snapshotsEnabled  periodic whole-book snapshots (default true)
+//   snapshotIntervalMin minutes between snapshot checks (default 5)
+//   snapshotKeep      how many recent snapshots to retain (default 20)
+//   snapshotLocation  custom snapshot root, "" = <book>/Folio-Backups
+const SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS = {
+  autosaveEnabled: true,
+  snapshotsEnabled: true,
+  intervalMin: 5,
+  keep: SNAPSHOT_KEEP_DEFAULT,
+};
+
+function clampInt(v: unknown, fallback: number, min: number, max: number): number {
+  const n = typeof v === "number" ? Math.round(v) : fallback;
+  if (!Number.isFinite(n)) return fallback;
+  return Math.max(min, Math.min(max, n));
+}
+
+function snapshotSettingsSnapshot() {
+  const location = getSetting<string>("snapshotLocation", "");
+  const resolved = bookPath ? getSnapshotRoot(bookPath) : getSnapshotRoot();
+  const snaps = bookPath ? listSnapshots(bookPath) : [];
+  return {
+    autosaveEnabled: getSetting<boolean>("autosaveEnabled", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.autosaveEnabled),
+    snapshotsEnabled: getSetting<boolean>("snapshotsEnabled", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.snapshotsEnabled),
+    intervalMin: clampInt(getSetting("snapshotIntervalMin", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.intervalMin), SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.intervalMin, 1, 1440),
+    keep: clampInt(getSetting("snapshotKeep", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep), SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep, 0, 200),
+    location,
+    resolvedRoot: resolved,
+    snapshotCount: snaps.length,
+    lastSnapshot: snaps.length ? snaps[snaps.length - 1] : null,
+  };
+}
+
+handleIpc("folio:getAutosave", () =>
+  getSetting<boolean>("autosaveEnabled", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.autosaveEnabled)
+);
+handleIpc("folio:setAutosave", (_e, on: unknown) => {
+  setSetting("autosaveEnabled", on !== false);
+  return { ok: true, enabled: on !== false };
+});
+handleIpc("folio:getSnapshotSettings", () => snapshotSettingsSnapshot());
+handleIpc("folio:setSnapshotSettings", (_e, patch: unknown) => {
+  const p = (patch && typeof patch === "object" ? patch : {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
+  if ("snapshotsEnabled" in p) setSetting("snapshotsEnabled", p.snapshotsEnabled !== false);
+  if ("intervalMin" in p) {
+    setSetting("snapshotIntervalMin", clampInt(p.intervalMin, SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.intervalMin, 1, 1440));
+  }
+  if ("keep" in p) {
+    const keep = clampInt(p.keep, SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep, 0, 200);
+    setSetting("snapshotKeep", keep);
+    // Apply a lowered retention immediately to the open book.
+    if (bookPath) {
+      try { pruneSnapshots(bookPath, keep); } catch { /* best effort */ }
+    }
+  }
+  if ("location" in p) {
+    const s = typeof p.location === "string" ? p.location.trim() : "";
+    setSetting("snapshotLocation", s);
+  }
+  return { ok: true, settings: snapshotSettingsSnapshot() };
+});
+handleIpc("folio:pickSnapshotFolder", async () => {
+  const { canceled, filePaths } = await showOpenDialog({
+    properties: ["openDirectory"],
+    title: "Choose snapshot folder",
+  });
+  return { canceled, filePaths };
+});
+// Interval-snapshot bookkeeping (declared before use by the handlers below).
+let snapshotLastRunMs = 0;
+let snapshotLastSnapMs = 0;
+let snapshotBook: string | null = null;
+handleIpc("folio:snapshotNow", () => {
+  const bp = requireBook();
+  const keep = clampInt(getSetting("snapshotKeep", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep), SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep, 0, 200);
+  const dest = createSnapshot(bp, keep);
+  snapshotLastSnapMs = Date.now();
+  return { ok: true, path: dest, settings: snapshotSettingsSnapshot() };
+});
+
+// Interval snapshots: once a minute, check whether the open book changed
+// since the last snapshot and whether the configured interval elapsed. The
+// 1-minute tick keeps wakeups cheap; the user-facing cadence is intervalMin.
