diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.lock b/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.lock
index af16b79..3783d84 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.lock
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.lock
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_json",
  "simplelog",
  "tokio",
+ "walkdir",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1017,6 +1018,15 @@ version = "1.0.16"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "f98d2aa92eebf49b69786be48e4477826b256916e84a57ff2a4f21923b48eb4c"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "same-file"
+version = "1.0.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "93fc1dc3aaa9bfed95e02e6eadabb4baf7e3078b0bd1b4d7b6b0b68378900502"
+dependencies = [
+ "winapi-util",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "scopeguard"
 version = "1.2.0"
@@ -1319,6 +1329,16 @@ version = "0.9.4"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "49874b5167b65d7193b8aba1567f5c7d93d001cafc34600cee003eda787e483f"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "walkdir"
+version = "2.5.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "29790946404f91d9c5d06f9874efddea1dc06c5efe94541a7d6863108e3a5e4b"
+dependencies = [
+ "same-file",
+ "winapi-util",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "wasi"
 version = "0.11.0+wasi-snapshot-preview1"
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.toml b/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.toml
index 01baf76..aee36ff 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.toml
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ tokio = { version = "1", features = ["full"] }
 actix-web = { version = "4.4" }
 mime = { version = "0.3.17" }
 
+walkdir = "2"
+
 # logging
 log = "0.4"
 simplelog = "0.12"
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/api/save_setting.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/api/save_setting.rs
index a77ba58..6169d06 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/api/save_setting.rs
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/api/save_setting.rs
@@ -66,116 +66,32 @@ pub async fn save_setting_handler(
 
     log::debug!("Saved to {}, building symlinks", path_ron.display());
 
-    // create symlinks for other ways of looking up these settings files
-    let filename_ron = file_util::filename(next_id, crate::consts::RON_EXTENSION);
-    let filename_json = file_util::filename(next_id, crate::consts::JSON_EXTENSION);
+    let to_symlink = file_util::symlinks(&cli.folder, &parsed_data)?;
 
-    // create symlinks to app id folder
-    let app_id_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_app_id(&cli.folder, parsed_data.steam_app_id);
-    log::debug!("App id folder {}", app_id_folder.display());
-    if !app_id_folder.exists() {
-        std::fs::create_dir(&app_id_folder)?;
-        std::fs::create_dir(file_util::setting_tag_folder_by_app_id(&cli.folder, parsed_data.steam_app_id))?;
-    }
-    #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
-    {
-        log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", app_id_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-        std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, app_id_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-        std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json.canonicalize()?, app_id_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-    }
-    #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
-    {
-        log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", app_id_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-        std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, app_id_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-        std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json.canonicalize()?, app_id_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-    }
-
-    // create symlinks for user id folder
-    let user_id_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_user_id(&cli.folder, parsed_data.steam_user_id);
-    if !user_id_folder.exists() {
-        std::fs::create_dir(&user_id_folder)?;
-        std::fs::create_dir(file_util::setting_tag_folder_by_user_id(&cli.folder, parsed_data.steam_user_id))?;
-    }
-    #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
-    {
-        log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", user_id_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-        std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, user_id_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-        std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json.canonicalize()?, user_id_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-    }
-    #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
-    {
-        log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", user_id_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-        std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, user_id_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-        std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json.canonicalize()?, user_id_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-    }
-
-    // create symlinks for each tag
-    for tag in parsed_data.tags.iter() {
-        if !str_is_alphanumeric_or_space(&tag){
-            continue;
-        }
-        // create symlinks for general tag folder
-        let tag_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_tag(&cli.folder, tag);
-        if !tag_folder.exists() {
-            std::fs::create_dir(&tag_folder)?;
-        }
+    let path_ron_canon = path_ron.canonicalize()?;
+    let path_json_canon = path_json.canonicalize()?;
+    for ron_link in to_symlink.ron {
