diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4e5348ea..fb63994a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ Optionally, you can use the following command-line flags:
 | `-h`, `--help`                             | Show this help message and exit. |
 | `--notebook`                               | Launch the web UI in notebook mode, where the output is written to the same text box as the input. |
 | `--chat`                                   | Launch the web UI in chat mode. |
+| `--multi-user`                             | Multi-user mode. Chat histories are not saved or automatically loaded. WARNING: this is highly experimental. |
 | `--character CHARACTER`                    | The name of the character to load in chat mode by default. |
 | `--model MODEL`                            | Name of the model to load by default. |
 | `--lora LORA [LORA ...]`                   | The list of LoRAs to load. If you want to load more than one LoRA, write the names separated by spaces. |
diff --git a/css/main.css b/css/main.css
index cdb4e2f2..3c2f7a3c 100644
--- a/css/main.css
+++ b/css/main.css
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@
     padding-top: 2.5rem
 }
 
+.small-button {
+    max-width: 171px;
+    height: 39.594px;
+    align-self: end;
+}
+
 .refresh-button {
     max-width: 4.4em;
     min-width: 2.2em !important;
@@ -50,7 +56,7 @@ ol li p, ul li p {
     display: inline-block;
 }
 
-#main, #parameters, #chat-settings, #interface-mode, #lora, #training-tab, #model-tab {
+#main, #parameters, #chat-settings, #lora, #training-tab, #model-tab, #session-tab {
     border: 0;
 }
 
@@ -121,10 +127,6 @@ button {
     font-size: 14px !important;
 }
 
-.small-button {
-    max-width: 171px;
-}
-
 .file-saver {
   position: fixed !important;
   top: 50%;
diff --git a/docs/Extensions.md b/docs/Extensions.md
index b9c155fe..e156456b 100644
--- a/docs/Extensions.md
+++ b/docs/Extensions.md
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ script.py may define the special functions and variables below.
 | `def ui()` | Creates custom gradio elements when the UI is launched. | 
 | `def custom_css()` | Returns custom CSS as a string. It is applied whenever the web UI is loaded. |
 | `def custom_js()` | Same as above but for javascript. |
-| `def input_modifier(string)`  | Modifies the input string before it enters the model. In chat mode, it is applied to the user message. Otherwise, it is applied to the entire prompt. |
-| `def output_modifier(string)`  | Modifies the output string before it is presented in the UI. In chat mode, it is applied to the bot's reply. Otherwise, it is applied to the entire output. |
+| `def input_modifier(string, state)`  | Modifies the input string before it enters the model. In chat mode, it is applied to the user message. Otherwise, it is applied to the entire prompt. |
+| `def output_modifier(string, state)`  | Modifies the output string before it is presented in the UI. In chat mode, it is applied to the bot's reply. Otherwise, it is applied to the entire output. |
+| `def bot_prefix_modifier(string, state)`  | Applied in chat mode to the prefix for the bot's reply. |
 | `def state_modifier(state)`  | Modifies the dictionary containing the UI input parameters before it is used by the text generation functions. |
 | `def history_modifier(history)`  | Modifies the chat history before the text generation in chat mode begins. |
-| `def bot_prefix_modifier(string)`  | Applied in chat mode to the prefix for the bot's reply. |
 | `def custom_generate_reply(...)` | Overrides the main text generation function. |
 | `def custom_generate_chat_prompt(...)` | Overrides the prompt generator in chat mode. |
 | `def tokenizer_modifier(state, prompt, input_ids, input_embeds)` | Modifies the `input_ids`/`input_embeds` fed to the model. Should return `prompt`, `input_ids`, `input_embeds`. See the `multimodal` extension for an example. |
diff --git a/extensions/elevenlabs_tts/script.py b/extensions/elevenlabs_tts/script.py
index 1a24db1f..c5e6174b 100644
--- a/extensions/elevenlabs_tts/script.py
+++ b/extensions/elevenlabs_tts/script.py
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import elevenlabs
 import gradio as gr
+
 from modules import chat, shared
+from modules.utils import gradio
 
 params = {
     'activate': True,
@@ -35,24 +37,24 @@ def refresh_voices_dd():
     return gr.Dropdown.update(value=all_voices[0], choices=all_voices)
 
 
-def remove_tts_from_history():
-    for i, entry in enumerate(shared.history['internal']):
-        shared.history['visible'][i] = [shared.history['visible'][i][0], entry[1]]
+def remove_tts_from_history(history):
+    for i, entry in enumerate(history['internal']):
+        history['visible'][i] = [history['visible'][i][0], entry[1]]
+
+    return history
 
 
-def toggle_text_in_history():
-    for i, entry in enumerate(shared.history['visible']):
+def toggle_text_in_history(history):
+    for i, entry in enumerate(history['visible']):
         visible_reply = entry[1]
         if visible_reply.startswith('<audio'):
             if params['show_text']:
-                reply = shared.history['internal'][i][1]
-                shared.history['visible'][i] = [
-                    shared.history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>\n\n{reply}"
-                ]
+                reply = history['internal'][i][1]
+                history['visible'][i] = [history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>\n\n{reply}"]
             else:
-                shared.history['visible'][i] = [
-                    shared.history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>"
-                ]
+                history['visible'][i] = [history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>"]
+
+    return history
 
 
 def remove_surrounded_chars(string):
@@ -150,25 +152,24 @@ def ui():
         convert_cancel = gr.Button('Cancel', visible=False)
         convert_confirm = gr.Button('Confirm (cannot be undone)', variant="stop", visible=False)
 
-    # Convert history with confirmation
-    convert_arr = [convert_confirm, convert, convert_cancel]
-    convert.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True)], None, convert_arr)
-    convert_confirm.click(
-        lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr).then(
-        remove_tts_from_history, None, None).then(
-        chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-        chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+    if shared.is_chat():
+        # Convert history with confirmation
+        convert_arr = [convert_confirm, convert, convert_cancel]
+        convert.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True)], None, convert_arr)
+        convert_confirm.click(
+            lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr).then(
+            remove_tts_from_history, gradio('history'), gradio('history')).then(
+            chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
+            chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
-    convert_cancel.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr)
+        convert_cancel.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr)
 
-    # Toggle message text in history
-    show_text.change(
-        lambda x: params.update({"show_text": x}), show_text, None).then(
-        toggle_text_in_history, None, None).then(
-        chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-        chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
-
-    convert_cancel.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr)
+        # Toggle message text in history
+        show_text.change(
+            lambda x: params.update({"show_text": x}), show_text, None).then(
+            toggle_text_in_history, gradio('history'), gradio('history')).then(
+            chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
+            chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
     # Event functions to update the parameters in the backend
     activate.change(lambda x: params.update({'activate': x}), activate, None)
diff --git a/extensions/sd_api_pictures/script.py b/extensions/sd_api_pictures/script.py
index 75cc205d..4fc0a08d 100644
--- a/extensions/sd_api_pictures/script.py
+++ b/extensions/sd_api_pictures/script.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import requests
 import torch
 from PIL import Image
 
-import modules.shared as shared
 from modules.models import reload_model, unload_model
 from modules.ui import create_refresh_button
 
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ def input_modifier(string):
     return string
 
 # Get and save the Stable Diffusion-generated picture
-def get_SD_pictures(description):
+def get_SD_pictures(description, character):
 
     global params
 
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ def get_SD_pictures(description):
         if params['save_img']:
             img_data = base64.b64decode(img_str)
 
-            variadic = f'{date.today().strftime("%Y_%m_%d")}/{shared.character}_{int(time.time())}'
+            variadic = f'{date.today().strftime("%Y_%m_%d")}/{character}_{int(time.time())}'
             output_file = Path(f'extensions/sd_api_pictures/outputs/{variadic}.png')
             output_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
@@ -186,7 +185,7 @@ def get_SD_pictures(description):
 
 # TODO: how do I make the UI history ignore the resulting pictures (I don't want HTML to appear in history)
 # and replace it with 'text' for the purposes of logging?
-def output_modifier(string):
+def output_modifier(string, state):
     """
     This function is applied to the model outputs.
     """
@@ -213,7 +212,7 @@ def output_modifier(string):
     else:
         text = string
 
-    string = get_SD_pictures(string) + "\n" + text
+    string = get_SD_pictures(string, state['character_menu']) + "\n" + text
 
     return string
 
diff --git a/extensions/silero_tts/script.py b/extensions/silero_tts/script.py
index 0d57a90f..3ecd5bd9 100644
--- a/extensions/silero_tts/script.py
+++ b/extensions/silero_tts/script.py
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import gradio as gr
 import torch
-from modules import chat, shared
 
 from extensions.silero_tts import tts_preprocessor
+from modules import chat, shared
+from modules.utils import gradio
 
 torch._C._jit_set_profiling_mode(False)
 
@@ -56,20 +57,24 @@ def load_model():
     return model
 
 
-def remove_tts_from_history():
-    for i, entry in enumerate(shared.history['internal']):
-        shared.history['visible'][i] = [shared.history['visible'][i][0], entry[1]]
+def remove_tts_from_history(history):
+    for i, entry in enumerate(history['internal']):
+        history['visible'][i] = [history['visible'][i][0], entry[1]]
+
+    return history
 
 
-def toggle_text_in_history():
-    for i, entry in enumerate(shared.history['visible']):
+def toggle_text_in_history(history):
+    for i, entry in enumerate(history['visible']):
         visible_reply = entry[1]
         if visible_reply.startswith('<audio'):
             if params['show_text']:
-                reply = shared.history['internal'][i][1]
-                shared.history['visible'][i] = [shared.history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>\n\n{reply}"]
+                reply = history['internal'][i][1]
+                history['visible'][i] = [history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>\n\n{reply}"]
             else:
-                shared.history['visible'][i] = [shared.history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>"]
+                history['visible'][i] = [history['visible'][i][0], f"{visible_reply.split('</audio>')[0]}</audio>"]
+
+    return history
 
 
 def state_modifier(state):
@@ -80,7 +85,7 @@ def state_modifier(state):
     return state
 
 
-def input_modifier(string):
+def input_modifier(string, state):
     if not params['activate']:
         return string
 
@@ -99,7 +104,7 @@ def history_modifier(history):
     return history
 
 
-def output_modifier(string):
+def output_modifier(string, state):
     global model, current_params, streaming_state
     for i in params:
         if params[i] != current_params[i]:
@@ -116,7 +121,7 @@ def output_modifier(string):
     if string == '':
         string = '*Empty reply, try regenerating*'
     else:
-        output_file = Path(f'extensions/silero_tts/outputs/{shared.character}_{int(time.time())}.wav')
+        output_file = Path(f'extensions/silero_tts/outputs/{state["character_menu"]}_{int(time.time())}.wav')
         prosody = '<prosody rate="{}" pitch="{}">'.format(params['voice_speed'], params['voice_pitch'])
         silero_input = f'<speak>{prosody}{xmlesc(string)}</prosody></speak>'
         model.save_wav(ssml_text=silero_input, speaker=params['speaker'], sample_rate=int(params['sample_rate']), audio_path=str(output_file))
@@ -155,23 +160,24 @@ def ui():
 
         gr.Markdown('[Click here for Silero audio samples](https://oobabooga.github.io/silero-samples/index.html)')
 
-    # Convert history with confirmation
-    convert_arr = [convert_confirm, convert, convert_cancel]
-    convert.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True)], None, convert_arr)
-    convert_confirm.click(
-        lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr).then(
-        remove_tts_from_history, None, None).then(
-        chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-        chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+    if shared.is_chat():
+        # Convert history with confirmation
+        convert_arr = [convert_confirm, convert, convert_cancel]
+        convert.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True)], None, convert_arr)
+        convert_confirm.click(
+            lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr).then(
+            remove_tts_from_history, gradio('history'), gradio('history')).then(
+            chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
+            chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
-    convert_cancel.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr)
+        convert_cancel.click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, convert_arr)
 
-    # Toggle message text in history
-    show_text.change(
-        lambda x: params.update({"show_text": x}), show_text, None).then(
-        toggle_text_in_history, None, None).then(
-        chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-        chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+        # Toggle message text in history
+        show_text.change(
+            lambda x: params.update({"show_text": x}), show_text, None).then(
+            toggle_text_in_history, gradio('history'), gradio('history')).then(
+            chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
+            chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
     # Event functions to update the parameters in the backend
     activate.change(lambda x: params.update({"activate": x}), activate, None)
diff --git a/extensions/superbooga/script.py b/extensions/superbooga/script.py
index 66c79b3d..c0d3f8eb 100644
--- a/extensions/superbooga/script.py
+++ b/extensions/superbooga/script.py
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ def apply_settings(chunk_count, chunk_count_initial, time_weight):
 def custom_generate_chat_prompt(user_input, state, **kwargs):
     global chat_collector
 
+    history = state['history']
+
     if state['mode'] == 'instruct':
         results = collector.get_sorted(user_input, n_results=params['chunk_count'])
         additional_context = '\nYour reply should be based on the context below:\n\n' + '\n'.join(results)
@@ -104,29 +106,29 @@ def custom_generate_chat_prompt(user_input, state, **kwargs):
 
         def make_single_exchange(id_):
             output = ''
-            output += f"{state['name1']}: {shared.history['internal'][id_][0]}\n"
-            output += f"{state['name2']}: {shared.history['internal'][id_][1]}\n"
+            output += f"{state['name1']}: {history['internal'][id_][0]}\n"
+            output += f"{state['name2']}: {history['internal'][id_][1]}\n"
             return output
 
-        if len(shared.history['internal']) > params['chunk_count'] and user_input != '':
+        if len(history['internal']) > params['chunk_count'] and user_input != '':
             chunks = []
-            hist_size = len(shared.history['internal'])
+            hist_size = len(history['internal'])
             for i in range(hist_size-1):
                 chunks.append(make_single_exchange(i))
 
             add_chunks_to_collector(chunks, chat_collector)
-            query = '\n'.join(shared.history['internal'][-1] + [user_input])
+            query = '\n'.join(history['internal'][-1] + [user_input])
             try:
                 best_ids = chat_collector.get_ids_sorted(query, n_results=params['chunk_count'], n_initial=params['chunk_count_initial'], time_weight=params['time_weight'])
                 additional_context = '\n'
                 for id_ in best_ids:
-                    if shared.history['internal'][id_][0] != '<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>':
+                    if history['internal'][id_][0] != '<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>':
                         additional_context += make_single_exchange(id_)
 
                 logger.warning(f'Adding the following new context:\n{additional_context}')
                 state['context'] = state['context'].strip() + '\n' + additional_context
                 kwargs['history'] = {
-                    'internal': [shared.history['internal'][i] for i in range(hist_size) if i not in best_ids],
+                    'internal': [history['internal'][i] for i in range(hist_size) if i not in best_ids],
                     'visible': ''
                 }
             except RuntimeError:
diff --git a/modules/chat.py b/modules/chat.py
index c5d8a36f..53a58f59 100644
--- a/modules/chat.py
+++ b/modules/chat.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import copy
 import functools
 import json
 import re
-from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import gradio as gr
@@ -11,7 +10,6 @@ import yaml
 from PIL import Image
 
 import modules.shared as shared
-from modules import utils
 from modules.extensions import apply_extensions
 from modules.html_generator import chat_html_wrapper, make_thumbnail
 from modules.logging_colors import logger
@@ -20,7 +18,12 @@ from modules.text_generation import (
     get_encoded_length,
     get_max_prompt_length
 )
-from modules.utils import delete_file, replace_all, save_file
+from modules.utils import (
+    delete_file,
+    get_available_characters,
+    replace_all,
+    save_file
+)
 
 
 def get_turn_substrings(state, instruct=False):
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ def generate_chat_prompt(user_input, state, **kwargs):
     impersonate = kwargs.get('impersonate', False)
     _continue = kwargs.get('_continue', False)
     also_return_rows = kwargs.get('also_return_rows', False)
-    history = kwargs.get('history', shared.history)['internal']
+    history = kwargs.get('history', state['history'])['internal']
     is_instruct = state['mode'] == 'instruct'
 
     # Find the maximum prompt size
@@ -76,10 +79,10 @@ def generate_chat_prompt(user_input, state, **kwargs):
         if impersonate:
             wrapper += substrings['user_turn_stripped'].rstrip(' ')
         elif _continue:
-            wrapper += apply_extensions("bot_prefix", substrings['bot_turn_stripped'])
+            wrapper += apply_extensions('bot_prefix', substrings['bot_turn_stripped'], state)
             wrapper += history[-1][1]
         else:
-            wrapper += apply_extensions("bot_prefix", substrings['bot_turn_stripped'].rstrip(' '))
+            wrapper += apply_extensions('bot_prefix', substrings['bot_turn_stripped'].rstrip(' '), state)
     else:
         wrapper = '<|prompt|>'
 
@@ -113,7 +116,7 @@ def generate_chat_prompt(user_input, state, **kwargs):
 
         # Add the character prefix
         if state['mode'] != 'chat-instruct':
-            rows.append(apply_extensions("bot_prefix", substrings['bot_turn_stripped'].rstrip(' ')))
+            rows.append(apply_extensions('bot_prefix', substrings['bot_turn_stripped'].rstrip(' '), state))
 
     while len(rows) > min_rows and get_encoded_length(wrapper.replace('<|prompt|>', ''.join(rows))) >= max_length:
         rows.pop(1)
@@ -153,7 +156,8 @@ def get_stopping_strings(state):
     return stopping_strings
 
 
-def chatbot_wrapper(text, history, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loading_message=True):
+def chatbot_wrapper(text, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loading_message=True):
+    history = state['history']
     output = copy.deepcopy(history)
     output = apply_extensions('history', output)
     state = apply_extensions('state', state)
@@ -174,11 +178,11 @@ def chatbot_wrapper(text, history, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loa
         if visible_text is None:
             visible_text = text
 
+        text = apply_extensions('input', text, state)
+
         # *Is typing...*
         if loading_message:
             yield {'visible': output['visible'] + [[visible_text, shared.processing_message]], 'internal': output['internal']}
-
-        text = apply_extensions('input', text)
     else:
         text, visible_text = output['internal'][-1][0], output['visible'][-1][0]
         if regenerate:
@@ -215,7 +219,7 @@ def chatbot_wrapper(text, history, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loa
             # We need this global variable to handle the Stop event,
             # otherwise gradio gets confused
             if shared.stop_everything:
-                output['visible'][-1][1] = apply_extensions("output", output['visible'][-1][1])
+                output['visible'][-1][1] = apply_extensions('output', output['visible'][-1][1], state)
                 yield output
                 return
 
@@ -241,7 +245,7 @@ def chatbot_wrapper(text, history, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loa
         else:
             cumulative_reply = reply
 
-    output['visible'][-1][1] = apply_extensions("output", output['visible'][-1][1])
+    output['visible'][-1][1] = apply_extensions('output', output['visible'][-1][1], state)
     yield output
 
 
@@ -274,14 +278,15 @@ def impersonate_wrapper(text, start_with, state):
     yield cumulative_reply.lstrip(' ')
 
 
-def generate_chat_reply(text, history, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loading_message=True):
+def generate_chat_reply(text, state, regenerate=False, _continue=False, loading_message=True):
+    history = state['history']
     if regenerate or _continue:
         text = ''
         if (len(history['visible']) == 1 and not history['visible'][0][0]) or len(history['internal']) == 0:
             yield history
             return
 
-    for history in chatbot_wrapper(text, history, state, regenerate=regenerate, _continue=_continue, loading_message=loading_message):
+    for history in chatbot_wrapper(text, state, regenerate=regenerate, _continue=_continue, loading_message=loading_message):
         yield history
 
 
@@ -296,144 +301,116 @@ def generate_chat_reply_wrapper(text, start_with, state, regenerate=False, _cont
         send_dummy_message(text)
         send_dummy_reply(start_with)
 
-    for i, history in enumerate(generate_chat_reply(text, shared.history, state, regenerate, _continue, loading_message=True)):
-        if i != 0:
-            shared.history = copy.deepcopy(history)
-
-        yield chat_html_wrapper(history['visible'], state['name1'], state['name2'], state['mode'], state['chat_style'])
+    for i, history in enumerate(generate_chat_reply(text, state, regenerate, _continue, loading_message=True)):
+        yield chat_html_wrapper(history, state['name1'], state['name2'], state['mode'], state['chat_style']), history
 
 
-def remove_last_message():
-    if len(shared.history['visible']) > 0 and shared.history['internal'][-1][0] != '<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>':
-        last = shared.history['visible'].pop()
-        shared.history['internal'].pop()
+def remove_last_message(history):
+    if len(history['visible']) > 0 and history['internal'][-1][0] != '<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>':
+        last = history['visible'].pop()
+        history['internal'].pop()
     else:
         last = ['', '']
 
-    return last[0]
+    return last[0], history
 
 
-def send_last_reply_to_input():
-    if len(shared.history['internal']) > 0:
-        return shared.history['internal'][-1][1]
+def send_last_reply_to_input(history):
+    if len(history['internal']) > 0:
+        return history['internal'][-1][1]
     else:
         return ''
 
 
-def replace_last_reply(text):
-    if len(shared.history['visible']) > 0:
-        shared.history['visible'][-1][1] = text
-        shared.history['internal'][-1][1] = apply_extensions("input", text)
-
-
-def send_dummy_message(text):
-    shared.history['visible'].append([text, ''])
-    shared.history['internal'].append([apply_extensions("input", text), ''])
-
-
-def send_dummy_reply(text):
-    if len(shared.history['visible']) > 0 and not shared.history['visible'][-1][1] == '':
-        shared.history['visible'].append(['', ''])
-        shared.history['internal'].append(['', ''])
-
-    shared.history['visible'][-1][1] = text
-    shared.history['internal'][-1][1] = apply_extensions("input", text)
-
-
-def clear_chat_log(greeting, mode):
-    shared.history['visible'] = []
-    shared.history['internal'] = []
-
-    if mode != 'instruct':
-        if greeting != '':
-            shared.history['internal'] += [['<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>', greeting]]
-            shared.history['visible'] += [['', apply_extensions("output", greeting)]]
-
-        save_history(mode)
-
-
-def redraw_html(name1, name2, mode, style, reset_cache=False):
-    return chat_html_wrapper(shared.history['visible'], name1, name2, mode, style, reset_cache=reset_cache)
-
-
-def tokenize_dialogue(dialogue, name1, name2):
-    history = []
-    messages = []
-    dialogue = re.sub('<START>', '', dialogue)
-    dialogue = re.sub('<start>', '', dialogue)
-    dialogue = re.sub('(\n|^)[Aa]non:', '\\1You:', dialogue)
-    dialogue = re.sub('(\n|^)\[CHARACTER\]:', f'\\g<1>{name2}:', dialogue)
-    idx = [m.start() for m in re.finditer(f"(^|\n)({re.escape(name1)}|{re.escape(name2)}):", dialogue)]
-    if len(idx) == 0:
-        return history
-
-    for i in range(len(idx) - 1):
-        messages.append(dialogue[idx[i]:idx[i + 1]].strip())
-
-    messages.append(dialogue[idx[-1]:].strip())
-    entry = ['', '']
-    for i in messages:
-        if i.startswith(f'{name1}:'):
-            entry[0] = i[len(f'{name1}:'):].strip()
-        elif i.startswith(f'{name2}:'):
-            entry[1] = i[len(f'{name2}:'):].strip()
-            if not (len(entry[0]) == 0 and len(entry[1]) == 0):
-                history.append(entry)
-
-            entry = ['', '']
-
-    print("\033[1;32;1m\nDialogue tokenized to:\033[0;37;0m\n", end='')
-    for row in history:
-        for column in row:
-            print("\n")
-            for line in column.strip().split('\n'):
-                print("|  " + line + "\n")
-
-            print("|\n")
-        print("------------------------------")
+def replace_last_reply(text, state):
+    history = state['history']
+    if len(history['visible']) > 0:
+        history['visible'][-1][1] = text
+        history['internal'][-1][1] = apply_extensions('input', text, state)
 
     return history
 
 
-def save_history(mode, timestamp=False, user_request=False):
-    # Instruct mode histories should not be saved as if
-    # Alpaca or Vicuna were characters
-    if mode == 'instruct':
-        if not timestamp:
-            return
-
-        fname = f"Instruct_{datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d-%H%M%S')}.json"
-    else:
-        if shared.character == 'None' and not user_request:
-            return
-
-        if timestamp:
-            fname = f"{shared.character}_{datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d-%H%M%S')}.json"
-        else:
-            fname = f"{shared.character}_persistent.json"
-
-    if not Path('logs').exists():
-        Path('logs').mkdir()
-
-    with open(Path(f'logs/{fname}'), 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
-        f.write(json.dumps({'data': shared.history['internal'], 'data_visible': shared.history['visible']}, indent=2))
-
-    return Path(f'logs/{fname}')
+def send_dummy_message(text, state):
+    history = state['history']
+    history['visible'].append([text, ''])
+    history['internal'].append([apply_extensions('input', text, state), ''])
+    return history
 
 
-def load_history(file, name1, name2):
-    file = file.decode('utf-8')
+def send_dummy_reply(text, state):
+    history = state['history']
+    if len(history['visible']) > 0 and not history['visible'][-1][1] == '':
+        history['visible'].append(['', ''])
+        history['internal'].append(['', ''])
+
+    history['visible'][-1][1] = text
+    history['internal'][-1][1] = apply_extensions('input', text, state)
+    return history
+
+
+def clear_chat_log(state):
+    greeting = state['greeting']
+    mode = state['mode']
+    history = state['history']
+
+    history['visible'] = []
+    history['internal'] = []
+    if mode != 'instruct':
+        if greeting != '':
+            history['internal'] += [['<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>', greeting]]
+            history['visible'] += [['', apply_extensions('output', greeting, state)]]
+
+    return history
+
+
+def redraw_html(history, name1, name2, mode, style, reset_cache=False):
+    return chat_html_wrapper(history, name1, name2, mode, style, reset_cache=reset_cache)
+
+
+def save_history(history, path=None):
+    p = path or Path('logs/exported_history.json')
+    with open(p, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
+        f.write(json.dumps(history, indent=4))
+
+    return p
+
+
+def load_history(file, history):
     try:
+        file = file.decode('utf-8')
         j = json.loads(file)
-        if 'data' in j:
-            shared.history['internal'] = j['data']
-            if 'data_visible' in j:
-                shared.history['visible'] = j['data_visible']
-            else:
-                shared.history['visible'] = copy.deepcopy(shared.history['internal'])
+        if 'internal' in j and 'visible' in j:
+            return j
+        else:
+            return history
     except:
-        shared.history['internal'] = tokenize_dialogue(file, name1, name2)
-        shared.history['visible'] = copy.deepcopy(shared.history['internal'])
+        return history
+
+
+def save_persistent_history(history, character, mode):
+    if mode in ['chat', 'chat-instruct'] and character not in  ['', 'None', None] and not shared.args.multi_user:
+        save_history(history, path=Path(f'logs/{character}_persistent.json'))
+
+
+def load_persistent_history(state):
+    if shared.args.multi_user or state['mode'] == 'instruct':
+        return state['history']
+
+    character = state['character_menu']
+    greeting = state['greeting']
+    p = Path(f'logs/{character}_persistent.json')
+    if character not in ['None', '', None] and p.exists():
+        f = json.loads(open(p, 'rb').read())
+        if 'internal' in f and 'visible' in f:
+            history = f
+    else:
+        history = {'internal': [], 'visible': []}
+        if greeting != "":
+            history['internal'] += [['<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>', greeting]]
+            history['visible'] += [['', apply_extensions('output', greeting, state)]]
+
+    return history
 
 
 def replace_character_names(text, name1, name2):
@@ -468,7 +445,6 @@ def generate_pfp_cache(character):
 
 
 def load_character(character, name1, name2, instruct=False):
-    shared.character = character
     context = greeting = turn_template = ""
     greeting_field = 'greeting'
     picture = None
@@ -477,7 +453,7 @@ def load_character(character, name1, name2, instruct=False):
     if Path("cache/pfp_character.png").exists():
         Path("cache/pfp_character.png").unlink()
 
-    if character != 'None':
+    if character not in ['None', '', None]:
         folder = 'characters' if not instruct else 'characters/instruction-following'
         picture = generate_pfp_cache(character)
         for extension in ["yml", "yaml", "json"]:
@@ -527,20 +503,6 @@ def load_character(character, name1, name2, instruct=False):
         greeting = shared.settings['greeting']
         turn_template = shared.settings['turn_template']
 
-    if not instruct:
-        shared.history['internal'] = []
-        shared.history['visible'] = []
-        if shared.character != 'None' and Path(f'logs/{shared.character}_persistent.json').exists():
-            load_history(open(Path(f'logs/{shared.character}_persistent.json'), 'rb').read(), name1, name2)
-        else:
-            # Insert greeting if it exists
-            if greeting != "":
-                shared.history['internal'] += [['<|BEGIN-VISIBLE-CHAT|>', greeting]]
-                shared.history['visible'] += [['', apply_extensions("output", greeting)]]
-
-            # Create .json log files since they don't already exist
-            save_history('instruct' if instruct else 'chat')
-
     return name1, name2, picture, greeting, context, turn_template.replace("\n", r"\n")
 
