diff --git a/R/app_ui.R b/R/app_ui.R
index 4b39fcc..60e7879 100644
--- a/R/app_ui.R
+++ b/R/app_ui.R
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ app_ui <- function(request) {
         path = app_sys("app/www"),
         app_title = "ESQapp"
       ),
-      tags$script(src = "www/app_exit_protection.js")
+      tags$script(src = "www/app_exit_protection.js"),
+      tags$script(src = "www/enhanced_file_input.js")
     ),
     # Your application UI logic
     bslib::page_navbar(
diff --git a/R/mod_import.R b/R/mod_import.R
index 033371f..28f9a2d 100644
--- a/R/mod_import.R
+++ b/R/mod_import.R
@@ -10,13 +10,40 @@
 mod_import_ui <- function(id) {
   ns <- NS(id)
   tagList(
-    shinyFiles::shinyFilesButton(
-      ns("projectConfigurationFile"),
-      "Select Project Configuration",
-      "Please select the projectConfiguration excel file",
-      multiple = FALSE
+    tags$div(
+      id = ns("dropzone"),   # enhanced_file_input.js targets this ID
+      bslib::card(
+        height = "auto",
+        style = "border: 2px dashed #007bff; margin-bottom: 15px;",
+        bslib::card_body(
+          class = "text-center p-4",
+          fileInput(
+            ns("projectConfigurationFile"),
+            label = NULL,
+            accept = c(".xlsx", ".xls"),
+            buttonLabel = "Browse Files",
+            placeholder = "No file selected",
+            width = "100%"
+          ),
+          div(
+            style = "margin-top: 15px;",
+            tags$div(style = "font-size: 2.5rem; color: #007bff; margin-bottom: 10px;", "📁"),
+            tags$h6("Project Configuration File",
+                    style = "margin: 10px 0 5px 0; color: #495057; font-weight: 600;"),
+            tags$small("Select an Excel file (.xlsx, .xls)",
+                       style = "color: #6c757d; display: block; margin-bottom: 5px;"),
+            tags$small("Drag and drop supported",
+                       style = "color: #28a745; font-style: italic;")
+          )
+        )
+      )
     ),
-    uiOutput(ns("selected_file_path"))
+    uiOutput(ns("selected_file_path")),
+    # Visual state while dragging over the dropzone
+    tags$style(HTML(sprintf(
+      "#%s.dragover { border-color:#28a745 !important; background-color:#e8f5e8; }",
+      ns("dropzone")
+    )))
   )
 }
 
@@ -27,30 +54,25 @@ mod_import_server <- function(id, r, DROPDOWNS) {
   moduleServer(id, function(input, output, session) {
     ns <- session$ns
 
-    volumes <- c(
-      "Current Project" = getwd(),
-      # "Test Project" = testthat::test_path("data"),
-      Home = Sys.getenv("R_USER"),
-      shinyFiles::getVolumes()()
-    )
-
-    shinyFiles::shinyFileChoose(input,
-      id = "projectConfigurationFile",
-      roots = volumes,
-      filetypes = c("xlsx"),
-      session = session
-    )
-
     projectConfiguration <- reactive({
       req(input$projectConfigurationFile)
-      projectConfigurationFilePath <- shinyFiles::parseFilePaths(
-        volumes,
-        input$projectConfigurationFile
-      )
-
-      req(projectConfigurationFilePath$datapath)
 
-      esqlabsR::createDefaultProjectConfiguration(path = projectConfigurationFilePath$datapath)
+      # Get the uploaded file info
+      file_info <- input$projectConfigurationFile
+      req(file_info$datapath)
+
+      # Validate file extension
+      file_ext <- tools::file_ext(file_info$name)
+      if (!file_ext %in% c("xlsx", "xls")) {
+        showNotification(
+          "Please select an Excel file (.xlsx or .xls)",
+          type = "error",
+          duration = 5
+        )
+        return(NULL)
+      }
+
+      esqlabsR::createDefaultProjectConfiguration(path = file_info$datapath)
     })
 
     observeEvent(projectConfiguration(), {
@@ -107,14 +129,39 @@ mod_import_server <- function(id, r, DROPDOWNS) {
     })
 
     output$selected_file_path <- renderUI({
-      req(projectConfiguration())
+      req(input$projectConfigurationFile)
 
-      verbatimTextOutput(ns("selected_file_path_text"))
+      file_info <- input$projectConfigurationFile
+
+      # Create a nice display for the selected file
+      bslib::card(
+        style = "margin-top: 10px; border-left: 4px solid #28a745;",
+        bslib::card_body(
+          style = "padding: 10px 15px;",
+          div(
+            style = "display: flex; align-items: center;",
+            span(
+              style = "color: #28a745; margin-right: 8px; font-size: 1.2em;",
+              "✓"
+            ),
+            div(
+              tags$strong("Selected File:", style = "color: #495057;"),
+              br(),
+              tags$small(file_info$name, style = "color: #6c757d;"),
+              br(),
+              tags$small(
+                paste("Size:", round(file_info$size / 1024, 1), "KB"),
+                style = "color: #6c757d;"
+              )
+            )
+          )
+        )
+      )
     })
 
     output$selected_file_path_text <- renderPrint({
-      req(projectConfiguration())
-      projectConfiguration()$projectConfigurationFilePath
+      req(input$projectConfigurationFile)
+      input$projectConfigurationFile$name
     })
 
     # Share project configuration path with the export module
diff --git a/inst/app/www/enhanced_file_input.js b/inst/app/www/enhanced_file_input.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b177ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inst/app/www/enhanced_file_input.js
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+// Enhanced File Input with Drag and Drop
+$(function() {
+  function initDropzones() {
+    $("[id$='-dropzone']").each(function() {
+      var dropzone = $(this);
+      if (dropzone.data("dropzone-init")) return; // already initialized
+      dropzone.data("dropzone-init", true);
+
+      var fileInput = dropzone.find("input[type='file']").first();
+      if (!fileInput.length) return;
+
+      // Prevent double opening after drop
+      var suppressNextClick = false;
+
+      // Highlight on drag
+      dropzone.on("dragover dragenter", function(e) {
+        e.preventDefault(); e.stopPropagation();
+        dropzone.addClass("dragover");
+      });
+
+      dropzone.on("dragleave dragend", function(e) {
+        e.preventDefault(); e.stopPropagation();
+        dropzone.removeClass("dragover");
+      });
+
+      // Drop handler
+      dropzone.on("drop", function(e) {
+        e.preventDefault(); e.stopPropagation();
+        dropzone.removeClass("dragover");
+
+        var dt = e.originalEvent && e.originalEvent.dataTransfer;
+        if (!dt || !dt.files || !dt.files.length) return;
+
+        var file = dt.files[0];
+        var ext = (file.name.split(".").pop() || "").toLowerCase();
+        if (["xlsx","xls"].indexOf(ext) === -1) {
+          showFeedback(dropzone, "Invalid file type. Please select .xlsx or .xls", "error");
+          return;
+        }
+
+        try {
+          var list = new DataTransfer();
+          list.items.add(file);
+          fileInput[0].files = list.files;
+          fileInput.trigger("change");
+          showFeedback(dropzone, "File selected: " + file.name + " • " + (file.size/1024).toFixed(1) + " KB", "success");
+        } catch (err) {
+          // Fallback
+          showFeedback(dropzone, "Drag-drop not supported; click to choose file.", "error");
+          // Only click the input if we really need to
+          fileInput.trigger("click");
+        }
+
+        // Prevent the "ghost click" that some browsers emit after drop
+        suppressNextClick = true;
+        setTimeout(function(){ suppressNextClick = false; }, 250);
+      });
+
+      // Only clicks on the dropzone *itself* (empty area) open the picker
+      dropzone.on("click", function(e) {
+        // If click originated from a child (button/label/input), do nothing
+        if (e.target !== e.currentTarget) return;
+        if (suppressNextClick) return;
+        fileInput.trigger("click");
+      });
+
+      // If user clicks the native input/button/label, stop bubbling to zone
+      fileInput.on("click", function(e) {
+        e.stopPropagation();
+      });
+
+      function showFeedback(zone, msg, type) {
+        zone.find(".upload-feedback").remove();
+        var el = $('<div class="upload-feedback" style="margin-top:10px;"></div>');
+        el.css("color", type === "success" ? "#28a745" : "#dc3545").text(msg);
+        zone.append(el);
+        if (type === "error") {
+          setTimeout(function(){ el.fadeOut(300, function(){ el.remove(); }); }, 3000);
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  // run once on page load
+  initDropzones();
+