+        log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", ron_link.display(), path_ron_canon.display());
         #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
         {
-            log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", tag_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, tag_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json.canonicalize()?, tag_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
+            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron_canon, &ron_link)?;
         }
         #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
         {
-            log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", tag_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, tag_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json.canonicalize()?, tag_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-        }
-
-        // create symlinks for app id tag folder
-        let app_tag_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_app_id_tag(&cli.folder, parsed_data.steam_app_id, tag);
-        if !app_tag_folder.exists() {
-            std::fs::create_dir(&app_tag_folder)?;
+            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron_canon, &ron_link)?;
         }
+    }
+    for json_link in to_symlink.json {
+        //log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", json_link.display(), path_json_canon.display());
         #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
         {
-            log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", app_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, app_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json.canonicalize()?, app_tag_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
+            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json_canon, json_link)?;
         }
         #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
         {
-            log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", app_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, app_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json.canonicalize()?, app_tag_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-        }
-
-        // create symlinks for user id tag folder
-        let user_tag_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_user_id_tag(&cli.folder, parsed_data.steam_user_id, tag);
-        if !user_tag_folder.exists() {
-            std::fs::create_dir(&user_tag_folder)?;
-        }
-        #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
-        {
-            log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", user_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, user_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json.canonicalize()?, user_tag_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
-        }
-        #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
-        {
-            log::debug!("Symlinking {} -> {}", user_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron).display(), path_ron.canonicalize()?.display());
-            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron.canonicalize()?, user_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron))?;
-            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json.canonicalize()?, user_tag_folder.join(&filename_json))?;
+            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json_canon, json_link)?;
         }
     }
 
     Ok(actix_web::HttpResponse::NoContent())
 }
-
-fn str_is_alphanumeric_or_space(s: &str) -> bool {
-    let mut result = true;
-    for ch in s.chars() {
-        result &= ch.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || ch == ' ';
-    }
-    result
-}
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/cli.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/cli.rs
index b6feb6b..f960560 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/cli.rs
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/cli.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ pub struct Cli {
     /// Perform maintenance tasks
     #[arg(long)]
     pub fix: bool,
+
+    /// Keep up to this many duplicate settings (0 will delete everything!!!)
+    #[arg(long, default_value_t = 2)]
+    pub duplicates: usize,
 }
 
 impl Cli {
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/file_util.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/file_util.rs
index 5a7d4bd..f776da2 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/file_util.rs
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/file_util.rs
@@ -88,3 +88,71 @@ pub fn next_setting_id(root: impl AsRef<Path>) -> u128 {
     *lock += 1;
     *lock
 }
+
+pub struct ToSymlink {
+    pub ron: Vec<PathBuf>,
+    pub json: Vec<PathBuf>,
+}
+
+pub fn symlinks(root: impl AsRef<Path>, meta: &community_settings_core::v1::Metadata) -> std::io::Result<ToSymlink> {
+    let mut symlink_locations = ToSymlink { ron: Vec::new(), json: Vec::new() };
+    let filename_ron = filename(meta.get_id(), crate::consts::RON_EXTENSION);
+    let filename_json = filename(meta.get_id(), crate::consts::JSON_EXTENSION);
+    // build symlinks to app id folder
+    let app_id_folder = setting_folder_by_app_id(&root, meta.steam_app_id);
+    log::debug!("App id folder {}", app_id_folder.display());
+    if !app_id_folder.exists() {
+        std::fs::create_dir(&app_id_folder)?;
+        std::fs::create_dir(setting_tag_folder_by_app_id(&root, meta.steam_app_id))?;
+    }
+    symlink_locations.ron.push(app_id_folder.join(&filename_ron));
+    symlink_locations.json.push(app_id_folder.join(&filename_json));
+
+    // create symlinks for user id folder
+    let user_id_folder = setting_folder_by_user_id(&root, meta.steam_user_id);
+    if !user_id_folder.exists() {
