diff --git a/tubearchivist/config/management/commands/ta_startup.py b/tubearchivist/config/management/commands/ta_startup.py
index e45c46c..f71fe76 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/config/management/commands/ta_startup.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/config/management/commands/ta_startup.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig, ReleaseVersion
 from home.src.ta.helper import clear_dl_cache
 from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
 from home.src.ta.task_manager import TaskManager
+from home.src.ta.users import UserConfig
 
 TOPIC = """
 
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         self._mig_snapshot_check()
         self._mig_set_streams()
         self._mig_set_autostart()
+        self._mig_move_users_to_es()
 
     def _sync_redis_state(self):
         """make sure redis gets new config.json values"""
@@ -219,3 +221,99 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         self.stdout.write(response)
         sleep(60)
         raise CommandError(message)
+
+    def _mig_move_users_to_es(self):  # noqa: C901
+        """migration: update from 0.4.1 to 0.5.0 move user config to ES"""
+        self.stdout.write("[MIGRATION] move user configuration to ES")
+        redis = RedisArchivist()
+
+        # 1: Find all users in Redis
+        users = {i.split(":")[0] for i in redis.list_keys("[0-9]*:")}
+        if not users:
+            self.stdout.write("    no users needed migrating to ES")
+            return
+
+        # 2: Write all Redis user settings to ES
+        # 3: Remove user settings from Redis
+        try:
+            for user in users:
+                new_conf = UserConfig(user)
+
+                colors_key = f"{user}:colors"
+                colors = redis.get_message(colors_key).get("status")
+                if colors is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("colors", colors)
+                    redis.del_message(colors_key)
+
+                sort_by_key = f"{user}:sort_by"
+                sort_by = redis.get_message(sort_by_key).get("status")
+                if sort_by is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("sort_by", sort_by)
+                    redis.del_message(sort_by_key)
+
+                page_size_key = f"{user}:page_size"
+                page_size = redis.get_message(page_size_key).get("status")
+                if page_size is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("page_size", page_size)
+                    redis.del_message(page_size_key)
+
+                sort_order_key = f"{user}:sort_order"
+                sort_order = redis.get_message(sort_order_key).get("status")
+                if sort_order is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("sort_order", sort_order)
+                    redis.del_message(sort_order_key)
+
+                grid_items_key = f"{user}:grid_items"
+                grid_items = redis.get_message(grid_items_key).get("status")
+                if grid_items is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("grid_items", grid_items)
+                    redis.del_message(grid_items_key)
+
+                hide_watch_key = f"{user}:hide_watched"
+                hide_watch = redis.get_message(hide_watch_key).get("status")
+                if hide_watch is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("hide_watched", hide_watch)
+                    redis.del_message(hide_watch_key)
+
+                ignore_only_key = f"{user}:show_ignored_only"
+                ignore_only = redis.get_message(ignore_only_key).get("status")
+                if ignore_only is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("show_ignored_only", ignore_only)
+                    redis.del_message(ignore_only_key)
+
+                subed_only_key = f"{user}:show_subed_only"
+                subed_only = redis.get_message(subed_only_key).get("status")
+                if subed_only is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("show_subed_only", subed_only)
+                    redis.del_message(subed_only_key)
+
+                sb_id_key = f"{user}:id_sb_id"
+                sb_id = redis.get_message(sb_id_key).get("status")
+                if sb_id is not None:
+                    new_conf.set_value("sb_id_id", sb_id)
+                    redis.del_message(sb_id_key)
+
+                for view in ["channel", "playlist", "home", "downloads"]:
+                    view_key = f"{user}:view:{view}"
+                    view_style = redis.get_message(view_key).get("status")
+                    if view_style is not None:
+                        new_conf.set_value(f"view_style_{view}", view_style)
+                        redis.del_message(view_key)
+
+                self.stdout.write(
+                    self.style.SUCCESS(
+                        f"    ✓ Settings for user '{user}' migrated to ES"
+                    )
+                )
+        except Exception as e:
+            message = "    🗙 user migration to ES failed"
+            self.stdout.write(self.style.ERROR(message))
+            self.stdout.write(self.style.ERROR(e))
+            sleep(60)
+            raise CommandError(message)
+        else:
+            self.stdout.write(
+                self.style.SUCCESS(
+                    "    ✓ Settings for all users migrated to ES"
+                )
+            )
diff --git a/tubearchivist/config/settings.py b/tubearchivist/config/settings.py
index e58eeea..5629453 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/config/settings.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/config/settings.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ MIDDLEWARE = [
     "django.contrib.auth.middleware.AuthenticationMiddleware",
     "django.contrib.messages.middleware.MessageMiddleware",
     "django.middleware.clickjacking.XFrameOptionsMiddleware",
+    "home.src.ta.health.HealthCheckMiddleware",
 ]
 
 ROOT_URLCONF = "config.urls"
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/config.json b/tubearchivist/home/config.json
index d45a2a1..26d3bf9 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/config.json
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/config.json
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "archive": {
-        "sort_by": "published",
-        "sort_order": "desc",
-        "page_size": 12
-    },
-    "default_view": {
-        "home": "grid",
-        "channel": "list",
-        "downloads": "list",
-        "playlist": "grid",
-        "grid_items": 3
-    },
     "subscriptions": {
-        "auto_download": false,
         "channel_size": 50,
         "live_channel_size": 50,
         "shorts_channel_size": 50,
@@ -41,7 +28,6 @@
         "app_root": "/app",
         "cache_dir": "/cache",
         "videos": "/youtube",
-        "colors": "dark",
         "enable_cast": false,
         "enable_snapshot": true
     },
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py
index f2bf800..9a865ab 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ class VideoDownloader:
                 "lang": "painless",
             },
         }
-        response, _ = ElasticWrap(path, config=self.config).post(data=data)
+        response, _ = ElasticWrap(path).post(data=data)
         updated = response.get("updated")
         if updated:
             print(f"[download] reset auto start on {updated} videos.")
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/es/connect.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/es/connect.py
index 0b9d554..b526cf4 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/es/connect.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/es/connect.py
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ functionality:
 # pylint: disable=missing-timeout
 
 import json
+import os
 
 import requests
-from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig
 
 
 class ElasticWrap:
@@ -16,21 +16,13 @@ class ElasticWrap:
     returns response json and status code tuple
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, path, config=False):
-        self.url = False
-        self.auth = False
-        self.path = path
-        self.config = config
-        self._get_config()
+    ES_URL: str = str(os.environ.get("ES_URL"))
+    ES_PASS: str = str(os.environ.get("ELASTIC_PASSWORD"))
+    ES_USER: str = str(os.environ.get("ELASTIC_USER") or "elastic")
 
-    def _get_config(self):
-        """add config if not passed"""
-        if not self.config:
-            self.config = AppConfig().config
-
-        es_url = self.config["application"]["es_url"]
-        self.auth = self.config["application"]["es_auth"]
-        self.url = f"{es_url}/{self.path}"
+    def __init__(self, path):
+        self.url = f"{self.ES_URL}/{path}"
+        self.auth = (self.ES_USER, self.ES_PASS)
 
     def get(self, data=False, timeout=10, print_error=True):
         """get data from es"""
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/es/index_mapping.json b/tubearchivist/home/src/es/index_mapping.json
index 06bf13c..d6dda4b 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/es/index_mapping.json
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/es/index_mapping.json
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 {
     "index_config": [{
+            "index_name": "config",
+            "expected_map": {
+                "config": {
+                    "type": "object",
+                    "enabled": false
+                }
+            },
+            "expected_set": {
+                "number_of_replicas": "0"
+            }
+        },
+        {
             "index_name": "channel",
             "expected_map": {
                 "channel_id": {
@@ -601,4 +613,4 @@
             }
         }
     ]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/api_calls.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/api_calls.py
index 60764ea..c5402ab 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/api_calls.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/api_calls.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Functionality:
 - called via user input
 """
 
-from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
+from home.src.ta.users import UserConfig
 from home.tasks import run_restore_backup
 