 
@@ -568,7 +530,7 @@ def upload_character(json_file, img, tavern=False):
         img.save(Path(f'characters/{outfile_name}.png'))
 
     logger.info(f'New character saved to "characters/{outfile_name}.json".')
-    return gr.update(value=outfile_name, choices=utils.get_available_characters())
+    return gr.update(value=outfile_name, choices=get_available_characters())
 
 
 def upload_tavern_character(img, _json):
diff --git a/modules/extensions.py b/modules/extensions.py
index 4950e04e..8705101a 100644
--- a/modules/extensions.py
+++ b/modules/extensions.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import gradio as gr
 import extensions
 import modules.shared as shared
 from modules.logging_colors import logger
+from inspect import signature
+
 
 state = {}
 available_extensions = []
@@ -52,10 +54,14 @@ def iterator():
 
 
 # Extension functions that map string -> string
-def _apply_string_extensions(function_name, text):
+def _apply_string_extensions(function_name, text, state):
     for extension, _ in iterator():
         if hasattr(extension, function_name):
-            text = getattr(extension, function_name)(text)
+            func = getattr(extension, function_name)
+            if len(signature(func).parameters) == 2:
+                text = func(text, state)
+            else:
+                text = func(text)
 
     return text
 
diff --git a/modules/github.py b/modules/github.py
index 75101538..454e9d23 100644
--- a/modules/github.py
+++ b/modules/github.py
@@ -14,16 +14,20 @@ def clone_or_pull_repository(github_url):
 
     # Check if the repository is already cloned
     if os.path.exists(repo_path):
+        yield f"Updating {github_url}..."
         # Perform a 'git pull' to update the repository
         try:
             pull_output = subprocess.check_output(["git", "-C", repo_path, "pull"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+            yield "Done."
             return pull_output.decode()
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
             return str(e)
 
     # Clone the repository
     try:
+        yield f"Cloning {github_url}..."
         clone_output = subprocess.check_output(["git", "clone", github_url, repo_path], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+        yield "Done."
         return clone_output.decode()
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
         return str(e)
diff --git a/modules/html_generator.py b/modules/html_generator.py
index 509fe70b..4910ffef 100644
--- a/modules/html_generator.py
+++ b/modules/html_generator.py
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ def generate_chat_html(history, name1, name2, reset_cache=False):
 
 def chat_html_wrapper(history, name1, name2, mode, style, reset_cache=False):
     if mode == 'instruct':
-        return generate_instruct_html(history)
+        return generate_instruct_html(history['visible'])
     elif style == 'wpp':
-        return generate_chat_html(history, name1, name2)
+        return generate_chat_html(history['visible'], name1, name2)
     else:
-        return generate_cai_chat_html(history, name1, name2, style, reset_cache)
+        return generate_cai_chat_html(history['visible'], name1, name2, style, reset_cache)
diff --git a/modules/presets.py b/modules/presets.py
index d8ae6e19..0af2928a 100644
--- a/modules/presets.py
+++ b/modules/presets.py
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@ def load_preset(name):
         'mirostat_eta': 0.1,
     }
 
-    with open(Path(f'presets/{name}.yaml'), 'r') as infile:
-        preset = yaml.safe_load(infile)
+    if name not in ['None', None, '']:
+        with open(Path(f'presets/{name}.yaml'), 'r') as infile:
+            preset = yaml.safe_load(infile)
 
-    for k in preset:
-        generate_params[k] = preset[k]
+        for k in preset:
+            generate_params[k] = preset[k]
 
     generate_params['temperature'] = min(1.99, generate_params['temperature'])
     return generate_params
diff --git a/modules/shared.py b/modules/shared.py
index dfa9cd38..68d10889 100644
--- a/modules/shared.py
+++ b/modules/shared.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ model_name = "None"
 lora_names = []
 
 # Chat variables
-history = {'internal': [], 'visible': []}
-character = 'None'
 stop_everything = False
 processing_message = '*Is typing...*'
 
@@ -83,6 +81,7 @@ parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(formatter_class=lambda prog: argparse.HelpForma
 # Basic settings
 parser.add_argument('--notebook', action='store_true', help='Launch the web UI in notebook mode, where the output is written to the same text box as the input.')
 parser.add_argument('--chat', action='store_true', help='Launch the web UI in chat mode with a style similar to the Character.AI website.')
+parser.add_argument('--multi-user', action='store_true', help='Multi-user mode. Chat histories are not saved or automatically loaded. WARNING: this is highly experimental.')
 parser.add_argument('--character', type=str, help='The name of the character to load in chat mode by default.')
 parser.add_argument('--model', type=str, help='Name of the model to load by default.')
 parser.add_argument('--lora', type=str, nargs="+", help='The list of LoRAs to load. If you want to load more than one LoRA, write the names separated by spaces.')
@@ -204,6 +203,8 @@ if args.trust_remote_code:
     logger.warning("trust_remote_code is enabled. This is dangerous.")
 if args.share:
     logger.warning("The gradio \"share link\" feature uses a proprietary executable to create a reverse tunnel. Use it with care.")
+if args.multi_user:
+    logger.warning("The multi-user mode is highly experimental. DO NOT EXPOSE IT TO THE INTERNET.")
 
 
 def fix_loader_name(name):
@@ -246,6 +247,15 @@ def is_chat():
     return args.chat
 
 
+def get_mode():
+    if args.chat:
+        return 'chat'
+    elif args.notebook:
+        return 'notebook'
+    else:
+        return 'default'
+
+
 # Loading model-specific settings
 with Path(f'{args.model_dir}/config.yaml') as p:
     if p.exists():
diff --git a/modules/text_generation.py b/modules/text_generation.py
index 171da53f..b7f6edf3 100644
--- a/modules/text_generation.py
+++ b/modules/text_generation.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ def _generate_reply(question, state, stopping_strings=None, is_chat=False):
     original_question = question
     if not is_chat:
         state = apply_extensions('state', state)
-        question = apply_extensions('input', question)
+        question = apply_extensions('input', question, state)
 
     # Finding the stopping strings
     all_stop_strings = []
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def _generate_reply(question, state, stopping_strings=None, is_chat=False):
             break
 
     if not is_chat:
-        reply = apply_extensions('output', reply)
+        reply = apply_extensions('output', reply, state)
 
     yield reply
 
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def generate_reply_HF(question, original_question, seed, state, stopping_strings
     eos_token_ids = [shared.tokenizer.eos_token_id] if shared.tokenizer.eos_token_id is not None else []
     generate_params['eos_token_id'] = eos_token_ids
     generate_params['stopping_criteria'] = transformers.StoppingCriteriaList()
-    generate_params['stopping_criteria'].append(_StopEverythingStoppingCriteria());
+    generate_params['stopping_criteria'].append(_StopEverythingStoppingCriteria())
 
     t0 = time.time()
     try:
diff --git a/modules/ui.py b/modules/ui.py
index 101fb020..b13b6a3e 100644
--- a/modules/ui.py
+++ b/modules/ui.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import gradio as gr
@@ -5,6 +6,7 @@ import torch
 
 from modules import shared
 
+
 with open(Path(__file__).resolve().parent / '../css/main.css', 'r') as f:
     css = f.read()
 with open(Path(__file__).resolve().parent / '../css/chat.css', 'r') as f:
@@ -14,7 +16,7 @@ with open(Path(__file__).resolve().parent / '../css/main.js', 'r') as f:
 with open(Path(__file__).resolve().parent / '../css/chat.js', 'r') as f:
     chat_js = f.read()
 
-refresh_symbol = '\U0001f504'  # 🔄
+refresh_symbol = '🔄'
 delete_symbol = '🗑️'
 save_symbol = '💾'
 
@@ -30,17 +32,103 @@ theme = gr.themes.Default(
 
 
 def list_model_elements():
-    elements = ['loader', 'cpu_memory', 'auto_devices', 'disk', 'cpu', 'bf16', 'load_in_8bit', 'trust_remote_code', 'load_in_4bit', 'compute_dtype', 'quant_type', 'use_double_quant', 'wbits', 'groupsize', 'model_type', 'pre_layer', 'triton', 'desc_act', 'no_inject_fused_attention', 'no_inject_fused_mlp', 'no_use_cuda_fp16', 'threads', 'n_batch', 'no_mmap', 'mlock', 'n_gpu_layers', 'n_ctx', 'llama_cpp_seed', 'gpu_split', 'max_seq_len', 'compress_pos_emb']
+    elements = [
+        'loader',
+        'cpu_memory',
+        'auto_devices',
+        'disk',
+        'cpu',
+        'bf16',
+        'load_in_8bit',
+        'trust_remote_code',
+        'load_in_4bit',
+        'compute_dtype',
+        'quant_type',
+        'use_double_quant',
+        'wbits',
+        'groupsize',
+        'model_type',
+        'pre_layer',
+        'triton',
+        'desc_act',
+        'no_inject_fused_attention',
+        'no_inject_fused_mlp',
+        'no_use_cuda_fp16',
+        'threads',
+        'n_batch',
+        'no_mmap',
+        'mlock',
+        'n_gpu_layers',
+        'n_ctx',
+        'llama_cpp_seed',
+        'gpu_split',
+        'max_seq_len',
+        'compress_pos_emb'
+    ]
+
     for i in range(torch.cuda.device_count()):
         elements.append(f'gpu_memory_{i}')
 
