diff --git a/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp b/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp
index 4118820d..adf80ec1 100644
--- a/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/avogadro/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -1979,6 +1979,42 @@ void MainWindow::buildMenu()
   m_menuBuilder->addAction(path, action, 960);
   m_fileToolBar->addAction(action);
   connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), SLOT(saveFileAs()));
+  // Initialize autosave feature
+m_autosaveInterval = 5; // Autosave interval in minutes
+m_autosaveTimer = new QTimer(this);
+connect(m_autosaveTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &MainWindow::autosaveDocument);
+m_autosaveTimer->start(m_autosaveInterval * 60000); // Convert minutes to milliseconds
+
+void MainWindow::autosaveDocument()
+{
+    if (!m_molecule || !m_moleculeDirty) {
+        return; // No molecule loaded or no changes made since the last save.
+    }
+
+    QString autosaveDirPath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation) + "/autosave";
+    QDir autosaveDir(autosaveDirPath);
+    if (!autosaveDir.exists()) {
+        autosaveDir.mkpath(".");
+    }
+
+    // Construct autosave file name
+    QString autosaveFilename;
+    if (m_molecule->hasData("fileName")) {
+        QFileInfo fileInfo(m_molecule->data("fileName").toString().c_str());
+        autosaveFilename = fileInfo.baseName() + "_autosave.cjson";
+    } else {
+        autosaveFilename = "unsaved_autosave.cjson";
+    }
+    QString autosaveFilePath = autosaveDirPath + "/" + autosaveFilename;
+
+    // Use CJSON format for autosaving
+    Io::CjsonFormat writer;
+    if (!writer.writeFile(autosaveFilePath, *m_molecule)) {
+        qWarning() << "Failed to autosave the document to" << autosaveFilePath;
+    } else {
+        qDebug() << "Document autosaved to" << autosaveFilePath;
+    }
+}
 
   // Export action for menu
   QStringList exportPath = path;
diff --git a/avogadro/mainwindow.h b/avogadro/mainwindow.h
index 3dadf613..2c2cb8ae 100644
--- a/avogadro/mainwindow.h
+++ b/avogadro/mainwindow.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
 
 public slots:
   void setMolecule(Avogadro::QtGui::Molecule* molecule);
-
+  void autosaveDocument(); //line to declare the autosave slot
   /**
    * Update internal state to reflect that the molecule has been modified.
    */
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ private slots:
   void setProjectionPerspective();
 
 private:
+
   QtGui::Molecule* m_molecule;
   QtGui::RWMolecule* m_rwMolecule;
   QtGui::MoleculeModel* m_moleculeModel;
@@ -398,7 +399,8 @@ private slots:
   QtGui::ScenePlugin* m_activeScenePlugin;
   bool m_queuedFilesStarted;
   QStringList m_queuedFiles;
-
+  QTimer* m_autosaveTimer;  // for the autosave timer
+  int m_autosaveInterval;   // for autosave interval in minutes
   QStringList m_recentFiles;
   QList<QAction*> m_actionRecentFiles;