 
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ class PostData:
 
     def _change_view(self):
         """process view changes in home, channel, and downloads"""
-        origin, new_view = self.exec_val.split(":")
-        key = f"{self.current_user}:view:{origin}"
-        print(f"change view: {key} to {new_view}")
-        RedisArchivist().set_message(key, {"status": new_view})
+        view, setting = self.exec_val.split(":")
+        UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value(f"view_style_{view}", setting)
         return {"success": True}
 
     def _change_grid(self):
@@ -52,48 +50,38 @@ class PostData:
         grid_items = int(self.exec_val)
         grid_items = max(grid_items, 3)
         grid_items = min(grid_items, 7)
-
-        key = f"{self.current_user}:grid_items"
-        print(f"change grid items: {grid_items}")
-        RedisArchivist().set_message(key, {"status": grid_items})
+        UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value("grid_items", grid_items)
         return {"success": True}
 
     def _sort_order(self):
         """change the sort between published to downloaded"""
-        sort_order = {"status": self.exec_val}
         if self.exec_val in ["asc", "desc"]:
-            RedisArchivist().set_message(
-                f"{self.current_user}:sort_order", sort_order
+            UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value(
+                "sort_order", self.exec_val
             )
         else:
-            RedisArchivist().set_message(
-                f"{self.current_user}:sort_by", sort_order
-            )
+            UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value("sort_by", self.exec_val)
         return {"success": True}
 
     def _hide_watched(self):
         """toggle if to show watched vids or not"""
-        key = f"{self.current_user}:hide_watched"
-        message = {"status": bool(int(self.exec_val))}
-        print(f"toggle {key}: {message}")
-        RedisArchivist().set_message(key, message)
+        UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value(
+            "hide_watched", bool(int(self.exec_val))
+        )
         return {"success": True}
 
     def _show_subed_only(self):
         """show or hide subscribed channels only on channels page"""
-        key = f"{self.current_user}:show_subed_only"
-        message = {"status": bool(int(self.exec_val))}
-        print(f"toggle {key}: {message}")
-        RedisArchivist().set_message(key, message)
+        UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value(
+            "show_subed_only", bool(int(self.exec_val))
+        )
         return {"success": True}
 
     def _show_ignored_only(self):
         """switch view on /downloads/ to show ignored only"""
-        show_value = self.exec_val
-        key = f"{self.current_user}:show_ignored_only"
-        value = {"status": show_value}
-        print(f"Filter download view ignored only: {show_value}")
-        RedisArchivist().set_message(key, value)
+        UserConfig(self.current_user).set_value(
+            "show_ignored_only", bool(int(self.exec_val))
+        )
         return {"success": True}
 
     def _db_restore(self):
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/searching.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/searching.py
index 167b90b..068027f 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/searching.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/frontend/searching.py
@@ -12,23 +12,21 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from api.src.search_processor import SearchProcess
 from home.src.download.thumbnails import ThumbManager
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap
-from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig
 from home.src.ta.helper import get_duration_str
 
 
 class SearchHandler:
     """search elastic search"""
 
-    def __init__(self, path, config, data=False):
+    def __init__(self, path, data=False):
         self.max_hits = None
         self.aggs = None
         self.path = path
-        self.config = config
         self.data = data
 
     def get_data(self):
         """get the data"""
-        response, _ = ElasticWrap(self.path, config=self.config).get(self.data)
+        response, _ = ElasticWrap(self.path).get(self.data)
 
         if "hits" in response.keys():
             self.max_hits = response["hits"]["total"]["value"]
@@ -110,8 +108,6 @@ class SearchHandler:
 class SearchForm:
     """build query from search form data"""
 
-    CONFIG = AppConfig().config
-
     def multi_search(self, search_query):
         """searching through index"""
         path, query, query_type = SearchParser(search_query).run()
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py
index 6e82e54..a5f624d 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import math
 from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap
 from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig
-from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
+from home.src.ta.users import UserConfig
 
 
 class YouTubeItem:
@@ -100,13 +100,7 @@ class Pagination:
 
     def get_page_size(self):
         """get default or user modified page_size"""
-        key = f"{self.request.user.id}:page_size"
-        page_size = RedisArchivist().get_message(key)["status"]
-        if not page_size:
-            config = AppConfig().config
-            page_size = config["archive"]["page_size"]
-
-        return page_size
+        return UserConfig(self.request.user.id).get_value("page_size")
 
     def first_guess(self):
         """build first guess before api call"""
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/video.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/video.py
index 626d257..606e32f 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/video.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/video.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from home.src.index.subtitle import YoutubeSubtitle
 from home.src.index.video_constants import VideoTypeEnum
 from home.src.index.video_streams import MediaStreamExtractor
 from home.src.ta.helper import get_duration_sec, get_duration_str, randomizor
-from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
+from home.src.ta.users import UserConfig
 from ryd_client import ryd_client
 