+setInterval(() => {
+  try {
+    if (!bookPath) return;
+    if (snapshotBook !== bookPath) {
+      snapshotBook = bookPath;
+      snapshotLastSnapMs = Date.now();
+      snapshotLastRunMs = Date.now();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (getSetting<boolean>("snapshotsEnabled", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.snapshotsEnabled) !== true) return;
+    const intervalMin = clampInt(
+      getSetting("snapshotIntervalMin", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.intervalMin),
+      SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.intervalMin, 1, 1440
+    );
+    const now = Date.now();
+    if (now - snapshotLastRunMs < intervalMin * 60_000) return;
+    snapshotLastRunMs = now;
+    if (!bookChangedSince(bookPath, snapshotLastSnapMs)) return;
+    const keep = clampInt(getSetting("snapshotKeep", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep), SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep, 0, 200);
+    createSnapshot(bookPath, keep);
+    snapshotLastSnapMs = now;
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error("[folio] interval snapshot failed:", (err as Error).message);
+  }
+}, 60_000);
+
 handleIpc("folio:importAttachment", async () => {
   const bp = requireBook();
   const { canceled, filePaths } = await showOpenDialog({
diff --git a/src/main/menu.ts b/src/main/menu.ts
index e42494c..67b9399 100644
--- a/src/main/menu.ts
+++ b/src/main/menu.ts
@@ -75,18 +75,9 @@ export function buildMenu(
         },
       },
       {
-        label: "Backup Location…",
-        click: async () => {
-          const win = getWindow();
-          const opts = {
-            properties: ["openDirectory" as const],
-            title: "Choose recovery backup folder",
-          };
-          const { canceled, filePaths } = win
-            ? await dialog.showOpenDialog(win, opts)
-            : await dialog.showOpenDialog(opts);
-          if (!canceled && filePaths[0]) setRecoveryRoot(filePaths[0]);
-        },
+        label: "Settings…",
+        accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+,",
+        click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:settings-requested"),
       },
       { type: "separator" },
       {
diff --git a/src/main/preload.ts b/src/main/preload.ts
index 569a145..3ee2b2d 100644
--- a/src/main/preload.ts
+++ b/src/main/preload.ts
@@ -75,6 +75,15 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("folio", {
   setBackupLocation: (loc: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:setBackupLocation", loc),
   pickBackupFolder: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:pickBackupFolder"),
 
+  // autosave + continuous snapshots
+  getAutosave: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:getAutosave"),
+  setAutosave: (on: boolean) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:setAutosave", on),
+  getSnapshotSettings: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:getSnapshotSettings"),
+  setSnapshotSettings: (patch: unknown) =>
+    ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:setSnapshotSettings", patch),
+  pickSnapshotFolder: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:pickSnapshotFolder"),
+  snapshotNow: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:snapshotNow"),
+
   // events
   onBookOpened: (cb: (data: { path: string; title: string }) => void) =>
     ipcRenderer.on("folio:bookOpened", (_e, data) => cb(data)),
@@ -120,4 +129,6 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("folio", {
     ipcRenderer.on("folio:open-markdown-requested", () => cb()),
   onCheckUpdateRequested: (cb: () => void) =>
     ipcRenderer.on("folio:check-update-requested", () => cb()),
+  onSettingsRequested: (cb: () => void) =>
+    ipcRenderer.on("folio:settings-requested", () => cb()),
 });
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/editor.ts b/src/renderer/book/editor.ts
index 38e8a4c..0d57d87 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/editor.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/editor.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ export interface EditorFeature {
   saveAndNotify(): Promise<void>;
   flushAutosave(): Promise<void>;
   clearTimers(): void;
+  setAutosaveEnabled(on: boolean): void;
+  setTypewriterEnabled(on: boolean): void;
+  isTypewriterEnabled(): boolean;
 }
 
 export function createEditorFeature(ctx: BookCtx): EditorFeature {
@@ -63,6 +66,19 @@ export function createEditorFeature(ctx: BookCtx): EditorFeature {
   const AUTOSAVE_MS = 1000;
   let saveTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
   const saveStateEl = $("saveState");
+  // Background autosave switch (Settings). When off, typing only marks the
+  // chapter Unsaved; explicit Save, chapter switches, and app-hide flushes
+  // still persist so work is never silently lost.
