diff --git a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClient.cpp b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClient.cpp
index 800f00b352..cb1f9edc88 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClient.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClient.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 
 #include <QProcess>
-#include <QSettings>
 #include <QSharedMemory>
 #include <QThread>
 #include <QTimer>
@@ -50,8 +49,6 @@ AssignmentClient::AssignmentClient(Assignment::Type requestAssignmentType, QStri
 {
     LogUtils::init();
 
-    QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
-
     DependencyManager::set<AccountManager>();
  
     auto scriptableAvatar = DependencyManager::set<ScriptableAvatar>();
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp
index c425a239dd..cd46731acc 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ AssignmentClientApp::AssignmentClientApp(int argc, char* argv[]) :
     ShutdownEventListener::getInstance();
 #   endif
 
+    setApplicationName(BuildInfo::ASSIGNMENT_CLIENT_NAME);
     setOrganizationName(BuildInfo::MODIFIED_ORGANIZATION);
-    setOrganizationDomain("highfidelity.io");
-    setApplicationName("assignment-client");
+    setOrganizationDomain(BuildInfo::ORGANIZATION_DOMAIN);
     setApplicationVersion(BuildInfo::VERSION);
 
     // use the verbose message handler in Logging
diff --git a/cmake/templates/BuildInfo.h.in b/cmake/templates/BuildInfo.h.in
index 3d388a907f..579f2dc1d7 100644
--- a/cmake/templates/BuildInfo.h.in
+++ b/cmake/templates/BuildInfo.h.in
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //
 //  BuildInfo.h.in
-//  cmake/macros
+//  cmake/templates
 //
 //  Created by Stephen Birarda on 1/14/16.
 //  Copyright 2015 High Fidelity, Inc.
@@ -11,10 +11,18 @@
 
 #define USE_STABLE_GLOBAL_SERVICES @USE_STABLE_GLOBAL_SERVICES@
 
+#include <QString>
+
 namespace BuildInfo {
+    // WARNING: This file has been auto-generated.
+    // Check cmake/templates/BuildInfo.h.in if you want to modify it.
+
+    const QString INTERFACE_NAME = "Interface";
+    const QString ASSIGNMENT_CLIENT_NAME = "assignment-client";
+    const QString DOMAIN_SERVER_NAME = "domain-server";
     const QString MODIFIED_ORGANIZATION = "@BUILD_ORGANIZATION@";
+    const QString ORGANIZATION_DOMAIN = "highfidelity.io";
     const QString VERSION = "@BUILD_VERSION@";
     const QString BUILD_BRANCH = "@BUILD_BRANCH@";
     const QString BUILD_GLOBAL_SERVICES = "@BUILD_GLOBAL_SERVICES@";
 }
-
diff --git a/domain-server/src/DomainServer.cpp b/domain-server/src/DomainServer.cpp
index 26c37f1918..0f4e62c52d 100644
--- a/domain-server/src/DomainServer.cpp
+++ b/domain-server/src/DomainServer.cpp
@@ -79,11 +79,10 @@ DomainServer::DomainServer(int argc, char* argv[]) :
 
     connect(this, &QCoreApplication::aboutToQuit, this, &DomainServer::aboutToQuit);
 
+    setApplicationName(BuildInfo::DOMAIN_SERVER_NAME);
     setOrganizationName(BuildInfo::MODIFIED_ORGANIZATION);
-    setOrganizationDomain("highfidelity.io");
-    setApplicationName("domain-server");
+    setOrganizationDomain(BuildInfo::ORGANIZATION_DOMAIN);
     setApplicationVersion(BuildInfo::VERSION);
-    QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
 
     qDebug() << "Setting up domain-server";
 
diff --git a/domain-server/src/DomainServerSettingsManager.cpp b/domain-server/src/DomainServerSettingsManager.cpp
index c7944bbcad..50e0efc9fa 100644
--- a/domain-server/src/DomainServerSettingsManager.cpp
+++ b/domain-server/src/DomainServerSettingsManager.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 //  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
 //
 
+#include "DomainServerSettingsManager.h"
+
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include <QtCore/QCoreApplication>
@@ -16,20 +18,19 @@
 #include <QtCore/QFile>
 #include <QtCore/QJsonArray>
 #include <QtCore/QJsonObject>
-#include <QtCore/QSettings>
 #include <QtCore/QStandardPaths>
 #include <QtCore/QUrl>
 #include <QtCore/QUrlQuery>
-#include <AccountManager.h>
 #include <QTimeZone>
 
