diff --git a/user/apars_csi.c b/user/apars_csi.c
index a83e8ba..ed18ac9 100644
--- a/user/apars_csi.c
+++ b/user/apars_csi.c
@@ -551,31 +551,27 @@ do_csi_sgr(CSI_Data *opts)
 		else if (n >= SGR_FG_BRT_START && n <= SGR_FG_BRT_END) screen_set_fg((Color) ((n - SGR_FG_BRT_START) + 8)); // AIX bright fg
 		else if (n >= SGR_BG_BRT_START && n <= SGR_BG_BRT_END) screen_set_bg((Color) ((n - SGR_BG_BRT_START) + 8)); // AIX bright bg
 			// reset color
-		else if (n == SGR_FG_DEFAULT) screen_set_fg(termconf_live.default_fg); // default fg
-		else if (n == SGR_BG_DEFAULT) screen_set_bg(termconf_live.default_bg); // default bg
+		else if (n == SGR_FG_DEFAULT) screen_set_default_fg();
+		else if (n == SGR_BG_DEFAULT) screen_set_default_bg();
 			// 256 colors
 		else if (n == SGR_FG_256 || n == SGR_BG_256) {
-			if (i < count-2) {
-				if (opts->n[i + 1] == 5) {
-					u8 color = (u8) opts->n[i + 2];
-					bool fg = n == SGR_FG_256;
-					if (fg) {
-						screen_set_fg(color);
-					} else  {
-						screen_set_bg(color);
-					}
-				}
-				else {
-					ansi_warn("SGR syntax err");
-					apars_show_context();
-					break; // abandon further
-				}
-				i += 2;
-			} else {
+			if (i >= count-2) {
 				ansi_warn("SGR syntax err");
 				apars_show_context();
 				break; // abandon further
 			}
+
+			if (opts->n[i + 1] != 5) {
+				ansi_warn("SGR syntax err");
+				apars_show_context();
+				break; // abandon further
+			}
+
+			u8 color = (u8) opts->n[i + 2];
+			bool fg = n == SGR_FG_256;
+			if (fg) screen_set_fg(color);
+			else screen_set_bg(color);
+			i += 2;
 		}
 			// -- set attr --
 		else if (n == SGR_BOLD) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_BOLD, 1);
@@ -585,7 +581,7 @@ do_csi_sgr(CSI_Data *opts)
 		else if (n == SGR_BLINK || n == SGR_BLINK_FAST) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_BLINK, 1); // 6 - rapid blink, not supported
 		else if (n == SGR_STRIKE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_STRIKE, 1);
 		else if (n == SGR_FRAKTUR) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_FRAKTUR, 1);
-		else if (n == SGR_INVERSE) screen_set_sgr_inverse(1);
+		else if (n == SGR_INVERSE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_INVERSE, 1);
 		else if (n == SGR_CONCEAL) screen_set_sgr_conceal(1);
 		else if (n == SGR_OVERLINE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_OVERLINE, 1);
 			// -- clear attr --
@@ -595,7 +591,7 @@ do_csi_sgr(CSI_Data *opts)
 		else if (n == SGR_NO_UNDERLINE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_UNDERLINE, 0);
 		else if (n == SGR_NO_BLINK) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_BLINK, 0);
 		else if (n == SGR_NO_STRIKE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_STRIKE, 0);
-		else if (n == SGR_NO_INVERSE) screen_set_sgr_inverse(0);
+		else if (n == SGR_NO_INVERSE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_INVERSE, 0);
 		else if (n == SGR_NO_CONCEAL) screen_set_sgr_conceal(0);
 		else if (n == SGR_NO_OVERLINE) screen_set_sgr(ATTR_OVERLINE, 0);
 		else {
diff --git a/user/cgi_main.c b/user/cgi_main.c
index 377666c..e24e872 100644
--- a/user/cgi_main.c
+++ b/user/cgi_main.c
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ httpd_cgi_state ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR tplScreen(HttpdConnData *connData, char *token
 		sprintf(buff, "%d", termconf->want_all_fn);
 		tplSend(connData, buff, -1);
 	}
+	else if (streq(token, "default_fg")) {
+		sprintf(buff, "0x%08X", termconf->default_fg);
+		tplSend(connData, buff, -1);
+	}
+	else if (streq(token, "default_bg")) {
+		sprintf(buff, "0x%08X", termconf->default_bg);
+		tplSend(connData, buff, -1);
+	}
 