+  let autosaveOn = true;
+  void api.getAutosave().then(
+    (v) => { autosaveOn = v !== false; },
+    () => { /* default on when the backend is unreachable */ }
+  );
+  function setAutosaveEnabled(on: boolean) {
+    autosaveOn = on !== false;
+    if (autosaveOn && state.selectedId && state.dirty) scheduleAutosave();
+    else if (!autosaveOn && saveTimer) { clearTimeout(saveTimer); saveTimer = null; }
+  }
 
   function clearTimers() {
     if (saveTimer) { clearTimeout(saveTimer); saveTimer = null; }
@@ -153,9 +169,15 @@ export function createEditorFeature(ctx: BookCtx): EditorFeature {
 
   // Schedule a background save a short time after the last edit. The indicator
   // shows "Saving…" while the debounce is pending so the user knows the chapter
-  // is about to be persisted automatically.
+  // is about to be persisted automatically. With background autosave off this
+  // only marks the chapter Unsaved until the user saves explicitly.
   function scheduleAutosave() {
     clearTimers();
+    if (!autosaveOn) {
+      saveStateEl.textContent = "Unsaved";
+      saveStateEl.classList.add("unsaved");
+      return;
+    }
     saveStateEl.textContent = "Saving…";
     saveStateEl.classList.remove("unsaved");
     saveTimer = setTimeout(() => void flushAutosave(), AUTOSAVE_MS);
@@ -174,7 +196,7 @@ export function createEditorFeature(ctx: BookCtx): EditorFeature {
   const FORCED_AUTOSAVE_MS = 30_000;
   let forcedSaveTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
   function startForcedAutosave() {
-    if (forcedSaveTimer) return;
+    if (forcedSaveTimer || !autosaveOn) return;
     forcedSaveTimer = setInterval(() => {
       if (state.selectedId && state.dirty) void flushAutosave();
     }, FORCED_AUTOSAVE_MS);
@@ -359,5 +381,8 @@ export function createEditorFeature(ctx: BookCtx): EditorFeature {
     saveAndNotify,
     flushAutosave,
     clearTimers,
+    setAutosaveEnabled,
+    setTypewriterEnabled,
+    isTypewriterEnabled,
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/index.ts b/src/renderer/book/index.ts
index 5915827..2980f3e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/index.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/index.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { createChapterListFeature } from "./chapter-list.js";
 import { createWelcomeFeature } from "./welcome.js";
 import { createExportsFeature } from "./exports.js";
 import { createCommentsFeature } from "./comments.js";
+import { createSettingsFeature } from "./settings.js";
 import {
   $,
   basename,
@@ -60,6 +61,13 @@ export function initBook(api: FolioAPI) {
   hooks.saveAndNotify = ed.saveAndNotify;
   hooks.flushAutosave = ed.flushAutosave;
   hooks.clearTimers = ed.clearTimers;
+  hooks.setAutosaveEnabled = ed.setAutosaveEnabled;
+  hooks.setTypewriterEnabled = ed.setTypewriterEnabled;
+  hooks.isTypewriterEnabled = ed.isTypewriterEnabled;
+
+  // Feature: settings modal (autosave + snapshot backups).
+  const settings = createSettingsFeature(ctx);
+  hooks.openSettings = settings.openSettings;
 
   // Feature: formatting toolbar + font controls.
   createToolbarFeature(ctx, editor);
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/settings.ts b/src/renderer/book/settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f14e02e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/book/settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+// Settings: autosave + continuous snapshot backups.
+//
+// Owns the Settings modal (#settingsModal): background-autosave switch,
+// snapshot cadence/retention/location, and a manual "Snapshot now" button.
+// Persisted through the main-process settings store; the editor's background
+// engine is toggled live via hooks.setAutosaveEnabled. Snapshot cadence runs
+// in the main process (1-minute tick), so this module only edits preferences.
+//
+// Cross-feature calls go through BookHooks exclusively — no sibling imports.