+#include <AccountManager.h>
 #include <Assignment.h>
 #include <HifiConfigVariantMap.h>
 #include <HTTPConnection.h>
 #include <NLPacketList.h>
 #include <NumericalConstants.h>
+#include <SettingHandle.h>
 
-#include "DomainServerSettingsManager.h"
 
 const QString SETTINGS_DESCRIPTION_RELATIVE_PATH = "/resources/describe-settings.json";
 
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ const QString DESCRIPTION_COLUMNS_KEY = "columns";
 
 const QString SETTINGS_VIEWPOINT_KEY = "viewpoint";
 
+static const Setting::Handle<double> JSON_SETTING_VERSION("json-settings/version", 0.0);
+
 DomainServerSettingsManager::DomainServerSettingsManager() :
     _descriptionArray(),
     _configMap()
@@ -101,9 +104,7 @@ void DomainServerSettingsManager::setupConfigMap(const QStringList& argumentList
 
     // What settings version were we before and what are we using now?
     // Do we need to do any re-mapping?
-    QSettings appSettings;
-    const QString JSON_SETTINGS_VERSION_KEY = "json-settings/version";
-    double oldVersion = appSettings.value(JSON_SETTINGS_VERSION_KEY, 0.0).toDouble();
+    double oldVersion = JSON_SETTING_VERSION.get();
 
     if (oldVersion != _descriptionVersion) {
         const QString ALLOWED_USERS_SETTINGS_KEYPATH = "security.allowed_users";
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@ void DomainServerSettingsManager::setupConfigMap(const QStringList& argumentList
     unpackPermissions();
 
     // write the current description version to our settings
-    appSettings.setValue(JSON_SETTINGS_VERSION_KEY, _descriptionVersion);
+    JSON_SETTING_VERSION.set(_descriptionVersion);
 }
 
 QVariantMap& DomainServerSettingsManager::getDescriptorsMap() {
diff --git a/interface/resources/info/ApplicationInfo.ini b/interface/resources/info/ApplicationInfo.ini
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a7142cb76..0000000000
--- a/interface/resources/info/ApplicationInfo.ini
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-[INFO]
-name=Interface
-organizationName=High Fidelity
-organizationDomain=highfidelity.io
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 80e444462f..5ac46f6669 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -406,11 +406,7 @@ bool setupEssentials(int& argc, char** argv) {
     const char* portStr = getCmdOption(argc, constArgv, "--listenPort");
     const int listenPort = portStr ? atoi(portStr) : INVALID_PORT;
 
-    // Set build version
-    QCoreApplication::setApplicationVersion(BuildInfo::VERSION);
-
-    Setting::preInit();
-
+    Setting::init();
 
     static const auto SUPPRESS_SETTINGS_RESET = "--suppress-settings-reset";
     bool suppressPrompt = cmdOptionExists(argc, const_cast<const char**>(argv), SUPPRESS_SETTINGS_RESET);
@@ -423,8 +419,6 @@ bool setupEssentials(int& argc, char** argv) {
     DependencyManager::registerInheritance<EntityActionFactoryInterface, InterfaceActionFactory>();
     DependencyManager::registerInheritance<SpatialParentFinder, InterfaceParentFinder>();
 
-    Setting::init();
-
     // Set dependencies
     DependencyManager::set<AccountManager>(std::bind(&Application::getUserAgent, qApp));
     DependencyManager::set<ScriptEngines>();
diff --git a/interface/src/CrashHandler.cpp b/interface/src/CrashHandler.cpp
index 3c5f03bef3..f3e4cbfb07 100644
--- a/interface/src/CrashHandler.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/CrashHandler.cpp
@@ -18,18 +18,17 @@
 #include <QLabel>
 #include <PathUtils.h>
 #include <QRadioButton>
-#include <QSettings>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 #include <QVBoxLayout>
 #include <QtCore/QUrl>
 
 #include "Menu.h"
+#include <SettingHandle.h>
 
 static const QString RUNNING_MARKER_FILENAME = "Interface.running";
 
 bool CrashHandler::checkForResetSettings(bool suppressPrompt) {
-    QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
-    QSettings settings;
+    Settings settings;
     settings.beginGroup("Developer");
     QVariant displayCrashOptions = settings.value(MenuOption::DisplayCrashOptions);
     QVariant askToResetSettingsOption = settings.value(MenuOption::AskToResetSettings);
@@ -109,8 +108,7 @@ void CrashHandler::handleCrash(CrashHandler::Action action) {
         return;
     }
 
