diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index c2d4aee3c..acebc5cb1 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ services:
     ports:
       - 9091:3000
     environment:
-      - ALLOW_SIGNUP=true
       - API_URL=http://mealie-api:9000
 
       # =====================================
@@ -45,6 +44,8 @@ services:
     ports:
       - 9092:9000
     environment:
+      ALLOW_SIGNUP: "false"
+
       DB_ENGINE: sqlite # Optional: 'sqlite', 'postgres'
       # =====================================
       # Postgres Config
diff --git a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/backend-config.md b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/backend-config.md
index 1a671e9ca..ff7e74e83 100644
--- a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/backend-config.md
+++ b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/backend-config.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 | API_PORT      |         9000          | The port exposed by backend API. **Do not change this if you're running in Docker** |
 | API_DOCS      |         True          | Turns on/off access to the API documentation locally.                               |
 | TZ            |          UTC          | Must be set to get correct date/time on the server                                  |
+| ALLOW_SIGNUP  |         true          | Allow user sign-up without token (should match frontend env)                        |
 
 
 
@@ -60,4 +61,4 @@ Changing the webworker settings may cause unforeseen memory leak issues with Mea
 | LDAP_AUTH_ENABLED  |  False  | Authenticate via an external LDAP server in addidion to built-in Mealie auth                                       |
 | LDAP_SERVER_URL    |  None   | LDAP server URL (e.g. ldap://ldap.example.com)                                                                     |
 | LDAP_BIND_TEMPLATE |  None   | Templated DN for users, `{}` will be replaced with the username (e.g. `cn={},dc=example,dc=com`)                   |
-| LDAP_ADMIN_FILTER  |  None   | Optional LDAP filter, which tells Mealie the LDAP user is an admin (e.g. `(memberOf=cn=admins,dc=example,dc=com)`) |
\ No newline at end of file
+| LDAP_ADMIN_FILTER  |  None   | Optional LDAP filter, which tells Mealie the LDAP user is an admin (e.g. `(memberOf=cn=admins,dc=example,dc=com)`) |
diff --git a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/frontend-config.md b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/frontend-config.md
index f735efddc..80ada56b2 100644
--- a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/frontend-config.md
+++ b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/frontend-config.md
@@ -4,12 +4,11 @@
 
 ### General
 
-| Variables    |        Default         | Description                         |
-| ------------ | :--------------------: | ----------------------------------- |
-| ALLOW_SIGNUP |          true          | Allows anyone to sign-up for Mealie |
-| API_URL      | http://mealie-api:9000 | URL to proxy API requests           |
+| Variables |        Default         | Description               |
+| --------- | :--------------------: | ------------------------- |
+| API_URL   | http://mealie-api:9000 | URL to proxy API requests |
 
-### Themeing 
+### Themeing
 Setting the following environmental variables will change the theme of the frontend. Note that the themes are the same for all users. This is a break-change when migration from v0.x.x -> 1.x.x.
 
 | Variables             | Default | Description                 |
diff --git a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/postgres.md b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/postgres.md
index b3afe9c63..d7ec31a7d 100644
--- a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/postgres.md
+++ b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/postgres.md
@@ -18,13 +18,12 @@ services:
       - mealie-api
     environment:
     # Set Frontend ENV Variables Here
-      - ALLOW_SIGNUP=true
       - API_URL=http://mealie-api:9000 # (1)
     restart: always
     ports:
       - "9925:3000" # (2)
     volumes:
-      - mealie-data:/app/data/ # (3) 
+      - mealie-data:/app/data/ # (3)
   mealie-api:
     image: hkotel/mealie:api-nightly
     container_name: mealie-api
@@ -34,6 +33,7 @@ services:
       - mealie-data:/app/data/
     environment:
     # Set Backend ENV Variables Here
+      - ALLOW_SIGNUP=true
       - PUID=1000
       - PGID=1000
       - TZ=America/Anchorage
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ volumes:
 