     return elements
 
 
-def list_interface_input_elements(chat=False):
-    elements = ['max_new_tokens', 'seed', 'temperature', 'top_p', 'top_k', 'typical_p', 'epsilon_cutoff', 'eta_cutoff', 'repetition_penalty', 'repetition_penalty_range', 'encoder_repetition_penalty', 'no_repeat_ngram_size', 'min_length', 'do_sample', 'penalty_alpha', 'num_beams', 'length_penalty', 'early_stopping', 'mirostat_mode', 'mirostat_tau', 'mirostat_eta', 'add_bos_token', 'ban_eos_token', 'truncation_length', 'custom_stopping_strings', 'skip_special_tokens', 'preset_menu', 'stream', 'tfs', 'top_a']
-    if chat:
-        elements += ['name1', 'name2', 'greeting', 'context', 'chat_generation_attempts', 'stop_at_newline', 'mode', 'instruction_template', 'character_menu', 'name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct', 'context_instruct', 'turn_template', 'chat_style', 'chat-instruct_command']
+def list_interface_input_elements():
+    elements = [
+        'preset_menu',
+        'max_new_tokens',
+        'seed',
+        'temperature',
+        'top_p',
+        'top_k',
+        'typical_p',
+        'epsilon_cutoff',
+        'eta_cutoff',
+        'repetition_penalty',
+        'repetition_penalty_range',
+        'encoder_repetition_penalty',
+        'no_repeat_ngram_size',
+        'min_length',
+        'do_sample',
+        'penalty_alpha',
+        'num_beams',
+        'length_penalty',
+        'early_stopping',
+        'mirostat_mode',
+        'mirostat_tau',
+        'mirostat_eta',
+        'add_bos_token',
+        'ban_eos_token',
+        'truncation_length',
+        'custom_stopping_strings',
+        'skip_special_tokens',
+        'stream',
+        'tfs',
+        'top_a',
+    ]
+
+    if shared.args.chat:
+        elements += [
+            'character_menu',
+            'history',
+            'name1',
+            'name2',
+            'greeting',
+            'context',
+            'chat_generation_attempts',
+            'stop_at_newline',
+            'mode',
+            'instruction_template',
+            'name1_instruct',
+            'name2_instruct',
+            'context_instruct',
+            'turn_template',
+            'chat_style',
+            'chat-instruct_command',
+        ]
+    else:
+        elements.append('textbox')
+        if not shared.args.notebook:
+            elements.append('output_textbox')
 
     elements += list_model_elements()
     return elements
@@ -48,10 +136,14 @@ def list_interface_input_elements(chat=False):
 
 def gather_interface_values(*args):
     output = {}
-    for i, element in enumerate(shared.input_elements):
+    for i, element in enumerate(list_interface_input_elements()):
         output[element] = args[i]
 
-    shared.persistent_interface_state = output
+    if not shared.args.multi_user:
+        shared.persistent_interface_state = output
+        with open(Path(f'logs/session_{shared.get_mode()}_autosave.json'), 'w') as f:
+            f.write(json.dumps(output, indent=4))
+
     return output
 
 
@@ -59,11 +151,12 @@ def apply_interface_values(state, use_persistent=False):
     if use_persistent:
         state = shared.persistent_interface_state
 
-    elements = list_interface_input_elements(chat=shared.is_chat())
+    elements = list_interface_input_elements()
     if len(state) == 0:
         return [gr.update() for k in elements]  # Dummy, do nothing
     else:
-        return [state[k] if k in state else gr.update() for k in elements]
+        ans = [state[k] if k in state else gr.update() for k in elements]
+        return ans
 
 
 class ToolButton(gr.Button, gr.components.FormComponent):
@@ -92,6 +185,7 @@ def create_refresh_button(refresh_component, refresh_method, refreshed_args, ele
         inputs=[],
         outputs=[refresh_component]
     )
+
     return refresh_button
 
 
diff --git a/modules/utils.py b/modules/utils.py
index 1535ecdc..72a0dfa1 100644
--- a/modules/utils.py
+++ b/modules/utils.py
@@ -7,6 +7,14 @@ from modules import shared
 from modules.logging_colors import logger
 
 
+# Helper function to get multiple values from shared.gradio
+def gradio(*keys):
+    if len(keys) == 1 and type(keys[0]) is list:
+        keys = keys[0]
+
+    return [shared.gradio[k] for k in keys]
+
+
 def save_file(fname, contents):
     if fname == '':
         logger.error('File name is empty!')
@@ -111,3 +119,8 @@ def get_datasets(path: str, ext: str):
 
 def get_available_chat_styles():
     return sorted(set(('-'.join(k.stem.split('-')[1:]) for k in Path('css').glob('chat_style*.css'))), key=natural_keys)
+
+
+def get_available_sessions():
+    items = sorted(set(k.stem for k in Path('logs').glob(f'session_{shared.get_mode()}*')), key=natural_keys, reverse=True)
+    return [item for item in items if 'autosave' in item] + [item for item in items if 'autosave' not in item]
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index bf4e74b3..804eab56 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ from modules.text_generation import (
     get_encoded_length,
     stop_everything_event
 )
+from modules.utils import gradio
 
 
 def load_model_wrapper(selected_model, loader, autoload=False):
@@ -257,40 +258,40 @@ def create_model_menus():
             with gr.Row():
                 shared.gradio['model_status'] = gr.Markdown('No model is loaded' if shared.model_name == 'None' else 'Ready')
 
-    shared.gradio['loader'].change(loaders.make_loader_params_visible, shared.gradio['loader'], [shared.gradio[k] for k in loaders.get_all_params()])
+    shared.gradio['loader'].change(loaders.make_loader_params_visible, gradio('loader'), gradio(loaders.get_all_params()))
 
     # In this event handler, the interface state is read and updated
     # with the model defaults (if any), and then the model is loaded
     # unless "autoload_model" is unchecked
     shared.gradio['model_menu'].change(
-        ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-        apply_model_settings_to_state, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['model_menu', 'interface_state']], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-        ui.apply_interface_values, shared.gradio['interface_state'], [shared.gradio[k] for k in ui.list_interface_input_elements(chat=shared.is_chat())], show_progress=False).then(
-        update_model_parameters, shared.gradio['interface_state'], None).then(
-        load_model_wrapper, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['model_menu', 'loader', 'autoload_model']], shared.gradio['model_status'], show_progress=False)
+        ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+        apply_model_settings_to_state, gradio('model_menu', 'interface_state'), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+        ui.apply_interface_values, gradio('interface_state'), gradio(ui.list_interface_input_elements()), show_progress=False).then(
+        update_model_parameters, gradio('interface_state'), None).then(
+        load_model_wrapper, gradio('model_menu', 'loader', 'autoload_model'), gradio('model_status'), show_progress=False)
 
     load.click(
-        ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-        update_model_parameters, shared.gradio['interface_state'], None).then(
-        partial(load_model_wrapper, autoload=True), [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['model_menu', 'loader']], shared.gradio['model_status'], show_progress=False)
+        ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+        update_model_parameters, gradio('interface_state'), None).then(
+        partial(load_model_wrapper, autoload=True), gradio('model_menu', 'loader'), gradio('model_status'), show_progress=False)
 
     unload.click(
         unload_model, None, None).then(
-        lambda: "Model unloaded", None, shared.gradio['model_status'])
+        lambda: "Model unloaded", None, gradio('model_status'))
 
     reload.click(
         unload_model, None, None).then(
-        ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-        update_model_parameters, shared.gradio['interface_state'], None).then(
-        partial(load_model_wrapper, autoload=True), [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['model_menu', 'loader']], shared.gradio['model_status'], show_progress=False)
+        ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+        update_model_parameters, gradio('interface_state'), None).then(
+        partial(load_model_wrapper, autoload=True), gradio('model_menu', 'loader'), gradio('model_status'), show_progress=False)
 
     save_settings.click(
-        ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-        save_model_settings, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['model_menu', 'interface_state']], shared.gradio['model_status'], show_progress=False)
+        ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+        save_model_settings, gradio('model_menu', 'interface_state'), gradio('model_status'), show_progress=False)
 
-    shared.gradio['lora_menu_apply'].click(load_lora_wrapper, shared.gradio['lora_menu'], shared.gradio['model_status'], show_progress=False)
-    shared.gradio['download_model_button'].click(download_model_wrapper, shared.gradio['custom_model_menu'], shared.gradio['model_status'], show_progress=True)
-    shared.gradio['autoload_model'].change(lambda x: gr.update(visible=not x), shared.gradio['autoload_model'], load)
+    shared.gradio['lora_menu_apply'].click(load_lora_wrapper, gradio('lora_menu'), gradio('model_status'), show_progress=False)
+    shared.gradio['download_model_button'].click(download_model_wrapper, gradio('custom_model_menu'), gradio('model_status'), show_progress=True)
+    shared.gradio['autoload_model'].change(lambda x: gr.update(visible=not x), gradio('autoload_model'), load)
 
 
 def create_chat_settings_menus():
@@ -409,7 +410,7 @@ def create_settings_menus(default_preset):
                         shared.gradio['skip_special_tokens'] = gr.Checkbox(value=shared.settings['skip_special_tokens'], label='Skip special tokens', info='Some specific models need this unset.')
                         shared.gradio['stream'] = gr.Checkbox(value=not shared.args.no_stream, label='Activate text streaming')
 
-    shared.gradio['preset_menu'].change(presets.load_preset_for_ui, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['preset_menu', 'interface_state']], [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['interface_state', 'do_sample', 'temperature', 'top_p', 'typical_p', 'epsilon_cutoff', 'eta_cutoff', 'repetition_penalty', 'repetition_penalty_range', 'encoder_repetition_penalty', 'top_k', 'min_length', 'no_repeat_ngram_size', 'num_beams', 'penalty_alpha', 'length_penalty', 'early_stopping', 'mirostat_mode', 'mirostat_tau', 'mirostat_eta', 'tfs', 'top_a']])
+    shared.gradio['preset_menu'].change(presets.load_preset_for_ui, gradio('preset_menu', 'interface_state'), gradio('interface_state', 'do_sample', 'temperature', 'top_p', 'typical_p', 'epsilon_cutoff', 'eta_cutoff', 'repetition_penalty', 'repetition_penalty_range', 'encoder_repetition_penalty', 'top_k', 'min_length', 'no_repeat_ngram_size', 'num_beams', 'penalty_alpha', 'length_penalty', 'early_stopping', 'mirostat_mode', 'mirostat_tau', 'mirostat_eta', 'tfs', 'top_a'))
 
 
 def create_file_saving_menus():
@@ -448,39 +449,80 @@ def create_file_saving_menus():
 
 def create_file_saving_event_handlers():
     shared.gradio['save_confirm'].click(
-        lambda x, y, z: utils.save_file(x + y, z), [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['save_root', 'save_filename', 'save_contents']], None).then(
-        lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['file_saver'])
+        lambda x, y, z: utils.save_file(x + y, z), gradio('save_root', 'save_filename', 'save_contents'), None).then(
+        lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('file_saver'))
 
     shared.gradio['delete_confirm'].click(
-        lambda x, y: utils.delete_file(x + y), [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['delete_root', 'delete_filename']], None).then(
-        lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['file_deleter'])
+        lambda x, y: utils.delete_file(x + y), gradio('delete_root', 'delete_filename'), None).then(
+        lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('file_deleter'))
 
