diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0183_auto_20231021_2050.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0183_auto_20231021_2050.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..201a9201a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0183_auto_20231021_2050.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.2.20 on 2023-10-21 20:50
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('bookwyrm', '0182_merge_20230905_2240'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='notification',
+            name='related_user_export',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, to='bookwyrm.bookwyrmexportjob'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='childjob',
+            name='status',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('pending', 'Pending'), ('active', 'Active'), ('complete', 'Complete'), ('stopped', 'Stopped'), ('failed', 'Failed')], default='pending', max_length=50, null=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='notification',
+            name='notification_type',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('FAVORITE', 'Favorite'), ('REPLY', 'Reply'), ('MENTION', 'Mention'), ('TAG', 'Tag'), ('FOLLOW', 'Follow'), ('FOLLOW_REQUEST', 'Follow Request'), ('BOOST', 'Boost'), ('IMPORT', 'Import'), ('USER_IMPORT', 'User Import'), ('USER_EXPORT', 'User Export'), ('ADD', 'Add'), ('REPORT', 'Report'), ('LINK_DOMAIN', 'Link Domain'), ('INVITE', 'Invite'), ('ACCEPT', 'Accept'), ('JOIN', 'Join'), ('LEAVE', 'Leave'), ('REMOVE', 'Remove'), ('GROUP_PRIVACY', 'Group Privacy'), ('GROUP_NAME', 'Group Name'), ('GROUP_DESCRIPTION', 'Group Description')], max_length=255),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='parentjob',
+            name='status',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('pending', 'Pending'), ('active', 'Active'), ('complete', 'Complete'), ('stopped', 'Stopped'), ('failed', 'Failed')], default='pending', max_length=50, null=True),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
index 00cab7559..96e602cc9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ def start_export_task(**kwargs):
         json_data = json_export(job.user)
         tar_export(json_data, job.user, job.export_data)
     except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
-        logger.exception("Job %s Failed with error: %s", job.id, err)
+        logger.exception("User Export Job %s Failed with error: %s", job.id, err)
         job.set_status("failed")
+    job.set_status("complete") # need to explicitly set this here to trigger notifications
     job.save(update_fields=["export_data"])
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_import_job.py
index 696f8061a..73372829b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_import_job.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from functools import reduce
 import json
+import logging
 import operator
 
 from django.db.models import FileField, JSONField, CharField
@@ -18,7 +19,8 @@ from bookwyrm.models.job import (
     create_child_job,
 )
 from bookwyrm.utils.tar import BookwyrmTarFile
-import json
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class BookwyrmImportJob(ParentJob):
@@ -43,27 +45,33 @@ def start_import_task(**kwargs):
     if job.complete:
         return
 
-    archive_file.open("rb")
-    with BookwyrmTarFile.open(mode="r:gz", fileobj=archive_file) as tar:
-        job.import_data = json.loads(tar.read("archive.json").decode("utf-8"))
+    try:
+        archive_file.open("rb")
+        with BookwyrmTarFile.open(mode="r:gz", fileobj=archive_file) as tar:
+            job.import_data = json.loads(tar.read("archive.json").decode("utf-8"))
 
-        if "include_user_profile" in job.required:
-            update_user_profile(job.user, tar, job.import_data.get("user"))
-        if "include_user_settings" in job.required:
-            update_user_settings(job.user, job.import_data.get("user"))
-        if "include_goals" in job.required:
-            update_goals(job.user, job.import_data.get("goals"))
-        if "include_saved_lists" in job.required:
-            upsert_saved_lists(job.user, job.import_data.get("saved_lists"))
-        if "include_follows" in job.required:
-            upsert_follows(job.user, job.import_data.get("follows"))
-        if "include_blocks" in job.required:
-            upsert_user_blocks(job.user, job.import_data.get("blocked_users"))
+            if "include_user_profile" in job.required:
+                update_user_profile(job.user, tar, job.import_data.get("user"))
+            if "include_user_settings" in job.required:
+                update_user_settings(job.user, job.import_data.get("user"))
+            if "include_goals" in job.required:
+                update_goals(job.user, job.import_data.get("goals"))
+            if "include_saved_lists" in job.required:
+                upsert_saved_lists(job.user, job.import_data.get("saved_lists"))
+            if "include_follows" in job.required:
+                upsert_follows(job.user, job.import_data.get("follows"))
+            if "include_blocks" in job.required:
+                upsert_user_blocks(job.user, job.import_data.get("blocked_users"))
 
-        process_books(job, tar)
+            process_books(job, tar)
 
-        job.save()
-    archive_file.close()
+            job.set_status("complete") # set here to trigger notifications
+            job.save()
+        archive_file.close()
+
+    except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        logger.exception("User Import Job %s Failed with error: %s", job.id, err)
+        job.set_status("failed")
 
 
 def process_books(job, tar):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/job.py b/bookwyrm/models/job.py
index 7557c5855..4ba4bc2d7 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/job.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class Job(models.Model):
 
         self.__terminate_job()
 