+
+import type { BookCtx } from "./types.js";
+import { alertMessage } from "../dialog.js";
+import { $, closeEl, openEl, showToast } from "./ui.js";
+
+export interface SettingsFeature {
+  openSettings(): void;
+}
+
+interface SnapshotSettings {
+  autosaveEnabled: boolean;
+  snapshotsEnabled: boolean;
+  intervalMin: number;
+  keep: number;
+  location: string;
+  resolvedRoot: string;
+  snapshotCount: number;
+  lastSnapshot: string | null;
+}
+
+export function createSettingsFeature(ctx: BookCtx): SettingsFeature {
+  const { api, hooks } = ctx;
+
+  const modal = $("settingsModal") as HTMLDivElement;
+  const autosaveCb = $("settingAutosave") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const snapsCb = $("settingSnapshots") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const spellCb = $("settingSpellcheck") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const typewriterCb = $("settingTypewriter") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const intervalInput = $("settingInterval") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const keepInput = $("settingKeep") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const locationInput = $("settingLocation") as HTMLInputElement;
+  const resolvedEl = $("settingResolved") as HTMLElement;
+  const lastSnapEl = $("settingLastSnap") as HTMLElement;
+  const closeBtn = $("settingsClose") as HTMLButtonElement;
+  const browseBtn = $("settingBrowse") as HTMLButtonElement;
+  const resetBtn = $("settingResetLoc") as HTMLButtonElement;
+  const snapNowBtn = $("settingSnapNow") as HTMLButtonElement;
+
+  let loaded = false;
+
+  function shortPath(p: string): string {
+    const home = (window as unknown as { __folioHome?: string }).__folioHome;
+    if (home && p.startsWith(home)) return "~" + p.slice(home.length);
+    return p;
+  }
+
+  function render(s: SnapshotSettings) {
+    autosaveCb.checked = s.autosaveEnabled !== false;
+    snapsCb.checked = s.snapshotsEnabled !== false;
+    intervalInput.value = String(s.intervalMin ?? 5);
+    keepInput.value = String(s.keep ?? 20);
+    locationInput.value = s.location || "";
+    locationInput.placeholder = "Default: <book>/Folio-Backups";
+    resolvedEl.textContent = `Saving to: ${shortPath(s.resolvedRoot || "—")}`;
+    lastSnapEl.textContent = s.lastSnapshot
+      ? `${s.snapshotCount} snapshot${s.snapshotCount === 1 ? "" : "s"} · latest ${s.lastSnapshot.split("/").pop()}`
+      : "No snapshots yet.";
+    const dis = !snapsCb.checked;
+    intervalInput.disabled = dis;
+    keepInput.disabled = dis;
+    snapNowBtn.disabled = dis;
+  }
+
+  async function load() {
+    try {
+      const s = (await api.getSnapshotSettings()) as SnapshotSettings;
+      render(s);
+      loaded = true;
+    } catch {
+      // Settings are best-effort; the modal still opens with defaults.
+    }
+    try {
+      spellCb.checked = (await api.getSpellcheck()) !== false;
+    } catch {
+      // keep default checked state
+    }
+    try {
+      typewriterCb.checked = hooks.isTypewriterEnabled();
+    } catch {
+      // keep default unchecked state
+    }
+  }
+
+  function openSettings(): void {
+    openEl(modal);
+    void load();
+    setTimeout(() => autosaveCb.focus(), 0);
+  }
+  function closeSettings(): void {
+    closeEl(modal);
+  }
+
+  async function push(patch: Record<string, unknown>, applyAutosave = false) {
+    const res = await api.setSnapshotSettings(patch);
+    if (res && "error" in res) {
+      await alertMessage("Could not save settings", (res as { error: string }).error);
+      return;
+    }
+    const s = (res as { settings: SnapshotSettings }).settings;
+    if (s) render(s);
+    if (applyAutosave && s) hooks.setAutosaveEnabled(s.autosaveEnabled !== false);
+  }
+
+  autosaveCb.addEventListener("change", () => {
+    const on = autosaveCb.checked;
+    // Apply instantly to the editor; persist alongside.
