diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/ui/json-syntax-editor.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/ui/json-syntax-editor.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..236b265a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/ui/json-syntax-editor.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+import CodeMirror from '@uiw/react-codemirror';
+import { StreamLanguage } from '@codemirror/language';
+import { javascript } from '@codemirror/legacy-modes/mode/javascript';
+import { EditorView } from '@codemirror/view';
+import { Extension } from '@codemirror/state';
+import { HighlightStyle, syntaxHighlighting } from '@codemirror/language';
+import { tags as t } from '@lezer/highlight';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+interface JsonSyntaxEditorProps {
+  value: string;
+  onChange: (value: string) => void;
+  placeholder?: string;
+  className?: string;
+  minHeight?: string;
+  maxHeight?: string;
+  readOnly?: boolean;
+  'data-testid'?: string;
+}
+
+// Syntax highlighting using CSS variables for theme compatibility
+const syntaxColors = HighlightStyle.define([
+  // Property names (keys)
+  { tag: t.propertyName, color: 'var(--chart-2, oklch(0.6 0.118 184.704))' },
+
+  // Strings (values)
+  { tag: t.string, color: 'var(--chart-1, oklch(0.646 0.222 41.116))' },
+
+  // Numbers
+  { tag: t.number, color: 'var(--chart-3, oklch(0.7 0.15 150))' },
+
+  // Booleans and null
+  { tag: t.bool, color: 'var(--chart-4, oklch(0.7 0.15 280))' },
+  { tag: t.null, color: 'var(--chart-4, oklch(0.7 0.15 280))' },
+  { tag: t.keyword, color: 'var(--chart-4, oklch(0.7 0.15 280))' },
+
+  // Brackets and punctuation
+  { tag: t.bracket, color: 'var(--muted-foreground)' },
+  { tag: t.punctuation, color: 'var(--muted-foreground)' },
+
+  // Default text
+  { tag: t.content, color: 'var(--foreground)' },
+]);
+
+// Editor theme using CSS variables
+const editorTheme = EditorView.theme({
+  '&': {
+    height: '100%',
+    fontSize: '0.8125rem',
+    fontFamily: 'ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, "SF Mono", Menlo, Consolas, monospace',
+    backgroundColor: 'transparent',
+    color: 'var(--foreground)',
+  },
+  '.cm-scroller': {
+    overflow: 'auto',
+    fontFamily: 'ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, "SF Mono", Menlo, Consolas, monospace',
+  },
+  '.cm-content': {
+    padding: '0.75rem',
+    minHeight: '100%',
+    caretColor: 'var(--primary)',
+  },
+  '.cm-cursor, .cm-dropCursor': {
+    borderLeftColor: 'var(--primary)',
+  },
+  '&.cm-focused .cm-selectionBackground, .cm-selectionBackground, .cm-content ::selection': {
+    backgroundColor: 'oklch(0.55 0.25 265 / 0.3)',
+  },
+  '.cm-activeLine': {
+    backgroundColor: 'var(--accent)',
+    opacity: '0.3',
+  },
+  '.cm-line': {
+    padding: '0 0.25rem',
+  },
+  '&.cm-focused': {
+    outline: 'none',
+  },
+  '.cm-gutters': {
+    backgroundColor: 'transparent',
+    color: 'var(--muted-foreground)',
+    border: 'none',
+    paddingRight: '0.5rem',
+  },
+  '.cm-lineNumbers .cm-gutterElement': {
+    minWidth: '2.5rem',
+    textAlign: 'right',
+    paddingRight: '0.5rem',
+  },
+  '.cm-placeholder': {
+    color: 'var(--muted-foreground)',
+    fontStyle: 'italic',
+  },
+});
+
+// JavaScript language in JSON mode
+const jsonLanguage = StreamLanguage.define(javascript);
+
+// Combine all extensions
+const extensions: Extension[] = [jsonLanguage, syntaxHighlighting(syntaxColors), editorTheme];
+
+export function JsonSyntaxEditor({
+  value,
+  onChange,
+  placeholder,
+  className,
+  minHeight = '300px',
+  maxHeight,
+  readOnly = false,
+  'data-testid': testId,
+}: JsonSyntaxEditorProps) {
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={cn('w-full rounded-lg border border-border bg-muted/30', className)}
+      style={{ minHeight }}
+      data-testid={testId}
+    >
+      <CodeMirror
+        value={value}
+        onChange={onChange}
+        extensions={extensions}
+        theme="none"
+        placeholder={placeholder}
+        height={maxHeight}
+        minHeight={minHeight}
+        readOnly={readOnly}
+        className="[&_.cm-editor]:min-h-[inherit]"
+        basicSetup={{
+          lineNumbers: true,
+          foldGutter: true,
+          highlightActiveLine: true,
+          highlightSelectionMatches: true,
+          autocompletion: false,
+          bracketMatching: true,
+          indentOnInput: true,
+        }}
+      />
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view.tsx
index ff614302..1ddf0a39 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 import { MCPServersSection } from './settings-view/mcp-servers';
 import { PromptCustomizationSection } from './settings-view/prompts';
 import { EventHooksSection } from './settings-view/event-hooks';
+import { ImportExportDialog } from './settings-view/components/import-export-dialog';
 import type { Project as SettingsProject, Theme } from './settings-view/shared/types';
 import type { Project as ElectronProject } from '@/lib/electron';
 