-    shared.gradio['delete_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['file_deleter'])
-    shared.gradio['save_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['file_saver'])
+    shared.gradio['delete_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('file_deleter'))
+    shared.gradio['save_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('file_saver'))
     if shared.is_chat():
         shared.gradio['save_character_confirm'].click(
-            chat.save_character, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['name2', 'greeting', 'context', 'character_picture', 'save_character_filename']], None).then(
-            lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['character_saver'])
+            chat.save_character, gradio('name2', 'greeting', 'context', 'character_picture', 'save_character_filename'), None).then(
+            lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('character_saver'))
 
         shared.gradio['delete_character_confirm'].click(
-            chat.delete_character, shared.gradio['character_menu'], None).then(
-            lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['character_deleter']).then(
-            lambda: gr.update(choices=utils.get_available_characters()), outputs=shared.gradio['character_menu'])
+            chat.delete_character, gradio('character_menu'), None).then(
+            lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('character_deleter')).then(
+            lambda: gr.update(choices=utils.get_available_characters()), None, gradio('character_menu'))
 
-        shared.gradio['save_character_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['character_saver'])
-        shared.gradio['delete_character_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, shared.gradio['character_deleter'])
+        shared.gradio['save_character_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('character_saver'))
+        shared.gradio['delete_character_cancel'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=False), None, gradio('character_deleter'))
 
     shared.gradio['save_preset'].click(
-        ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-        presets.generate_preset_yaml, shared.gradio['interface_state'], shared.gradio['save_contents']).then(
-        lambda: 'presets/', None, shared.gradio['save_root']).then(
-        lambda: 'My Preset.yaml', None, shared.gradio['save_filename']).then(
-        lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['file_saver'])
+        ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+        presets.generate_preset_yaml, gradio('interface_state'), gradio('save_contents')).then(
+        lambda: 'presets/', None, gradio('save_root')).then(
+        lambda: 'My Preset.yaml', None, gradio('save_filename')).then(
+        lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_saver'))
 
     shared.gradio['delete_preset'].click(
-        lambda x: f'{x}.yaml', shared.gradio['preset_menu'], shared.gradio['delete_filename']).then(
-        lambda: 'presets/', None, shared.gradio['delete_root']).then(
-        lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['file_deleter'])
+        lambda x: f'{x}.yaml', gradio('preset_menu'), gradio('delete_filename')).then(
+        lambda: 'presets/', None, gradio('delete_root')).then(
+        lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_deleter'))
+
+    if not shared.args.multi_user:
+
+        def load_session(session, state):
+            with open(Path(f'logs/{session}.json'), 'r') as f:
+                state.update(json.loads(f.read()))
+
+            if shared.is_chat():
+                chat.save_persistent_history(state['history'], state['character_menu'], state['mode'])
+
+            return state
+
+        if shared.is_chat():
+            shared.gradio['save_session'].click(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                lambda x: json.dumps(x, indent=4), gradio('interface_state'), gradio('save_contents')).then(
+                lambda: 'logs/', None, gradio('save_root')).then(
+                lambda x: f'session_{shared.get_mode()}_{x + "_" if x not in ["None", None, ""] else ""}{utils.current_time()}.json', gradio('character_menu'), gradio('save_filename')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_saver'))
+
+            shared.gradio['session_menu'].change(
+                load_session, gradio('session_menu', 'interface_state'), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                ui.apply_interface_values, gradio('interface_state'), gradio(ui.list_interface_input_elements()), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
+
+        else:
+            shared.gradio['save_session'].click(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                lambda x: json.dumps(x, indent=4), gradio('interface_state'), gradio('save_contents')).then(
+                lambda: 'logs/', None, gradio('save_root')).then(
+                lambda: f'session_{shared.get_mode()}_{utils.current_time()}.json', None, gradio('save_filename')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_saver'))
+
+            shared.gradio['session_menu'].change(
+                load_session, gradio('session_menu', 'interface_state'), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                ui.apply_interface_values, gradio('interface_state'), gradio(ui.list_interface_input_elements()), show_progress=False)
+
+        shared.gradio['delete_session'].click(
+            lambda x: f'{x}.json', gradio('session_menu'), gradio('delete_filename')).then(
+            lambda: 'logs/', None, gradio('delete_root')).then(
+            lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_deleter'))
 
 
 def set_interface_arguments(interface_mode, extensions, bool_active):
@@ -544,13 +586,17 @@ def create_interface():
 
         # Create chat mode interface
         if shared.is_chat():
-            shared.input_elements = ui.list_interface_input_elements(chat=True)
-            shared.gradio['interface_state'] = gr.State({k: None for k in shared.input_elements})
-            shared.gradio['Chat input'] = gr.State()
-            shared.gradio['dummy'] = gr.State()
+            shared.input_elements = ui.list_interface_input_elements()
+
+            shared.gradio.update({
+                'interface_state': gr.State({k: None for k in shared.input_elements}),
+                'Chat input': gr.State(),
+                'dummy': gr.State(),
+                'history': gr.State({'internal': [], 'visible': []}),
+            })
 
             with gr.Tab('Text generation', elem_id='main'):
-                shared.gradio['display'] = gr.HTML(value=chat_html_wrapper(shared.history['visible'], shared.settings['name1'], shared.settings['name2'], 'chat', 'cai-chat'))
+                shared.gradio['display'] = gr.HTML(value=chat_html_wrapper({'internal': [], 'visible': []}, shared.settings['name1'], shared.settings['name2'], 'chat', 'cai-chat'))
                 shared.gradio['textbox'] = gr.Textbox(label='Input')
                 with gr.Row():
                     shared.gradio['Stop'] = gr.Button('Stop', elem_id='stop')
@@ -586,7 +632,7 @@ def create_interface():
                     with gr.Row():
                         with gr.Column(scale=8):
                             with gr.Row():
-                                shared.gradio['character_menu'] = gr.Dropdown(choices=utils.get_available_characters(), label='Character', elem_id='character-menu', info='Used in chat and chat-instruct modes.', elem_classes='slim-dropdown')
+                                shared.gradio['character_menu'] = gr.Dropdown(value='None', choices=utils.get_available_characters(), label='Character', elem_id='character-menu', info='Used in chat and chat-instruct modes.', elem_classes='slim-dropdown')
                                 ui.create_refresh_button(shared.gradio['character_menu'], lambda: None, lambda: {'choices': utils.get_available_characters()}, 'refresh-button')
                                 shared.gradio['save_character'] = gr.Button('💾', elem_classes='refresh-button')
                                 shared.gradio['delete_character'] = gr.Button('🗑️', elem_classes='refresh-button')
@@ -648,7 +694,7 @@ def create_interface():
 
         # Create notebook mode interface
         elif shared.args.notebook:
-            shared.input_elements = ui.list_interface_input_elements(chat=False)
+            shared.input_elements = ui.list_interface_input_elements()
             shared.gradio['interface_state'] = gr.State({k: None for k in shared.input_elements})
             shared.gradio['last_input'] = gr.State('')
             with gr.Tab("Text generation", elem_id="main"):
@@ -687,7 +733,7 @@ def create_interface():
 
         # Create default mode interface
         else:
-            shared.input_elements = ui.list_interface_input_elements(chat=False)
+            shared.input_elements = ui.list_interface_input_elements()
             shared.gradio['interface_state'] = gr.State({k: None for k in shared.input_elements})
             shared.gradio['last_input'] = gr.State('')
             with gr.Tab("Text generation", elem_id="main"):
@@ -731,8 +777,8 @@ def create_interface():
         with gr.Tab("Training", elem_id="training-tab"):
             training.create_train_interface()
 
-        # Interface mode tab
-        with gr.Tab("Interface mode", elem_id="interface-mode"):
+        # Session tab
+        with gr.Tab("Session", elem_id="session-tab"):
             modes = ["default", "notebook", "chat"]
             current_mode = "default"
             for mode in modes[1:]:
@@ -745,223 +791,253 @@ def create_interface():
             bool_active = [k for k in bool_list if vars(shared.args)[k]]
 
             with gr.Row():
-                shared.gradio['interface_modes_menu'] = gr.Dropdown(choices=modes, value=current_mode, label="Mode")
-                shared.gradio['reset_interface'] = gr.Button("Apply and restart the interface", elem_classes="small-button")
-                shared.gradio['toggle_dark_mode'] = gr.Button('Toggle dark/light mode', elem_classes="small-button")
-
-            with gr.Row():
-                with gr.Column():
-                    shared.gradio['extensions_menu'] = gr.CheckboxGroup(choices=utils.get_available_extensions(), value=shared.args.extensions, label="Available extensions", info='Note that some of these extensions may require manually installing Python requirements through the command: pip install -r extensions/extension_name/requirements.txt', elem_classes='checkboxgroup-table')
 
                 with gr.Column():
-                    shared.gradio['bool_menu'] = gr.CheckboxGroup(choices=bool_list, value=bool_active, label="Boolean command-line flags", elem_classes='checkboxgroup-table')
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        shared.gradio['interface_modes_menu'] = gr.Dropdown(choices=modes, value=current_mode, label="Mode", elem_classes='slim-dropdown')
+                        shared.gradio['reset_interface'] = gr.Button("Apply and restart", elem_classes="small-button", variant="primary")
+                        shared.gradio['toggle_dark_mode'] = gr.Button('Toggle 💡', elem_classes="small-button")
 
