diff --git a/handlers/__init__.py b/handlers/__init__.py
index 0b4365e..e7eda3e 100644
--- a/handlers/__init__.py
+++ b/handlers/__init__.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from .subscriptions import (
     handle_subscription_delete, handle_subscription_syncall,
     _sync_threads,
 )
-from .customize import handle_style_form, handle_style_submit, handle_style_template_submit, handle_about
+from .customize import handle_style_form, handle_style_submit, handle_style_template_submit, handle_field_save, handle_about
 from .tags import handle_tags, handle_tag_browse
 from .data import (
     handle_export, handle_import_form, handle_import_submit,
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ def _dispatch_inner(data):
             return handle_style_submit(body, gateway_host=gateway_host, scheme=scheme)
         elif path == "/style/template":
             return handle_style_template_submit(body, gateway_host=gateway_host, scheme=scheme)
+        elif path == "/style/field":
+            return handle_field_save(body)
         elif path == "/style/reset":
             set_setting("custom_template", "")
             return handle_style_form("Template reset to default.", gateway_host=gateway_host, scheme=scheme)
diff --git a/handlers/customize.py b/handlers/customize.py
index 02ad2d2..6808046 100644
--- a/handlers/customize.py
+++ b/handlers/customize.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from db import get_db, return_db, get_setting, set_setting, get_site_name
 import templates as templates_mod
 from templates import esc, DEFAULT_TEMPLATE
-from ._helpers import _respond, _csrf_field, _get_bookmark_token
+from ._helpers import _respond, _json_response, _csrf_field, _get_bookmark_token
 from .subscriptions import _count_shared_pages
 
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def handle_style_form(msg="", gateway_host="", scheme="http"):
     return _respond(
         f"<h1>customize</h1>"
         f"<h2>name your search engine</h2>"
-        f'<form method="post" action="/style">'
+        f'<form method="post" action="/style" id="settings">'
         f'{_csrf_field()}'
         f'<input name="site_name" value="{esc(name)}" placeholder="tinyweb" size="30"><br><br>'
         f"<h2>sharing</h2>"
@@ -127,8 +127,26 @@ def handle_style_form(msg="", gateway_host="", scheme="http"):
         f'<a href="/reindex">manage semantic index</a><br><br>'
         f"</div>"
         f"{forum_section}"
-        f'<button type="submit">save settings</button>'
+        f'<p id="settings-status" style="font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;min-height:1.2em"></p>'
+        f'<noscript><button type="submit">save settings</button></noscript>'
         f"</form>"
+        '<script>'
+        '(function(){'
+        "var f=document.getElementById('settings');"
+        "var csrf=f.querySelector('input[name=_csrf]').value;"
+        "var st=document.getElementById('settings-status');"
+        "f.querySelectorAll('input:not([type=hidden]):not([type=submit]),select').forEach(function(el){"
+        "el.addEventListener('change',function(){"
+        "var key=el.name,val=el.type=='checkbox'?(el.checked?'1':'0'):el.value;"
+        "st.textContent='saving...';"
+        "fetch('/style/field',{method:'POST',headers:{'Content-Type':'application/x-www-form-urlencoded'},"
+        "body:'_csrf='+encodeURIComponent(csrf)+'&key='+encodeURIComponent(key)+'&value='+encodeURIComponent(val)})"
+        ".then(function(r){return r.json()})"
+        ".then(function(d){st.textContent=d.status=='ok'?'saved \\u2713':d.message||'error';setTimeout(function(){st.textContent=''},3000)})"
+        ".catch(function(){st.textContent='save failed';setTimeout(function(){st.textContent=''},3000)});"
+        "},false);});"
+        '})();'
+        '</script>'
         f"<h2>custom html</h2>"
         f"<p>Edit the full page template. Use <code>{esc('{{content}}')}</code> "
         f"where page content should appear.</p>"
@@ -223,6 +241,32 @@ def handle_style_template_submit(body, gateway_host="", scheme="http"):
     return handle_style_form("Template saved.", gateway_host=gateway_host, scheme=scheme)
 
 
+def handle_field_save(body):
+    key = body.get("key", [""])[0].strip()
+    value = body.get("value", [""])[0].strip()
+    if not key:
+        return _json_response({"status": "error", "message": "No key provided."}, 400)
+    if key == "forum_enabled":
+        from handlers import forum_plugin
+        if value == "1" and forum_plugin is None:
+            return _json_response({"status": "error", "message": "Forum plugin not installed."}, 400)
+        if value == "1":
+            forum_plugin.enable()
+            try:
+                forum_plugin.fdb.set_setting("forum_enabled", "1")
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        else:
+            forum_plugin.disable()
+            try:
+                forum_plugin.fdb.set_setting("forum_enabled", "0")
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        templates_mod.FORUM_ENABLED = (value == "1")
+    set_setting(key, value)
+    return _json_response({"status": "ok", "message": ""})
+
+
 def handle_about():
     name = get_site_name()
     dest_hash = get_setting("dest_hash")