+  // re-run when Shiny inserts/replaces UI
+  $(document).on("shiny:value", function(){ initDropzones(); });
+});
diff --git a/inst/app/www/style.css b/inst/app/www/style.css
index 3ce0a8b..3c6f238 100644
--- a/inst/app/www/style.css
+++ b/inst/app/www/style.css
@@ -12,3 +12,87 @@
 /* .tab-content>.active.html-fill-container {
     width: calc(100% + 15%) !important;
 } */
+
+/* Enhanced File Input Styling */
+.modern-file-input {
+  transition: all 0.3s ease;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.modern-file-input:hover {
+  border-color: #007bff !important;
+  background-color: #f0f8ff !important;
+  transform: translateY(-2px);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0,123,255,0.15);
+}
+
+/* Style the file input container */
+.form-group.shiny-input-container {
+  margin-bottom: 0;
+}
+
+/* Style the file input button */
+.btn-default {
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #007bff 0%, #0056b3 100%);
+  border: none;
+  color: white;
+  padding: 10px 20px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  transition: all 0.3s ease;
+}
+
+.btn-default:hover {
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #0056b3 0%, #004085 100%);
+  transform: translateY(-1px);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,123,255,0.3);
+}
+
+/* File input drag and drop enhancement */
+.file-input-enhanced {
+  position: relative;
+  border: 2px dashed #dee2e6;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  padding: 20px;
+  text-align: center;
+  background: #f8f9fa;
+  transition: all 0.3s ease;
+}
+
+.file-input-enhanced.dragover {
+  border-color: #28a745;
+  background-color: #e8f5e8;
+}
+
+/* Selected file display styling */
+.selected-file-display {
+  border-left: 4px solid #28a745;
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f8fff8 0%, #e8f5e8 100%);
+  border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0;
+}
+
+/* Card hover effects */
+.card {
+  transition: all 0.3s ease;
+}
+
+.card:hover {
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
+}
+
+/* File upload progress indicator */
+.upload-progress {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 4px;
+  background: #e9ecef;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  margin-top: 10px;
+}
+
+.upload-progress-bar {
+  height: 100%;
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #007bff, #28a745);
+  width: 0%;
+  transition: width 0.3s ease;
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-mod_import_improvements.R b/tests/testthat/test-mod_import_improvements.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75c71d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-mod_import_improvements.R
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# Test for the improved file selection dialog
+# This file tests the new functionality in mod_import.R
+
+test_that("mod_import_ui creates modern file input interface", {
+  # Test the UI function
+  ui_output <- mod_import_ui("test")
+  
+  # Should contain a bslib::card
+  expect_true(any(grepl("card", as.character(ui_output))))
+  
+  # Should contain fileInput instead of shinyFilesButton
+  expect_true(any(grepl("fileInput", as.character(ui_output))))
+  
+  # Should not contain shinyFilesButton
+  expect_false(any(grepl("shinyFilesButton", as.character(ui_output))))
+  
+  # Should contain drag and drop text
+  expect_true(any(grepl("Drag and drop", as.character(ui_output))))
+  
+  # Should contain Excel file acceptance
+  expect_true(any(grepl("\\.xlsx", as.character(ui_output))))
+})
+
+test_that("file input accepts correct file types", {
+  # Test that the fileInput accepts .xlsx and .xls files
+  ui_output <- mod_import_ui("test")
+  ui_string <- as.character(ui_output)
+  
+  # Should accept both xlsx and xls
+  expect_true(any(grepl("accept.*xlsx", ui_string)))
+  expect_true(any(grepl("accept.*xls", ui_string)))
+})
+
+test_that("modern styling is applied", {
+  # Test that modern styling classes and attributes are present
+  ui_output <- mod_import_ui("test")
+  ui_string <- as.character(ui_output)
+  
+  # Should have blue dashed border styling
+  expect_true(any(grepl("border.*dashed.*007bff", ui_string)))
+  
+  # Should have center text alignment
+  expect_true(any(grepl("text-center", ui_string)))
+  
+  # Should contain file icon emoji
+  expect_true(any(grepl("📁", ui_string)))
+})
+
+# Note: Server function tests would require setting up a Shiny test environment
+# These would test:
+# - File validation logic
+# - Error notifications for invalid files
+# - Proper file info extraction
+# - Integration with esqlabsR::createDefaultProjectConfiguration
\ No newline at end of file