diff --git a/crates/api/src/local_user.rs b/crates/api/src/local_user.rs
index fe1c8b117..c69ea48d3 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/local_user.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/local_user.rs
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ impl Perform for GetCaptcha {
     context: &Data<LemmyContext>,
     _websocket_id: Option<ConnectionId>,
   ) -> Result<Self::Response, LemmyError> {
-    let captcha_settings = context.settings().to_owned().captcha;
+    let captcha_settings = context.settings().captcha;
 
     if !captcha_settings.enabled {
       return Ok(GetCaptchaResponse { ok: None });
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ impl Perform for PasswordReset {
       email,
       &local_user_view.person.name,
       html,
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
     )
     .map_err(|e| ApiError::err(&e))?;
 
diff --git a/crates/api/src/site.rs b/crates/api/src/site.rs
index 1c601b264..01f7b45f1 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/site.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/site.rs
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ impl Perform for Search {
     let community_actor_id = data
       .community_name
       .as_ref()
-      .map(|t| build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, t, context.settings()).ok())
+      .map(|t| build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, t, &context.settings()).ok())
       .unwrap_or(None);
     let creator_id = data.creator_id;
     match search_type {
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/create.rs
index bb7728e9c..fb175179a 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/create.rs
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for CreateComment {
       post,
       context.pool(),
       true,
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
     )
     .await?;
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/delete.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/delete.rs
index c84ec621e..0b44f4ebb 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/delete.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/delete.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for DeleteComment {
       post,
       context.pool(),
       false,
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for RemoveComment {
       post,
       context.pool(),
       false,
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
     )
     .await?;
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/read.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/read.rs
index f63104bc5..8ee9eb628 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/read.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/read.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for GetComments {
     let community_actor_id = data
       .community_name
       .as_ref()
-      .map(|t| build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, t, context.settings()).ok())
+      .map(|t| build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, t, &context.settings()).ok())
       .unwrap_or(None);
     let saved_only = data.saved_only;
     let page = data.page;
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/update.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/update.rs
index ab9b9faaf..24e2ddbdd 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/update.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/update.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for EditComment {
       orig_comment.post,
       context.pool(),
       false,
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
     )
     .await?;
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/community/read.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/community/read.rs
index 3bbac9241..b29f5f0a0 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/community/read.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/community/read.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for GetCommunity {
       None => {
         let name = data.name.to_owned().unwrap_or_else(|| "main".to_string());
         let community_actor_id =
-          build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, &name, context.settings())?;
+          build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, &name, &context.settings())?;
 
         blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
           Community::read_from_apub_id(conn, &community_actor_id)
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
index 524c305d3..11896875c 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for CreatePost {
     // Fetch post links and pictrs cached image
     let data_url = data.url.as_ref();
     let (metadata_res, pictrs_thumbnail) =
-      fetch_site_data(context.client(), context.settings(), data_url).await;
+      fetch_site_data(context.client(), &context.settings(), data_url).await;
     let (embed_title, embed_description, embed_html) = metadata_res
       .map(|u| (u.title, u.description, u.html))
       .unwrap_or((None, None, None));
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/post/read.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/post/read.rs
index 413f641c1..1cfcbaf8c 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/post/read.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/post/read.rs
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for GetPosts {
     let community_actor_id = data
       .community_name
       .as_ref()
-      .map(|t| build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, t, context.settings()).ok())
+      .map(|t| build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Community, t, &context.settings()).ok())
       .unwrap_or(None);
     let saved_only = data.saved_only;
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs
index c1215830d..b94786826 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for EditPost {
     // Fetch post links and Pictrs cached image
     let data_url = data.url.as_ref();
     let (metadata_res, pictrs_thumbnail) =
-      fetch_site_data(context.client(), context.settings(), data_url).await;
+      fetch_site_data(context.client(), &context.settings(), data_url).await;
     let (embed_title, embed_description, embed_html) = metadata_res
       .map(|u| (u.title, u.description, u.html))
       .unwrap_or((None, None, None));
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/private_message/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/private_message/create.rs
index a0b12fb32..10d77da45 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/private_message/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/private_message/create.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for CreatePrivateMessage {
         "Private Message from",
         "Private Message",
         &content_slurs_removed,
-        context.settings(),
+        &context.settings(),
       );
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/user/read.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/user/read.rs
index bb45d4731..b029f2998 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/user/read.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/user/read.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for GetPersonDetails {
           .to_owned()
           .unwrap_or_else(|| "admin".to_string());
         let actor_id =
-          build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Person, &name, context.settings())?;
+          build_actor_id_from_shortname(EndpointType::Person, &name, &context.settings())?;
 