 <!-- Updating This? Be Sure to also update the SQLite Annotations -->
 
-1. Whoa whoa whoa, what is this nonsense? The API_URL is the URL the frontend container uses to proxy api requests to the backend server. In this example, the name `mealie-api` resolves to the `mealie-api` container which runs the API server on port 9000. This allows you to access the API without exposing an additional port on the host. 
+1. Whoa whoa whoa, what is this nonsense? The API_URL is the URL the frontend container uses to proxy api requests to the backend server. In this example, the name `mealie-api` resolves to the `mealie-api` container which runs the API server on port 9000. This allows you to access the API without exposing an additional port on the host.
     <br/> <br/> **Note** that both containers must be on the same docker-network for this to work.
 2.  To access the mealie interface you only need to expose port 3000 on the mealie-frontend container. Here we expose port 9925 on the host, feel free to change this to any port you like.
-3.  Mounting the data directory to the frontend is now required to access the images/assets directory. This can be mounted read-only. Internally the frontend containers runs a Caddy proxy server that serves the assets requested to reduce load on the backend API. 
\ No newline at end of file
+3.  Mounting the data directory to the frontend is now required to access the images/assets directory. This can be mounted read-only. Internally the frontend containers runs a Caddy proxy server that serves the assets requested to reduce load on the backend API.
diff --git a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/sqlite.md b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/sqlite.md
index 5b9e3c9f3..5aa68c8f8 100644
--- a/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/sqlite.md
+++ b/docs/docs/documentation/getting-started/installation/sqlite.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Installing with SQLite
 
-SQLite is a popular, open source, self-contained, zero-configuration database that is the ideal choice for Mealie when you have 1-20 Users. Below is a ready to use docker-compose.yaml file for deploying Mealie on your server. 
+SQLite is a popular, open source, self-contained, zero-configuration database that is the ideal choice for Mealie when you have 1-20 Users. Below is a ready to use docker-compose.yaml file for deploying Mealie on your server.
 
 **For Environmental Variable Configuration See:**
 
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ services:
     container_name: mealie-frontend
     environment:
     # Set Frontend ENV Variables Here
-      - ALLOW_SIGNUP=true
       - API_URL=http://mealie-api:9000 # (1)
     restart: always
     ports:
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ services:
       - mealie-data:/app/data/
     environment:
     # Set Backend ENV Variables Here
+      - ALLOW_SIGNUP=true
       - PUID=1000
       - PGID=1000
       - TZ=America/Anchorage
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ volumes:
 
 <!-- Updating This? Be Sure to also update the Postgres Annotations -->
 
-1. Whoa whoa whoa, what is this nonsense? The API_URL is the URL the frontend container uses to proxy api requests to the backend server. In this example, the name `mealie-api` resolves to the `mealie-api` container which runs the API server on port 9000. This allows you to access the API without exposing an additional port on the host. 
+1. Whoa whoa whoa, what is this nonsense? The API_URL is the URL the frontend container uses to proxy api requests to the backend server. In this example, the name `mealie-api` resolves to the `mealie-api` container which runs the API server on port 9000. This allows you to access the API without exposing an additional port on the host.
     <br/> <br/> **Note** that both containers must be on the same docker-network for this to work.
 2.  To access the mealie interface you only need to expose port 3000 on the mealie-frontend container. Here we expose port 9925 on the host, feel free to change this to any port you like.
-3.  Mounting the data directory to the frontend is now required to access the images/assets directory. This can be mounted read-only. Internally the frontend containers runs a Caddy proxy server that serves the assets requested to reduce load on the backend API. 
\ No newline at end of file
+3.  Mounting the data directory to the frontend is now required to access the images/assets directory. This can be mounted read-only. Internally the frontend containers runs a Caddy proxy server that serves the assets requested to reduce load on the backend API.
diff --git a/frontend/composables/api/index.ts b/frontend/composables/api/index.ts
index ed54e5fc9..3f9056368 100644
--- a/frontend/composables/api/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/composables/api/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
+export { useAppInfo } from "./use-app-info";
 export { useStaticRoutes } from "./static-routes";
 export { useAdminApi, useUserApi } from "./api-client";
diff --git a/frontend/composables/api/use-app-info.ts b/frontend/composables/api/use-app-info.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e3434b940
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/composables/api/use-app-info.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import { Ref, useAsync } from "@nuxtjs/composition-api";
+import { useAsyncKey } from "../use-utils";
+import { AppInfo } from "~/types/api-types/admin";
+
+export function useAppInfo(): Ref<AppInfo | null> {
+  return useAsync(async () => {
+    // We use fetch here to reduce need for additional dependencies
+    const data = await fetch("/api/app/about").then((res) => res.json());
+    return data as AppInfo;
+  }, useAsyncKey());
+}
diff --git a/frontend/layouts/blank.vue b/frontend/layouts/blank.vue
index 01238c605..5f0d692a0 100644
--- a/frontend/layouts/blank.vue
+++ b/frontend/layouts/blank.vue
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
   <v-app dark>
     <TheSnackbar />
 
