diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/project.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/project.rs
index 208ffd2..521afb4 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/project.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/project.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,72 @@
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use tauri::State;
 
 use crate::db::models::Project;
 use crate::db::queries;
 use crate::state::AppState;
 
+// ── Input types for save_project_transcript ──────────────────────
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+pub struct WordInput {
+    pub word: String,
+    pub start_ms: i64,
+    pub end_ms: i64,
+    pub confidence: f64,
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+pub struct SegmentInput {
+    pub text: String,
+    pub start_ms: i64,
+    pub end_ms: i64,
+    pub speaker: Option<String>, // speaker label, not id
+    pub words: Vec<WordInput>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+pub struct SpeakerInput {
+    pub label: String,
+    pub color: String,
+}
+
+// ── Output types for load_project_transcript ─────────────────────
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct WordOutput {
+    pub word: String,
+    pub start_ms: i64,
+    pub end_ms: i64,
+    pub confidence: Option<f64>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct SegmentOutput {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub text: String,
+    pub start_ms: i64,
+    pub end_ms: i64,
+    pub speaker: Option<String>, // speaker label
+    pub words: Vec<WordOutput>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct SpeakerOutput {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub label: String,
+    pub display_name: Option<String>,
+    pub color: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct ProjectTranscript {
+    pub file_path: String,
+    pub segments: Vec<SegmentOutput>,
+    pub speakers: Vec<SpeakerOutput>,
+}
+
+// ── Commands ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
 #[tauri::command]
 pub fn create_project(name: String, state: State<AppState>) -> Result<Project, String> {
     let conn = state.db.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
@@ -21,3 +84,152 @@ pub fn list_projects(state: State<AppState>) -> Result<Vec<Project>, String> {
     let conn = state.db.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
     queries::list_projects(&conn).map_err(|e| e.to_string())
 }
+
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn delete_project(id: String, state: State<AppState>) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let conn = state.db.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    queries::delete_project(&conn, &id).map_err(|e| e.to_string())
+}
+
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn save_project_transcript(
+    project_id: String,
+    file_path: String,
+    segments: Vec<SegmentInput>,
+    speakers: Vec<SpeakerInput>,
+    state: State<AppState>,
+) -> Result<Project, String> {
+    let conn = state.db.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+
+    // 1. Create media file entry
+    let media_file =
+        queries::create_media_file(&conn, &project_id, &file_path).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+
+    // 2. Create speaker entries and build label -> id map
+    let mut speaker_map = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+    for speaker_input in &speakers {
+        let speaker = queries::create_speaker(
+            &conn,
+            &project_id,
+            &speaker_input.label,
+            Some(&speaker_input.color),
+        )
+        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        speaker_map.insert(speaker_input.label.clone(), speaker.id);
+    }
+
+    // 3. Create segments with words
+    for (index, seg_input) in segments.iter().enumerate() {
+        let speaker_id = seg_input
+            .speaker
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|label| speaker_map.get(label));
+
+        let segment = queries::create_segment(
+            &conn,
+            &project_id,
+            &media_file.id,
+            speaker_id.map(|s| s.as_str()),
+            seg_input.start_ms,
+            seg_input.end_ms,
+            &seg_input.text,
+            index as i32,
+        )
+        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+
+        // Create words for this segment
+        for (word_index, word_input) in seg_input.words.iter().enumerate() {
+            queries::create_word(
+                &conn,
+                &segment.id,
+                &word_input.word,
+                word_input.start_ms,
+                word_input.end_ms,
+                Some(word_input.confidence),
+                word_index as i32,
+            )
+            .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // 4. Return updated project info
+    queries::get_project(&conn, &project_id)
+        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
+        .ok_or_else(|| "Project not found".to_string())
+}
+
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn load_project_transcript(
+    project_id: String,
+    state: State<AppState>,
+) -> Result<Option<ProjectTranscript>, String> {
+    let conn = state.db.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+
+    // 1. Get media files for the project
+    let media_files =
+        queries::get_media_files_for_project(&conn, &project_id).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+
+    let media_file = match media_files.first() {
+        Some(mf) => mf,
+        None => return Ok(None),
+    };
+
+    // 2. Get speakers for the project and build id -> label map
+    let speakers =
+        queries::get_speakers_for_project(&conn, &project_id).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    let speaker_label_map: std::collections::HashMap<String, String> = speakers
+        .iter()
+        .map(|s| (s.id.clone(), s.label.clone()))
+        .collect();
+
+    // 3. Get segments for the media file
+    let db_segments =
+        queries::get_segments_for_media(&conn, &media_file.id).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+
+    // 4. Build output segments with nested words
+    let mut segment_outputs = Vec::with_capacity(db_segments.len());
+    for seg in &db_segments {
+        let words = queries::get_words_for_segment(&conn, &seg.id).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        let word_outputs: Vec<WordOutput> = words
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|w| WordOutput {
+                word: w.word,
+                start_ms: w.start_ms,
+                end_ms: w.end_ms,
+                confidence: w.confidence,
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        let speaker_label = seg
+            .speaker_id
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|sid| speaker_label_map.get(sid))
+            .cloned();
+
+        segment_outputs.push(SegmentOutput {
+            id: seg.id.clone(),
+            text: seg.text.clone(),
+            start_ms: seg.start_ms,
+            end_ms: seg.end_ms,
+            speaker: speaker_label,
+            words: word_outputs,
+        });
+    }
+
+    // 5. Build speaker outputs
+    let speaker_outputs: Vec<SpeakerOutput> = speakers
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|s| SpeakerOutput {
+            id: s.id,
+            label: s.label,
+            display_name: s.display_name,
+            color: s.color,
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    Ok(Some(ProjectTranscript {
+        file_path: media_file.file_path.clone(),
+        segments: segment_outputs,
+        speakers: speaker_outputs,
+    }))
+}
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/db/queries.rs b/src-tauri/src/db/queries.rs
index daedcc3..fcc19a5 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/db/queries.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/db/queries.rs
@@ -85,6 +85,57 @@ pub fn delete_project(conn: &Connection, id: &str) -> Result<(), DatabaseError>
     Ok(())
 }
 
+// ── Media Files ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+pub fn create_media_file(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    project_id: &str,
+    file_path: &str,
+) -> Result<MediaFile, DatabaseError> {
+    let id = Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
+    let now = Utc::now().to_rfc3339();
+    conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO media_files (id, project_id, file_path, created_at) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4)",
+        params![id, project_id, file_path, now],
+    )?;
+    Ok(MediaFile {
+        id,
+        project_id: project_id.to_string(),
+        file_path: file_path.to_string(),
+        file_hash: None,
+        duration_ms: None,
+        sample_rate: None,
+        channels: None,
+        format: None,
+        file_size: None,
+        created_at: now,
+    })
+}
+
+pub fn get_media_files_for_project(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    project_id: &str,
+) -> Result<Vec<MediaFile>, DatabaseError> {
+    let mut stmt = conn.prepare(
+        "SELECT id, project_id, file_path, file_hash, duration_ms, sample_rate, channels, format, file_size, created_at FROM media_files WHERE project_id = ?1 ORDER BY created_at",
+    )?;
+    let rows = stmt.query_map(params![project_id], |row| {
+        Ok(MediaFile {
+            id: row.get(0)?,
+            project_id: row.get(1)?,
+            file_path: row.get(2)?,
+            file_hash: row.get(3)?,
+            duration_ms: row.get(4)?,
+            sample_rate: row.get(5)?,
+            channels: row.get(6)?,
+            format: row.get(7)?,
+            file_size: row.get(8)?,
+            created_at: row.get(9)?,
+        })
+    })?;
+    Ok(rows.collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?)
+}
+
 // ── Speakers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 pub fn create_speaker(
@@ -194,6 +245,39 @@ pub fn reassign_speaker(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+// ── Segments (create) ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+pub fn create_segment(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    project_id: &str,
+    media_file_id: &str,
+    speaker_id: Option<&str>,
+    start_ms: i64,
+    end_ms: i64,
+    text: &str,
+    segment_index: i32,
+) -> Result<Segment, DatabaseError> {
+    let id = Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
+    conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO segments (id, project_id, media_file_id, speaker_id, start_ms, end_ms, text, is_edited, segment_index) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6, ?7, 0, ?8)",
+        params![id, project_id, media_file_id, speaker_id, start_ms, end_ms, text, segment_index],
+    )?;
+    Ok(Segment {
+        id,
+        project_id: project_id.to_string(),
+        media_file_id: media_file_id.to_string(),
+        speaker_id: speaker_id.map(String::from),
+        start_ms,
+        end_ms,
+        text: text.to_string(),
+        original_text: None,
+        confidence: None,
+        is_edited: false,
+        edited_at: None,
+        segment_index,
+    })
+}
+
 // ── Words ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 pub fn get_words_for_segment(
@@ -217,6 +301,31 @@ pub fn get_words_for_segment(
     Ok(rows.collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?)
 }
 
+pub fn create_word(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    segment_id: &str,
+    word: &str,
+    start_ms: i64,
+    end_ms: i64,
+    confidence: Option<f64>,
+    word_index: i32,
+) -> Result<Word, DatabaseError> {
+    let id = Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
+    conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO words (id, segment_id, word, start_ms, end_ms, confidence, word_index) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6, ?7)",
+        params![id, segment_id, word, start_ms, end_ms, confidence, word_index],
+    )?;
+    Ok(Word {
+        id,
+        segment_id: segment_id.to_string(),
+        word: word.to_string(),
+        start_ms,
+        end_ms,
+        confidence,
+        word_index,
+    })
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 0f3e476..c35dfaf 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ use tauri::Manager;
 
 use commands::ai::{ai_chat, ai_configure, ai_list_providers};
 use commands::export::export_transcript;
-use commands::project::{create_project, get_project, list_projects};
+use commands::project::{
+    create_project, delete_project, get_project, list_projects, load_project_transcript,
+    save_project_transcript,
+};
 use commands::settings::{load_settings, save_settings};
 use commands::system::{get_data_dir, llama_list_models, llama_start, llama_status, llama_stop};
 use commands::transcribe::{download_diarize_model, run_pipeline, transcribe_file};
@@ -34,6 +37,9 @@ pub fn run() {
             create_project,
             get_project,
             list_projects,
+            delete_project,
+            save_project_transcript,
+            load_project_transcript,
             transcribe_file,
             run_pipeline,
             download_diarize_model,
diff --git a/src/lib/components/AIChatPanel.svelte b/src/lib/components/AIChatPanel.svelte
index 1a53ae0..8e4ac28 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/AIChatPanel.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/AIChatPanel.svelte
@@ -88,6 +88,88 @@
     messages = [];
   }
 
+  function formatMarkdown(text: string): string {
+    // Split into lines for block-level processing
+    const lines = text.split('\n');
+    const result: string[] = [];
+    let inList = false;
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+      let line = lines[i];
+
+      // Headers
+      if (line.startsWith('### ')) {
+        if (inList) { result.push('</ul>'); inList = false; }
+        const content = applyInlineFormatting(line.slice(4));
+        result.push(`<h4>${content}</h4>`);
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (line.startsWith('## ')) {
+        if (inList) { result.push('</ul>'); inList = false; }
+        const content = applyInlineFormatting(line.slice(3));
+        result.push(`<h3>${content}</h3>`);
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (line.startsWith('# ')) {
+        if (inList) { result.push('</ul>'); inList = false; }
+        const content = applyInlineFormatting(line.slice(2));
+        result.push(`<h2>${content}</h2>`);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // List items (- or *)
+      if (/^[\-\*] /.test(line)) {
+        if (!inList) { result.push('<ul>'); inList = true; }
+        const content = applyInlineFormatting(line.slice(2));
+        result.push(`<li>${content}</li>`);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // Numbered list items
+      if (/^\d+\.\s/.test(line)) {
+        if (!inList) { result.push('<ol>'); inList = true; }
+        const content = applyInlineFormatting(line.replace(/^\d+\.\s/, ''));
+        result.push(`<li>${content}</li>`);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // Non-list line: close any open list
+      if (inList) {
+        // Check if previous list was ordered or unordered
+        const lastOpen = result.findLast(r => r === '<ul>' || r === '<ol>');
+        result.push(lastOpen === '<ol>' ? '</ol>' : '</ul>');
+        inList = false;
+      }
+
+      // Empty line = paragraph break
+      if (line.trim() === '') {
+        result.push('<br>');
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // Regular text line
+      result.push(applyInlineFormatting(line));
+    }
+
+    // Close any trailing open list
+    if (inList) {
+      const lastOpen = result.findLast(r => r === '<ul>' || r === '<ol>');
+      result.push(lastOpen === '<ol>' ? '</ol>' : '</ul>');
+    }
+
+    return result.join('\n');
+  }
+
+  function applyInlineFormatting(text: string): string {
+    // Code blocks (backtick) — process first to avoid conflicts
+    text = text.replace(/`([^`]+)`/g, '<code>$1</code>');
+    // Bold (**text**)
+    text = text.replace(/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/g, '<strong>$1</strong>');
+    // Italic (*text*) — only single asterisks not already consumed by bold
+    text = text.replace(/\*([^*]+)\*/g, '<em>$1</em>');
+    return text;
+  }
+
   // Quick action buttons
   async function summarize() {
     inputText = 'Please summarize this transcript in bullet points.';
@@ -122,7 +204,11 @@
     {:else}
       {#each messages as msg}
         <div class="message {msg.role}">
-          <div class="message-content">{msg.content}</div>
+          {#if msg.role === 'assistant'}
+            <div class="message-content">{@html formatMarkdown(msg.content)}</div>
+          {:else}
+            <div class="message-content">{msg.content}</div>
+          {/if}
         </div>
       {/each}
       {#if isLoading}
@@ -192,47 +278,101 @@
   }
   .empty-state {
     text-align: center;
-    color: #666;
-    font-size: 0.8rem;
-    padding: 1rem 0;
+    color: #888;
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    padding: 2rem 1rem;
+  }
+  .empty-state p {
+    margin-bottom: 1rem;
   }
   .quick-actions {
     display: flex;
-    gap: 0.5rem;
+    gap: 0.75rem;
     justify-content: center;
-    margin-top: 0.5rem;
+    margin-top: 1rem;
   }
   .quick-btn {
     background: rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.15);
     border: 1px solid rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.3);
     color: #e94560;
-    padding: 0.3rem 0.6rem;
-    border-radius: 4px;
+    padding: 0.45rem 0.85rem;
+    border-radius: 6px;
     cursor: pointer;
-    font-size: 0.75rem;
+    font-size: 0.8rem;
+    transition: background 0.15s;
   }
   .quick-btn:hover {
     background: rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.25);
   }
   .message {
-    margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
-    padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
-    border-radius: 6px;
+    margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
+    padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+    border-radius: 8px;
     font-size: 0.8rem;
-    line-height: 1.4;
+    line-height: 1.55;
   }
   .message.user {
     background: rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.15);
-    margin-left: 1rem;
+    border-left: 3px solid rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.4);
   }
   .message.assistant {
     background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
-    margin-right: 1rem;
+    border-left: 3px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
   }
   .message.loading {
     opacity: 0.6;
     font-style: italic;
   }
+
+  /* Markdown styles inside assistant messages */
+  .message.assistant :global(h2) {
+    font-size: 1rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    margin: 0.6rem 0 0.3rem;
+    color: #f0f0f0;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(h3) {
+    font-size: 0.9rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    margin: 0.5rem 0 0.25rem;
+    color: #e8e8e8;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(h4) {
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    margin: 0.4rem 0 0.2rem;
+    color: #e0e0e0;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(strong) {
+    color: #f0f0f0;
+    font-weight: 600;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(em) {
+    color: #ccc;
+    font-style: italic;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(code) {
+    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
+    color: #e94560;
+    padding: 0.1rem 0.35rem;
+    border-radius: 3px;
+    font-size: 0.75rem;
+    font-family: 'Fira Code', 'Cascadia Code', 'Consolas', monospace;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(ul),
+  .message.assistant :global(ol) {
+    margin: 0.35rem 0;
+    padding-left: 1.3rem;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(li) {
+    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
+    line-height: 1.5;
+  }
+  .message.assistant :global(br) {
+    display: block;
+    content: '';
+    margin-top: 0.35rem;
+  }
   .chat-input {
     display: flex;
     gap: 0.5rem;
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 5e0f382..613c9ae 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -18,8 +18,15 @@
   let audioUrl = $state('');
   let showSettings = $state(false);
 
+  // Project management state
+  let currentProjectId = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let currentProjectName = $state('');
+  let savedProjects = $state<Array<{id: string, name: string, created_at: string}>>([]);
+  let showProjectMenu = $state(false);
+
   onMount(() => {
     loadSettings();
+    loadProjects();
 
     // Global keyboard shortcuts
     function handleKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
@@ -38,18 +45,24 @@
         showSettings = true;
       } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
         showExportMenu = false;
+        showProjectMenu = false;
         showSettings = false;
       }
     }
 
     // Close export dropdown on outside click
     function handleClickOutside(e: MouseEvent) {
+      const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
       if (showExportMenu) {
-        const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
         if (!target.closest('.export-dropdown')) {
           showExportMenu = false;
         }
       }
+      if (showProjectMenu) {
+        if (!target.closest('.project-dropdown')) {
+          showProjectMenu = false;
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     document.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
@@ -70,6 +83,106 @@
   // Speaker color palette for auto-assignment
   const speakerColors = ['#e94560', '#4ecdc4', '#ffe66d', '#a8e6cf', '#ff8b94', '#c7ceea', '#ffd93d', '#6bcb77'];
 
+  async function loadProjects() {
+    try {
+      const projects = await invoke<Array<{id: string, name: string, created_at: string}>>('list_projects');
+      savedProjects = projects;
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to load projects:', err);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function loadProject(projectId: string) {
+    try {
+      const result = await invoke<{
+        project_id: string;
+        name: string;
+        file_path: string;
+        segments: Array<{
+          text: string;
+          start_ms: number;
+          end_ms: number;
+          speaker: string | null;
+          words: Array<{
+            word: string;
+            start_ms: number;
+            end_ms: number;
+            confidence: number;
+          }>;
+        }>;
+        speakers: string[];
+      }>('load_project_transcript', { projectId });
+
+      // Set project info
+      currentProjectId = result.project_id;
+      currentProjectName = result.name;
+
+      // Rebuild speakers
+      const newSpeakers: Speaker[] = (result.speakers || []).map((label, idx) => ({
+        id: `speaker-${idx}`,
+        project_id: result.project_id,
+        label,
+        display_name: null,
+        color: speakerColors[idx % speakerColors.length],
+      }));
+      speakers.set(newSpeakers);
+
+      // Build speaker label -> id lookup
+      const speakerLookup = new Map(newSpeakers.map(s => [s.label, s.id]));
+
+      // Rebuild segments
+      const newSegments: Segment[] = result.segments.map((seg, idx) => ({
+        id: `seg-${idx}`,
+        project_id: result.project_id,
+        media_file_id: '',
+        speaker_id: seg.speaker ? (speakerLookup.get(seg.speaker) ?? null) : null,
+        start_ms: seg.start_ms,
+        end_ms: seg.end_ms,
+        text: seg.text,
+        original_text: null,
+        confidence: null,
+        is_edited: false,
+        edited_at: null,
+        segment_index: idx,
+        words: seg.words.map((w, widx) => ({
+          id: `word-${idx}-${widx}`,
+          segment_id: `seg-${idx}`,
+          word: w.word,
+          start_ms: w.start_ms,
+          end_ms: w.end_ms,
+          confidence: w.confidence,
+          word_index: widx,
+        })),
+      }));
+      segments.set(newSegments);
+
+      // Load audio from saved file path
+      if (result.file_path) {
+        audioUrl = convertFileSrc(result.file_path);
+        waveformPlayer?.loadAudio(audioUrl);
+      }
+
+      showProjectMenu = false;
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to load project:', err);
+      alert(`Failed to load project: ${err}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function deleteProject(projectId: string) {
+    try {
+      await invoke('delete_project', { projectId });
+      await loadProjects();
+      if (currentProjectId === projectId) {
+        currentProjectId = null;
+        currentProjectName = '';
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to delete project:', err);
+      alert(`Failed to delete project: ${err}`);
+    }
+  }
+
   function handleWordClick(timeMs: number) {
     console.log('[voice-to-notes] Word clicked, seeking to', timeMs, 'ms');
     waveformPlayer?.seekTo(timeMs);
@@ -245,6 +358,28 @@
       }));
 
       segments.set(newSegments);
+
+      // Auto-save project
+      try {
+        const fileName = filePath.split(/[\\/]/).pop() || 'Untitled';
+        const projectName = fileName.replace(/\.[^.]+$/, '');
+        const projectId = await invoke<string>('create_project', { name: projectName });
+        await invoke('save_project_transcript', {
+          projectId,
+          filePath,
+          segments: result.segments,
+          speakers: result.speakers.map((label, idx) => ({
+            label,
+            display_name: null,
+            color: speakerColors[idx % speakerColors.length],
+          })),
+        });
+        currentProjectId = projectId;
+        currentProjectName = projectName;
+        await loadProjects();
+      } catch (saveErr) {
+        console.error('Auto-save failed:', saveErr);
+      }
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Pipeline failed:', err);
       alert(`Pipeline failed: ${err}`);
@@ -318,6 +453,33 @@
   <div class="app-header">
     <h1>Voice to Notes</h1>
     <div class="header-actions">
+      <div class="project-dropdown">
+        <button class="project-btn" onclick={() => showProjectMenu = !showProjectMenu}>
+          {currentProjectName ? `Project: ${currentProjectName}` : 'No project'}
+        </button>
+        {#if showProjectMenu}
+          <div class="project-menu">
+            {#if savedProjects.length === 0}
+              <div class="project-empty">No saved projects</div>
+            {:else}
+              {#each savedProjects as project}
+                <div class="project-item">
+                  <button class="project-option" onclick={() => loadProject(project.id)}>
+                    {project.name}
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    class="project-delete"
+                    onclick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); deleteProject(project.id); }}
+                    title="Delete project"
+                  >
+                    &times;
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+              {/each}
+            {/if}
+          </div>
+        {/if}
+      </div>
       <button class="import-btn" onclick={handleFileImport} disabled={isTranscribing}>
         {#if isTranscribing}
           Processing...
@@ -467,6 +629,78 @@
   .export-option:hover {
     background: rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.2);
   }
+  .project-dropdown {
+    position: relative;
+  }
+  .project-btn {
+    background: #0f3460;
+    border: 1px solid #4a5568;
+    color: #e0e0e0;
+    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+    border-radius: 6px;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    font-size: 0.875rem;
+    font-weight: 500;
+    max-width: 200px;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    text-overflow: ellipsis;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+  }
+  .project-btn:hover {
+    background: #1a4a7a;
+  }
+  .project-menu {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 100%;
+    right: 0;
+    margin-top: 0.25rem;
+    background: #16213e;
+    border: 1px solid #4a5568;
+    border-radius: 6px;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    z-index: 10;
+    min-width: 220px;
+    max-height: 300px;
+    overflow-y: auto;
+  }
+  .project-empty {
+    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+    color: #888;
+    font-size: 0.8rem;
+  }
+  .project-item {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+  }
+  .project-option {
+    flex: 1;
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+    color: #e0e0e0;
+    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+    text-align: left;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    font-size: 0.8rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    text-overflow: ellipsis;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+  }
+  .project-option:hover {
+    background: rgba(233, 69, 96, 0.2);
+  }
+  .project-delete {
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+    color: #888;
+    padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    font-size: 1rem;
+    line-height: 1;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+  }
+  .project-delete:hover {
+    color: #e94560;
+  }
   .app-shell {
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;