-    QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
-    QSettings settings;
+    Settings settings;
     const QString ADDRESS_MANAGER_GROUP = "AddressManager";
     const QString ADDRESS_KEY = "address";
     const QString AVATAR_GROUP = "Avatar";
diff --git a/interface/src/Util.h b/interface/src/Util.h
index e3938502d2..60e38ae0ec 100644
--- a/interface/src/Util.h
+++ b/interface/src/Util.h
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 
 #include <glm/glm.hpp>
 #include <glm/gtc/quaternion.hpp>
-#include <QSettings>
 
 #include <gpu/Batch.h>
 
diff --git a/interface/src/main.cpp b/interface/src/main.cpp
index 3c4a3fd77a..85a630ee07 100644
--- a/interface/src/main.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/main.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include <QDir>
 #include <QLocalSocket>
 #include <QLocalServer>
-#include <QSettings>
 #include <QSharedMemory>
 #include <QTranslator>
 
@@ -31,12 +30,13 @@
 #include "MainWindow.h"
 #include <QtCore/QProcess>
 
-#ifdef HAS_BUGSPLAT
 #include <BuildInfo.h>
+#ifdef HAS_BUGSPLAT
 #include <BugSplat.h>
 #include <CrashReporter.h>
 #endif
 
+
 int main(int argc, const char* argv[]) {
 #if HAS_BUGSPLAT
     static QString BUG_SPLAT_DATABASE = "interface_alpha";
@@ -45,7 +45,13 @@ int main(int argc, const char* argv[]) {
 #endif
 
     disableQtBearerPoll(); // Fixes wifi ping spikes
-    
+
+    // Set application infos
+    QCoreApplication::setApplicationName(BuildInfo::INTERFACE_NAME);
+    QCoreApplication::setOrganizationName(BuildInfo::MODIFIED_ORGANIZATION);
+    QCoreApplication::setOrganizationDomain(BuildInfo::ORGANIZATION_DOMAIN);
+    QCoreApplication::setApplicationVersion(BuildInfo::VERSION);
+
     QString applicationName = "High Fidelity Interface - " + qgetenv("USERNAME");
 
     bool instanceMightBeRunning = true;
@@ -168,7 +174,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char* argv[]) {
 
     int exitCode;
     {
-        QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
         Application app(argc, const_cast<char**>(argv), startupTime);
 
         // If we failed the OpenGLVersion check, log it.
diff --git a/libraries/auto-updater/src/AutoUpdater.h b/libraries/auto-updater/src/AutoUpdater.h
index 70867e5a44..1e62ce0283 100644
--- a/libraries/auto-updater/src/AutoUpdater.h
+++ b/libraries/auto-updater/src/AutoUpdater.h
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 #ifndef hifi_AutoUpdater_h
 #define hifi_AutoUpdater_h
 
-
-#include <QtCore/QSettings>
 #include <QtCore/QCoreApplication>
 #include <QtCore/QDebug>
 #include <QtCore/QMap>
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.cpp
index f7f305dcc8..5f6763db83 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ QUrl AddressManager::currentFacingShareableAddress() const {
 
 void AddressManager::loadSettings(const QString& lookupString) {
     if (lookupString.isEmpty()) {
-        handleUrl(currentAddressHandle.get().toString(), LookupTrigger::StartupFromSettings);
+        handleUrl(currentAddressHandle.get(), LookupTrigger::StartupFromSettings);
     } else {
         handleUrl(lookupString, LookupTrigger::StartupFromSettings);
     }
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.cpp
index 13f9ea48ce..4a0ff9df71 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.cpp
@@ -19,16 +19,12 @@
 const QString Settings::firstRun { "firstRun" };
 
 
-Settings::Settings() : 
-    _manager(DependencyManager::get<Setting::Manager>()), 
-    _locker(&(_manager->getLock())) 
+Settings::Settings() : _manager(DependencyManager::get<Setting::Manager>())
 {
 }
 
-Settings::~Settings() {
-    if (_prefixes.size() != 0) {
-        qFatal("Unstable Settings Prefixes:  You must call endGroup for every beginGroup and endArray for every begin*Array call");
-    }
+QString Settings::fileName() const {
+    return _manager->fileName();
 }
 
 void Settings::remove(const QString& key) {
@@ -54,17 +50,14 @@ bool Settings::contains(const QString& key) const {
 }
 
 int Settings::beginReadArray(const QString & prefix) {
-    _prefixes.push(prefix);
     return _manager->beginReadArray(prefix);
 }
 
 void Settings::beginWriteArray(const QString& prefix, int size) {
-    _prefixes.push(prefix);
     _manager->beginWriteArray(prefix, size);
 }
 
 void Settings::endArray() {
-    _prefixes.pop();
     _manager->endArray();
 }
 
@@ -73,19 +66,15 @@ void Settings::setArrayIndex(int i) {
 }
 
 void Settings::beginGroup(const QString& prefix) {
-    _prefixes.push(prefix);
     _manager->beginGroup(prefix);
 }
 
 void Settings::endGroup() {
-    _prefixes.pop();
     _manager->endGroup();
 }
 
 void Settings::setValue(const QString& name, const QVariant& value) {
-    if (_manager->value(name) != value) {
-        _manager->setValue(name, value);
-    }
+    _manager->setValue(name, value);
 }
 
 QVariant Settings::value(const QString& name, const QVariant& defaultValue) const {
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.h b/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.h
index 5133a9cb2a..54694dfd0a 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/SettingHandle.h
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 
 #include <type_traits>
 
-#include <QtCore/QSettings>
 #include <QtCore/QStack>
 #include <QtCore/QString>
 #include <QtCore/QVariant>
@@ -32,7 +31,8 @@ class Settings {
 public:
     static const QString firstRun;
     Settings();
-    ~Settings();
+
+    QString fileName() const;
 
     void remove(const QString& key);
     QStringList childGroups() const;
@@ -61,8 +61,6 @@ public:
 
 private:
     QSharedPointer<Setting::Manager> _manager;
-    QWriteLocker _locker;
-    QStack<QString> _prefixes;
 };
 
 namespace Setting {
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.cpp
index 9db84055f7..1267147b7e 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.cpp
@@ -20,10 +20,245 @@
 #include "SettingManager.h"
 #include "SharedLogging.h"
 
+
+#include <QSettings>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
+#include <QJsonObject>
+#include <QRect>
+#include <QSize>
+#include <QPoint>
+#include <QDataStream>
+#include <QStringList>
+
+QStringList splitArgs(const QString& string, int idx) {
+    int length = string.length();
+    Q_ASSERT(length > 0);
+    Q_ASSERT(string.at(idx) == QLatin1Char('('));
+    Q_ASSERT(string.at(length - 1) == QLatin1Char(')'));
+
+    QStringList result;
+    QString item;
+
+    for (++idx; idx < length; ++idx) {
+        QChar c = string.at(idx);
+        if (c == QLatin1Char(')')) {
+            Q_ASSERT(idx == length - 1);
+            result.append(item);
+        } else if (c == QLatin1Char(' ')) {
+            result.append(item);
+            item.clear();
+        } else {
+            item.append(c);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return result;
+}
+
+QJsonDocument variantMapToJsonDocument(const QSettings::SettingsMap& map) {
+    qDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << map.size() << "in map";
+
+    QJsonObject object;
+    for (auto it = map.cbegin(); it != map.cend(); ++it) {
+        auto& key = it.key();
+        auto& variant = it.value();
+        auto variantType = variant.type();
+
+        // Switch some types so they are readable/modifiable in the json file
+        if (variantType == QVariant(1.0f).type()) { // float
+            variantType = QVariant::Double;
+        }
+        if (variantType == QVariant((quint16)0).type()) { // uint16
+            variantType = QVariant::UInt;
+        }
+
+        switch (variantType) {
+            case QVariant::Map:
+            case QVariant::List:
+            case QVariant::Hash: {
+                qCritical() << "Unsupported variant type" << variant.typeName();
+                Q_ASSERT(false);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case QVariant::Invalid:
+                object.insert(key, QJsonValue());
+                break;
+            case QVariant::LongLong:
+            case QVariant::ULongLong:
+            case QVariant::Int:
+            case QVariant::UInt:
+            case QVariant::Bool:
+            case QVariant::Double:
+                object.insert(key, QJsonValue::fromVariant(variant));
+                break;
+
+            case QVariant::String: {
+                QString result = variant.toString();
+                if (result.startsWith(QLatin1Char('@'))) {
+                    result.prepend(QLatin1Char('@'));
+                }
+                object.insert(key, result);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case QVariant::ByteArray: {
+                QByteArray a = variant.toByteArray();
+                QString result = QLatin1String("@ByteArray(");
+                result += QString::fromLatin1(a.constData(), a.size());
+                result += QLatin1Char(')');
+                object.insert(key, result);
+                break;
+            }
+            case QVariant::Rect: {
+                QRect r = qvariant_cast<QRect>(variant);
+                QString result = QLatin1String("@Rect(");
+                result += QString::number(r.x());
+                result += QLatin1Char(' ');
+                result += QString::number(r.y());
+                result += QLatin1Char(' ');
+                result += QString::number(r.width());
+                result += QLatin1Char(' ');
+                result += QString::number(r.height());
+                result += QLatin1Char(')');
+                object.insert(key, result);
+                break;
+            }
+            case QVariant::Size: {
+                QSize s = qvariant_cast<QSize>(variant);
+                QString result = QLatin1String("@Size(");
+                result += QString::number(s.width());
+                result += QLatin1Char(' ');
+                result += QString::number(s.height());
+                result += QLatin1Char(')');
+                object.insert(key, result);
+                break;
+            }
+            case QVariant::Point: {
+                QPoint p = qvariant_cast<QPoint>(variant);
+                QString result = QLatin1String("@Point(");
+                result += QString::number(p.x());
+                result += QLatin1Char(' ');
+                result += QString::number(p.y());
+                result += QLatin1Char(')');
+                object.insert(key, result);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default: {
+                QByteArray array;
+                {
+                    QDataStream stream(&array, QIODevice::WriteOnly);
+                    stream.setVersion(QDataStream::Qt_4_0);
+                    stream << variant;
+                }
+
+                QString result = QLatin1String("@Variant(");
+                result += QString::fromLatin1(array.constData(), array.size());
+                result += QLatin1Char(')');
+                object.insert(key, result);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    qDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << object.size() << "in json";
+
+    return QJsonDocument(object);
+}
+
+
+QSettings::SettingsMap jsonDocumentToVariantMap(const QJsonDocument& document) {
+    if (!document.isObject()) {
+        qWarning() << "Settings file does not contain a JSON object";
+        return QSettings::SettingsMap();
+    }
+    auto object = document.object();
+    qDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << object.size() << "in json";
+    QSettings::SettingsMap map;
+
+    for (auto it = object.begin(); it != object.end(); ++it) {
+
+        QVariant result;
+
+        if (!it->isString()) {
+            result = it->toVariant();
+        } else {
+            auto string = it->toString();
+
+            if (string.startsWith(QLatin1String("@@"))) {
+                result = QVariant(string.mid(1));
+
+            } else if (string.startsWith(QLatin1Char('@'))) {
+
+                if (string.endsWith(QLatin1Char(')'))) {
+
+                    if (string.startsWith(QLatin1String("@ByteArray("))) {
+                        result = QVariant(string.toLatin1().mid(11, string.size() - 12));
+
+                    } else if (string.startsWith(QLatin1String("@Variant("))) {
+                        QByteArray a(string.toLatin1().mid(9));
+                        QDataStream stream(&a, QIODevice::ReadOnly);
+                        stream.setVersion(QDataStream::Qt_4_0);
+                        stream >> result;
+
+                    } else if (string.startsWith(QLatin1String("@Rect("))) {
+                        QStringList args = splitArgs(string, 5);
+                        if (args.size() == 4) {
+                            result = QRect(args[0].toInt(), args[1].toInt(),
+                                           args[2].toInt(), args[3].toInt());
+                        }
+
+                    } else if (string.startsWith(QLatin1String("@Size("))) {
+                        QStringList args = splitArgs(string, 5);
+                        if (args.size() == 2) {
+                            result = QSize(args[0].toInt(), args[1].toInt());
+                        }
+
+                    } else if (string.startsWith(QLatin1String("@Point("))) {
+                        QStringList args = splitArgs(string, 6);
+                        if (args.size() == 2) {
+                            result = QPoint(args[0].toInt(), args[1].toInt());
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        map.insert(it.key(), result);
+    }
+
+    qDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << map.size() << "in map";
+    return map;
+}
+
+bool readJSONFile(QIODevice& device, QSettings::SettingsMap& map) {
+    QJsonParseError jsonParseError;
+
+    auto bytesRead = device.readAll();
+    auto document = QJsonDocument::fromJson(bytesRead, &jsonParseError);
+
+    if (jsonParseError.error != QJsonParseError::NoError) {
+        qDebug() << "Error parsing QSettings file:" << jsonParseError.errorString();
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    map = jsonDocumentToVariantMap(document);
+
+    return true;
+}
+bool writeJSONFile(QIODevice& device, const QSettings::SettingsMap& map) {
+    auto document = variantMapToJsonDocument(map);
+    auto jsonByteArray = document.toJson(QJsonDocument::Indented);
+    auto bytesWritten = device.write(jsonByteArray);
+    return bytesWritten == jsonByteArray.size();
+}
+
+const auto jsonFormat = QSettings::registerFormat("json", readJSONFile, writeJSONFile);
+
+
 namespace Setting {
     static QSharedPointer<Manager> globalManager;
-    
-    const QString Interface::FIRST_RUN { "firstRun" };
 
     // cleans up the settings private instance. Should only be run once at closing down.
     void cleanupPrivateInstance() {
@@ -40,30 +275,58 @@ namespace Setting {
         settingsManagerThread->quit();
         settingsManagerThread->wait();
     }
+    
+    // Sets up the settings private instance. Should only be run once at startup. preInit() must be run beforehand,
+    void init() {
+        // Set settings format
+        QSettings::setDefaultFormat(jsonFormat);
+        QSettings settings;
 
-    // Set up application settings. Should only be run once at startup.
-    void preInit() {
-        // read the ApplicationInfo.ini file for Name/Version/Domain information
-        QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
-        QSettings applicationInfo(PathUtils::resourcesPath() + "info/ApplicationInfo.ini", QSettings::IniFormat);
-        // set the associated application properties
-        applicationInfo.beginGroup("INFO");
-        QCoreApplication::setApplicationName(applicationInfo.value("name").toString());
-        QCoreApplication::setOrganizationName(applicationInfo.value("organizationName").toString());
-        QCoreApplication::setOrganizationDomain(applicationInfo.value("organizationDomain").toString());
+        if (settings.allKeys().size() == 0) {
+
+            QSettings::setDefaultFormat(QSettings::IniFormat);
+            QSettings iniSettings;
+            if (iniSettings.allKeys().size()) {
+                qDebug() << "No data in json settings file, trying to load old ini settings file.";
+
+                for (auto key : iniSettings.allKeys()) {
+                    auto variant = iniSettings.value(key);
+
+                    if (variant.type() == QVariant::String) {
+                        auto string = variant.toString();
+                        if (string == "true") {
+                            variant = true;
+                        } else if (string == "false") {
+                            variant = false;
+                        } else {
+                            bool ok;
+                            double value = string.toDouble(&ok);
+                            if (ok) {
+                                variant = value;
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    settings.setValue(key, variant);
+                }
+
+                qDebug() << "Loaded" << settings.allKeys().size() << "keys from ini settings file.";
+            }
+
+            QSettings::setDefaultFormat(jsonFormat);
+        }
+
+
+        qDebug() << "First run:" << settings.contains("firstRun") << settings.value("firstRun", true);
 
         // Delete Interface.ini.lock file if it exists, otherwise Interface freezes.
-        QSettings settings;
         QString settingsLockFilename = settings.fileName() + ".lock";
         QFile settingsLockFile(settingsLockFilename);
         if (settingsLockFile.exists()) {
             bool deleted = settingsLockFile.remove();
             qCDebug(shared) << (deleted ? "Deleted" : "Failed to delete") << "settings lock file" << settingsLockFilename;
         }
-    }
-    
-    // Sets up the settings private instance. Should only be run once at startup. preInit() must be run beforehand,
-    void init() {
+
+
         // Let's set up the settings Private instance on its own thread
         QThread* thread = new QThread();
         Q_CHECK_PTR(thread);
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.h b/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.h
index 5e23d42223..082adf3e54 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/SettingInterface.h
@@ -20,14 +20,11 @@
 namespace Setting {
     class Manager;
 
-    void preInit();
     void init();
     void cleanupSettings();
 
     class Interface {
     public:
-        static const QString FIRST_RUN;
-
         const QString& getKey() const { return _key; }
         bool isSet() const { return _isSet; } 
 
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/SettingManager.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/SettingManager.cpp
index a42e62c1c8..929fe2b0ff 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/SettingManager.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/SettingManager.cpp
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@
 //  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
 //
 
+#include "SettingManager.h"
+
 #include <QtCore/QThread>
 #include <QtCore/QDebug>
 #include <QtCore/QUuid>
 
 #include "SettingInterface.h"
-#include "SettingManager.h"
 
 namespace Setting {
 
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ namespace Setting {
     // Custom deleter does nothing, because we need to shutdown later than the dependency manager
     void Manager::customDeleter() { }
 
-
     void Manager::registerHandle(Interface* handle) {
         const QString& key = handle->getKey();
         withWriteLock([&] {