-            with gr.Row():
-                extension_name = gr.Textbox(lines=1, label='Install or update an extension', info='Enter the GitHub URL below. For a list of extensions, see: https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui-extensions ⚠️  WARNING ⚠️ : extensions can execute arbitrary code. Make sure to inspect their source code before activating them.')
-                extension_install = gr.Button('Install or update', elem_classes="small-button")
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        with gr.Column():
+                            shared.gradio['extensions_menu'] = gr.CheckboxGroup(choices=utils.get_available_extensions(), value=shared.args.extensions, label="Available extensions", info='Note that some of these extensions may require manually installing Python requirements through the command: pip install -r extensions/extension_name/requirements.txt', elem_classes='checkboxgroup-table')
 
-            extension_status = gr.Markdown()
+                        with gr.Column():
+                            shared.gradio['bool_menu'] = gr.CheckboxGroup(choices=bool_list, value=bool_active, label="Boolean command-line flags", elem_classes='checkboxgroup-table')
 
-            extension_install.click(
+                with gr.Column():
+                    if not shared.args.multi_user:
+                        with gr.Row():
+                            shared.gradio['session_menu'] = gr.Dropdown(choices=utils.get_available_sessions(), value='None', label='Session', elem_classes='slim-dropdown', info='When saving a session, make sure to keep the initial part of the filename (session_chat, session_notebook, or session_default), otherwise it will not appear on this list afterwards.')
+                            ui.create_refresh_button(shared.gradio['session_menu'], lambda: None, lambda: {'choices': utils.get_available_sessions()}, ['refresh-button'])
+                            shared.gradio['save_session'] = gr.Button('💾', elem_classes=['refresh-button'])
+                            shared.gradio['delete_session'] = gr.Button('🗑️', elem_classes=['refresh-button'])
+
+                    extension_name = gr.Textbox(lines=1, label='Install or update an extension', info='Enter the GitHub URL below and press Enter. For a list of extensions, see: https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui-extensions ⚠️  WARNING ⚠️ : extensions can execute arbitrary code. Make sure to inspect their source code before activating them.')
+                    extension_status = gr.Markdown()
+
+            extension_name.submit(
                 clone_or_pull_repository, extension_name, extension_status, show_progress=False).then(
-                lambda: gr.update(choices=utils.get_available_extensions(), value=shared.args.extensions), outputs=shared.gradio['extensions_menu'])
+                lambda: gr.update(choices=utils.get_available_extensions(), value=shared.args.extensions), None, gradio('extensions_menu'))
 
             # Reset interface event
             shared.gradio['reset_interface'].click(
-                set_interface_arguments, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['interface_modes_menu', 'extensions_menu', 'bool_menu']], None).then(
+                set_interface_arguments, gradio('interface_modes_menu', 'extensions_menu', 'bool_menu'), None).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js='() => {document.body.innerHTML=\'<h1 style="font-family:monospace;margin-top:20%;color:lightgray;text-align:center;">Reloading...</h1>\'; setTimeout(function(){location.reload()},2500); return []}')
 
             shared.gradio['toggle_dark_mode'].click(lambda: None, None, None, _js='() => {document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].classList.toggle("dark")}')
 
         # chat mode event handlers
         if shared.is_chat():
-            shared.input_params = [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['Chat input', 'start_with', 'interface_state']]
-            clear_arr = [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['Clear history-confirm', 'Clear history', 'Clear history-cancel']]
-            shared.reload_inputs = [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['name1', 'name2', 'mode', 'chat_style']]
+            shared.input_params = gradio('Chat input', 'start_with', 'interface_state')
+            clear_arr = gradio('Clear history-confirm', 'Clear history', 'Clear history-cancel')
+            shared.reload_inputs = gradio('history', 'name1', 'name2', 'mode', 'chat_style')
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Generate'].click(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-                lambda x: (x, ''), shared.gradio['textbox'], [shared.gradio['Chat input'], shared.gradio['textbox']], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, shared.gradio['display'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                lambda x: (x, ''), gradio('textbox'), gradio('Chat input', 'textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, gradio('display', 'history'), show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
             )
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['textbox'].submit(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-                lambda x: (x, ''), shared.gradio['textbox'], [shared.gradio['Chat input'], shared.gradio['textbox']], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, shared.gradio['display'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                lambda x: (x, ''), gradio('textbox'), gradio('Chat input', 'textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, gradio('display', 'history'), show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
             )
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Regenerate'].click(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-                partial(chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, regenerate=True), shared.input_params, shared.gradio['display'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                partial(chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, regenerate=True), shared.input_params, gradio('display', 'history'), show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
             )
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Continue'].click(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-                partial(chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, _continue=True), shared.input_params, shared.gradio['display'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                partial(chat.generate_chat_reply_wrapper, _continue=True), shared.input_params, gradio('display', 'history'), show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
             )
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Impersonate'].click(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
-                lambda x: x, shared.gradio['textbox'], shared.gradio['Chat input'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.impersonate_wrapper, shared.input_params, shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                lambda x: x, gradio('textbox'), gradio('Chat input'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.impersonate_wrapper, shared.input_params, gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
             )
 
             shared.gradio['Replace last reply'].click(
-                chat.replace_last_reply, shared.gradio['textbox'], None).then(
-                lambda: '', None, shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.replace_last_reply, gradio('textbox', 'interface_state'), gradio('history')).then(
+                lambda: '', None, gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None)
 
             shared.gradio['Send dummy message'].click(
-                chat.send_dummy_message, shared.gradio['textbox'], None).then(
-                lambda: '', None, shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.send_dummy_message, gradio('textbox', 'interface_state'), gradio('history')).then(
+                lambda: '', None, gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None)
 
             shared.gradio['Send dummy reply'].click(
-                chat.send_dummy_reply, shared.gradio['textbox'], None).then(
-                lambda: '', None, shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.send_dummy_reply, gradio('textbox', 'interface_state'), gradio('history')).then(
+                lambda: '', None, gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None)
 
+            shared.gradio['Clear history'].click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True)], None, clear_arr)
+            shared.gradio['Clear history-cancel'].click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, clear_arr)
             shared.gradio['Clear history-confirm'].click(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                 lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, clear_arr).then(
-                chat.clear_chat_log, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['greeting', 'mode']], None).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                chat.clear_chat_log, gradio('interface_state'), gradio('history')).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None)
+
+            shared.gradio['Remove last'].click(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.remove_last_message, gradio('history'), gradio('textbox', 'history'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display')).then(
+                chat.save_persistent_history, gradio('history', 'character_menu', 'mode'), None)
+
+            shared.gradio['character_menu'].change(
+                partial(chat.load_character, instruct=False), gradio('character_menu', 'name1', 'name2'), gradio('name1', 'name2', 'character_picture', 'greeting', 'context', 'dummy')).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
+                chat.load_persistent_history, gradio('interface_state'), gradio('history')).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
             shared.gradio['Stop'].click(
                 stop_everything_event, None, None, queue=False, cancels=gen_events if shared.args.no_stream else None).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
             shared.gradio['mode'].change(
-                lambda x: gr.update(visible=x != 'instruct'), shared.gradio['mode'], shared.gradio['chat_style'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                lambda x: gr.update(visible=x != 'instruct'), gradio('mode'), gradio('chat_style'), show_progress=False).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
-            shared.gradio['chat_style'].change(chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+            shared.gradio['chat_style'].change(chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
             shared.gradio['instruction_template'].change(
-                partial(chat.load_character, instruct=True), [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['instruction_template', 'name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct']], [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct', 'dummy', 'dummy', 'context_instruct', 'turn_template']])
+                partial(chat.load_character, instruct=True), gradio('instruction_template', 'name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct'), gradio('name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct', 'dummy', 'dummy', 'context_instruct', 'turn_template'))
 
             shared.gradio['upload_chat_history'].upload(
-                chat.load_history, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['upload_chat_history', 'name1', 'name2']], None).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                chat.load_history, gradio('upload_chat_history', 'history'), gradio('history')).then(
+                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
-            shared.gradio['Copy last reply'].click(chat.send_last_reply_to_input, None, shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False)
-            shared.gradio['Clear history'].click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True)], None, clear_arr)
-            shared.gradio['Clear history-cancel'].click(lambda: [gr.update(visible=False), gr.update(visible=True), gr.update(visible=False)], None, clear_arr)
-            shared.gradio['Remove last'].click(
-                chat.remove_last_message, None, shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.save_history, shared.gradio['mode'], None, show_progress=False).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+            shared.gradio['Copy last reply'].click(chat.send_last_reply_to_input, gradio('history'), gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False)
 
             # Save/delete a character
             shared.gradio['save_character'].click(
-                lambda x: x, shared.gradio['name2'], shared.gradio['save_character_filename']).then(
-                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['character_saver'])
+                lambda x: x, gradio('name2'), gradio('save_character_filename')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('character_saver'))
 
-            shared.gradio['delete_character'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['character_deleter'])
+            shared.gradio['delete_character'].click(lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('character_deleter'))
 
             shared.gradio['save_template'].click(
-                lambda: 'My Template.yaml', None, shared.gradio['save_filename']).then(
-                lambda: 'characters/instruction-following/', None, shared.gradio['save_root']).then(
-                chat.generate_instruction_template_yaml, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct', 'context_instruct', 'turn_template']], shared.gradio['save_contents']).then(
-                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['file_saver'])
+                lambda: 'My Template.yaml', None, gradio('save_filename')).then(
+                lambda: 'characters/instruction-following/', None, gradio('save_root')).then(
+                chat.generate_instruction_template_yaml, gradio('name1_instruct', 'name2_instruct', 'context_instruct', 'turn_template'), gradio('save_contents')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_saver'))
 
             shared.gradio['delete_template'].click(
-                lambda x: f'{x}.yaml', shared.gradio['instruction_template'], shared.gradio['delete_filename']).then(
-                lambda: 'characters/instruction-following/', None, shared.gradio['delete_root']).then(
-                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['file_deleter'])
+                lambda x: f'{x}.yaml', gradio('instruction_template'), gradio('delete_filename')).then(
+                lambda: 'characters/instruction-following/', None, gradio('delete_root')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_deleter'))
 