+    hooks.setAutosaveEnabled(on);
+    void (async () => {
+      await api.setAutosave(on);
+      await load();
+    })();
+  });
+  snapsCb.addEventListener("change", () => void push({ snapshotsEnabled: snapsCb.checked }));
+  spellCb.addEventListener("change", () => void (async () => {
+    const res = await api.setSpellcheck(spellCb.checked);
+    if (res && "error" in res) {
+      await alertMessage("Could not save settings", (res as { error: string }).error);
+      await load();
+    }
+  })());
+  typewriterCb.addEventListener("change", () => {
+    hooks.setTypewriterEnabled(typewriterCb.checked);
+  });
+  intervalInput.addEventListener("change", () => {
+    const v = Math.max(1, Math.min(1440, Math.round(Number(intervalInput.value) || 5)));
+    intervalInput.value = String(v);
+    void push({ intervalMin: v });
+  });
+  keepInput.addEventListener("change", () => {
+    const v = Math.max(0, Math.min(200, Math.round(Number(keepInput.value) || 0)));
+    keepInput.value = String(v);
+    void push({ keep: v });
+  });
+  browseBtn.addEventListener("click", () => void (async () => {
+    const res = await api.pickSnapshotFolder();
+    if (!res || res.canceled || !res.filePaths?.length) return;
+    await push({ location: res.filePaths[0] });
+  })());
+  resetBtn.addEventListener("click", () => void push({ location: "" }));
+  snapNowBtn.addEventListener("click", () => void (async () => {
+    const res = await api.snapshotNow();
+    if (!res) return;
+    if ("error" in res) {
+      await alertMessage("Snapshot failed", (res as { error: string }).error);
+      return;
+    }
+    showToast("Snapshot saved");
+    await load();
+  })());
+  closeBtn.addEventListener("click", closeSettings);
+  modal.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
+    if (e.target === modal) closeSettings();
+  });
+  window.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
+    if (e.key === "Escape" && !modal.classList.contains("hidden")) closeSettings();
+  });
+
+  // Sidebar + File-menu entry points.
+  $("settingsBtn")?.addEventListener("click", openSettings);
+  api.onSettingsRequested(() => openSettings());
+
+  // Refresh the resolved-path line whenever a book opens (the default root
+  // is per-book). Only refresh while the modal is open to avoid IPC noise.
+  api.onBookOpened(() => {
+    if (!modal.classList.contains("hidden") || !loaded) return;
+    void load();
+  });
+
+  return { openSettings };
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/types.ts b/src/renderer/book/types.ts
index a2739bd..d60af22 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/types.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/types.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ export type FolioAPI = {
   setTheme: (id: string) => Promise<any>;
   getZoom: () => Promise<number>;
   setZoom: (pct: number) => Promise<any>;
+  getAutosave: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  setAutosave: (on: boolean) => Promise<any>;
+  getSnapshotSettings: () => Promise<any>;
+  setSnapshotSettings: (patch: unknown) => Promise<any>;
+  pickSnapshotFolder: () => Promise<any>;
+  snapshotNow: () => Promise<any>;
   onBookOpened: (cb: (data: { path: string; title: string }) => void) => void;
   onBookClosed: (cb: () => void) => void;
   onChaptersChanged: (cb: () => void) => void;
@@ -98,6 +104,7 @@ export type FolioAPI = {
   onZoomResetRequested: (cb: () => void) => void;
   onOpenMarkdownRequested: (cb: () => void) => void;
   onCheckUpdateRequested: (cb: () => void) => void;
+  onSettingsRequested: (cb: () => void) => void;
 };
 
 // ---- P7 decomposition contracts ----
@@ -125,6 +132,11 @@ export interface BookHooks {
   saveAndNotify(): Promise<void>;
   flushAutosave(): Promise<void>;
   clearTimers(): void;
+  setAutosaveEnabled(on: boolean): void;
+  setTypewriterEnabled(on: boolean): void;
+  isTypewriterEnabled(): boolean;
+  // settings feature
+  openSettings(): void;
   // session coordinators (orchestrator)
   refreshMeta(): Promise<void>;
   showPlaceholder(): void;
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.css b/src/renderer/index.css
index c2087f4..1cb21dd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/index.css
+++ b/src/renderer/index.css
@@ -221,6 +221,60 @@ html, body {
   font-size: 0.9rem;
 }
 
+/* ---- settings modal ---- */
+.settings-modal {
+  min-width: min(480px, 92vw);
+}
+
+.setting-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: 10px;
+  padding: 8px 0;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.88rem;
+  color: var(--color-text);
+}
+
+.setting-row input[type="checkbox"] {
+  margin-top: 3px;
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  accent-color: var(--color-accent);
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+}
+