 
@@ -32,17 +32,16 @@ class SponsorBlock:
         self.user_agent = f"{settings.TA_UPSTREAM} {settings.TA_VERSION}"
         self.last_refresh = int(datetime.now().timestamp())
 
-    def get_sb_id(self):
-        """get sponsorblock userid or generate if needed"""
+    def get_sb_id(self) -> str:
+        """get sponsorblock for the userid or generate if needed"""
         if not self.user_id:
-            print("missing request user id")
-            raise ValueError
+            raise ValueError("missing request user id")
 
-        key = f"{self.user_id}:id_sponsorblock"
-        sb_id = RedisArchivist().get_message(key)
-        if not sb_id["status"]:
-            sb_id = {"status": randomizor(32)}
-            RedisArchivist().set_message(key, sb_id)
+        user = UserConfig(self.user_id)
+        sb_id = user.get_value("sponsorblock_id")
+        if not sb_id:
+            sb_id = randomizor(32)
+            user.set_value("sponsorblock_id", sb_id)
 
         return sb_id
 
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ class SponsorBlock:
 
     def post_timestamps(self, youtube_id, start_time, end_time):
         """post timestamps to api"""
-        user_id = self.get_sb_id().get("status")
+        user_id = self.get_sb_id()
         data = {
             "videoID": youtube_id,
             "startTime": start_time,
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@ class SponsorBlock:
 
     def vote_on_segment(self, uuid, vote):
         """send vote on existing segment"""
-        user_id = self.get_sb_id().get("status")
+        user_id = self.get_sb_id()
         data = {
             "UUID": uuid,
             "userID": user_id,
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/config.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/config.py
index 84fe84a..a32d083 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/config.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/config.py
@@ -17,12 +17,10 @@ from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
 
 
 class AppConfig:
-    """handle user settings and application variables"""
+    """handle application variables"""
 
-    def __init__(self, user_id=False):
-        self.user_id = user_id
+    def __init__(self):
         self.config = self.get_config()
-        self.colors = self.get_colors()
 
     def get_config(self):
         """get config from default file or redis if changed"""
@@ -30,12 +28,6 @@ class AppConfig:
         if not config:
             config = self.get_config_file()
 
-        if self.user_id:
-            key = f"{self.user_id}:page_size"
-            page_size = RedisArchivist().get_message(key)["status"]
-            if page_size:
-                config["archive"]["page_size"] = page_size
-
         config["application"].update(self.get_config_env())
         return config
 
@@ -50,14 +42,12 @@ class AppConfig:
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_config_env():
-        """read environment application variables"""
-        es_pass = os.environ.get("ELASTIC_PASSWORD")
-        es_user = os.environ.get("ELASTIC_USER", default="elastic")
+        """read environment application variables.
+
+        Connection to ES is managed in ElasticWrap and the
+        connection to Redis is managed in RedisArchivist."""
 