-        if reason and reason is "failed":
+        if reason and reason == "failed":
             self.status = self.Status.FAILED
         else:
             self.status = self.Status.STOPPED
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
index 522038f9a..4c420a2e1 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 from django.db import models, transaction
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
-from . import Boost, Favorite, GroupMemberInvitation, ImportJob, LinkDomain
+from . import Boost, Favorite, GroupMemberInvitation, ImportJob, BookwyrmImportJob, LinkDomain
+from bookwyrm.models.bookwyrm_export_job import BookwyrmExportJob
 from . import ListItem, Report, Status, User, UserFollowRequest
 
 
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ class Notification(BookWyrmModel):
 
     # Imports
     IMPORT = "IMPORT"
+    USER_IMPORT = "USER_IMPORT"
+    USER_EXPORT = "USER_EXPORT"
 
     # List activity
     ADD = "ADD"
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ class Notification(BookWyrmModel):
     NotificationType = models.TextChoices(
         # there has got be a better way to do this
         "NotificationType",
-        f"{FAVORITE} {REPLY} {MENTION} {TAG} {FOLLOW} {FOLLOW_REQUEST} {BOOST} {IMPORT} {ADD} {REPORT} {LINK_DOMAIN} {INVITE} {ACCEPT} {JOIN} {LEAVE} {REMOVE} {GROUP_PRIVACY} {GROUP_NAME} {GROUP_DESCRIPTION}",
+        f"{FAVORITE} {REPLY} {MENTION} {TAG} {FOLLOW} {FOLLOW_REQUEST} {BOOST} {IMPORT} {USER_IMPORT} {USER_EXPORT} {ADD} {REPORT} {LINK_DOMAIN} {INVITE} {ACCEPT} {JOIN} {LEAVE} {REMOVE} {GROUP_PRIVACY} {GROUP_NAME} {GROUP_DESCRIPTION}",
     )
 
     user = models.ForeignKey("User", on_delete=models.CASCADE)
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ class Notification(BookWyrmModel):
     )
     related_status = models.ForeignKey("Status", on_delete=models.CASCADE, null=True)
     related_import = models.ForeignKey("ImportJob", on_delete=models.CASCADE, null=True)
+    related_user_export = models.ForeignKey("BookwyrmExportJob", on_delete=models.CASCADE, null=True)
     related_list_items = models.ManyToManyField(
         "ListItem", symmetrical=False, related_name="notifications"
     )
@@ -222,6 +226,36 @@ def notify_user_on_import_complete(
         related_import=instance,
     )
 
+@receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=BookwyrmImportJob)
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def notify_user_on_user_import_complete(
+    sender, instance, *args, update_fields=None, **kwargs
+):
+    """we imported your user details! aren't you proud of us"""
+    update_fields = update_fields or []
+    if not instance.complete or "complete" not in update_fields:
+        return
+    Notification.objects.create(
+        user=instance.user,
+        notification_type=Notification.USER_IMPORT
+    )
+
+@receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=BookwyrmExportJob)
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def notify_user_on_user_export_complete(
+    sender, instance, *args, update_fields=None, **kwargs
+):
+    """we imported your user details! aren't you proud of us"""
+    update_fields = update_fields or []
+    if not instance.complete or "complete" not in update_fields:
+        print("RETURNING", instance.status)
+        return
+    print("NOTIFYING")
+    Notification.objects.create(
+        user=instance.user,
+        notification_type=Notification.USER_EXPORT,
+        related_user_export=instance,
+    )
 
 @receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=Report)
 @transaction.atomic
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/import/import_user.html b/bookwyrm/templates/import/import_user.html
index 86e99f657..e48f0198d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/import/import_user.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/import/import_user.html
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
                 <td>{{ job.updated_date }}</td>
                 <td>
                     <span
-                        {% if job.status == "stopped" %}
+                        {% if job.status == "stopped" or job.status == "failed" %}
                         class="tag is-danger"
                         {% elif job.status == "pending" %}
                         class="tag is-warning"
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/item.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/item.html
index b53abe3d1..3aff20d57 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/item.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/item.html
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
     {% include 'notifications/items/follow_request.html' %}
 {% elif notification.notification_type == 'IMPORT' %}
     {% include 'notifications/items/import.html' %}
+{% elif notification.notification_type == 'USER_IMPORT' %}
+    {% include 'notifications/items/user_import.html' %}
+{% elif notification.notification_type == 'USER_EXPORT' %}
+    {% include 'notifications/items/user_export.html' %}
 {% elif notification.notification_type == 'ADD' %}
     {% include 'notifications/items/add.html' %}
 {% elif notification.notification_type == 'REPORT' %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/user_export.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/user_export.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a7eec4632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/user_export.html
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{% extends 'notifications/items/layout.html' %}
+{% load i18n %}
+
+{% block icon %}
+<span class="icon icon-list"></span>
+{% endblock %}
+
+{% block description %}
+    {% url 'prefs-export-file' notification.related_user_export.task_id as url %}
+    {% blocktrans %}Your <a download href="{{ url }}">user export</a> is ready.{% endblocktrans %}
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/user_import.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/user_import.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e0b3ddaad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/user_import.html
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{% extends 'notifications/items/layout.html' %}
+{% load i18n %}
+
+{% block icon %}
+<span class="icon icon-list"></span>
+{% endblock %}
+
+{% block description %}
+    {% blocktrans %}Your user import is complete.{% endblocktrans %}
+{% endblock %}