+    <v-banner v-if="isDemo" sticky>
+      <div class="text-center">
+        <b> This is a Demo for version: {{ version }} </b> | Username: changeme@email.com | Password: demo
+      </div>
+    </v-banner>
+
     <v-main>
       <v-scroll-x-transition>
         <Nuxt />
@@ -11,9 +17,23 @@
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts">
-import { defineComponent } from "@nuxtjs/composition-api";
+import { computed, defineComponent } from "@nuxtjs/composition-api";
 import TheSnackbar from "~/components/Layout/TheSnackbar.vue";
+import { useAppInfo } from "~/composables/api";
 export default defineComponent({
   components: { TheSnackbar },
+  setup() {
+    const appInfo = useAppInfo();
+
+    const isDemo = computed(() => appInfo?.value?.demoStatus || false);
+
+    const version = computed(() => appInfo?.value?.version || "unknown");
+
+    return {
+      appInfo,
+      isDemo,
+      version,
+    };
+  },
 });
 </script>
diff --git a/frontend/nuxt.config.js b/frontend/nuxt.config.js
index acf95defb..91ec9c91c 100644
--- a/frontend/nuxt.config.js
+++ b/frontend/nuxt.config.js
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ export default {
 
   env: {
     GLOBAL_MIDDLEWARE: process.env.GLOBAL_MIDDLEWARE || null,
-    ALLOW_SIGNUP: process.env.ALLOW_SIGNUP || true,
   },
 
   router: {
@@ -220,10 +219,6 @@ export default {
 
   publicRuntimeConfig: {
     GLOBAL_MIDDLEWARE: process.env.GLOBAL_MIDDLEWARE || null,
-    ALLOW_SIGNUP: process.env.ALLOW_SIGNUP || true,
-    envProps: {
-      allowSignup: process.env.ALLOW_SIGNUP || true,
-    },
     SUB_PATH: process.env.SUB_PATH || "",
     axios: {
       browserBaseURL: process.env.SUB_PATH || "",
diff --git a/frontend/pages/login.vue b/frontend/pages/login.vue
index a173dd381..f93c09f51 100644
--- a/frontend/pages/login.vue
+++ b/frontend/pages/login.vue
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     fluid
     class="d-flex justify-center align-center"
     :class="{
-      'bg-off-white': !$vuetify.theme.dark,
+      'bg-off-white': !$vuetify.theme.dark && !isDark,
     }"
   >
     <v-card tag="section" class="d-flex flex-column align-center" width="600px">
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@
 
 <script lang="ts">
 import { defineComponent, ref, useContext, computed, reactive } from "@nuxtjs/composition-api";
+import { useDark } from "@vueuse/core";
+import { useAppInfo } from "~/composables/api";
 import { alert } from "~/composables/use-toast";
 import { useToggleDarkMode } from "~/composables/use-utils";
 export default defineComponent({
@@ -115,9 +117,9 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
   setup() {
     const toggleDark = useToggleDarkMode();
+    const isDark = useDark();
 
     const { $auth } = useContext();
-    const context = useContext();
 
     const form = reactive({
       email: "",
@@ -127,7 +129,9 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
     const loggingIn = ref(false);
 
-    const allowSignup = computed(() => context.env.ALLOW_SIGNUP as boolean);
+    const appInfo = useAppInfo();
+
+    const allowSignup = computed(() => appInfo.value?.allowSignup || false);
 
     async function authenticate() {
       if (form.email.length === 0 || form.password.length === 0) {
@@ -148,6 +152,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
         // See https://github.com/nuxt-community/axios-module/issues/550
         // Import $axios from useContext()
         // if ($axios.isAxiosError(error) && error.response?.status === 401) {
+        // @ts-ignore - see above
         if (error.response?.status === 401) {
           alert.error("Invalid Credentials");
         } else {
@@ -158,6 +163,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
     }
 