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ export function SettingsView() {
 
   const [showDeleteDialog, setShowDeleteDialog] = useState(false);
   const [showKeyboardMapDialog, setShowKeyboardMapDialog] = useState(false);
+  const [showImportExportDialog, setShowImportExportDialog] = useState(false);
 
   // Mobile navigation state - default to showing on desktop, hidden on mobile
   const [showNavigation, setShowNavigation] = useState(() => {
@@ -239,6 +241,7 @@ export function SettingsView() {
       <SettingsHeader
         showNavigation={showNavigation}
         onToggleNavigation={() => setShowNavigation(!showNavigation)}
+        onImportExportClick={() => setShowImportExportDialog(true)}
       />
 
       {/* Content Area with Sidebar */}
@@ -269,6 +272,9 @@ export function SettingsView() {
         project={currentProject}
         onConfirm={moveProjectToTrash}
       />
+
+      {/* Import/Export Settings Dialog */}
+      <ImportExportDialog open={showImportExportDialog} onOpenChange={setShowImportExportDialog} />
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/import-export-dialog.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/import-export-dialog.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9d609f71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/import-export-dialog.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { Copy, Check, AlertCircle, Save } from 'lucide-react';
+import {
+  Dialog,
+  DialogContent,
+  DialogHeader,
+  DialogTitle,
+  DialogDescription,
+} from '@/components/ui/dialog';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { JsonSyntaxEditor } from '@/components/ui/json-syntax-editor';
+import { apiGet, apiPut } from '@/lib/api-fetch';
+import { toast } from 'sonner';
+import type { GlobalSettings } from '@automaker/types';
+
+interface ImportExportDialogProps {
+  open: boolean;
+  onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void;
+}
+
+interface SettingsResponse {
+  success: boolean;
+  settings: GlobalSettings;
+}
+
+export function ImportExportDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: ImportExportDialogProps) {
+  const [jsonValue, setJsonValue] = useState('');
+  const [originalValue, setOriginalValue] = useState('');
+  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [isSaving, setIsSaving] = useState(false);
+  const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);
+  const [parseError, setParseError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  // Load current settings when dialog opens
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (open) {
+      loadSettings();
+    }
+  }, [open]);
+
+  const loadSettings = async () => {
+    setIsLoading(true);
+    try {
+      const response = await apiGet<SettingsResponse>('/api/settings/global');
+      if (response.success) {
+        const formatted = JSON.stringify(response.settings, null, 2);
+        setJsonValue(formatted);
+        setOriginalValue(formatted);
+        setParseError(null);
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast.error('Failed to load settings');
+      console.error('Failed to load settings:', error);
+    } finally {
+      setIsLoading(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Validate JSON on change
+  const handleJsonChange = (value: string) => {
+    setJsonValue(value);
+    try {
+      JSON.parse(value);
+      setParseError(null);
+    } catch {
+      setParseError('Invalid JSON syntax');
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleCopy = async () => {
+    try {
+      await navigator.clipboard.writeText(jsonValue);
+      setCopied(true);
+      toast.success('Settings copied to clipboard');
+      setTimeout(() => setCopied(false), 2000);
+    } catch {
+      toast.error('Failed to copy to clipboard');
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleSave = async () => {
+    if (parseError) {
+      toast.error('Please fix JSON syntax errors before saving');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setIsSaving(true);
+    try {
+      const settings = JSON.parse(jsonValue);
+      const response = await apiPut<SettingsResponse>('/api/settings/global', settings);
+      if (response.success) {
+        const formatted = JSON.stringify(response.settings, null, 2);
+        setJsonValue(formatted);
+        setOriginalValue(formatted);
+        toast.success('Settings saved successfully', {
+          description: 'Your changes have been applied. Some settings may require a refresh.',
+        });
+        onOpenChange(false);
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast.error('Failed to save settings');
+      console.error('Failed to save settings:', error);
+    } finally {
+      setIsSaving(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleReset = () => {
+    setJsonValue(originalValue);
+    setParseError(null);
+  };
+
+  const hasChanges = jsonValue !== originalValue;
+
+  return (
+    <Dialog open={open} onOpenChange={onOpenChange}>
+      <DialogContent className="max-w-4xl max-h-[85vh] flex flex-col">
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>Import / Export Settings</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>
+            Copy your settings to transfer to another machine, or paste settings from another
+            installation.
+          </DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+
+        <div className="flex-1 flex flex-col gap-4 min-h-0 mt-4">
+          {/* Action Buttons */}
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Button
+                variant="outline"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={handleCopy}
+                disabled={isLoading || !!parseError}
+                className="gap-2"
+              >
+                {copied ? <Check className="w-4 h-4" /> : <Copy className="w-4 h-4" />}
+                {copied ? 'Copied!' : 'Copy'}
+              </Button>
+              <Button
+                variant="outline"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={loadSettings}
+                disabled={isLoading}
+                className="gap-2"
+              >
+                Refresh
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              {hasChanges && (
+                <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onClick={handleReset} disabled={isSaving}>
+                  Discard
+                </Button>
+              )}
+              <Button
+                variant="default"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={handleSave}
+                disabled={isLoading || isSaving || !hasChanges || !!parseError}
+                className="gap-2"
+              >
+                <Save className="w-4 h-4" />
+                {isSaving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save Changes'}
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Error Message */}
+          {parseError && (
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 p-3 rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 border border-destructive/20 text-destructive text-sm">
+              <AlertCircle className="w-4 h-4 flex-shrink-0" />
+              <span>{parseError}</span>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* JSON Editor */}
+          <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
+            {isLoading ? (
+              <div className="flex items-center justify-center h-full text-muted-foreground">
+                Loading settings...
+              </div>
+            ) : (
+              <JsonSyntaxEditor
+                value={jsonValue}
+                onChange={handleJsonChange}
+                placeholder="Loading settings..."
+                minHeight="350px"
+                maxHeight="450px"
+                data-testid="settings-json-editor"
+              />
+            )}
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Help Text */}
+          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            To import settings, paste the JSON content into the editor and click "Save Changes".
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/settings-header.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/settings-header.tsx
index 9d1b9ff5..25cf8dc5 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/settings-header.tsx
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/components/settings-header.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Settings, PanelLeft, PanelLeftClose } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Settings, PanelLeft, PanelLeftClose, FileJson } from 'lucide-react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ interface SettingsHeaderProps {
   description?: string;
   showNavigation?: boolean;
   onToggleNavigation?: () => void;
+  onImportExportClick?: () => void;
 }
 
 export function SettingsHeader({
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ export function SettingsHeader({
   description = 'Configure your API keys and preferences',
   showNavigation,
   onToggleNavigation,
+  onImportExportClick,
 }: SettingsHeaderProps) {
   return (
     <div
@@ -24,39 +26,48 @@ export function SettingsHeader({
       )}
     >
       <div className="px-4 py-4 lg:px-8 lg:py-6">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 lg:gap-4">
-          {/* Mobile menu toggle button - only visible on mobile */}
-          {onToggleNavigation && (
-            <Button
-              variant="ghost"
-              size="sm"
-              onClick={onToggleNavigation}
-              className="h-8 w-8 p-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground lg:hidden"
-              aria-label={showNavigation ? 'Close navigation menu' : 'Open navigation menu'}
-            >
-              {showNavigation ? (
-                <PanelLeftClose className="w-5 h-5" />
-              ) : (
-                <PanelLeft className="w-5 h-5" />
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 lg:gap-4">
+            {/* Mobile menu toggle button - only visible on mobile */}
+            {onToggleNavigation && (
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={onToggleNavigation}
+                className="h-8 w-8 p-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground lg:hidden"
+                aria-label={showNavigation ? 'Close navigation menu' : 'Open navigation menu'}
+              >
+                {showNavigation ? (
+                  <PanelLeftClose className="w-5 h-5" />
+                ) : (
+                  <PanelLeft className="w-5 h-5" />
+                )}
+              </Button>
+            )}
+            <div
+              className={cn(
+                'w-10 h-10 lg:w-12 lg:h-12 rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl flex items-center justify-center',
+                'bg-gradient-to-br from-brand-500 to-brand-600',
+                'shadow-lg shadow-brand-500/25',
+                'ring-1 ring-white/10'
               )}
+            >
+              <Settings className="w-5 h-5 lg:w-6 lg:h-6 text-white" />
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <h1 className="text-xl lg:text-2xl font-bold text-foreground tracking-tight">
+                {title}
+              </h1>
+              <p className="text-xs lg:text-sm text-muted-foreground/80 mt-0.5">{description}</p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+          {/* Import/Export button */}
+          {onImportExportClick && (
+            <Button variant="outline" size="sm" onClick={onImportExportClick} className="gap-2">
+              <FileJson className="w-4 h-4" />
+              <span className="hidden sm:inline">Import / Export</span>
             </Button>
           )}
-          <div
-            className={cn(
-              'w-10 h-10 lg:w-12 lg:h-12 rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl flex items-center justify-center',
-              'bg-gradient-to-br from-brand-500 to-brand-600',
-              'shadow-lg shadow-brand-500/25',
-              'ring-1 ring-white/10'
-            )}
-          >
-            <Settings className="w-5 h-5 lg:w-6 lg:h-6 text-white" />
-          </div>
-          <div>
-            <h1 className="text-xl lg:text-2xl font-bold text-foreground tracking-tight">
-              {title}
-            </h1>
-            <p className="text-xs lg:text-sm text-muted-foreground/80 mt-0.5">{description}</p>
-          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>