diff --git a/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/__main__.py b/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/__main__.py
index e9c4987..b56cbf0 100644
--- a/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/__main__.py
+++ b/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/__main__.py
@@ -5,13 +5,12 @@
 and main window creation.
 """
 
-import os
+import logging
 import sys
-import tempfile
-import traceback
 
 from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
+from .logging_config import setup_logging
 from .utils import get_theme_manager
 from .views import WizardWindow
 
@@ -23,46 +22,23 @@ def main() -> int:
     Returns:
         Exit code (0 for success)
     """
-    try:
-        # Check for required dependencies
-        try:
-            import pytz  # noqa: F401
-        except ImportError:
-            print("Error: pytz is required. Install with: pip install pytz")
-            return 1
-
-        # Create application
-        app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
 
-        # Set application metadata
-        app.setApplicationName("Clinical DBS Annotator")
-        app.setOrganizationName("BML")
+    app.setApplicationName("Clinical DBS Annotator")
+    app.setOrganizationName("BML")
 
-        # Load and apply theme
-        theme_manager = get_theme_manager()
-        try:
-            theme_manager.apply_theme(theme_manager.get_current_theme(), app)
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Warning: Could not load theme: {e}")
-            print("Continuing with default styling...")
+    setup_logging(app)
 
-        # Create and show main window
-        window = WizardWindow(app)
-        window.show()
+    theme_manager = get_theme_manager()
+    try:
+        theme_manager.apply_theme(theme_manager.get_current_theme(), app)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logging.warning("Could not load theme: %s", e)
 
-        # Run application
-        return app.exec()
+    window = WizardWindow(app)
+    window.show()
 
-    except Exception:
-        print("FATAL ERROR:")
-        traceback.print_exc()
-        try:
-            log_path = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "ClinicalDBSAnnot_crash.log")
-            with open(log_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-                f.write(traceback.format_exc())
-        except Exception:
-            pass
-        return 1
+    return app.exec()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/logging_config.py b/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/logging_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17a3cfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/clinical_dbs_annotator/logging_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+import logging
+import platform
+import sys
+import threading
+from logging.handlers import RotatingFileHandler
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from PySide6.QtCore import (
+    QMessageLogContext,
+    QStandardPaths,
+    QtMsgType,
+    qInstallMessageHandler,
+)
+from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication
+
+from . import __version__
+
+_configured = False
+_log_file_path: Path | None = None
+
+
+def setup_logging(_app: QApplication) -> Path:
+    global _configured, _log_file_path
+    if _configured:
+        assert _log_file_path is not None
+        return _log_file_path
+
+    base = Path(
+        QStandardPaths.writableLocation(
+            QStandardPaths.StandardLocation.AppLocalDataLocation
+        )
+    )
+    log_dir = base / "logs"
+    log_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    log_path = log_dir / "clinical-dbs-annotator.log"
+
+    fmt = logging.Formatter("%(asctime)s ¦ %(levelname)s ¦ %(name)s ¦ %(message)s")
+    root = logging.getLogger()
+    root.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+    for h in root.handlers[:]:
+        root.removeHandler(h)
+
+    fh = RotatingFileHandler(
+        log_path, maxBytes=5_000_000, backupCount=3, encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    fh.setLevel(logging.INFO)
+    fh.setFormatter(fmt)
+    root.addHandler(fh)
+
+    if not getattr(sys, "frozen", False):
+        sh = logging.StreamHandler(sys.stderr)
+        sh.setLevel(logging.INFO)
+        sh.setFormatter(fmt)
+        root.addHandler(sh)
+
+    def exc_hook(exc_type, exc, tb):
+        logging.getLogger("uncaught").critical(
+            "Uncaught exception",
+            exc_info=(exc_type, exc, tb),
+        )
+
+    sys.excepthook = exc_hook
+
+    def thread_exc_hook(args: threading.ExceptHookArgs) -> None:
+        logging.getLogger("uncaught").critical(
+            "Uncaught thread exception",
+            exc_info=(args.exc_type, args.exc_value, args.exc_traceback),
+        )
+
+    threading.excepthook = thread_exc_hook
+
+    def qt_handler(mode: QtMsgType, context: QMessageLogContext, message: str) -> None:
+        if mode == QtMsgType.QtDebugMsg:
+            level = logging.DEBUG
+        elif mode == QtMsgType.QtInfoMsg:
+            level = logging.INFO
+        elif mode == QtMsgType.QtWarningMsg:
+            level = logging.WARNING
+        elif mode == QtMsgType.QtCriticalMsg:
+            level = logging.ERROR
+        else:
+            level = logging.CRITICAL
+        suffix = ""
+        if context.file:
+            suffix = f" ({context.file}:{context.line})"
+        logging.getLogger("qt").log(level, "%s%s", message, suffix)
+
+    qInstallMessageHandler(qt_handler)
+
+    logging.getLogger("clinical_dbs_annotator").info(
+        "Started v%s Python %s | %s | log=%s",
+        __version__,
+        platform.python_version(),
+        platform.platform(),
+        log_path.resolve(),
+    )
+
+    resolved = log_path.resolve()
+    _configured = True
+    _log_file_path = resolved
+    return resolved