+.setting-hint {
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  color: var(--color-muted);
+}
+
+.setting-grid {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 16px;
+  padding: 6px 0 10px 26px;
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  color: var(--color-text);
+}
+
+.setting-grid label {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 6px;
+}
+
+.setting-num {
+  width: 72px;
+}
+
+.setting-meta {
+  font-size: 0.76rem;
+  color: var(--color-muted);
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  margin: 2px 0;
+  word-break: break-all;
+}
+
 /* ---- full book nav ---- */
 .full-book-nav {
   margin-top: var(--gap);
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.html b/src/renderer/index.html
index a052ce3..9e7a5e8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/index.html
+++ b/src/renderer/index.html
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
         </div>
         <div class="sidebar-footer">
           <button class="button button-ghost" id="searchBtn" title="Search all chapters (Ctrl+F)">Search</button>
+          <button class="button button-ghost" id="settingsBtn" title="Settings (autosave, backups)">Settings</button>
           <div class="theme-control">
             <label class="theme-label" for="themeSelect">Theme</label>
             <select id="themeSelect" class="theme-select" title="Interface theme">
@@ -315,6 +316,47 @@
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
+    <div class="modal-backdrop hidden" id="settingsModal">
+      <div class="modal settings-modal" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Settings">
+        <h3 class="modal-title">Settings</h3>
+        <label class="setting-row">
+          <input type="checkbox" id="settingAutosave" checked />
+          <span><strong>Autosave while typing</strong><br />
+          <span class="setting-hint">Saves ~1s after you stop typing. When off, use Save (Ctrl+S). Switching chapters or closing still saves, so work is never lost.</span></span>
+        </label>
+        <label class="setting-row">
+          <input type="checkbox" id="settingSnapshots" checked />
+          <span><strong>Continuous snapshots</strong><br />
+          <span class="setting-hint">Copies the whole book in the background when it changes. Only the newest snapshots are kept.</span></span>
+        </label>
+        <label class="setting-row">
+          <input type="checkbox" id="settingSpellcheck" checked />
+          <span><strong>Spellcheck (English)</strong><br />
+          <span class="setting-hint">Underline misspellings; right-click a word for suggestions or to add it to the dictionary.</span></span>
+        </label>
+        <label class="setting-row">
+          <input type="checkbox" id="settingTypewriter" />
+          <span><strong>Typewriter mode</strong><br />
+          <span class="setting-hint">Keep the line you're writing near the middle of the editor as you type.</span></span>
+        </label>
+        <div class="setting-grid">
+          <label>Every (minutes) <input type="number" id="settingInterval" class="modal-input setting-num" min="1" max="1440" value="5" /></label>
+          <label>Keep last <input type="number" id="settingKeep" class="modal-input setting-num" min="0" max="200" value="20" /></label>
+        </div>
+        <div class="backup-control">
+          <span class="backup-label">Folder</span>
+          <input type="text" id="settingLocation" class="backup-input" readonly placeholder="Default: <book>/Folio-Backups" title="Snapshot folder (empty = default)" />
+          <button type="button" class="button button-ghost backup-browse" id="settingBrowse" title="Choose snapshot folder">…</button>
+          <button type="button" class="button button-ghost" id="settingResetLoc" title="Back to the default folder">Reset</button>
+        </div>
+        <p class="setting-meta" id="settingResolved"></p>
+        <p class="setting-meta" id="settingLastSnap"></p>
+        <div class="modal-actions">
+          <button class="button button-ghost" id="settingSnapNow" title="Take a snapshot right now">Snapshot now</button>
+          <button class="button" id="settingsClose">Close</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
     <div class="modal-backdrop hidden" id="statsModal">
       <div class="modal stats-modal" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Writing statistics">
         <h3 class="modal-title">Writing statistics</h3>
diff --git a/tests/run-snapshots-test.mjs b/tests/run-snapshots-test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5b935d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run-snapshots-test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+// Standalone test for continuous snapshot logic (src/main/backup.ts).