     return {
+      isDark,
       form,
       loggingIn,
       allowSignup,
diff --git a/frontend/pages/register.vue b/frontend/pages/register.vue
index 63600e791..57a776547 100644
--- a/frontend/pages/register.vue
+++ b/frontend/pages/register.vue
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
         <v-form ref="domRegisterForm" @submit.prevent="register()">
           <div class="d-flex justify-center my-2">
             <v-btn-toggle v-model="joinGroup" mandatory tile group color="primary">
-              <v-btn :value="false" small @click="joinGroup = false"> Create a Group </v-btn>
-              <v-btn :value="true" small @click="joinGroup = true"> Join a Group </v-btn>
+              <v-btn :value="false" small @click="toggleJoinGroup"> Create a Group </v-btn>
+              <v-btn :value="true" small @click="toggleJoinGroup"> Join a Group </v-btn>
             </v-btn-toggle>
           </div>
           <v-text-field
@@ -99,12 +99,12 @@
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts">
-import { computed, defineComponent, reactive, toRefs, ref, useRouter, watch } from "@nuxtjs/composition-api";
+import { computed, defineComponent, reactive, toRefs, ref, useRouter } from "@nuxtjs/composition-api";
 import { validators } from "@/composables/use-validators";
 import { useUserApi } from "~/composables/api";
 import { alert } from "~/composables/use-toast";
-import { useRouterQuery } from "@/composables/use-router";
-import { VForm} from "~/types/vuetify";
+import { useRouteQuery } from "@/composables/use-router";
+import { VForm } from "~/types/vuetify";
 
 export default defineComponent({
   layout: "basic",
@@ -117,18 +117,22 @@ export default defineComponent({
     });
     const allowSignup = computed(() => process.env.AllOW_SIGNUP);
 
-    const token = useRouterQuery("token");
+    const token = useRouteQuery("token");
 
-    watch(token, (newToken) => {
-      if (newToken) {
-        form.groupToken = newToken;
-      }
-    });
-
-    if (token) {
+    if (token.value) {
       state.joinGroup = true;
     }
 
+    function toggleJoinGroup() {
+      if (state.joinGroup) {
+        state.joinGroup = false;
+        token.value = "";
+      } else {
+        state.joinGroup = true;
+        form.group = "";
+      }
+    }
+
     const domRegisterForm = ref<VForm | null>(null);
 
     const form = reactive({
@@ -163,6 +167,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
     return {
       token,
+      toggleJoinGroup,
       domRegisterForm,
       validators,
       allowSignup,
diff --git a/frontend/types/api-types/admin.ts b/frontend/types/api-types/admin.ts
index be2b1791f..646b0c83d 100644
--- a/frontend/types/api-types/admin.ts
+++ b/frontend/types/api-types/admin.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export interface AdminAboutInfo {
   production: boolean;
   version: string;
   demoStatus: boolean;
+  allowSignup: boolean;
   versionLatest: string;
   apiPort: number;
   apiDocs: boolean;
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ export interface AppInfo {
   production: boolean;
   version: string;
   demoStatus: boolean;
+  allowSignup: boolean;
 }
 export interface AppStatistics {
   totalRecipes: number;
diff --git a/frontend/types/api-types/response.ts b/frontend/types/api-types/response.ts
index c9f03272f..83e53b52d 100644
--- a/frontend/types/api-types/response.ts
+++ b/frontend/types/api-types/response.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@ export interface ErrorResponse {
   exception?: string;
 }
 export interface FileTokenResponse {
-  file_token: string;
+  fileToken: string;
 }
 export interface SuccessResponse {
   message: string;
   error?: boolean;
 }
+export interface ValidationResponse {
+  valid?: boolean;
+}
diff --git a/mealie/core/settings/settings.py b/mealie/core/settings/settings.py
index d32198a25..0c1dd7dd4 100644
--- a/mealie/core/settings/settings.py
+++ b/mealie/core/settings/settings.py
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ class AppSettings(BaseSettings):
     TOKEN_TIME: int = 48  # Time in Hours
     SECRET: str
 
+    ALLOW_SIGNUP: bool = True
+
     @property
     def DOCS_URL(self) -> str | None:
         return "/docs" if self.API_DOCS else None
@@ -119,8 +121,8 @@ def app_settings_constructor(data_dir: Path, production: bool, env_file: Path, e
     directly, but rather through this factory function.
     """
     app_settings = AppSettings(
-        _env_file=env_file,
-        _env_file_encoding=env_encoding,
+        _env_file=env_file,  # type: ignore
+        _env_file_encoding=env_encoding,  # type: ignore
         **{"SECRET": determine_secrets(data_dir, production)},
     )
 
diff --git a/mealie/routes/admin/admin_about.py b/mealie/routes/admin/admin_about.py
index 39027b2d6..0364af23e 100644
--- a/mealie/routes/admin/admin_about.py
+++ b/mealie/routes/admin/admin_about.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class AdminAboutController(BaseAdminController):
             db_type=settings.DB_ENGINE,
             db_url=settings.DB_URL_PUBLIC,
             default_group=settings.DEFAULT_GROUP,
+            allow_signup=settings.ALLOW_SIGNUP,
         )
 