+        std::fs::create_dir(&user_id_folder)?;
+        std::fs::create_dir(setting_tag_folder_by_user_id(&root, meta.steam_user_id))?;
+    }
+    symlink_locations.ron.push(user_id_folder.join(&filename_ron));
+    symlink_locations.json.push(user_id_folder.join(&filename_json));
+
+    // create symlinks for each tag
+    for tag in meta.tags.iter() {
+        if !str_is_alphanumeric_or_space(&tag){
+            continue;
+        }
+        // create symlinks for general tag folder
+        let tag_folder = setting_folder_by_tag(&root, tag);
+        if !tag_folder.exists() {
+            std::fs::create_dir(&tag_folder)?;
+        }
+        symlink_locations.ron.push(tag_folder.join(&filename_ron));
+        symlink_locations.json.push(tag_folder.join(&filename_json));
+
+        // create symlinks for app id tag folder
+        let app_tag_folder = setting_folder_by_app_id_tag(&root, meta.steam_app_id, tag);
+        if !app_tag_folder.exists() {
+            std::fs::create_dir(&app_tag_folder)?;
+        }
+        symlink_locations.ron.push(app_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron));
+        symlink_locations.json.push(app_tag_folder.join(&filename_json));
+
+        // create symlinks for user id tag folder
+        let user_tag_folder = setting_folder_by_user_id_tag(&root, meta.steam_user_id, tag);
+        if !user_tag_folder.exists() {
+            std::fs::create_dir(&user_tag_folder)?;
+        }
+        symlink_locations.ron.push(user_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron));
+        symlink_locations.json.push(user_tag_folder.join(&filename_json));
+    }
+    Ok(symlink_locations)
+}
+
+fn str_is_alphanumeric_or_space(s: &str) -> bool {
+    let mut result = true;
+    for ch in s.chars() {
+        result &= ch.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || ch == ' ';
+    }
+    result
+}
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/main.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/main.rs
index 58f132a..b3f26d0 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/main.rs
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/main.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ mod api;
 mod cli;
 mod consts;
 mod file_util;
+mod tasks;
 mod upgrade;
 
 use actix_web::{web, App, HttpServer};
@@ -39,9 +40,13 @@ async fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         upgrade::make_tag_subfolders(&args.folder)?;
         log::info!("Resynchronizing file IDs with file name IDs");
         upgrade::sync_ids(&args.folder)?;
+        log::info!("Rebuilding missing symlinks");
+        upgrade::rebuild_symlinks(&args.folder)?;
         return Ok(())
     }
 
+    tasks::start_tasks(args.clone());
+
     let leaked_args: &'static cli::Cli = Box::leak::<'static>(Box::new(args));
     HttpServer::new(move || {
             App::new()
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/mod.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b922f4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+mod task_runner;
+mod symlink_cleanup;
+mod user_antispam;
+
+pub fn start_tasks(args: crate::cli::Cli) {
+    task_runner::TaskRunner::new(
+        args.clone(),
+        symlink_cleanup::remove_broken_symlinks,
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(1 * 60 /* 1 minute */),
+    ).run();
+    task_runner::TaskRunner::new(
+        args.clone(),
+        user_antispam::remove_similar_user_uploads,
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(5 * 60 /* 5 minutes */),
+    ).run();
+}
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/symlink_cleanup.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/symlink_cleanup.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34893e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/symlink_cleanup.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+//! Realistically this shouldn't be occur unless there's corruption or a settings files is manually deleted
+
+pub fn remove_broken_symlinks(args: &mut crate::cli::Cli) {
+    log::info!("Starting broken symlink removal task");
+    if let Err(e) = enforce_working_symlinks(&args.folder) {
+        log::error!("Error in broken symlink task: {}", e);
+    }
+    log::info!("Completed broken symlink removal task");
+}
+
+fn enforce_working_symlinks(root: impl AsRef<std::path::Path>) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    for dir_entry in walkdir::WalkDir::new(root.as_ref().join(crate::consts::SETTING_FOLDER)) {
+        let dir_entry = dir_entry?;
+        match check_symlink(dir_entry.path()) {
+            Ok(true) => {},
+            Ok(false) => {
+                log::info!("Symlink {} seems broken, removing...", dir_entry.path().display());
+                if let Err(e) = std::fs::remove_file(dir_entry.path()) {
+                    log::warn!("Failed to delete broken symlink {}: {}", dir_entry.path().display(), e);
+                }
+            },
+            Err(symlink_e) => {
+                log::info!("Thing {} seems broken, removing... err: {}", dir_entry.path().display(), symlink_e);
+                if let Err(e) = std::fs::remove_file(dir_entry.path()) {
+                    log::warn!("Failed to delete broken thing {}: {}", dir_entry.path().display(), e);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn check_symlink(path: impl AsRef<std::path::Path>) -> std::io::Result<bool> {
+    if path.as_ref().is_symlink() {
+        Ok(path.as_ref().read_link().is_ok_and(|link| link.exists()))
+    } else {
+        Ok(true)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/task_runner.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/task_runner.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ced9533
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/task_runner.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+use std::thread::{spawn, JoinHandle, sleep};
