diff --git a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/__tests__/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.test.js b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/__tests__/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.test.js
index 7bd38f546..eb93861fb 100644
--- a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/__tests__/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.test.js
+++ b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/__tests__/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.test.js
@@ -433,10 +433,14 @@ describe('VisualEditor', () => {
 		  "addObjective": [Function],
 		  "contentRect": null,
 		  "editable": false,
+		  "elapsed": 0,
+		  "intervalId": 108,
+		  "lastSaved": null,
 		  "objectives": Array [],
 		  "removeObjective": [Function],
 		  "saveState": "saveSuccessful",
 		  "showPlaceholders": true,
+		  "unsavedChanges": false,
 		  "updateObjective": [Function],
 		  "value": Array [
 		    Object {
@@ -458,10 +462,14 @@ describe('VisualEditor', () => {
 		  "addObjective": [Function],
 		  "contentRect": null,
 		  "editable": true,
+		  "elapsed": 0,
+		  "intervalId": 114,
+		  "lastSaved": null,
 		  "objectives": Array [],
 		  "removeObjective": [Function],
 		  "saveState": "",
 		  "showPlaceholders": true,
+		  "unsavedChanges": false,
 		  "updateObjective": [Function],
 		  "value": Array [
 		    Object {
@@ -681,6 +689,20 @@ describe('VisualEditor', () => {
 		expect(plugins).toMatchSnapshot()
 	})
 
+	test('draft saves to local storage every 10 seconds', () => {
+		jest.useFakeTimers();
+
+		const saveModuleToLocalStorage = jest.spyOn(VisualEditor.prototype, 'saveModuleToLocalStorage');
+
+		expect(setInterval).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+		expect(setInterval).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(expect(saveModuleToLocalStorage), 10000);
+	})
+
+	test('lastSaved displays in toolbar after save', () => {
+		const component = mount(<VisualEditor {...props}/>)
+
+	})
+
 	test('exportToJSON returns expected json for assessment node', () => {
 		const spy = jest.spyOn(Common.Registry, 'getItemForType')
 		spy.mockReturnValueOnce({
diff --git a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/code-editor.js b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/code-editor.js
index 5b743ac27..ba6f0910e 100644
--- a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/code-editor.js
+++ b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/code-editor.js
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ class CodeEditor extends React.Component {
 		location.reload()
 	}
 
+	//TARGET
 	saveAndGetTitleFromCode() {
 		// Update the title in the File Toolbar
 		const title = EditorUtil.getTitleFromString(this.state.code, this.props.mode)
diff --git a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/editor-app.js b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/editor-app.js
index 21892d8cd..006ac2379 100644
--- a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/editor-app.js
+++ b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/editor-app.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import React from 'react'
 import enableWindowCloseDispatcher from '../../common/util/close-window-dispatcher'
 import ObojoboIdleTimer from '../../common/components/obojobo-idle-timer'
 import SimpleDialog from '../../common/components/modal/simple-dialog'
+import { isEqual } from 'underscore'
 
 const ModalContainer = Common.components.ModalContainer
 const ModalUtil = Common.util.ModalUtil
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 		// store the current version id for locking
 		// not stored on state because no effect on render
 		this.contentId = null
+		const unsavedChanges = localStorage.getItem("localStorageJSON")
 
 		this.state = {
 			model: null,
@@ -40,7 +42,9 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 			mode: VISUAL_MODE,
 			code: null,
 			requestStatus: null,
-			requestError: null
+			requestError: null,
+			unsavedChanges: unsavedChanges ? true : null,
+			overwrite: false
 		}
 
 		// caluclate edit lock settings
@@ -85,17 +89,49 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 		this.onWindowReturnFromInactive = this.onWindowReturnFromInactive.bind(this)
 		this.onWindowInactive = this.onWindowInactive.bind(this)
 		this.renewLockInterval = null
+		this.saveToLocalStorage = this.saveToLocalStorage.bind(this)
+		this.overwriteChanges = this.overwriteChanges.bind(this)
+		this.cancelOverwrite = this.cancelOverwrite.bind(this)
+	}
+
+	// all the stuff you need to do to save the current json string to localStorage
+	saveToLocalStorage(currentDraftJSON) {
+		// write the current draft JSON into local storage
+		// compare json here
+		if(!isEqual(currentDraftJSON, this.state.draft)) {
+			localStorage.setItem('localStorageJSON', JSON.stringify(currentDraftJSON))
+			this.setState({ unsavedChanges: true })
+			this.setState({ firstLoad: false })
+		} else {
+			localStorage.removeItem('localStorageJSON')
+		}
+
 	}
 
 	saveDraft(draftId, draftSrc, xmlOrJSON = 'json') {
 		const mode = xmlOrJSON === 'xml' ? 'text/plain' : 'application/json'
+		// remove local storage
+		if(localStorage.getItem("localStorageJSON")) {
+			localStorage.removeItem("localStorageJSON");
+		}
 		return EditorAPI.postDraft(draftId, draftSrc, mode)
 			.then(({ contentId, result }) => {
 				if (result.status !== 'ok') {
 					throw Error(result.value.message)
 				}
+				
+				contentId = this.contentId
+
+				if(xmlOrJSON !== 'xml') {
+					this.setState({
+						draft: {
+							...JSON.parse(draftSrc),
+							contentId
+						}
+					})
+
+				}
 