         application = {
-            "REDIS_HOST": os.environ.get("REDIS_HOST"),
-            "es_url": os.environ.get("ES_URL"),
-            "es_auth": (es_user, es_pass),
             "HOST_UID": int(os.environ.get("HOST_UID", False)),
             "HOST_GID": int(os.environ.get("HOST_GID", False)),
             "enable_cast": bool(os.environ.get("ENABLE_CAST")),
@@ -103,30 +93,6 @@ class AppConfig:
         RedisArchivist().set_message("config", self.config, save=True)
         return updated
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def set_user_config(form_post, user_id):
-        """set values in redis for user settings"""
-        for key, value in form_post.items():
-            if not value:
-                continue
-
-            message = {"status": value}
-            redis_key = f"{user_id}:{key}"
-            RedisArchivist().set_message(redis_key, message, save=True)
-
-    def get_colors(self):
-        """overwrite config if user has set custom values"""
-        colors = False
-        if self.user_id:
-            col_dict = RedisArchivist().get_message(f"{self.user_id}:colors")
-            colors = col_dict["status"]
-
-        if not colors:
-            colors = self.config["application"]["colors"]
-
-        self.config["application"]["colors"] = colors
-        return colors
-
     @staticmethod
     def _build_rand_daily():
         """build random daily schedule per installation"""
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/health.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/health.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..001a021
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/health.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from django.http import HttpResponse
+
+
+class HealthCheckMiddleware:
+    def __init__(self, get_response):
+        self.get_response = get_response
+
+    def __call__(self, request):
+        if request.path == "/health":
+            return HttpResponse("ok")
+        return self.get_response(request)
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/users.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/users.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c337381
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/users.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+"""
+Functionality:
+- read and write user config backed by ES
+- encapsulate persistence of user properties
+"""
+
+from typing import TypedDict
+
+from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap
+
+
+class UserConfigType(TypedDict, total=False):
+    """describes the user configuration"""
+
+    colors: str
+    page_size: int
+    sort_by: str
+    sort_order: str
+    view_style_home: str
+    view_style_channel: str
+    view_style_downloads: str
+    view_style_playlist: str
+    grid_items: int
+    hide_watched: bool
+    show_ignored_only: bool
+    show_subed_only: bool
+    sponsorblock_id: str
+
+
+class UserConfig:
+    """Handle settings for an individual user
+
+    Create getters and setters for usage in the application.
+    Although tedious it helps prevents everything caring about how properties
+    are persisted. Plus it allows us to save anytime any value is set.
+    """
+
+    _DEFAULT_USER_SETTINGS = UserConfigType(
+        colors="dark",
+        page_size=12,
+        sort_by="published",
+        sort_order="desc",
+        view_style_home="grid",
+        view_style_channel="list",
+        view_style_downloads="list",
+        view_style_playlist="grid",
+        grid_items=3,
+        hide_watched=False,
+        show_ignored_only=False,
+        show_subed_only=False,
+        sponsorblock_id=None,
+    )
+
+    def __init__(self, user_id: str):
+        self._user_id: str = user_id
+        self._config: UserConfigType = self._get_config()
+
+    def get_value(self, key: str):
+        """Get the given key from the users configuration
+
+        Throws a KeyError if the requested Key is not a permitted value"""
+        if key not in self._DEFAULT_USER_SETTINGS:
+            raise KeyError(f"Unable to read config for unknown key '{key}'")
+
+        return self._config.get(key) or self._DEFAULT_USER_SETTINGS.get(key)
+
+    def set_value(self, key: str, value: str | bool | int):
+        """Set or replace a configuration value for the user
+
+        Throws a KeyError if the requested Key is not a permitted value"""
+        if not self._user_id:
+            raise ValueError("Unable to persist config for null user_id")
+
+        if key not in self._DEFAULT_USER_SETTINGS:
+            raise KeyError(f"Unable to persist config for unknown key '{key}'")
+
+        old = self.get_value(key)
+        self._config[key] = value
+
+        # Upsert this property (creating a record if not exists)
+        es_payload = {"doc": {"config": {key: value}}, "doc_as_upsert": True}
+        es_document_path = f"ta_config/_update/user_{self._user_id}"
+        response, status = ElasticWrap(es_document_path).post(es_payload)
+        if status < 200 or status > 299:
+            raise ValueError(f"Failed storing user value {status}: {response}")
+
+        print(f"User {self._user_id} value '{key}' change: {old} > {value}")
+
+    def _get_config(self) -> UserConfigType:
+        """get config from ES or load from the application defaults"""
+        if not self._user_id:
+            # this is for a non logged-in user so use all the defaults
+            return {}
+
+        # Does this user have configuration stored in ES
+        es_document_path = f"ta_config/_doc/user_{self._user_id}"
+        response, status = ElasticWrap(es_document_path).get(print_error=False)
+        if status == 200 and "_source" in response.keys():
+            source = response.get("_source")
+            if "config" in source.keys():
+                return source.get("config")
+
+        # There is no config in ES
+        return {}
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel_id.html b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel_id.html
index dcc935c..421392c 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel_id.html
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel_id.html
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@
         <div class="info-box-item">
             {% if aggs %}
                 <p>{{ aggs.total_items.value }} videos <span class="space-carrot">|</span> {{ aggs.total_duration.value_str }} playback <span class="space-carrot">|</span> Total size {{ aggs.total_size.value|filesizeformat }}</p>
-                <button title="Mark all videos from {{ channel_info.channel_name }} as watched" type="button" id="watched-button" data-id="{{ channel_info.channel_id }}" onclick="isWatchedButton(this)">Mark as watched</button>
+                <div class="button-box">
+                    <button title="Mark all videos from {{ channel_info.channel_name }} as watched" type="button" id="watched-button" data-id="{{ channel_info.channel_id }}" onclick="isWatchedButton(this)">Mark as watched</button>
+                    <button title="Mark all videos from {{ channel_info.channel_name }} as unwatched" type="button" id="unwatched-button" data-id="{{ channel_info.channel_id }}" onclick="isUnwatchedButton(this)">Mark as unwatched</button>
+                </div>
             {% endif %}
         </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/playlist_id.html b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/playlist_id.html
index d5d20dd..525e99a 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/playlist_id.html
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/playlist_id.html
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
             <div>
                 {% if max_hits %}
                     <p>Total Videos archived: {{ max_hits }}/{{ playlist_info.playlist_entries|length }}</p>
-                    <p>Watched: <button title="Mark all videos from {{ playlist_info.playlist_name }} as watched" type="button" id="watched-button" data-id="{{ playlist_info.playlist_id }}" onclick="isWatchedButton(this)">Mark as watched</button></p>
+                    <div id="watched-button" class="button-box">
+                        <button title="Mark all videos from {{ playlist_info.playlist_name }} as watched" type="button" id="watched-button" data-id="{{ playlist_info.playlist_id }}" onclick="isWatchedButton(this)">Mark as watched</button>
+                        <button title="Mark all videos from {{ playlist_info.playlist_name }} as unwatched" type="button" id="unwatched-button" data-id="{{ playlist_info.playlist_id }}" onclick="isUnwatchedButton(this)">Mark as unwatched</button>
+                    </div>
                 {% endif %}
                 {% if reindex %}
                     <p>Reindex scheduled</p>
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/settings_user.html b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/settings_user.html
index a12fc75..b9545e0 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/settings_user.html
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/settings_user.html
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     <div class="settings-group">
         <h2>Color scheme</h2>
         <div class="settings-item">
-            <p>Current color scheme: <span class="settings-current">{{ config.application.colors }}</span></p>
+            <p>Current color scheme: <span class="settings-current">{{ colors }}</span></p>
             <i>Select your preferred color scheme between dark and light mode.</i><br>
             {{ user_form.colors }}
         </div>
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     <div class="settings-group">
         <h2>Archive View</h2>
         <div class="settings-item">
-            <p>Current page size: <span class="settings-current">{{ config.archive.page_size }}</span></p>
+            <p>Current page size: <span class="settings-current">{{ page_size }}</span></p>
             <i>Result of videos showing in archive page</i><br>
             {{ user_form.page_size }}
         </div>
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/views.py b/tubearchivist/home/views.py
index 40c3f52..8521ebe 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/views.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/views.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from home.src.index.video_constants import VideoTypeEnum
 from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig, ReleaseVersion, ScheduleBuilder
 from home.src.ta.helper import time_parser
 from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
+from home.src.ta.users import UserConfig
 from home.tasks import index_channel_playlists, subscribe_to
 from rest_framework.authtoken.models import Token
 