         let person = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
           Person::read_from_apub_id(conn, &actor_id)
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/create_or_update.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/create_or_update.rs
index cca9942f5..130623ff7 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/create_or_update.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/create_or_update.rs
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for CreateOrUpdateComment {
     let community = extract_community(&self.cc, context, request_counter).await?;
     let community_id = ObjectId::new(community.actor_id());
 
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &community_id, context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_domains_match(self.actor.inner(), self.object.id_unchecked())?;
     // TODO: should add a check that the correct community is in cc (probably needs changes to
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/mod.rs
index 1810a38ac..58524cb5f 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/comment/mod.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ async fn get_notif_recipients(
     post,
     context.pool(),
     true,
-    context.settings(),
+    &context.settings(),
   )
   .await
 }
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs
index 6c6e56f48..a71414dd2 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for AddMod {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_mod_action(&self.actor, self.cc[0].clone(), context).await?;
     verify_add_remove_moderator_target(&self.target, &self.cc[0])?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs
index 87e51edaf..dae37b60e 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for AnnounceActivity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_community(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
     self.object.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
     Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs
index 8dddc1c73..ad9999884 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for BlockUserFromCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_mod_action(&self.actor, self.cc[0].clone(), context).await?;
     Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/mod.rs
index 776ef8701..642f83645 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/mod.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ async fn list_community_follower_inboxes(
   Ok(
     vec![
       community
-        .get_follower_inboxes(context.pool(), context.settings())
+        .get_follower_inboxes(context.pool(), &context.settings())
         .await?,
       additional_inboxes,
     ]
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ async fn list_community_follower_inboxes(
     .flatten()
     .unique()
     .filter(|inbox| inbox.host_str() != Some(&context.settings().hostname))
-    .filter(|inbox| check_is_apub_id_valid(inbox, false, context.settings()).is_ok())
+    .filter(|inbox| check_is_apub_id_valid(inbox, false, &context.settings()).is_ok())
     .map(|inbox| inbox.to_owned())
     .collect(),
   )
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs
index 5edb14b2c..2da9bbdbb 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for RemoveMod {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     if let Some(target) = &self.target {
       verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
       verify_mod_action(&self.actor, self.cc[0].clone(), context).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs
index a078afe30..29aa83f5b 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoBlockUserFromCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_mod_action(&self.actor, self.cc[0].clone(), context).await?;
     self.object.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/update.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/update.rs
index 52da00554..d217e2561 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/update.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/update.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UpdateCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_mod_action(&self.actor, self.cc[0].clone(), context).await?;
     Ok(())
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UpdateCommunity {
     let updated_community = Group::from_apub_to_form(
       &self.object,
       &community.actor_id.clone().into(),
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
     )
     .await?;
     let cf = CommunityForm {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/delete.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/delete.rs
index 8caa551d8..9e957a8ee 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/delete.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/delete.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for Delete {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_delete_activity(
       &self.object,
       self,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/undo_delete.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/undo_delete.rs
index b5ff2df5d..f74c34c90 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/undo_delete.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/deletion/undo_delete.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoDelete {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     self.object.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_delete_activity(
       &self.object.object,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs
index c0210e962..86b0d2093 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for AcceptFollowCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_urls_match(self.to.inner(), self.object.actor())?;
     verify_urls_match(self.actor(), self.object.to.inner())?;
     verify_community(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs
index 236b27a8f..21446eb12 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for FollowCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_urls_match(self.to.inner(), self.object.inner())?;
     verify_person(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
     Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs
index 0ff09ddd7..cc103075d 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoFollowCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_urls_match(self.to.inner(), self.object.object.inner())?;
     verify_urls_match(self.actor(), self.object.actor())?;
     verify_person(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/post/create_or_update.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/post/create_or_update.rs
index 1a0a9c884..ae93f0988 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/post/create_or_update.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/post/create_or_update.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for CreateOrUpdatePost {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     let community = self.cc[0].dereference(context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     match self.kind {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/create_or_update.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/create_or_update.rs
index b51e5d7ca..f3b1c91fb 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/create_or_update.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/create_or_update.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for CreateOrUpdatePrivateMessage {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_domains_match(self.actor.inner(), self.object.id_unchecked())?;
     self.object.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/delete.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/delete.rs
index 9fb346ec7..bf12f9d1e 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/delete.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/delete.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for DeletePrivateMessage {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_domains_match(self.actor.inner(), &self.object)?;
     Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/undo_delete.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/undo_delete.rs
index 759084b0b..5aa6dbed4 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/undo_delete.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/private_message/undo_delete.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoDeletePrivateMessage {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_urls_match(self.actor(), self.object.actor())?;
     verify_domains_match(self.actor(), &self.object.object)?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/undo_remove.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/undo_remove.rs
index 10e3fe6e3..422d0deea 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/undo_remove.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/undo_remove.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoRemovePostCommentOrCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     self.object.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
 