-				this.contentId = contentId // keep new contentId for edit locks
 				return true
 			})
 			.catch(e => {
@@ -104,11 +140,61 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 			})
 	}
 
+	overwriteChanges() {
+		try {
+			const localStorageJSON = localStorage.getItem('localStorageJSON')
+			const parsedLocalStorageJSON = JSON.parse(localStorageJSON)	
+
+			this.setState({ 
+				unsavedChanges: false,
+			}, () => {
+				localStorage.removeItem('localStorageJSON');
+				this.saveDraft(parsedLocalStorageJSON.draftId, localStorageJSON, 'json').then(() => {
+					this.reloadDraft(this.state.draftId, this.state.mode);
+				}).then(() => {
+					window.alert('Page needs to refresh in order7 for overwritten changes to show'); //eslint-disable-line no-alert
+					window.removeEventListener('beforeunload', this.checkIfSaved)
+					window.location.reload();
+				})
+			})
+
+		}catch(e) {
+			throw new Error(e)
+		}
+	}
+
+	cancelOverwrite() {
+		localStorage.removeItem('localStorageJSON');
+		ModalUtil.hide();
+	}
+
 	getVisualEditorState(draftId, draftModel) {
 		OboModel.clearAll()
 		const json = JSON.parse(draftModel)
 		const obomodel = OboModel.create(json)
 
+
+		// compare and show modal here 
+		// define functions instead of using anonymous/arrow functions
+		const localStorageJSON = localStorage.getItem('localStorageJSON')
+		if (this.state.unsavedChanges) {
+			this.setState({ overwrite: true })
+			if(!isEqual(localStorageJSON, json) ) {
+				ModalUtil.show(
+					<SimpleDialog
+						yesOrNo={true}
+						title={"Restore Unsaved Changes?"}
+						onConfirm={this.overwriteChanges}
+						onCancel={this.props.onCancel}
+					>
+						It looks like you did not save changes before closing the window.
+						<br/><br/>
+						Would you like to restore your unsaved changes?
+					</SimpleDialog>
+				)
+			}
+		}
+
 		EditorStore.init(
 			obomodel,
 			json.content.start,
@@ -209,6 +295,7 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 		return EditorAPI.getFullDraft(draftId, mode === VISUAL_MODE ? 'json' : mode)
 			.then(({ contentId, body }) => {
 				this.contentId = contentId
+
 				switch (mode) {
 					case XML_MODE:
 						return body
@@ -223,7 +310,7 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 							error.type = json.value.type
 							throw error
 						}
-						// stringify and format the draft data
+
 						return JSON.stringify(json.value, null, 4)
 					}
 				}
@@ -355,6 +442,7 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 				switchMode={this.switchMode}
 				insertableItems={Common.Registry.insertableItems}
 				saveDraft={this.saveDraft}
+				saveToLocalStorage={this.saveToLocalStorage}
 			/>
 		)
 	}
@@ -371,6 +459,8 @@ class EditorApp extends React.Component {
 				switchMode={this.switchMode}
 				insertableItems={Common.Registry.insertableItems}
 				saveDraft={this.saveDraft}
+				saveToLocalStorage={this.saveToLocalStorage}
+				unsavedChanges={this.unsavedChanges}
 				readOnly={
 					// Prevents editing a draft that's a revision,
 					// even if the url was visited manually
diff --git a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.js b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.js
index d5daaca4e..99af5c547 100644
--- a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.js
+++ b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.js
@@ -73,13 +73,17 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		this.state = {
 			value: json,
 			saveState: 'saveSuccessful',
+			lastSaved: null,
+			elapsed: 0,
+			unsavedChanges: false, 
 			editable: json && json.length >= 1 && !json[0].text,
 			showPlaceholders: true,
 			contentRect: null,
 			objectives: this.props.model?.objectives ?? [],
 			addObjective: this.addObjective,
 			removeObjective: this.removeObjective,
-			updateObjective: this.updateObjective
+			updateObjective: this.updateObjective,
+			intervalId: null,
 		}
 
 		this.pageEditorContainerRef = React.createRef()
@@ -102,6 +106,8 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		this.setEditorFocus = this.setEditorFocus.bind(this)
 		this.onClick = this.onClick.bind(this)
 		this.hasInvalidFields = this.hasInvalidFields.bind(this)
+		this.formatJSON = this.formatJSON.bind(this)
+		this.saveModuleToLocalStorage = this.saveModuleToLocalStorage.bind(this)
 
 		this.editor = this.withPlugins(withHistory(withReact(createEditor())))
 		this.editor.toggleEditable = this.toggleEditable
@@ -181,6 +187,12 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		return Array.from(items.values())
 	}
 
+	updateElapsed() {
+		if (this.state.lastSaved === null) return {...this.state.lastSaved}
+		const duration =  Math.floor((Date.now() - this.state.lastSaved) / (60 * 1000))
+		this.setState({...this.state, elapsed: duration})
+	}
+
 	componentDidMount() {
 		Dispatcher.on('modal:show', () => {
 			this.toggleEditable(false)
@@ -193,6 +205,13 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		// Setup global keydown to listen to all global keys
 		window.addEventListener('keydown', this.onKeyDownGlobal)
 
+		const intervalId = setInterval(() => {
+			this.saveModuleToLocalStorage()
+			this.updateElapsed()
+		},
+		10000)
+		this.setState({ ...this.state, intervalId })
+
 		// Set keyboard focus to the editor
 		Transforms.select(this.editor, Editor.start(this.editor, []))
 		this.setEditorFocus()
@@ -219,6 +238,7 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		window.removeEventListener('beforeunload', this.checkIfSaved)
 		window.removeEventListener('keydown', this.onKeyDownGlobal)
 		if (this.resizeObserver) this.resizeObserver.disconnect()
+		clearInterval(this.state.intervalId)
 	}
 
 	checkIfSaved(event) {
@@ -232,11 +252,13 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 			return undefined
 		}
 
-		if (this.state.saveState !== 'saveSuccessful') {
+		// have to change value before save state is unsuccessful or do it in the already existing if
+		if (this.state.saveState !== 'saveSuccessful') {	
 			event.returnValue = true
 			return true // Returning true will cause browser to ask user to confirm leaving page
 		}
 
+
 		//eslint-disable-next-line
 		return undefined
 	}
@@ -407,7 +429,7 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	saveModule(draftId) {
+	formatJSON() {
 		if (this.props.readOnly) {
 			return
 		}
@@ -449,15 +471,20 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 					contentJSON.content = child.get('content')
 					break
 			}
-
 			json.children.push(contentJSON)
 		})
+
+		return json
+	}
+
+	saveModule(draftId) {
+		const json = this.formatJSON()
 		this.setState({ saveState: 'saving' })
 
 		return this.props.saveDraft(draftId, JSON.stringify(json)).then(isSaved => {
 			if (isSaved) {
 				if (this.state.saveState === 'saving') {
-					this.setState({ saveState: 'saveSuccessful' })
+					this.setState({...this.state, saveState: 'saveSuccessful', lastSaved: Date.now()})
 				}
 			} else {
 				this.setState({ saveState: 'saveFailed' })
@@ -465,6 +492,11 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		})
 	}
 
+	saveModuleToLocalStorage() {
+		const json = this.formatJSON()
+		this.props.saveToLocalStorage(json)
+	}
+
 	exportToJSON(page, value) {
 		if (page === null) return
 
@@ -498,13 +530,13 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		this.exportToJSON(this.props.page, this.state.value)
 	}
 
-	importFromJSON() {
+	importFromJSON(existingJSON = null) {
 		if (!this.props.page) {
 			// if page is empty, exit
 			return [{ text: 'No content available, create a page to start editing' }]
 		}
 
-		const json = this.props.page.toJSON()
+		const json = existingJSON ?? this.props.page.toJSON()
 
 		if (json.type === ASSESSMENT_NODE) {
 			return [this.assessment.oboToSlate(this.props.page)]
@@ -634,12 +666,14 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 		}
 	}
 
+
 	render() {
 		const className =
 			'editor--page-editor ' +
 			isOrNot(this.state.showPlaceholders, 'show-placeholders') +
 			isOrNot(this.props.readOnly, 'read-only')
-
+	
+		//check document engine for confirmation dialog/modal
 		return (
 			<div className={className} ref={this.pageEditorContainerRef}>
 				<Slate editor={this.editor} value={this.state.value} onChange={this.onChange}>
@@ -650,6 +684,7 @@ class VisualEditor extends React.Component {
 							<Button className="skip-nav" onClick={this.setEditorFocus}>
 								Skip to Editor
 							</Button>
+							{this.state.lastSaved ? <span className='lastSaved'>{this.state.elapsed < 1 ? 'Last saved < 1m ago' : `Last saved ${this.state.elapsed}m ago`}</span> : <></>}
 							<FileToolbarViewer
 								title={this.props.model.title}
 								draftId={this.props.draftId}
diff --git a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.scss b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.scss
index 91c719d78..8f8ee79e6 100644
--- a/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.scss
+++ b/packages/app/obojobo-document-engine/src/scripts/oboeditor/components/visual-editor.scss
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 	min-height: calc(100vh - 10.5em);
 	position: relative;
 	min-width: 56.5em;
+	z-index: 0;
 
 	.obojobo-draft--modules--module {
 		margin: 3em auto;
@@ -38,6 +39,20 @@
 		cursor: text;
 	}
 
+	.lastSaved {
+		position: absolute;
+		top: 2.8em;
+		right: 12em;
+		font-family: $font-default;
+		font-size: 0.8em;
+		padding-left: 3em;
+		display: inline-block;
+		pointer-events: none;
+		text-align: center;
+		font-weight: bold;
+		color: $color-text-minor
+	}
+
 	.skip-nav {
 		position: absolute;
 		z-index: 6;