+// Run with: node tests/run-snapshots-test.mjs
+import fs from "fs";
+import os from "os";
+import path from "path";
+import { bundleForTest } from "./helpers/bundle.mjs";
+
+const { mod: project, cleanupBundle: cleanupProj } = await bundleForTest({
+  name: "folio-snap-project",
+  entryPoints: ["src/main/project.ts"],
+});
+const { mod: chapters, cleanupBundle: cleanupChap } = await bundleForTest({
+  name: "folio-snap-chapters",
+  entryPoints: ["src/main/chapters.ts"],
+});
+const { mod: backup, cleanupBundle: cleanupBackup } = await bundleForTest({
+  name: "folio-snap-backup",
+  entryPoints: ["src/main/backup.ts"],
+});
+
+const { createBook } = project;
+const { createChapter, setChapterContent } = chapters;
+const {
+  bindBackupSettings,
+  getSnapshotRoot,
+  listSnapshots,
+  createSnapshot,
+  pruneSnapshots,
+  bookChangedSince,
+  SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME,
+} = backup;
+
+let failures = 0;
+function ok(cond, msg) {
+  if (cond) console.log("  ok -", msg);
+  else { failures++; console.error("FAIL -", msg); }
+}
+
+// In-memory settings store (backup.ts stays Electron-free).
+const settings = new Map();
+bindBackupSettings({
+  get: (k, fb) => (settings.has(k) ? settings.get(k) : fb),
+  set: (k, v) => { settings.set(k, v); },
+});
+
+const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "folio-snap-"));
+createBook(dir, "Snap Book");
+const c = createChapter(dir, "One");
+setChapterContent(dir, c.id, "hello");
+
+// default root = <book>/Folio-Backups
+ok(getSnapshotRoot(dir) === path.join(dir, SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME), "default snapshot root is per-book folder");
+
+// snapshot creates a timestamped copy with content
+const s1 = createSnapshot(dir, 20);
+ok(typeof s1 === "string" && fs.existsSync(s1), "createSnapshot returns existing dir: " + s1);
+ok(fs.existsSync(path.join(s1, "folio.json")), "snapshot contains folio.json");
+ok(listSnapshots(dir).length === 1, "one snapshot listed");
+
+// snapshots never nest: second snapshot must not contain the backup dir
+await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 5));
+const s2 = createSnapshot(dir, 20);
+ok(listSnapshots(dir).length === 2, "two snapshots listed");
+ok(!fs.existsSync(path.join(s2, SNAPSHOT_DIR_NAME)), "snapshot does not contain nested backup dir");
+
+// bookChangedSince: quiet -> false, touched -> true
+ok(bookChangedSince(dir, Date.now()) === false, "no change since now");
+setChapterContent(dir, c.id, "hello edited");
+ok(bookChangedSince(dir, Date.now() - 1000) === true, "detects content change");
+
+// pruning keeps newest N
+await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 5));
+createSnapshot(dir, 20);
+ok(listSnapshots(dir).length === 3, "three snapshots before prune");
+pruneSnapshots(dir, 2);
+const kept = listSnapshots(dir);
+ok(kept.length === 2, "prune keeps newest 2");
+ok(!fs.existsSync(s1), "oldest snapshot pruned");
+
+// custom root honored
+const custom = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "folio-snaproot-"));
+settings.set("snapshotLocation", custom);
+ok(getSnapshotRoot(dir) === custom, "custom snapshot root honored");
+const s3 = createSnapshot(dir, 20);
+ok(s3.startsWith(custom), "snapshot lands in custom root");
+settings.delete("snapshotLocation");
+
+// missing dir -> null, no throw
+ok(createSnapshot(path.join(dir, "nope"), 5) === null, "missing book returns null");
+
+// cleanup
+fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+fs.rmSync(custom, { recursive: true, force: true });
+cleanupProj();
+cleanupChap();
+cleanupBackup();
+
+if (failures) { console.error(`${failures} snapshot check(s) FAILED`); process.exit(1); }
+console.log("All snapshot checks passed.");