 	return HTTPD_CGI_DONE;
 }
diff --git a/user/cgi_term_cfg.c b/user/cgi_term_cfg.c
index 5b09741..25da9f6 100644
--- a/user/cgi_term_cfg.c
+++ b/user/cgi_term_cfg.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ cgiTermCfgSetParams(HttpdConnData *connData)
 		n = atoi(buff);
 		if (n >= 0 && n < 16) {
 			if (termconf->default_bg != n) {
-				termconf->default_bg = (u8) n;
+				termconf->default_bg = n;
 				shall_clear_screen = true;
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ cgiTermCfgSetParams(HttpdConnData *connData)
 		n = atoi(buff);
 		if (n >= 0 && n < 16) {
 			if (termconf->default_fg != n) {
-				termconf->default_fg = (u8) n;
+				termconf->default_fg = n;
 				shall_clear_screen = true;
 			}
 		} else {
diff --git a/user/persist.h b/user/persist.h
index 7591873..50fa0f5 100644
--- a/user/persist.h
+++ b/user/persist.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ typedef struct { // the entire block should be 1024 bytes long (for compatibilit
 	uint32_t checksum; // computed before write and tested on load. If it doesn't match, values are reset to hard defaults.
 } AppConfigBundle;
 
-#define ADMINCONF_VERSION 1
+#define ADMINCONF_VERSION 0
 #define ADMINCONF_SIZE 256
 
 typedef struct {
diff --git a/user/screen.c b/user/screen.c
index 95b70d1..5fa1d2e 100644
--- a/user/screen.c
+++ b/user/screen.c
@@ -20,11 +20,6 @@ static void utf8_remap(char* out, char g, char charset);
 #define W termconf_live.width
 #define H termconf_live.height
 
-/**
- * Highest permissible value of the color attribute
- */
-#define COLOR_MAX 15
-
 /**
  * Screen cell data type (16 bits)
  */
@@ -32,7 +27,7 @@ typedef struct __attribute__((packed)) {
 	UnicodeCacheRef symbol : 8;
 	Color fg;
 	Color bg;
-	u8 attrs;
+	CellAttrs attrs;
 } Cell;
 
 /**
@@ -78,9 +73,9 @@ typedef struct {
 	bool hanging; //!< xenl state - cursor half-wrapped
 
 	/* SGR */
-	bool inverse; //!< not in attrs bc it's applied server-side (not sent to browser)
-	bool conceal;  //!< similar to inverse, causes all to be replaced by SP
-	u8 attrs;
+	bool inverse; //!< not in attrs bc it's applied immediately when writing the cell
+	bool conceal; //!< similar to inverse, causes all to be replaced by SP
+	u16 attrs;
 	Color fg;     //!< Foreground color for writing
 	Color bg;     //!< Background color for writing
 
@@ -207,45 +202,12 @@ terminal_apply_settings_noclear(void)
 {
 	bool changed = false;
 
-	// Migrate to v1
-	if (termconf->config_version < 1) {
-		persist_dbg("termconf: Updating to version 1");
-		termconf->display_cooldown_ms = SCR_DEF_DISPLAY_COOLDOWN_MS;
-		changed = 1;
-	}
-
-	// Migrate to v2
-	if (termconf->config_version < 2) {
-		persist_dbg("termconf: Updating to version 2");
-		termconf->loopback = 0;
-		termconf->show_config_links = 1;
-		termconf->show_buttons = 1;
-		changed = 1;
-	}
-
-	// Migrate to v3
-	if (termconf->config_version < 3) {
-		persist_dbg("termconf: Updating to version 3");
-		for(int i=1; i <= TERM_BTN_COUNT; i++) {
-			sprintf(termconf->btn_msg[i-1], "%c", i);
-		}
-		changed = 1;
-	}
-
-	// Migrate to v4
-	if (termconf->config_version < 4) {
-		persist_dbg("termconf: Updating to version 4");
-		termconf->cursor_shape = CURSOR_BLOCK_BL;
-		termconf->crlf_mode = false;
-		changed = 1;
-	}
-
-	// Migrate to v5
-	if (termconf->config_version < 4) {
-		persist_dbg("termconf: Updating to version 5");
-		termconf->want_all_fn = 0;
-		changed = 1;
-	}
+//	// Migrate to v1
+//	if (termconf->config_version < 1) {
+//		persist_dbg("termconf: Updating to version %d", 1);
+//		termconf->display_cooldown_ms = SCR_DEF_DISPLAY_COOLDOWN_MS;
+//		changed = 1;
+//	}
 
 	termconf->config_version = TERMCONF_VERSION;
 
@@ -288,9 +250,9 @@ screen_init(void)
 	NOTIFY_LOCK();
 	Cell sample;
 	sample.symbol = ' ';
-	sample.fg = termconf->default_fg;
-	sample.bg = termconf->default_bg;
-	sample.attrs = 0;
+	sample.fg = 0;
+	sample.bg = 0;
+	sample.attrs = 0; // use default colors
 	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < MAX_SCREEN_SIZE; i++) {
 		memcpy(&screen[i], &sample, sizeof(Cell));
 	}
@@ -345,10 +307,9 @@ screen_reset_on_resize(void)
 void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
 screen_reset_sgr(void)
 {
-	cursor.fg = termconf->default_fg;
-	cursor.bg = termconf->default_bg;
+	cursor.fg = 0;
+	cursor.bg = 0;
 	cursor.attrs = 0;
-	cursor.inverse = false;
 	cursor.conceal = false;
 }
 
@@ -588,14 +549,13 @@ static void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
 clear_range(unsigned int from, unsigned int to)
 {
 	if (to >= W*H) to = W*H-1;
-	Color fg = (cursor.inverse) ? cursor.bg : cursor.fg;
-	Color bg = (cursor.inverse) ? cursor.fg : cursor.bg;
 
 	Cell sample;
 	sample.symbol = ' ';
-	sample.fg = fg;
-	sample.bg = bg;
-	sample.attrs = 0;
+	sample.fg = cursor.fg;
+	sample.bg = cursor.bg;
+	// we discard all attributes except color-set flags
+	sample.attrs = (CellAttrs) (cursor.attrs & (ATTR_FG | ATTR_BG));
 
 	for (unsigned int i = from; i <= to; i++) {
 		UnicodeCacheRef symbol = screen[i].symbol;
@@ -771,8 +731,8 @@ screen_fill_with_E(void)
 
 	Cell sample;
 	sample.symbol = 'E';
-	sample.fg = termconf->default_fg;
-	sample.bg = termconf->default_bg;
+	sample.fg = 0;
+	sample.bg = 0;
 	sample.attrs = 0;
 
 	for (unsigned int i = 0; i <= W*H-1; i++) {
@@ -1174,6 +1134,7 @@ void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
 screen_set_fg(Color color)
 {
 	cursor.fg = color;
+	cursor.attrs |= ATTR_FG;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1183,10 +1144,31 @@ void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
 screen_set_bg(Color color)
 {
 	cursor.bg = color;
+	cursor.attrs |= ATTR_BG;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Set cursor foreground color to default
+ */
 void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
-screen_set_sgr(u8 attrs, bool ena)
+screen_set_default_fg(void)
+{
+	cursor.fg = 0;
+	cursor.attrs &= ~ATTR_FG;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Set cursor background color to default
+ */
+void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
+screen_set_default_bg(void)
+{
+	cursor.bg = 0;
+	cursor.attrs &= ~ATTR_BG;
+}
+
+void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
+screen_set_sgr(CellAttrs attrs, bool ena)
 {
 	if (ena) {
 		cursor.attrs |= attrs;
@@ -1196,12 +1178,6 @@ screen_set_sgr(u8 attrs, bool ena)
 	}
 }
 
-void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
-screen_set_sgr_inverse(bool ena)
-{
-	cursor.inverse = ena;
-}
-
 void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
 screen_set_sgr_conceal(bool ena)
 {
@@ -1359,9 +1335,11 @@ screen_report_sgr(char *buffer)
 	if (cursor.attrs & ATTR_BLINK) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", SGR_BLINK);
 	if (cursor.attrs & ATTR_FRAKTUR) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", SGR_FRAKTUR);
 	if (cursor.attrs & ATTR_STRIKE) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", SGR_STRIKE);
-	if (cursor.inverse) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", SGR_INVERSE);
-	if (cursor.fg != termconf->default_fg) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", ((cursor.fg > 7) ? SGR_FG_BRT_START : SGR_FG_START) + (cursor.fg&7));
-	if (cursor.bg != termconf->default_bg) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", ((cursor.bg > 7) ? SGR_BG_BRT_START : SGR_BG_START) + (cursor.bg&7));
+	if (cursor.attrs & ATTR_INVERSE) buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", SGR_INVERSE);
+	if (cursor.attrs & ATTR_FG)
+		buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", ((cursor.fg > 7) ? SGR_FG_BRT_START : SGR_FG_START) + (cursor.fg&7));
+	if (cursor.attrs & ATTR_BG)
+		buffer += sprintf(buffer, ";%d", ((cursor.bg > 7) ? SGR_BG_BRT_START : SGR_BG_START) + (cursor.bg&7));
 	(void)buffer;
 }
 
@@ -1403,14 +1381,8 @@ putchar_graphic(const char *ch)
 	}
 	unicode_cache_remove(c->symbol);
 	c->symbol = unicode_cache_add((const u8 *)ch);
-
-	if (cursor.inverse) {
-		c->fg = cursor.bg;
-		c->bg = cursor.fg;
-	} else {
-		c->fg = cursor.fg;
-		c->bg = cursor.bg;
-	}
+	c->fg = cursor.fg;
+	c->bg = cursor.bg;
 	c->attrs = cursor.attrs;
 
 	cursor.x++;
@@ -1543,7 +1515,7 @@ utf8_remap(char *out, char g, char charset)
 struct ScreenSerializeState {
 	Color lastFg;
 	Color lastBg;
-	bool lastAttrs;
+	CellAttrs lastAttrs;
 	UnicodeCacheRef lastSymbol;
 	char lastChar[4];
 	u8 lastCharLen;
@@ -1656,7 +1628,8 @@ screenSerializeToBuffer(char *buffer, size_t buf_len, void **data)
 			(termconf_live.show_config_links << 8) |
 			((termconf_live.cursor_shape&0x07) << 9) | // 9,10,11 - cursor shape based on DECSCUSR
 		    (termconf_live.crlf_mode << 12) |
-			(scr.bracketed_paste << 13)
+			(scr.bracketed_paste << 13) |
+			(scr.reverse_video << 14)
 	    );
 	}
 
@@ -1691,14 +1664,8 @@ screenSerializeToBuffer(char *buffer, size_t buf_len, void **data)
 			Color fg, bg;
 
 			// Reverse fg and bg if we're in global reverse mode
-			if (! scr.reverse_video) {
-				fg = cell0->fg;
-				bg = cell0->bg;
-			}
-			else {
-				fg = cell0->bg;
-				bg = cell0->fg;
-			}
+			fg = cell0->fg;
+			bg = cell0->bg;
 
 			if (changeColors) {
 				bufput_t3B(SEQ_TAG_COLORS, bg<<8 | fg);
@@ -1711,7 +1678,7 @@ screenSerializeToBuffer(char *buffer, size_t buf_len, void **data)
 			}
 
 			if (changeAttrs) {
-				bufput_t2B(SEQ_TAG_ATTRS, cell0->attrs);
+				bufput_t3B(SEQ_TAG_ATTRS, cell0->attrs);
 			}
 
 			// copy the symbol, until first 0 or reached 4 bytes
diff --git a/user/screen.h b/user/screen.h
index c970927..37fc2cb 100644
--- a/user/screen.h
+++ b/user/screen.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 // Size designed for the terminal config structure
 // Must be constant to avoid corrupting user config after upgrade
 #define TERMCONF_SIZE 300
-#define TERMCONF_VERSION 5
+#define TERMCONF_VERSION 0
 
 #define TERM_BTN_LEN 10
 #define TERM_BTN_MSG_LEN 10
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ enum CursorShape {
 typedef struct {
 	u32 width;
 	u32 height;
-	u8 default_bg; // should be the Color typedef, but this way the size is more explicit
-	u8 default_fg;
+	u32 default_bg; // 00-FFh - ANSI colors, (00:00:00-FF:FF:FF)+256 - True Color, 1<<24 + 256 - default from theme
+	u32 default_fg;
 	char title[TERM_TITLE_LEN];
 	char btn[TERM_BTN_COUNT][TERM_BTN_LEN];
 	u8 theme;
@@ -228,25 +228,32 @@ void screen_set_origin_mode(bool region_origin);
 
 // --- Graphic rendition setting ---
 
-typedef uint8_t Color; // 0-16
-
-#define ATTR_BOLD (1<<0)
-#define ATTR_FAINT (1<<1)
-#define ATTR_ITALIC (1<<2)
-#define ATTR_UNDERLINE (1<<3)
-#define ATTR_BLINK (1<<4)
-#define ATTR_FRAKTUR (1<<5)
-#define ATTR_STRIKE (1<<6)
-#define ATTR_OVERLINE (1<<7)
+typedef uint8_t Color;
+typedef uint16_t CellAttrs;
+
+// TODO sort by the expected frequency of being set - so when we switch to utf-8 encoding for data fields, it uses fewer bytes
+#define ATTR_BOLD      (1<<0)  //!< Bold font
+#define ATTR_FAINT     (1<<1)  //!< Faint foreground color (reduced alpha)
+#define ATTR_ITALIC    (1<<2)  //!< Italic font
+#define ATTR_UNDERLINE (1<<3)  //!< Underline decoration
+#define ATTR_BLINK     (1<<4)  //!< Blinking
+#define ATTR_FRAKTUR   (1<<5)  //!< Fraktur font (unicode substitution)
+#define ATTR_STRIKE    (1<<6)  //!< Strike-through decoration
+#define ATTR_OVERLINE  (1<<7)  //!< Over-line decoration
+#define ATTR_FG        (1<<8)  //!< 1 if not using default background color (ignore cell bg) - color extension bit
+#define ATTR_BG        (1<<9)  //!< 1 if not using default foreground color (ignore cell fg) - color extension bit
+#define ATTR_INVERSE   (1<<10) //!< Invert colors - this is useful so we can clear then with SGR manipulation commands
 
 /** Set cursor foreground color */
 void screen_set_fg(Color color);
 /** Set cursor background coloor */
 void screen_set_bg(Color color);
+/** Set cursor foreground color to default */
+void screen_set_default_fg(void);
+/** Set cursor background color to default */
+void screen_set_default_bg(void);
 /** Enable/disable attrs by bitmask */
-void screen_set_sgr(u8 attrs, bool ena);
-/** Set the inverse attribute */
-void screen_set_sgr_inverse(bool ena);
+void screen_set_sgr(CellAttrs attrs, bool ena);
 /** Conceal style */
 void screen_set_sgr_conceal(bool ena);
 /** Reset cursor attribs */
diff --git a/user/syscfg.c b/user/syscfg.c
index f9004da..418dc85 100644
--- a/user/syscfg.c
+++ b/user/syscfg.c
@@ -13,19 +13,10 @@ void ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR
 sysconf_apply_settings(void)
 {
 	bool changed = false;
-	if (sysconf->config_version < 1) {
-		dbg("Upgrading syscfg to v 1");
-		sysconf->access_pw[0] = 0;
-		sysconf->pwlock = PWLOCK_NONE;
-		changed = true;
-	}
-
-	if (sysconf->config_version < 2) {
-		dbg("Upgrading syscfg to v 2");
-		strcpy(sysconf->access_pw, DEF_ACCESS_PW);
-		strcpy(sysconf->access_name, DEF_ACCESS_NAME);
-		changed = true;
-	}
+//	if (sysconf->config_version < 1) {
+//		dbg("Upgrading syscfg to v 1");
+//		changed = true;
+//	}
 
 	sysconf->config_version = SYSCONF_VERSION;
 
@@ -45,4 +36,6 @@ sysconf_restore_defaults(void)
 	sysconf->config_version = SYSCONF_VERSION;
 	sysconf->access_pw[0] = 0;
 	sysconf->pwlock = PWLOCK_NONE;
+	strcpy(sysconf->access_pw, DEF_ACCESS_PW);
+	strcpy(sysconf->access_name, DEF_ACCESS_NAME);
 }
diff --git a/user/syscfg.h b/user/syscfg.h
index 359e0c9..8f1101d 100644
--- a/user/syscfg.h
+++ b/user/syscfg.h
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 // Size designed for the wifi config structure
 // Must be constant to avoid corrupting user config after upgrade
 #define SYSCONF_SIZE 300
-#define SYSCONF_VERSION 2
+#define SYSCONF_VERSION 0
 
 #define DEF_ACCESS_PW "1234"
 #define DEF_ACCESS_NAME "espterm"