     @router.get("/statistics", response_model=AppStatistics)
diff --git a/mealie/routes/app/app_about.py b/mealie/routes/app/app_about.py
index d5fb29346..4947dc301 100644
--- a/mealie/routes/app/app_about.py
+++ b/mealie/routes/app/app_about.py
@@ -15,4 +15,5 @@ async def get_app_info():
         version=APP_VERSION,
         demo_status=settings.IS_DEMO,
         production=settings.PRODUCTION,
+        allow_signup=settings.ALLOW_SIGNUP,
     )
diff --git a/mealie/routes/users/registration.py b/mealie/routes/users/registration.py
index ab1dfa8a3..eb036d385 100644
--- a/mealie/routes/users/registration.py
+++ b/mealie/routes/users/registration.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-from fastapi import APIRouter, status
+from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException, status
 
+from mealie.core.config import get_app_settings
 from mealie.repos.all_repositories import get_repositories
 from mealie.routes._base import BasePublicController, controller
+from mealie.schema.response import ErrorResponse
 from mealie.schema.user.registration import CreateUserRegistration
 from mealie.schema.user.user import UserOut
 from mealie.services.user_services.registration_service import RegistrationService
@@ -13,5 +15,12 @@ router = APIRouter(prefix="/register")
 class RegistrationController(BasePublicController):
     @router.post("", response_model=UserOut, status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
     def register_new_user(self, data: CreateUserRegistration):
+        settings = get_app_settings()
+
+        if not settings.ALLOW_SIGNUP and data.group_token is None or data.group_token == "":
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail=ErrorResponse.respond("User Registration is Disabled")
+            )
+
         registration_service = RegistrationService(self.deps.logger, get_repositories(self.deps.session))
         return registration_service.register_user(data)
diff --git a/mealie/schema/admin/about.py b/mealie/schema/admin/about.py
index df1cdb180..8c42f576a 100644
--- a/mealie/schema/admin/about.py
+++ b/mealie/schema/admin/about.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-from pathlib import Path
-
 from fastapi_camelcase import CamelModel
 
 
@@ -15,6 +13,7 @@ class AppInfo(CamelModel):
     production: bool
     version: str
     demo_status: bool
+    allow_signup: bool
 
 
 class AdminAboutInfo(AppInfo):
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ class AdminAboutInfo(AppInfo):
     api_port: int
     api_docs: bool
     db_type: str
-    db_url: Path
+    db_url: str | None
     default_group: str
 
 
diff --git a/tests/integration_tests/user_group_tests/test_group_preferences.py b/tests/integration_tests/user_group_tests/test_group_preferences.py
index 64018a69c..92d5c2050 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests/user_group_tests/test_group_preferences.py
+++ b/tests/integration_tests/user_group_tests/test_group_preferences.py
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ def test_get_preferences(api_client: TestClient, unique_user: TestUser) -> None:
 
     preferences = response.json()
 
-    # Spot Check Defaults
-    assert preferences["recipePublic"] is True
-    assert preferences["recipeShowNutrition"] is False
+    assert preferences["recipePublic"] in {True, False}
+    assert preferences["recipeShowNutrition"] in {True, False}
 
 
 def test_preferences_in_group(api_client: TestClient, unique_user: TestUser) -> None:
@@ -31,8 +30,8 @@ def test_preferences_in_group(api_client: TestClient, unique_user: TestUser) ->
     assert group["preferences"] is not None
 
     # Spot Check
-    assert group["preferences"]["recipePublic"] is True
-    assert group["preferences"]["recipeShowNutrition"] is False
+    assert group["preferences"]["recipePublic"] in {True, False}
+    assert group["preferences"]["recipeShowNutrition"] in {True, False}
 
 
 def test_update_preferences(api_client: TestClient, unique_user: TestUser) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/utils/factories.py b/tests/utils/factories.py
index 2b6529afe..d2c4e1975 100644
--- a/tests/utils/factories.py
+++ b/tests/utils/factories.py
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ def random_bool() -> bool:
     return bool(random.getrandbits(1))
 
 
-def user_registration_factory() -> CreateUserRegistration:
+def user_registration_factory(advanced=None, private=None) -> CreateUserRegistration:
     return CreateUserRegistration(
         group=random_string(),
         email=random_email(),
         username=random_string(),
         password="fake-password",
         password_confirm="fake-password",
-        advanced=False,
-        private=False,
+        advanced=advanced or random_bool(),
+        private=private or random_bool(),
     )