-            shared.gradio['download_button'].click(lambda x: chat.save_history(x, timestamp=True, user_request=True), shared.gradio['mode'], shared.gradio['download'])
-            shared.gradio['Submit character'].click(chat.upload_character, [shared.gradio['upload_json'], shared.gradio['upload_img_bot']], [shared.gradio['character_menu']])
-            shared.gradio['upload_json'].upload(lambda: gr.update(interactive=True), None, [shared.gradio['Submit character']])
-            shared.gradio['upload_json'].clear(lambda: gr.update(interactive=False), None, [shared.gradio['Submit character']])
+            shared.gradio['download_button'].click(chat.save_history, gradio('history'), gradio('download'))
+            shared.gradio['Submit character'].click(chat.upload_character, gradio('upload_json', 'upload_img_bot'), gradio('character_menu'))
+            shared.gradio['upload_json'].upload(lambda: gr.update(interactive=True), None, gradio('Submit character'))
+            shared.gradio['upload_json'].clear(lambda: gr.update(interactive=False), None, gradio('Submit character'))
 
-            shared.gradio['character_menu'].change(
-                partial(chat.load_character, instruct=False), [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['character_menu', 'name1', 'name2']], [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['name1', 'name2', 'character_picture', 'greeting', 'context', 'dummy']]).then(
-                chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
-
-            shared.gradio['Submit tavern character'].click(chat.upload_tavern_character, [shared.gradio['upload_img_tavern'], shared.gradio['tavern_json']], [shared.gradio['character_menu']])
-            shared.gradio['upload_img_tavern'].upload(chat.check_tavern_character, shared.gradio['upload_img_tavern'], [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['tavern_name', 'tavern_desc', 'tavern_json', 'Submit tavern character']], show_progress=False)
-            shared.gradio['upload_img_tavern'].clear(lambda: (None, None, None, gr.update(interactive=False)), None, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['tavern_name', 'tavern_desc', 'tavern_json', 'Submit tavern character']], show_progress=False)
+            shared.gradio['Submit tavern character'].click(chat.upload_tavern_character, gradio('upload_img_tavern', 'tavern_json'), gradio('character_menu'))
+            shared.gradio['upload_img_tavern'].upload(chat.check_tavern_character, gradio('upload_img_tavern'), gradio('tavern_name', 'tavern_desc', 'tavern_json', 'Submit tavern character'), show_progress=False)
+            shared.gradio['upload_img_tavern'].clear(lambda: (None, None, None, gr.update(interactive=False)), None, gradio('tavern_name', 'tavern_desc', 'tavern_json', 'Submit tavern character'), show_progress=False)
             shared.gradio['your_picture'].change(
-                chat.upload_your_profile_picture, shared.gradio['your_picture'], None).then(
-                partial(chat.redraw_html, reset_cache=True), shared.reload_inputs, shared.gradio['display'])
+                chat.upload_your_profile_picture, gradio('your_picture'), None).then(
+                partial(chat.redraw_html, reset_cache=True), shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
         # notebook/default modes event handlers
         else:
-            shared.input_params = [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['textbox', 'interface_state']]
+            shared.input_params = gradio('textbox', 'interface_state')
             if shared.args.notebook:
-                output_params = [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['textbox', 'html']]
+                output_params = gradio('textbox', 'html')
             else:
-                output_params = [shared.gradio[k] for k in ['output_textbox', 'html']]
+                output_params = gradio('output_textbox', 'html')
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Generate'].click(
-                lambda x: x, shared.gradio['textbox'], shared.gradio['last_input']).then(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
+                lambda x: x, gradio('textbox'), gradio('last_input')).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                 generate_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, output_params, show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
                 # lambda: None, None, None, _js="() => {element = document.getElementsByTagName('textarea')[0]; element.scrollTop = element.scrollHeight}")
             )
 
             gen_events.append(shared.gradio['textbox'].submit(
-                lambda x: x, shared.gradio['textbox'], shared.gradio['last_input']).then(
-                ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
+                lambda x: x, gradio('textbox'), gradio('last_input')).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                 generate_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, output_params, show_progress=False).then(
+                ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                 lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
                 # lambda: None, None, None, _js="() => {element = document.getElementsByTagName('textarea')[0]; element.scrollTop = element.scrollHeight}")
             )
 
             if shared.args.notebook:
-                shared.gradio['Undo'].click(lambda x: x, shared.gradio['last_input'], shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False)
-                shared.gradio['markdown_render'].click(lambda x: x, shared.gradio['textbox'], shared.gradio['markdown'], queue=False)
+                shared.gradio['Undo'].click(lambda x: x, gradio('last_input'), gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False)
+                shared.gradio['markdown_render'].click(lambda x: x, gradio('textbox'), gradio('markdown'), queue=False)
                 gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Regenerate'].click(
-                    lambda x: x, shared.gradio['last_input'], shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False).then(
-                    ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
+                    lambda x: x, gradio('last_input'), gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False).then(
+                    ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                     generate_reply_wrapper, shared.input_params, output_params, show_progress=False).then(
+                    ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                     lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
                     # lambda: None, None, None, _js="() => {element = document.getElementsByTagName('textarea')[0]; element.scrollTop = element.scrollHeight}")
                 )
             else:
-                shared.gradio['markdown_render'].click(lambda x: x, shared.gradio['output_textbox'], shared.gradio['markdown'], queue=False)
+                shared.gradio['markdown_render'].click(lambda x: x, gradio('output_textbox'), gradio('markdown'), queue=False)
                 gen_events.append(shared.gradio['Continue'].click(
-                    ui.gather_interface_values, [shared.gradio[k] for k in shared.input_elements], shared.gradio['interface_state']).then(
+                    ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                     generate_reply_wrapper, [shared.gradio['output_textbox']] + shared.input_params[1:], output_params, show_progress=False).then(
+                    ui.gather_interface_values, gradio(shared.input_elements), gradio('interface_state')).then(
                     lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{audio_notification_js}}}")
                     # lambda: None, None, None, _js="() => {element = document.getElementsByTagName('textarea')[1]; element.scrollTop = element.scrollHeight}")
                 )
 
             shared.gradio['Stop'].click(stop_everything_event, None, None, queue=False, cancels=gen_events if shared.args.no_stream else None)
-            shared.gradio['prompt_menu'].change(load_prompt, shared.gradio['prompt_menu'], shared.gradio['textbox'], show_progress=False)
+            shared.gradio['prompt_menu'].change(load_prompt, gradio('prompt_menu'), gradio('textbox'), show_progress=False)
             shared.gradio['save_prompt'].click(
-                lambda x: x, shared.gradio['textbox'], shared.gradio['save_contents']).then(
-                lambda: 'prompts/', None, shared.gradio['save_root']).then(
-                lambda: utils.current_time() + '.txt', None, shared.gradio['save_filename']).then(
-                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['file_saver'])
+                lambda x: x, gradio('textbox'), gradio('save_contents')).then(
+                lambda: 'prompts/', None, gradio('save_root')).then(
+                lambda: utils.current_time() + '.txt', None, gradio('save_filename')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_saver'))
 
             shared.gradio['delete_prompt'].click(
-                lambda: 'prompts/', None, shared.gradio['delete_root']).then(
-                lambda x: x + '.txt', shared.gradio['prompt_menu'], shared.gradio['delete_filename']).then(
-                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, shared.gradio['file_deleter'])
+                lambda: 'prompts/', None, gradio('delete_root')).then(
+                lambda x: x + '.txt', gradio('prompt_menu'), gradio('delete_filename')).then(
+                lambda: gr.update(visible=True), None, gradio('file_deleter'))
 
-            shared.gradio['count_tokens'].click(count_tokens, shared.gradio['textbox'], shared.gradio['status'], show_progress=False)
+            shared.gradio['count_tokens'].click(count_tokens, gradio('textbox'), gradio('status'), show_progress=False)
 
         create_file_saving_event_handlers()
-        shared.gradio['interface'].load(lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{js}}}")
+
+        shared.gradio['interface'].load(
+            lambda: None, None, None, _js=f"() => {{{js}}}").then(
+            partial(ui.apply_interface_values, {}, use_persistent=True), None, gradio(ui.list_interface_input_elements()), show_progress=False)
+
         if shared.settings['dark_theme']:
             shared.gradio['interface'].load(lambda: None, None, None, _js="() => document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].classList.add('dark')")
 
-        shared.gradio['interface'].load(partial(ui.apply_interface_values, {}, use_persistent=True), None, [shared.gradio[k] for k in ui.list_interface_input_elements(chat=shared.is_chat())], show_progress=False)
+        if shared.is_chat():
+            shared.gradio['interface'].load(chat.redraw_html, shared.reload_inputs, gradio('display'))
 
         # Extensions tabs
         extensions_module.create_extensions_tabs()
@@ -1058,7 +1134,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         if shared.args.lora:
             add_lora_to_model(shared.args.lora)
 
-    # Force a character to be loaded
+    # Forcing some events to be triggered on page load
+    shared.persistent_interface_state.update({
+        'loader': shared.args.loader or 'Transformers',
+    })
+
     if shared.is_chat():
         shared.persistent_interface_state.update({
             'mode': shared.settings['mode'],
@@ -1066,11 +1146,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             'instruction_template': shared.settings['instruction_template']
         })
 
-    shared.persistent_interface_state.update({
-        'loader': shared.args.loader or 'Transformers',
-    })
+        if Path("cache/pfp_character.png").exists():
+            Path("cache/pfp_character.png").unlink()
 
     shared.generation_lock = Lock()
+
     # Launch the web UI
     create_interface()
     while True: