diff --git a/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py b/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py
index 4baf1d4..9efcfa3 100644
--- a/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py
+++ b/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ class ForumHandlers:
             f'{search_form}'
             f' <a class="forum-action" href="/forum/new">+ new</a>'
             f' <a class="forum-action" href="/forum/moderation">mod</a>'
+            f' <a class="forum-action" href="/forum/sync/now">sync now</a>'
             f' {muted_link}'
             f"</div>"
             f"<p class=\"meta\">{total} threads{new_label}</p>"
@@ -502,16 +503,26 @@ class ForumHandlers:
 
         auto_discover = self.fdb.get_setting("forum_auto_discover", "1")
         auto_discover_checked = " checked" if auto_discover == "1" else ""
+        auto_sync = self.fdb.get_setting("forum_auto_sync", "0")
+        auto_sync_checked = " checked" if auto_sync == "1" else ""
         retention_days = self.fdb.get_setting("forum_retention_days", "30")
 
         return self._respond(
             f"<h1>forum moderation</h1>"
             f"<p>{msg}</p>"
+            f'<p><a class="forum-action" href="/forum/sync/now">sync now</a></p>'
             f"<h2>auto-discovery</h2>"
             f'<form method="post" action="/forum/auto_discover">'
             f'{self._csrf_field()}'
             f'<label><input type="checkbox" name="enabled" value="1"{auto_discover_checked}>'
-            f" automatically discover and sync with other forum instances on the mesh</label><br><br>"
+            f" automatically discover other forum instances on the mesh</label><br><br>"
+            f'<button>save</button>'
+            f"</form>"
+            f"<h2>auto-sync</h2>"
+            f'<form method="post" action="/forum/auto_sync">'
+            f'{self._csrf_field()}'
+            f'<label><input type="checkbox" name="enabled" value="1"{auto_sync_checked}>'
+            f" automatically sync content every 5 minutes</label><br><br>"
             f'<button>save</button>'
             f"</form>"
             f"<h2>storage</h2>"
@@ -606,6 +617,22 @@ class ForumHandlers:
         self.fdb.set_setting("forum_retention_days", str(days))
         return self.handle_moderation(f"Storage retention set to {days} days.")
 
+    def handle_auto_sync(self, body):
+        enabled = "1" if body.get("enabled") else "0"
+        self.fdb.set_setting("forum_auto_sync", enabled)
+        if self.sync:
+            self.sync.set_auto_sync(enabled == "1")
+        return self.handle_moderation(f"Auto-sync {'enabled' if enabled == '1' else 'disabled'}.")
+
+    def handle_sync_now(self):
+        if not self.sync:
+            return self._respond("<p>Sync not available.</p>")
+        count = self.sync.sync_now()
+        msg = f"Synced with {count} instance{'s' if count != 1 else ''}."
+        if count == 0:
+            msg = "No peers to sync with."
+        return self._respond(f"<p>{msg}</p><p><a href=\"/forum\">back to forum</a></p>")
+
     def handle_sync_add(self, body):
         instance = body.get("instance", [""])[0].strip().replace("<", "").replace(">", "")
         name = body.get("name", [""])[0].strip()
@@ -744,6 +771,8 @@ class ForumHandlers:
                 return self._with_csrf(self.handle_unmute(sub[8:]), csrf_token)
             elif sub.startswith("/blockhash/"):
                 return self._with_csrf(self.handle_block_hash(sub[11:]), csrf_token)
+            elif sub == "/sync/now":
+                return self._with_csrf(self.handle_sync_now(), csrf_token)
         elif method == "POST":
             if not self._check_csrf(body):
                 return self._with_csrf(
@@ -780,6 +809,8 @@ class ForumHandlers:
                 return self._with_csrf(self.handle_auto_discover(body), csrf_token)
             elif sub == "/storage":
                 return self._with_csrf(self.handle_storage(body), csrf_token)
+            elif sub == "/auto_sync":
+                return self._with_csrf(self.handle_auto_sync(body), csrf_token)
 
         return self._with_csrf(self._error(404), csrf_token)
 
diff --git a/tinyweb_forum/sync.py b/tinyweb_forum/sync.py
index ab4e7b3..99e1985 100644
--- a/tinyweb_forum/sync.py
+++ b/tinyweb_forum/sync.py
@@ -55,13 +55,41 @@ class ForumSync:
         if self.fdb.get_setting("forum_auto_discover", "1") == "1":
             self._enable_announce_handler()
         self._running = True
-        self._thread = threading.Thread(target=self._sync_loop, daemon=True)
-        self._thread.start()
+        if self.fdb.get_setting("forum_auto_sync", "0") == "1":
+            self._start_sync_loop()
 
     def stop(self):
         self._running = False
         self._disable_announce_handler()
 
+    def set_auto_sync(self, enabled):
+        self.fdb.set_setting("forum_auto_sync", "1" if enabled else "0")
+        if enabled:
+            self._start_sync_loop()
+        else:
+            pass  # current cycle finishes, no new one starts
+
+    def sync_now(self):
+        """Run one sync cycle immediately. Returns count of peers synced."""
+        instances = self.fdb.get_synced_instances()
+        random.shuffle(instances)
+        count = 0
+        for inst in instances[:GOSSIP_FANOUT]:
+            if not self._running:
+                break
+            try:
+                self._sync_with(inst["instance_hash"])
+                count += 1
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"[forum] sync error with {inst['instance_hash'][:16]}: {e}")
+        return count
+
+    def _start_sync_loop(self):
+        if self._thread and self._thread.is_alive():
+            return
+        self._thread = threading.Thread(target=self._sync_loop, daemon=True)
+        self._thread.start()
+
     def set_auto_discover(self, enabled):
         self.fdb.set_setting("forum_auto_discover", "1" if enabled else "0")
         if enabled: