diff --git a/api_tests/src/user.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/user.spec.ts
index f7f80aecb..d1d6144f5 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/user.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/user.spec.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ test("Set some user settings, check that they are federated", async () => {
 
 test("Delete user", async () => {
   let user = await registerUser(alpha, alphaUrl);
+  let user_profile = await getMyUser(user);
+  let person_id = user_profile.local_user_view.person.id;
+  let actor_id = user_profile.local_user_view.person.actor_id;
 
   // make a local post and comment
   let alphaCommunity = (await resolveCommunity(user, "main@lemmy-alpha:8541"))
@@ -101,6 +104,10 @@ test("Delete user", async () => {
   expect(remoteComment).toBeDefined();
 
   await deleteUser(user);
+  await expect(getMyUser(user)).rejects.toStrictEqual(Error("incorrect_login"));
+  await expect(getPersonDetails(user, person_id)).rejects.toStrictEqual(
+    Error("not_found"),
+  );
 
   // check that posts and comments are marked as deleted on other instances.
   // use get methods to avoid refetching from origin instance
@@ -118,6 +125,9 @@ test("Delete user", async () => {
     (await getComments(alpha, remoteComment.post_id)).comments[0].comment
       .deleted,
   ).toBe(true);
+  await expect(
+    getPersonDetails(user, remoteComment.creator_id),
+  ).rejects.toStrictEqual(Error("not_found"));
 });
 
 test("Requests with invalid auth should be treated as unauthenticated", async () => {
diff --git a/config/defaults.hjson b/config/defaults.hjson
index 21a76d7a5..9e24407cd 100644
--- a/config/defaults.hjson
+++ b/config/defaults.hjson
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 {
   # settings related to the postgresql database
   database: {
-    # Configure the database by specifying a URI
-    # 
-    # This is the preferred method to specify database connection details since
-    # it is the most flexible.
-    # Connection URI pointing to a postgres instance
+    # Configure the database by specifying URI pointing to a postgres instance
     # 
     # This example uses peer authentication to obviate the need for creating,
     # configuring, and managing passwords.
@@ -14,25 +10,7 @@
     # PostgreSQL's documentation.
     # 
     # [0]: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-connect.html#id-1.7.3.8.3.6
-    uri: "postgresql:///lemmy?user=lemmy&host=/var/run/postgresql"
-
-    # or
-
-    # Configure the database by specifying parts of a URI
-    # 
-    # Note that specifying the `uri` field should be preferred since it provides
-    # greater control over how the connection is made. This merely exists for
-    # backwards-compatibility.
-    # Username to connect to postgres
-    user: "string"
-    # Password to connect to postgres
-    password: "string"
-    # Host where postgres is running
-    host: "string"
-    # Port where postgres can be accessed
-    port: 123
-    # Name of the postgres database for lemmy
-    database: "string"
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@localhost:5432/lemmy"
     # Maximum number of active sql connections
     pool_size: 30
   }
diff --git a/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs b/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs
index 8689d2563..547838fa7 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ pub async fn ban_from_community(
 
   ModBanFromCommunity::create(&mut context.pool(), &form).await?;
 
-  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), data.person_id).await?;
+  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), data.person_id, false).await?;
 
   ActivityChannel::submit_activity(
     SendActivityData::BanFromCommunity {
diff --git a/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs b/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs
index f929433f0..715bd206d 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ pub async fn ban_from_site(
 
   ModBan::create(&mut context.pool(), &form).await?;
 
-  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), person.id).await?;
+  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), person.id, false).await?;
 
   ban_nonlocal_user_from_local_communities(
     &local_user_view,
diff --git a/crates/api/src/local_user/block.rs b/crates/api/src/local_user/block.rs
index 80532e897..3aee554d4 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/local_user/block.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/local_user/block.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pub async fn user_block_person(
       .with_lemmy_type(LemmyErrorType::PersonBlockAlreadyExists)?;
   }
 
-  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), target_id).await?;
+  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), target_id, false).await?;
   Ok(Json(BlockPersonResponse {
     person_view,
     blocked: data.block,
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs b/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
index 7b3ed820e..99bf7aecc 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
@@ -123,8 +123,6 @@ pub fn is_admin(local_user_view: &LocalUserView) -> LemmyResult<()> {
   check_user_valid(&local_user_view.person)?;
   if !local_user_view.local_user.admin {
     Err(LemmyErrorType::NotAnAdmin)?
-  } else if local_user_view.person.banned {
-    Err(LemmyErrorType::Banned)?
   } else {
     Ok(())
   }
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/user/my_user.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/user/my_user.rs
index 805c9dabb..f7a92eb99 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/user/my_user.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/user/my_user.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use actix_web::web::{Data, Json};
-use lemmy_api_common::{context::LemmyContext, site::MyUserInfo};
+use lemmy_api_common::{context::LemmyContext, site::MyUserInfo, utils::check_user_valid};
 use lemmy_db_schema::source::{
   actor_language::LocalUserLanguage,
   community_block::CommunityBlock,
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ pub async fn get_my_user(
   local_user_view: LocalUserView,
   context: Data<LemmyContext>,
 ) -> LemmyResult<Json<MyUserInfo>> {
+  check_user_valid(&local_user_view.person)?;
+
   // Build the local user with parallel queries and add it to site response
   let person_id = local_user_view.person.id;
   let local_user_id = local_user_view.local_user.id;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/api/read_person.rs b/crates/apub/src/api/read_person.rs
index fdcb6ba58..7f719fe71 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/api/read_person.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/api/read_person.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use actix_web::web::{Json, Query};
 use lemmy_api_common::{
   context::LemmyContext,
   person::{GetPersonDetails, GetPersonDetailsResponse},
-  utils::{check_private_instance, read_site_for_actor},
+  utils::{check_private_instance, is_admin, read_site_for_actor},
 };
 use lemmy_db_views::structs::{LocalUserView, SiteView};
 use lemmy_db_views_actor::structs::{CommunityModeratorView, PersonView};
@@ -30,7 +30,12 @@ pub async fn read_person(
 
   // You don't need to return settings for the user, since this comes back with GetSite
   // `my_user`
-  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), person_details_id).await?;
+  let is_admin = local_user_view
+    .as_ref()
+    .map(|l| is_admin(l).is_ok())
+    .unwrap_or_default();
+  let person_view = PersonView::read(&mut context.pool(), person_details_id, is_admin).await?;
+
   let moderates = CommunityModeratorView::for_person(
     &mut context.pool(),
     person_details_id,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/api/resolve_object.rs b/crates/apub/src/api/resolve_object.rs
index 04d489592..8d2cd384f 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/api/resolve_object.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/api/resolve_object.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ async fn convert_response(
       }
     },
     SearchableObjects::PersonOrCommunity(pc) => match *pc {
-      UserOrCommunity::User(u) => res.person = Some(PersonView::read(pool, u.id).await?),
+      UserOrCommunity::User(u) => res.person = Some(PersonView::read(pool, u.id, is_admin).await?),
       UserOrCommunity::Community(c) => {
         res.community = Some(CommunityView::read(pool, c.id, local_user.as_ref(), is_admin).await?)
       }
diff --git a/crates/db_views_actor/src/community_view.rs b/crates/db_views_actor/src/community_view.rs
index f6ce82d37..8bcf50ba3 100644
--- a/crates/db_views_actor/src/community_view.rs
+++ b/crates/db_views_actor/src/community_view.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ impl CommunityView {
     let is_mod =
       CommunityModeratorView::check_is_community_moderator(pool, community_id, person_id).await;
     if is_mod.is_ok()
-      || PersonView::read(pool, person_id)
+      || PersonView::read(pool, person_id, false)
         .await
         .is_ok_and(|t| t.is_admin)
     {
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ impl CommunityView {
     let is_mod_of_any =
       CommunityModeratorView::is_community_moderator_of_any(pool, person_id).await;
     if is_mod_of_any.is_ok()
-      || PersonView::read(pool, person_id)
+      || PersonView::read(pool, person_id, false)
         .await
         .is_ok_and(|t| t.is_admin)
     {
diff --git a/crates/db_views_actor/src/person_view.rs b/crates/db_views_actor/src/person_view.rs
index 39d1ac27c..b90ab7811 100644
--- a/crates/db_views_actor/src/person_view.rs
+++ b/crates/db_views_actor/src/person_view.rs
@@ -58,12 +58,11 @@ fn post_to_person_sort_type(sort: PostSortType) -> PersonSortType {
 }
 
 fn queries<'a>(
-) -> Queries<impl ReadFn<'a, PersonView, PersonId>, impl ListFn<'a, PersonView, ListMode>> {
+) -> Queries<impl ReadFn<'a, PersonView, (PersonId, bool)>, impl ListFn<'a, PersonView, ListMode>> {
   let all_joins = move |query: person::BoxedQuery<'a, Pg>| {
     query
       .inner_join(person_aggregates::table)
       .left_join(local_user::table)
-      .filter(person::deleted.eq(false))
       .select((
         person::all_columns,
         person_aggregates::all_columns,
@@ -71,14 +70,17 @@ fn queries<'a>(
       ))
   };
 
-  let read = move |mut conn: DbConn<'a>, person_id: PersonId| async move {
-    all_joins(person::table.find(person_id).into_boxed())
-      .first(&mut conn)
-      .await
+  let read = move |mut conn: DbConn<'a>, params: (PersonId, bool)| async move {
+    let (person_id, is_admin) = params;
+    let mut query = all_joins(person::table.find(person_id).into_boxed());
+    if !is_admin {
+      query = query.filter(person::deleted.eq(false));
+    }
+    query.first(&mut conn).await
   };
 
   let list = move |mut conn: DbConn<'a>, mode: ListMode| async move {
-    let mut query = all_joins(person::table.into_boxed());
+    let mut query = all_joins(person::table.into_boxed()).filter(person::deleted.eq(false));
     match mode {
       ListMode::Admins => {
         query = query
@@ -135,8 +137,12 @@ fn queries<'a>(
 }
 
 impl PersonView {
-  pub async fn read(pool: &mut DbPool<'_>, person_id: PersonId) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-    queries().read(pool, person_id).await
+  pub async fn read(
+    pool: &mut DbPool<'_>,
+    person_id: PersonId,
+    is_admin: bool,
+  ) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+    queries().read(pool, (person_id, is_admin)).await
   }
 
   pub async fn admins(pool: &mut DbPool<'_>) -> Result<Vec<Self>, Error> {
@@ -243,9 +249,13 @@ mod tests {
     )
     .await?;
 
-    let read = PersonView::read(pool, data.alice.id).await;
+    let read = PersonView::read(pool, data.alice.id, false).await;
     assert!(read.is_err());
 
+    // only admin can view deleted users
+    let read = PersonView::read(pool, data.alice.id, true).await;
+    assert!(read.is_ok());
+
     let list = PersonQuery {
       sort: Some(PostSortType::New),
       ..Default::default()
@@ -303,10 +313,10 @@ mod tests {
     assert_length!(1, list);
     assert_eq!(list[0].person.id, data.alice.id);
 
-    let is_admin = PersonView::read(pool, data.alice.id).await?.is_admin;
+    let is_admin = PersonView::read(pool, data.alice.id, false).await?.is_admin;
     assert!(is_admin);
 
-    let is_admin = PersonView::read(pool, data.bob.id).await?.is_admin;
+    let is_admin = PersonView::read(pool, data.bob.id, false).await?.is_admin;
     assert!(!is_admin);
 
     cleanup(data, pool).await
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/error.rs b/crates/utils/src/error.rs
index d9db32428..7e4bb59db 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/error.rs
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ pub enum LemmyErrorType {
   SystemErrLogin,
   CouldntSetAllRegistrationsAccepted,
   CouldntSetAllEmailVerified,
-  Banned,
   BlockedUrl,
   CouldntGetComments,
   CouldntGetPosts,
@@ -328,9 +327,9 @@ cfg_if! {
 
       #[test]
       fn deserializes_no_message() -> LemmyResult<()> {
-        let err = LemmyError::from(LemmyErrorType::Banned).error_response();
+        let err = LemmyError::from(LemmyErrorType::BlockedUrl).error_response();
         let json = String::from_utf8(err.into_body().try_into_bytes().unwrap_or_default().to_vec())?;
-        assert_eq!(&json, "{\"error\":\"banned\"}");
+        assert_eq!(&json, "{\"error\":\"blocked_url\"}");
 
         Ok(())
       }
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs b/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs
index d6f11c09b..72d986d2d 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/settings/mod.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,11 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, Context};
 use deser_hjson::from_str;
 use regex::Regex;
 use std::{env, fs, io::Error, sync::LazyLock};
+use structs::{PictrsConfig, PictrsImageMode, Settings};
 use url::Url;
-use urlencoding::encode;
 
 pub mod structs;
 
-use structs::{DatabaseConnection, PictrsConfig, PictrsImageMode, Settings};
-
 const DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE: &str = "config/config.hjson";
 
 #[allow(clippy::expect_used)]
@@ -51,20 +49,9 @@ impl Settings {
 
   pub fn get_database_url(&self) -> String {
     if let Ok(url) = env::var("LEMMY_DATABASE_URL") {
-      return url;
-    }
-    match &self.database.connection {
-      DatabaseConnection::Uri { uri } => uri.clone(),
-      DatabaseConnection::Parts(parts) => {
-        format!(
-          "postgres://{}:{}@{}:{}/{}",
-          encode(&parts.user),
-          encode(&parts.password),
-          parts.host,
-          parts.port,
-          encode(&parts.database),
-        )
-      }
+      url
+    } else {
+      self.database.connection.clone()
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs b/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs
index cbbbcbfe5..1aef9f79b 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs
@@ -132,64 +132,24 @@ pub enum PictrsImageMode {
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, SmartDefault, Document)]
 #[serde(default)]
 pub struct DatabaseConfig {
-  #[serde(flatten, default)]
-  pub(crate) connection: DatabaseConnection,
+  /// Configure the database by specifying URI pointing to a postgres instance
+  ///
+  /// This example uses peer authentication to obviate the need for creating,
+  /// configuring, and managing passwords.
+  ///
+  /// For an explanation of how to use connection URIs, see [here][0] in
+  /// PostgreSQL's documentation.
+  ///
+  /// [0]: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-connect.html#id-1.7.3.8.3.6
+  #[default("postgres://lemmy:password@localhost:5432/lemmy")]
+  #[doku(example = "postgresql:///lemmy?user=lemmy&host=/var/run/postgresql")]
+  pub(crate) connection: String,
 
   /// Maximum number of active sql connections
   #[default(30)]
   pub pool_size: usize,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, SmartDefault, Document)]
-#[serde(untagged)]
-pub enum DatabaseConnection {
-  /// Configure the database by specifying a URI
-  ///
-  /// This is the preferred method to specify database connection details since
-  /// it is the most flexible.
-  Uri {
-    /// Connection URI pointing to a postgres instance
-    ///
-    /// This example uses peer authentication to obviate the need for creating,
-    /// configuring, and managing passwords.
-    ///
-    /// For an explanation of how to use connection URIs, see [here][0] in
-    /// PostgreSQL's documentation.
-    ///
-    /// [0]: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-connect.html#id-1.7.3.8.3.6
-    #[doku(example = "postgresql:///lemmy?user=lemmy&host=/var/run/postgresql")]
-    uri: String,
-  },
-
-  /// Configure the database by specifying parts of a URI
-  ///
-  /// Note that specifying the `uri` field should be preferred since it provides
-  /// greater control over how the connection is made. This merely exists for
-  /// backwards-compatibility.
-  #[default]
-  Parts(DatabaseConnectionParts),
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, SmartDefault, Document)]
-#[serde(default)]
-pub struct DatabaseConnectionParts {
-  /// Username to connect to postgres
-  #[default("lemmy")]
-  pub(super) user: String,
-  /// Password to connect to postgres
-  #[default("password")]
-  pub(super) password: String,
-  #[default("localhost")]
-  /// Host where postgres is running
-  pub(super) host: String,
-  /// Port where postgres can be accessed
-  #[default(5432)]
-  pub(super) port: i32,
-  /// Name of the postgres database for lemmy
-  #[default("lemmy")]
-  pub(super) database: String,
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, Document, SmartDefault)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct EmailConfig {
diff --git a/docker/federation/lemmy_alpha.hjson b/docker/federation/lemmy_alpha.hjson
index 84ef1a16e..a3bf2bb21 100644
--- a/docker/federation/lemmy_alpha.hjson
+++ b/docker/federation/lemmy_alpha.hjson
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     site_name: lemmy-alpha
   }
   database: {
-    host: postgres_alpha
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@postgres_alpha:5432/lemmy"
   }
   pictrs: {
     api_key: "my-pictrs-key"
diff --git a/docker/federation/lemmy_beta.hjson b/docker/federation/lemmy_beta.hjson
index 1b4508a43..c026b2f71 100644
--- a/docker/federation/lemmy_beta.hjson
+++ b/docker/federation/lemmy_beta.hjson
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     site_name: lemmy-beta
   }
   database: {
-    host: postgres_beta
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@postgres_beta:5432/lemmy"
   }
   pictrs: {
     api_key: "my-pictrs-key"
diff --git a/docker/federation/lemmy_delta.hjson b/docker/federation/lemmy_delta.hjson
index d05e4121f..acfddc304 100644
--- a/docker/federation/lemmy_delta.hjson
+++ b/docker/federation/lemmy_delta.hjson
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@
     site_name: lemmy-delta
   }
   database: {
-    host: postgres_delta
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@postgres_delta:5432/lemmy"
   }
 }
diff --git a/docker/federation/lemmy_epsilon.hjson b/docker/federation/lemmy_epsilon.hjson
index c24baa9f8..a607353a6 100644
--- a/docker/federation/lemmy_epsilon.hjson
+++ b/docker/federation/lemmy_epsilon.hjson
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     site_name: lemmy-epsilon
   }
   database: {
-    host: postgres_epsilon
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@postgres_epsilon:5432/lemmy"
   }
   pictrs: {
     api_key: "my-pictrs-key"
diff --git a/docker/federation/lemmy_gamma.hjson b/docker/federation/lemmy_gamma.hjson
index d7e5b6065..7db9a5065 100644
--- a/docker/federation/lemmy_gamma.hjson
+++ b/docker/federation/lemmy_gamma.hjson
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     site_name: lemmy-gamma
   }
   database: {
-    host: postgres_gamma
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@postgres_gamma:5432/lemmy"
   }
   pictrs: {
     api_key: "my-pictrs-key"
diff --git a/docker/lemmy.hjson b/docker/lemmy.hjson
index 83adf9c0c..e28a49b6d 100644
--- a/docker/lemmy.hjson
+++ b/docker/lemmy.hjson
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     site_name: "lemmy-dev"
   }
   database: {
-    host: postgres
+    connection: "postgres://lemmy:password@postgres:5432/lemmy"
   }
 
   hostname: "localhost"
diff --git a/src/scheduled_tasks.rs b/src/scheduled_tasks.rs
index 52962877f..3406bf694 100644
--- a/src/scheduled_tasks.rs
+++ b/src/scheduled_tasks.rs
@@ -579,13 +579,13 @@ async fn build_update_instance_form(
     // This is the only kind of error that means the instance is dead
     return None;
   };
+  let status = res.status();
+  if status.is_client_error() || status.is_server_error() {
+    return None;
+  }
 
   // In this block, returning `None` is ignored, and only means not writing nodeinfo to db
   async {
-    if res.status().is_client_error() {
-      return None;
-    }
-
     let node_info_url = res
       .json::<NodeInfoWellKnown>()
       .await