diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 29f14914a..0a489f10e 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -13,3 +13,7 @@ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-anthropic-api-key
 # Rev.ai token for imported audio transcription (optional)
 # Sign up: https://www.rev.ai/ then get token at https://www.rev.ai/access_token
 REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN=your-revai-token
+
+# Plaud access token for importing Plaud recordings (optional)
+# Log into the Plaud web portal and extract token from browser console
+PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN=your-plaud-token
diff --git a/apps/settings/routes.py b/apps/settings/routes.py
index 0f4bcc2c4..ac148bbb4 100644
--- a/apps/settings/routes.py
+++ b/apps/settings/routes.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ API_KEY_ENV_VARS = [
     "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY",
     "OPENAI_API_KEY",
     "REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN",
+    "PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN",
 ]
 
 
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ def update_config() -> Any:
     - identity: User profile (name, preferred, bio, pronouns, aliases, etc.)
     - transcribe: Transcription settings (device, model, compute_type)
     - convey: Web app settings (password)
-    - env: API keys (GOOGLE_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN)
+    - env: API keys (GOOGLE_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN, PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN)
 
     Note: Model/provider configuration is done via the 'providers' section in
     journal.json. See docs/JOURNAL.md for the providers config format.
diff --git a/apps/settings/workspace.html b/apps/settings/workspace.html
index 42e892457..c2e5109cf 100644
--- a/apps/settings/workspace.html
+++ b/apps/settings/workspace.html
@@ -1761,6 +1761,16 @@ input:checked + .slider:before {
         </div>
         <small>Audio transcription for imported files. <a href="https://www.rev.ai/access_token" target="_blank">Get token</a></small>
       </div>
+      <div class="settings-field">
+        <label for="field-env-plaud">Plaud</label>
+        <div class="password-wrap">
+          <input type="password" id="field-env-plaud" data-section="env" data-key="PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN" placeholder="Enter access token">
+          <button type="button" class="password-toggle" data-toggle="field-env-plaud" title="Show token">
+            <span>&#128065;</span>
+          </button>
+        </div>
+        <small>Import audio from Plaud recorder. Log into the web portal and extract token from browser console.</small>
+      </div>
     </section>
 
     <!-- Transcription Section -->
@@ -2342,6 +2352,7 @@ function populateFields(config) {
   updateEnvStatus('field-env-openai', env.OPENAI_API_KEY, sysEnv.OPENAI_API_KEY);
   updateEnvStatus('field-env-anthropic', env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, sysEnv.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY);
   updateEnvStatus('field-env-revai', env.REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN, sysEnv.REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN);
+  updateEnvStatus('field-env-plaud', env.PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN, sysEnv.PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN);
 }
 
 function updateEnvStatus(fieldId, isJournalConfigured, isSystemConfigured) {
diff --git a/docs/JOURNAL.md b/docs/JOURNAL.md
index 578ef5b5b..7741268d8 100644
--- a/docs/JOURNAL.md
+++ b/docs/JOURNAL.md
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ The `env` block provides fallback values for environment variables. These are lo
     "GOOGLE_API_KEY": "your-google-api-key",
     "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "your-anthropic-api-key",
     "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
-    "REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your-revai-token"
+    "REVAI_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your-revai-token",
+    "PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your-plaud-token"
   }
 }
 ```
diff --git a/tests/test_importer_sync.py b/tests/test_importer_sync.py
index ec46bb64c..09566b8c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_importer_sync.py
+++ b/tests/test_importer_sync.py
@@ -75,14 +75,24 @@ def test_plaud_protocol_conformance():
     assert isinstance(PlaudBackend(), SyncableBackend)
 
 
-def test_plaud_sync_not_implemented(tmp_path):
-    """PlaudBackend.sync() raises NotImplementedError."""
+def test_plaud_sync_not_implemented(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """With token configured, PlaudBackend.sync() raises NotImplementedError."""
     from think.importers.plaud import PlaudBackend
 
+    monkeypatch.setenv("PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN", "test-token")
     with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
         PlaudBackend().sync(tmp_path)
 
 
+def test_plaud_sync_requires_token(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Without token configured, PlaudBackend.sync() raises ValueError."""
+    from think.importers.plaud import PlaudBackend
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN", raising=False)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN"):
+        PlaudBackend().sync(tmp_path)
+
+
 def test_backends_cli_flag(capsys, monkeypatch):
     """sol import --backends lists plaud."""
     import sys
diff --git a/think/importers/plaud.py b/think/importers/plaud.py
index 268796b2e..97a100eab 100644
--- a/think/importers/plaud.py
+++ b/think/importers/plaud.py
@@ -282,6 +282,11 @@ class PlaudBackend:
 
         Not yet implemented — Phase 2 will wire up actual sync.
         """
+        token = os.getenv("PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN")
+        if not token:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "PLAUD_ACCESS_TOKEN not configured — set in Settings > API Keys"
+            )
         raise NotImplementedError("Plaud sync execution is not yet implemented")