@@ -52,93 +53,38 @@ class ArchivistViewConfig(View):
         super().__init__()
         self.view_origin = view_origin
         self.user_id = False
-        self.user_conf = False
+        self.user_conf: UserConfig = False
         self.default_conf = False
         self.context = False
 
-    def _get_sort_by(self):
-        """return sort_by config var"""
-        messag_key = f"{self.user_id}:sort_by"
-        sort_by = self.user_conf.get_message(messag_key)["status"]
-        if not sort_by:
-            sort_by = self.default_conf["archive"]["sort_by"]
-
-        return sort_by
-
-    def _get_sort_order(self):
-        """return sort_order config var"""
-        sort_order_key = f"{self.user_id}:sort_order"
-        sort_order = self.user_conf.get_message(sort_order_key)["status"]
-        if not sort_order:
-            sort_order = self.default_conf["archive"]["sort_order"]
-
-        return sort_order
-
-    def _get_view_style(self):
-        """return view_style config var"""
-        view_key = f"{self.user_id}:view:{self.view_origin}"
-        view_style = self.user_conf.get_message(view_key)["status"]
-        if not view_style:
-            view_style = self.default_conf["default_view"][self.view_origin]
-
-        return view_style
-
-    def _get_grid_items(self):
-        """return items per row to show in grid view"""
-        grid_key = f"{self.user_id}:grid_items"
-        grid_items = self.user_conf.get_message(grid_key)["status"]
-        if not grid_items:
-            grid_items = self.default_conf["default_view"]["grid_items"]
-
-        return grid_items
-
     def get_all_view_styles(self):
-        """get dict of all view stiles for search form"""
-        all_keys = ["channel", "playlist", "home"]
+        """get dict of all view styles for search form"""
         all_styles = {}
-        for view_origin in all_keys:
-            view_key = f"{self.user_id}:view:{view_origin}"
-            view_style = self.user_conf.get_message(view_key)["status"]
-            if not view_style:
-                view_style = self.default_conf["default_view"][view_origin]
-            all_styles[view_origin] = view_style
+        for view_origin in ["channel", "playlist", "home", "downloads"]:
+            all_styles[view_origin] = self.user_conf.get_value(
+                f"view_style_{view_origin}"
+            )
 
         return all_styles
 
-    def _get_hide_watched(self):
-        hide_watched_key = f"{self.user_id}:hide_watched"
-        hide_watched = self.user_conf.get_message(hide_watched_key)["status"]
-
-        return hide_watched
-
-    def _get_show_ignore_only(self):
-        ignored_key = f"{self.user_id}:show_ignored_only"
-        show_ignored_only = self.user_conf.get_message(ignored_key)["status"]
-
-        return show_ignored_only
-
-    def _get_show_subed_only(self):
-        sub_only_key = f"{self.user_id}:show_subed_only"
-        show_subed_only = self.user_conf.get_message(sub_only_key)["status"]
-
-        return show_subed_only
-
     def config_builder(self, user_id):
         """build default context for every view"""
         self.user_id = user_id
-        self.user_conf = RedisArchivist()
-        self.default_conf = AppConfig(self.user_id).config
+        self.user_conf = UserConfig(self.user_id)
+        self.default_conf = AppConfig().config
 
         self.context = {
-            "colors": self.default_conf["application"]["colors"],
+            "colors": self.user_conf.get_value("colors"),
             "cast": self.default_conf["application"]["enable_cast"],
-            "sort_by": self._get_sort_by(),
-            "sort_order": self._get_sort_order(),
-            "view_style": self._get_view_style(),
-            "grid_items": self._get_grid_items(),
-            "hide_watched": self._get_hide_watched(),
-            "show_ignored_only": self._get_show_ignore_only(),
-            "show_subed_only": self._get_show_subed_only(),
+            "sort_by": self.user_conf.get_value("sort_by"),
+            "sort_order": self.user_conf.get_value("sort_order"),
+            "view_style": self.user_conf.get_value(
+                f"view_style_{self.view_origin}"
+            ),
+            "grid_items": self.user_conf.get_value("grid_items"),
+            "hide_watched": self.user_conf.get_value("hide_watched"),
+            "show_ignored_only": self.user_conf.get_value("show_ignored_only"),
+            "show_subed_only": self.user_conf.get_value("show_subed_only"),
             "version": settings.TA_VERSION,
             "ta_update": ReleaseVersion().get_update(),
         }
@@ -212,7 +158,7 @@ class ArchivistResultsView(ArchivistViewConfig):
         """get all videos in progress"""
         ids = [{"match": {"youtube_id": i.get("youtube_id")}} for i in results]
         data = {
-            "size": self.default_conf["archive"]["page_size"],
+            "size": UserConfig(self.user_id).get_value("page_size"),
             "query": {"bool": {"should": ids}},
             "sort": [{"published": {"order": "desc"}}],
         }
@@ -235,7 +181,7 @@ class ArchivistResultsView(ArchivistViewConfig):
 
