diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 70e33952..fdbd6b92 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
 	"name": "openscreen",
-	"version": "1.2.0",
+	"version": "1.3.0",
 	"lockfileVersion": 3,
 	"requires": true,
 	"packages": {
 		"": {
 			"name": "openscreen",
-			"version": "1.2.0",
+			"version": "1.3.0",
 			"dependencies": {
 				"@fix-webm-duration/fix": "^1.0.1",
 				"@pixi/filter-drop-shadow": "^5.2.0",
diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx b/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx
index 4e5e978a..a85ccafc 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/lib/exporter";
 import type { ProjectMedia } from "@/lib/recordingSession";
 import { matchesShortcut } from "@/lib/shortcuts";
+import { loadUserPreferences, saveUserPreferences } from "@/lib/userPreferences";
 import {
 	getAspectRatioValue,
 	getNativeAspectRatioValue,
@@ -359,6 +360,28 @@ export default function VideoEditor() {
 		loadInitialData();
 	}, [applyLoadedProject]);
 
+	// Track whether user preferences have been loaded to avoid
+	// overwriting saved prefs with defaults on the first render
+	const [prefsHydrated, setPrefsHydrated] = useState(false);
+
+	// Load persisted user preferences on mount (intentionally runs once)
+	useEffect(() => {
+		const prefs = loadUserPreferences();
+		updateState({
+			padding: prefs.padding,
+			aspectRatio: prefs.aspectRatio,
+		});
+		setExportQuality(prefs.exportQuality);
+		setExportFormat(prefs.exportFormat);
+		setPrefsHydrated(true);
+	}, [updateState]);
+
+	// Auto-save user preferences when settings change
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (!prefsHydrated) return;
+		saveUserPreferences({ padding, aspectRatio, exportQuality, exportFormat });
+	}, [prefsHydrated, padding, aspectRatio, exportQuality, exportFormat]);
+
 	const saveProject = useCallback(
 		async (forceSaveAs: boolean) => {
 			if (!videoPath) {
diff --git a/src/lib/userPreferences.ts b/src/lib/userPreferences.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e0607880
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/userPreferences.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import type { ExportFormat, ExportQuality } from "@/lib/exporter";
+import type { AspectRatio } from "@/utils/aspectRatioUtils";
+
+const PREFS_KEY = "openscreen_user_preferences";
+
+const VALID_ASPECT_RATIOS: readonly string[] = [
+	"16:9",
+	"9:16",
+	"1:1",
+	"4:3",
+	"4:5",
+	"16:10",
+	"10:16",
+	"native",
+];
+
+export interface UserPreferences {
+	/** Default padding % */
+	padding: number;
+	/** Default aspect ratio */
+	aspectRatio: AspectRatio;
+	/** Default export quality */
+	exportQuality: ExportQuality;
+	/** Default export format */
+	exportFormat: ExportFormat;
+}
+
+const DEFAULT_PREFS: UserPreferences = {
+	padding: 50,
+	aspectRatio: "16:9",
+	exportQuality: "good",
+	exportFormat: "mp4",
+};
+
+function safeJsonParse(text: string | null): Record<string, unknown> | null {
+	if (!text) return null;
+	try {
+		return JSON.parse(text);
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * Load persisted user preferences from localStorage.
+ * Returns defaults for any missing or invalid fields.
+ */
+export function loadUserPreferences(): UserPreferences {
+	let raw: Record<string, unknown> | null = null;
+	try {
+		raw = safeJsonParse(localStorage.getItem(PREFS_KEY));
+	} catch {
+		return { ...DEFAULT_PREFS };
+	}
+	if (!raw || typeof raw !== "object") return { ...DEFAULT_PREFS };
+
+	return {
+		padding:
+			typeof raw.padding === "number" &&
+			Number.isFinite(raw.padding) &&
+			raw.padding >= 0 &&
+			raw.padding <= 100
+				? raw.padding
+				: DEFAULT_PREFS.padding,
+		aspectRatio:
+			typeof raw.aspectRatio === "string" && VALID_ASPECT_RATIOS.includes(raw.aspectRatio)
+				? (raw.aspectRatio as AspectRatio)
+				: DEFAULT_PREFS.aspectRatio,
+		exportQuality:
+			raw.exportQuality === "medium" ||
+			raw.exportQuality === "good" ||
+			raw.exportQuality === "source"
+				? (raw.exportQuality as ExportQuality)
+				: DEFAULT_PREFS.exportQuality,
+		exportFormat:
+			raw.exportFormat === "gif" || raw.exportFormat === "mp4"
+				? (raw.exportFormat as ExportFormat)
+				: DEFAULT_PREFS.exportFormat,
+	};
+}
+
+/**
+ * Persist user preferences to localStorage.
+ * Only the explicitly provided fields are updated.
+ */
+export function saveUserPreferences(partial: Partial<UserPreferences>): void {
+	const current = loadUserPreferences();
+	const merged = { ...current, ...partial };
+	try {
+		localStorage.setItem(PREFS_KEY, JSON.stringify(merged));
+	} catch {
+		// localStorage may be unavailable (e.g. private browsing quota exceeded)
+	}
+}