diff --git a/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp b/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp
index 4118820d..54705154 100644
--- a/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 ******************************************************************************/
 
 #include "mainwindow.h"
-
+#include "preferencesdialog.h"
 #include "aboutdialog.h"
 #include "avogadroappconfig.h"
 #include "backgroundfileformat.h"
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(const QStringList& fileNames, bool disableSettings)
 
   // Now set up the interface.
   setupInterface();
-
+initializeActions();
   // Build up the standard menus, incorporate dynamic menus.
   buildMenu();
   updateRecentFiles();
@@ -356,7 +356,23 @@ MainWindow::~MainWindow()
   delete m_menuBuilder;
   delete m_viewFactory;
 }
+void MainWindow::initializeActions()
+{
+    // Example initialization, adjust according to your needs
+    m_actionPreferences = new QAction(tr("&Preferences"), this);
+    connect(m_actionPreferences, &QAction::triggered, this, &MainWindow::showPreferencesDialog);
+    // Add m_actionPreferences to the appropriate menu or toolbar
+}
 
+void MainWindow::showPreferencesDialog()
+{
+   PreferencesDialog dialog(this);
+    dialog.loadSettings();
+
+    if (dialog.exec() == QDialog::Accepted) {
+        dialog.applySettings(); // Apply and save settings
+    }
+}
 void MainWindow::setupInterface()
 {
   // We take care of setting up the main interface here, along with any custom
diff --git a/avogadro/mainwindow.h b/avogadro/mainwindow.h
index 3dadf613..02dc41e4 100644
--- a/avogadro/mainwindow.h
+++ b/avogadro/mainwindow.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QStringList>
 #include <QtCore/QVariantMap>
 #include <QtWidgets/QMainWindow>
-
+#include "preferencesdialog.h"
 #ifdef QTTESTING
 class pqTestUtility;
 #endif
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ class QThread;
 class QTreeView;
 class QNetworkAccessManager;
 class QNetworkReply;
-
+class QAction;
 namespace Ui {
-class AboutDialog;
+class AboutDialog;  
 }
 
 namespace Avogadro {
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ public slots:
    * Update internal state to reflect that the molecule has been modified.
    */
   void markMoleculeDirty();
-
+ void showPreferencesDialog();
+ void initializeActions();
   /**
    * Update internal state to reflect that the molecule is not modified.
    */
@@ -442,7 +443,7 @@ private slots:
   QAction* m_copyImage;
   QAction* m_viewPerspective;
   QAction* m_viewOrthographic;
-
+  QAction* m_actionPreferences;
   ViewFactory* m_viewFactory;
 
   QNetworkAccessManager* m_network = nullptr;
diff --git a/avogadro/mainwindow.ui b/avogadro/mainwindow.ui
index 1ef7163a..d3932646 100644
--- a/avogadro/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/avogadro/mainwindow.ui
@@ -65,17 +65,14 @@
     <addaction name="actionCopy"/>
     <addaction name="actionPaste"/>
     <addaction name="actionClear"/>
-   </widget>
-   <widget class="QMenu" name="menuSelect">
-    <property name="title">
-     <string>&amp;Select</string>
-    </property>
-   </widget>
-   <addaction name="menuFile"/>
+  
+    <addaction name="separator"/> 
+    <addaction name="menuFile"/>
    <addaction name="menuEdit"/>
    <addaction name="menuView"/>
    <addaction name="menuBuild"/>
    <addaction name="menuSelect"/>
+    <addaction name="actionPreferences"/>
   </widget>
   <action name="actionOpen">
    <property name="text">
@@ -323,6 +320,35 @@
     <string>&amp;Import</string>
    </property>
   </action>
+<action name="actionPreferences">
+  <property name="text">
+    <string>Preferences…</string>
+  </property>
+  <property name="icon">
+    <iconset>
+      <normaloff>:icons/preferences-icon.png</normaloff>:icons/preferences-icon.png
+    </iconset>
+  </property>
+  <property name="shortcut">
+    <string>Ctrl+P</string>
+  </property>
+</action>
+
+
+
+
+   <property name="text">
+    <string>Preferences…</string>
+  </property>
+    <property name="icon">
+    <iconset>
+      <normaloff>:icons/preferences-icon.png</normaloff>:icons/preferences-icon.png</iconset>
+  </property> 
+  -->
+</action>
+   <string>Preferences…</string>
+  </property>
+</action>
   <action name="actionExport">
    <property name="text">
     <string>&amp;Export</string>
@@ -337,6 +363,7 @@
    <sender>actionClose</sender>
    <signal>triggered()</signal>
    <receiver>MainWindow</receiver>
+    <slot>showPreferencesDialog()</slot>
    <slot>close()</slot>
    <hints>
     <hint type="sourcelabel">
@@ -350,10 +377,20 @@
    </hints>
   </connection>
   <connection>
-   <sender>actionQuit</sender>
-   <signal>triggered()</signal>
-   <receiver>MainWindow</receiver>
-   <slot>close()</slot>
+    <sender>actionQuit</sender>
+    <signal>triggered()</signal>
+    <receiver>MainWindow</receiver>
+    <slot>close()</slot>
+  </connection>
+  
+  <connection>
+    <sender>actionPreferences</sender>
+    <signal>triggered()</signal>
+    <receiver>MainWindow</receiver>
+    <slot>showPreferencesDialog()</slot>
+  </connection>
+</connections>
+
    <hints>
     <hint type="sourcelabel">
      <x>-1</x>