     verify_delete_activity(
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/undo_vote.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/undo_vote.rs
index b306692aa..963292fa5 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/undo_vote.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/undo_vote.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoVote {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     verify_urls_match(self.actor(), self.object.actor())?;
     self.object.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/vote.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/vote.rs
index acec272a2..e74dea108 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/vote.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/voting/vote.rs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for Vote {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    verify_activity(self, context.settings())?;
+    verify_activity(self, &context.settings())?;
     verify_person_in_community(&self.actor, &self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     Ok(())
   }
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs
index 6bffe04bd..174741128 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn fetch_community_outbox(
 ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
   let outbox = fetch_remote_object::<OrderedCollection>(
     context.client(),
-    context.settings(),
+    &context.settings(),
     outbox,
     recursion_counter,
   )
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ async fn fetch_community_mods(
   if let Some(mods_url) = &group.moderators {
     let mods = fetch_remote_object::<OrderedCollection>(
       context.client(),
-      context.settings(),
+      &context.settings(),
       mods_url,
       recursion_counter,
     )
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/objects.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/objects.rs
index 3453fd389..c222776d5 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/objects.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/objects.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_insert_post(
       debug!("Fetching and creating remote post: {}", post_ap_id);
       let page = fetch_remote_object::<Page>(
         context.client(),
-        context.settings(),
+        &context.settings(),
         post_ap_id,
         recursion_counter,
       )
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_insert_comment(
       );
       let comment = fetch_remote_object::<Note>(
         context.client(),
-        context.settings(),
+        &context.settings(),
         comment_ap_id,
         recursion_counter,
       )
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/person.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/person.rs
index 887e3c276..54c3163a6 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/person.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/person.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_upsert_person(
       debug!("Fetching and updating from remote person: {}", apub_id);
       let person = fetch_remote_object::<ApubPerson>(
         context.client(),
-        context.settings(),
+        &context.settings(),
         apub_id,
         recursion_counter,
       )
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_upsert_person(
       debug!("Fetching and creating remote person: {}", apub_id);
       let person = fetch_remote_object::<ApubPerson>(
         context.client(),
-        context.settings(),
+        &context.settings(),
         apub_id,
         recursion_counter,
       )
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/http/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/http/mod.rs
index 347f56428..a70ed6f00 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/http/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/http/mod.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ where
   if is_activity_already_known(context.pool(), activity.id_unchecked()).await? {
     return Ok(HttpResponse::Ok().finish());
   }
-  check_is_apub_id_valid(activity.actor(), false, context.settings())?;
+  check_is_apub_id_valid(activity.actor(), false, &context.settings())?;
   info!("Verifying activity {}", activity.id_unchecked().to_string());
   activity.verify(context, request_counter).await?;
   assert_activity_not_local(&activity, &context.settings().hostname)?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
index 7238c0c42..c8ddd2972 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ impl FromApub for Community {
     expected_domain: &Url,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<Community, LemmyError> {
-    let form = Group::from_apub_to_form(group, expected_domain, context.settings()).await?;
+    let form = Group::from_apub_to_form(group, expected_domain, &context.settings()).await?;
 
     let community = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| Community::upsert(conn, &form)).await??;
     update_community_mods(group, &community, context, request_counter).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/person.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/person.rs
index 2c563b9dc..5bf7a5897 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/person.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/person.rs
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ impl FromApub for DbPerson {
     check_slurs_opt(&display_name, slur_regex)?;
     check_slurs_opt(&bio, slur_regex)?;
 
-    check_is_apub_id_valid(&person.id, false, context.settings())?;
+    check_is_apub_id_valid(&person.id, false, &context.settings())?;
 
     let person_form = PersonForm {
       name,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs
index 0cad7ec49..451ce0554 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ impl FromApub for Post {
 
     let thumbnail_url: Option<Url> = page.image.clone().map(|i| i.url);
     let (metadata_res, pictrs_thumbnail) = if let Some(url) = &page.url {
-      fetch_site_data(context.client(), context.settings(), Some(url)).await
+      fetch_site_data(context.client(), &context.settings(), Some(url)).await
     } else {
       (None, thumbnail_url)
     };
diff --git a/crates/routes/src/images.rs b/crates/routes/src/images.rs
index 035514f21..e5e33489d 100644
--- a/crates/routes/src/images.rs
+++ b/crates/routes/src/images.rs
@@ -59,10 +59,7 @@ async fn upload(
   };
 
   let mut client_req = client.request_from(
-    format!(
-      "{}/image",
-      pictrs_url(context.settings().to_owned().pictrs_url)?
-    ),
+    format!("{}/image", pictrs_url(context.settings().pictrs_url)?),
     req.head(),
   );
   // remove content-encoding header so that pictrs doesnt send gzipped response
@@ -92,7 +89,7 @@ async fn full_res(
   let name = &filename.into_inner();
 
   // If there are no query params, the URL is original
-  let pictrs_url_settings = context.settings().to_owned().pictrs_url;
+  let pictrs_url_settings = context.settings().pictrs_url;
   let url = if params.format.is_none() && params.thumbnail.is_none() {
     format!(
       "{}/image/original/{}",
@@ -160,7 +157,7 @@ async fn delete(
 
   let url = format!(
     "{}/image/delete/{}/{}",
-    pictrs_url(context.settings().to_owned().pictrs_url)?,
+    pictrs_url(context.settings().pictrs_url)?,
     &token,
     &file
   );
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs b/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs
index b75353aaf..d47cc5b4b 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@ use crate::{location_info, settings::structs::Settings, LemmyError};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Context};
 use deser_hjson::from_str;
 use regex::{Regex, RegexBuilder};
-use std::{env, fs, io::Error};
+use std::{env, fs, io::Error, sync::RwLock};
 
 pub mod structs;
 
 static CONFIG_FILE: &str = "config/config.hjson";
 
+lazy_static! {
+  static ref SETTINGS: RwLock<Settings> =
+    RwLock::new(Settings::init().expect("Failed to load settings file"));
+}
+
 impl Settings {
   /// Reads config from configuration file.
   ///
@@ -35,6 +40,11 @@ impl Settings {
     Ok(config)
   }
 
+  /// Returns the config as a struct.
+  pub fn get() -> Self {
+    SETTINGS.read().expect("read config").to_owned()
+  }
+
   pub fn get_database_url(&self) -> String {
     let conf = &self.database;
     format!(
@@ -83,6 +93,15 @@ impl Settings {
 
   pub fn save_config_file(data: &str) -> Result<String, LemmyError> {
     fs::write(CONFIG_FILE, data)?;
+
+    // Reload the new settings
+    // From https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29654927/how-do-i-assign-a-string-to-a-mutable-static-variable/47181804#47181804
+    let mut new_settings = SETTINGS.write().expect("write config");
+    *new_settings = match Settings::init() {
+      Ok(c) => c,
+      Err(e) => panic!("{}", e),
+    };
+
     Ok(Self::read_config_file()?)
   }
 
diff --git a/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs b/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs
index a91a66812..366512eb9 100644
--- a/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/websocket/src/lib.rs
@@ -55,8 +55,9 @@ impl LemmyContext {
   pub fn activity_queue(&self) -> &QueueHandle {
     &self.activity_queue
   }
-  pub fn settings(&self) -> &Settings {
-    &self.settings
+  pub fn settings(&self) -> Settings {
+    // TODO hacky solution to be able to hotload the settings.
+    Settings::get()
   }
   pub fn secret(&self) -> &Secret {
     &self.secret