     def single_lookup(self, es_path):
         """retrieve a single item from url"""
-        search = SearchHandler(es_path, config=self.default_conf)
+        search = SearchHandler(es_path)
         result = search.get_data()[0]["source"]
         return result
 
@@ -250,9 +196,7 @@ class ArchivistResultsView(ArchivistViewConfig):
 
     def find_results(self):
         """add results and pagination to context"""
-        search = SearchHandler(
-            self.es_search, config=self.default_conf, data=self.data
-        )
+        search = SearchHandler(self.es_search, data=self.data)
         self.context["results"] = search.get_data()
         self.pagination_handler.validate(search.max_hits)
         self.context["max_hits"] = search.max_hits
@@ -267,7 +211,7 @@ class MinView(View):
     def get_min_context(request):
         """build minimal vars for context"""
         return {
-            "colors": AppConfig(request.user.id).colors,
+            "colors": UserConfig(request.user.id).get_value("colors"),
             "version": settings.TA_VERSION,
             "ta_update": ReleaseVersion().get_update(),
         }
@@ -1005,7 +949,9 @@ class SettingsUserView(MinView):
         context.update(
             {
                 "title": "User Settings",
-                "config": AppConfig(request.user.id).config,
+                "page_size": UserConfig(request.user.id).get_value(
+                    "page_size"
+                ),
                 "user_form": UserSettingsForm(),
             }
         )
@@ -1015,10 +961,17 @@ class SettingsUserView(MinView):
     def post(self, request):
         """handle form post to update settings"""
         user_form = UserSettingsForm(request.POST)
+        config_handler = UserConfig(request.user.id)
         if user_form.is_valid():
             user_form_post = user_form.cleaned_data
-            if any(user_form_post.values()):
-                AppConfig().set_user_config(user_form_post, request.user.id)
+            if user_form_post.get("colors"):
+                config_handler.set_value(
+                    "colors", user_form_post.get("colors")
+                )
+            if user_form_post.get("page_size"):
+                config_handler.set_value(
+                    "page_size", user_form_post.get("page_size")
+                )
 
         sleep(1)
         return redirect("settings_user", permanent=True)
@@ -1037,7 +990,7 @@ class SettingsApplicationView(MinView):
         context.update(
             {
                 "title": "Application Settings",
-                "config": AppConfig(request.user.id).config,
+                "config": AppConfig().config,
                 "api_token": self.get_token(request),
                 "app_form": ApplicationSettingsForm(),
                 "snapshots": ElasticSnapshot().get_snapshot_stats(),
@@ -1126,7 +1079,7 @@ class SettingsSchedulingView(MinView):
         context.update(
             {
                 "title": "Scheduling Settings",
-                "config": AppConfig(request.user.id).config,
+                "config": AppConfig().config,
                 "scheduler_form": SchedulerSettingsForm(),
             }
         )
diff --git a/tubearchivist/static/script.js b/tubearchivist/static/script.js
index f7375b8..e6d3b86 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/static/script.js
+++ b/tubearchivist/static/script.js
@@ -64,7 +64,15 @@ function isWatchedButton(button) {
   let youtube_id = button.getAttribute('data-id');
   let apiEndpoint = '/api/watched/';
   let data = { id: youtube_id, is_watched: true };
-  button.remove();
+  apiRequest(apiEndpoint, 'POST', data);
+  setTimeout(function () {
+    location.reload();
+  }, 1000);
+}
+function isUnwatchedButton(button) {
+  let youtube_id = button.getAttribute('data-id');
+  let apiEndpoint = '/api/watched/';
+  let data = { id: youtube_id, is_watched: false };
   apiRequest(apiEndpoint, 'POST', data);
   setTimeout(function () {
     location.reload();