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+pub struct TaskRunner<C: Send + 'static, F: FnMut(&mut C) + Send + 'static> {
+    task: F,
+    context: C,
+    period: Option<Duration>,
+}
+
+impl <C: Send + 'static, F: FnMut(&mut C) + Send + 'static> TaskRunner<C, F> {
+    pub fn new(c: C, f: F, period: Duration) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            task: f,
+            context: c,
+            period: Some(period),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*
+    pub fn new_oneshot(c: C, f: F) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            task: f,
+            context: c,
+            period: None,
+        }
+    }*/
+
+    pub fn run(mut self) -> JoinHandle<()> {
+        if let Some(period) = self.period {
+            spawn(move || {
+                let mut pre_task;
+                let mut after_task;
+                loop {
+                    pre_task = Instant::now();
+                    (self.task)(&mut self.context);
+                    after_task = Instant::now();
+                    sleep(period - (after_task.duration_since(pre_task)));
+                }
+            })
+        } else {
+            spawn(move || {
+                (self.task)(&mut self.context);
+            })
+        }
+
+    }
+}
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/user_antispam.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/user_antispam.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3379df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/tasks/user_antispam.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+use crate::file_util;
+
+pub fn remove_similar_user_uploads(args: &mut crate::cli::Cli) {
+    log::info!("Starting user antispam task");
+    if let Err(e) = enforce_user_dirs(&args.folder, args.duplicates) {
+        log::error!("Error in user antispam task: {}", e);
+    }
+    log::info!("Completed user antispam task");
+}
+
+fn enforce_user_dirs(root: impl AsRef<std::path::Path>, keep_duplicates: usize) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let mut to_remove: Vec<community_settings_core::v1::Metadata> = Vec::new();
+    let mut seen_names = std::collections::HashMap::<String, Vec<community_settings_core::v1::Metadata>>::new();
+    for dir_entry in root.as_ref()
+                .join(crate::consts::SETTING_FOLDER)
+                .join(crate::consts::USER_ID_FOLDER)
+                .read_dir()? {
+        match dir_entry {
+            Ok(dir_entry) => {
+                log::info!("Scanning {} for user antispam", dir_entry.path().display());
+                if dir_entry.file_type()?.is_dir() {
+                    seen_names.clear();
+                    to_remove.clear();
+                    for user_entry in dir_entry.path().read_dir()? {
+                        match user_entry {
+                            Ok(user_entry) => {
+                                let f_path = user_entry.path();
+                                if let Some(ext) = f_path.extension() {
+                                    if ext == crate::consts::RON_EXTENSION {
+                                        let reader = std::io::BufReader::new(std::fs::File::open(&f_path)?);
+                                        match ron::de::from_reader::<_, community_settings_core::v1::Metadata>(reader) {
+                                            Ok(x) =>  {
+                                                let sani_name = sanitise_name(&x.name);
+                                                if let Some(seen_in_ids) = seen_names.get_mut(&sani_name) {
+                                                    seen_in_ids.push(x);
+                                                } else {
+                                                    seen_names.insert(sani_name, vec![x]);
+                                                }
+
+                                            },
+                                            Err(e) => log::debug!("Error while reading {}: {}", f_path.display(), e)
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            },
+                            Err(e) => log::warn!("Skipping file in {} for user antispam task due to error: {}", dir_entry.path().display(), e),
+                        }
+                    }
+                    for seen in seen_names.values_mut() {
+                        seen.sort_by_key(|meta| meta.get_id()); // sort lowest to highest
+                        // keep the highest id (i.e. latest uploaded) settings
+                        for _ in 0..keep_duplicates {
+                            seen.pop();
+                        }
+                        to_remove.append(seen);
+                    }
+                    log::info!("Found {} spammy entries in {}", to_remove.len(), dir_entry.path().display());
+                    // remove settings (and related symlinks) from the filesystem
+                    for meta in to_remove.iter() {
+                        let filename_ron = file_util::filename(meta.get_id(), crate::consts::RON_EXTENSION);
+                        let filename_json = file_util::filename(meta.get_id(), crate::consts::JSON_EXTENSION);
+                        // delete tag symlinks
+                        for tag in meta.tags.iter() {
+                            let app_id_tag_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_app_id_tag(root.as_ref(), meta.steam_app_id, tag);
+                            let user_id_tag_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_user_id_tag(root.as_ref(), meta.steam_user_id, tag);
+                            let tag_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_tag(root.as_ref(), tag);
+                            let paths = [
+                                app_id_tag_folder.join(&filename_json),
+                                app_id_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron),
+                                user_id_tag_folder.join(&filename_json),
+                                user_id_tag_folder.join(&filename_ron),
+                                tag_folder.join(&filename_json),
+                                tag_folder.join(&filename_ron),
+                            ];
+                            for path in paths {
+                                if path.exists() {
+                                    if let Err(e) = std::fs::remove_file(&path) {
+                                        log::warn!("Failed to delete {}: {}", path.display(), e);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                        // delete first-order symlinks and finally the actual files
+                        let app_id_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_app_id(root.as_ref(), meta.steam_app_id);
+                        let user_id_folder = file_util::setting_folder_by_user_id(root.as_ref(), meta.steam_user_id);
+                        let paths = [
+                            app_id_folder.join(&filename_json),
+                            app_id_folder.join(&filename_ron),
+                            user_id_folder.join(&filename_json),
+                            user_id_folder.join(&filename_ron),
+                            file_util::setting_path_by_id(root.as_ref(), meta.get_id(), crate::consts::JSON_EXTENSION),
+                            file_util::setting_path_by_id(root.as_ref(), meta.get_id(), crate::consts::RON_EXTENSION),
+                        ];
+                        for path in paths {
+                            if path.exists() {
+                                if let Err(e) = std::fs::remove_file(&path) {
+                                    log::warn!("Failed to delete {}: {}", path.display(), e);
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    log::info!("Encountered non-folder path in user dir: {}", dir_entry.path().display());
+                }
+            },
+            Err(e) => log::warn!("Skipping file for user antispam task due to error: {}", e),
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn sanitise_name(name: &str) -> String {
+    name.trim().to_lowercase()
+}
diff --git a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/upgrade.rs b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/upgrade.rs
index c48f9b3..052cb83 100644
--- a/backend/community_settings_srv/src/upgrade.rs
+++ b/backend/community_settings_srv/src/upgrade.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,59 @@ pub fn build_folder_layout(root: impl AsRef<Path>) -> std::io::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+pub fn rebuild_symlinks(root: impl AsRef<Path>) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    for dir_entry in root.as_ref()
+            .join(SETTING_FOLDER)
+            .join(ID_FOLDER)
+            .read_dir()? {
+        let dir_entry = dir_entry?;
+        if dir_entry.file_type()?.is_file() {
+            let f_path = dir_entry.path();
+            if let Some(ext) = f_path.extension() {
+                if ext == RON_EXTENSION {
+                    let reader = std::io::BufReader::new(std::fs::File::open(&f_path)?);
+                    let setting: community_settings_core::v1::Metadata = match ron::de::from_reader(reader) {
+                        Ok(x) => x,
+                        Err(e) => {
+                            log::debug!("Error while reading {}: {}", f_path.display(), e);
+                            let e_msg = format!("{}", e);
+                            return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, e_msg));
+                        }
+                    };
+                    let to_symlink = crate::file_util::symlinks(&root, &setting)?;
+                    let path_ron_canon = f_path.canonicalize()?;
+                    let path_json_canon = crate::file_util::setting_path_by_id(&root, setting.get_id(), JSON_EXTENSION).canonicalize()?;
+                    for ron_link in to_symlink.ron {
+                        if ron_link.exists() { continue; }
+                        log::info!("Rebuilding symlink {} -> {}", ron_link.display(), path_ron_canon.display());
+                        #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
+                        {
+                            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_ron_canon, &ron_link)?;
+                        }
+                        #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
+                        {
+                            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_ron_canon, &ron_link)?;
+                        }
+                    }
+                    for json_link in to_symlink.json {
+                        if json_link.exists() { continue; }
+                        log::info!("Rebuilding symlink {} -> {}", json_link.display(), path_json_canon.display());
+                        #[cfg(target_family = "windows")] // NOTE: windows support is untested and unmaintained
+                        {
+                            std::os::windows::fs::symlink_file(&path_json_canon, json_link)?;
+                        }
+                        #[cfg(target_family = "unix")]
+                        {
+                            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&path_json_canon, json_link)?;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 pub fn fix_symlinks(root: impl AsRef<Path>) -> std::io::Result<()> {
     log::info!("root setttings folder: {} aka {} (absolute)", root.as_ref().display(), root.as_ref().canonicalize()?.display());
     for dir_entry in root.as_ref()