diff --git a/menus/add_music.py b/menus/add_music.py
index d0f11ab..1682beb 100644
--- a/menus/add_music.py
+++ b/menus/add_music.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class AddMusic(arcade.gui.UIView):
         self.loaded_sounds = loaded_sounds
         self.shuffle = shuffle
 
-        with open("settings.json", "r") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             self.settings_dict = json.load(file)
 
         self.playlists = self.settings_dict.get("playlists", {})
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class AddMusic(arcade.gui.UIView):
         self.playlists[playlist].append(os.path.expanduser(music_path))
         self.settings_dict["playlists"] = self.playlists
 
-        with open("settings.json", "w") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             file.write(json.dumps(self.settings_dict))
 
     def main_exit(self):
diff --git a/menus/downloader.py b/menus/downloader.py
index 181fc81..54ffb36 100644
--- a/menus/downloader.py
+++ b/menus/downloader.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class Downloader(arcade.gui.UIView):
         self.pypresence_client = pypresence_client
         self.pypresence_client.update(state="Downloading music", start=self.pypresence_client.start_time)
 
-        with open("settings.json", "r") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             self.settings_dict = json.load(file)
 
         self.tab_options = self.settings_dict.get("tab_options", ["~/Music", "~/Downloads"])
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class Downloader(arcade.gui.UIView):
             return None
 
         try:
-            with open("downloaded_music.mp3.info.json", "r") as file:
+            with open("downloaded_music.mp3.info.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
                 info = json.load(file)
             return info
         except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
diff --git a/menus/main.py b/menus/main.py
index df77438..5aa335f 100644
--- a/menus/main.py
+++ b/menus/main.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class Main(arcade.gui.UIView):
         super().__init__()
         self.pypresence_client = pypresence_client
 
-        with open("settings.json", "r") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             self.settings_dict = json.load(file)
 
         if self.settings_dict.get('discord_rpc', True):
diff --git a/menus/new_tab.py b/menus/new_tab.py
index 4fec857..9d64634 100644
--- a/menus/new_tab.py
+++ b/menus/new_tab.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class NewTab(arcade.gui.UIView):
         self.loaded_sounds = loaded_sounds
         self.shuffle = shuffle
 
-        with open("settings.json", "r") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             self.settings_dict = json.load(file)
 
         self.tab_options = self.settings_dict.get("tab_options", ["~/Music", "~/Downloads"])
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class NewTab(arcade.gui.UIView):
             self.playlists[self.new_tab_input.text] = []
             self.settings_dict["playlists"] = self.playlists
 
-        with open("settings.json", "w") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             file.write(json.dumps(self.settings_dict))
 
     def main_exit(self):
diff --git a/menus/settings.py b/menus/settings.py
index b25dd2a..5f62cd6 100644
--- a/menus/settings.py
+++ b/menus/settings.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class Settings(arcade.gui.UIView):
         self.loaded_sounds = loaded_sounds
         self.shuffle = shuffle
 
-        with open("settings.json", "r") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             self.settings_dict = json.load(file)
 
         self.pypresence_client = pypresence_client
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class Settings(arcade.gui.UIView):
 
         self.display_category(self.current_category)
 
-        with open("settings.json", "w") as file:
+        with open("settings.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             file.write(json.dumps(self.settings_dict, indent=4))
 
     def update(self, setting=None, button_state=None, setting_type="bool"):
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ class Settings(arcade.gui.UIView):
         self.key_layout.clear()
         self.value_layout.clear()
 
-        with open('CREDITS', 'r') as file:
+        with open('CREDITS', 'r', encoding="utf-8") as file:
             text = file.read()
 
         if self.window.width == 3840:
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index 7a1070a..d1151bc 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ else:
         "discord_rpc": True
     }
 
-    with open("settings.json", "w") as file:
+    with open("settings.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as file:
         file.write(json.dumps(settings))
 
 window = ControllerWindow(width=resolution[0], height=resolution[1], title='Music Player', samples=antialiasing, antialiasing=antialiasing > 0, fullscreen=fullscreen, vsync=vsync, resizable=False, style=style)