diff --git a/cmd/micro/micro.go b/cmd/micro/micro.go
index 7a3b21717d..4445a34812 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/micro.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/micro.go
@@ -273,6 +273,10 @@ func main() {
 				screen.TermMessage(err)
 				continue
 			}
+			if err = config.OptionIsValid(k, nativeValue); err != nil {
+				screen.TermMessage(err)
+				continue
+			}
 			config.GlobalSettings[k] = nativeValue
 			config.VolatileSettings[k] = true
 		}
@@ -352,9 +356,9 @@ func main() {
 		log.Println(clipErr, " or change 'clipboard' option")
 	}
 
+	config.StartAutoSave()
 	if a := config.GetGlobalOption("autosave").(float64); a > 0 {
-		config.SetAutoTime(int(a))
-		config.StartAutoSave()
+		config.SetAutoTime(a)
 	}
 
 	screen.Events = make(chan tcell.Event)
diff --git a/internal/action/command.go b/internal/action/command.go
index f88660daac..5f56fcdbf3 100644
--- a/internal/action/command.go
+++ b/internal/action/command.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -357,10 +358,24 @@ func reloadRuntime(reloadPlugins bool) {
 	err := config.ReadSettings()
 	if err != nil {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
-	}
-	err = config.InitGlobalSettings()
-	if err != nil {
-		screen.TermMessage(err)
+	} else {
+		parsedSettings := config.ParsedSettings()
+		defaultSettings := config.DefaultAllSettings()
+		for k := range defaultSettings {
+			if _, ok := config.VolatileSettings[k]; ok {
+				// reload should not override volatile settings
+				continue
+			}
+
+			if _, ok := parsedSettings[k]; ok {
+				err = doSetGlobalOptionNative(k, parsedSettings[k])
+			} else {
+				err = doSetGlobalOptionNative(k, defaultSettings[k])
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				screen.TermMessage(err)
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	if reloadPlugins {
@@ -393,7 +408,7 @@ func reloadRuntime(reloadPlugins bool) {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
 	}
 	for _, b := range buffer.OpenBuffers {
-		b.UpdateRules()
+		b.ReloadSettings(true)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -512,16 +527,11 @@ func (h *BufPane) NewTabCmd(args []string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func SetGlobalOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
-	// check for local option first...
-	for _, s := range config.LocalSettings {
-		if s == option {
-			MainTab().CurPane().Buf.SetOptionNative(option, nativeValue)
-			return nil
-		}
+func doSetGlobalOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
+	if reflect.DeepEqual(config.GlobalSettings[option], nativeValue) {
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	// ...if it's not local continue with the globals
 	config.GlobalSettings[option] = nativeValue
 	config.ModifiedSettings[option] = true
 	delete(config.VolatileSettings, option)
@@ -542,8 +552,7 @@ func SetGlobalOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
 		}
 	} else if option == "autosave" {
 		if nativeValue.(float64) > 0 {
-			config.SetAutoTime(int(nativeValue.(float64)))
-			config.StartAutoSave()
+			config.SetAutoTime(nativeValue.(float64))
 		} else {
 			config.SetAutoTime(0)
 		}
@@ -574,8 +583,30 @@ func SetGlobalOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	return nil
+}
+
+func SetGlobalOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
+	if err := config.OptionIsValid(option, nativeValue); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// check for local option first...
+	for _, s := range config.LocalSettings {
+		if s == option {
+			return MainTab().CurPane().Buf.SetOptionNative(option, nativeValue)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// ...if it's not local continue with the globals...
+	if err := doSetGlobalOptionNative(option, nativeValue); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// ...at last check the buffer locals
 	for _, b := range buffer.OpenBuffers {
-		b.SetOptionNative(option, nativeValue)
+		b.DoSetOptionNative(option, nativeValue)
+		delete(b.LocalSettings, option)
 	}
 
 	return config.WriteSettings(filepath.Join(config.ConfigDir, "settings.json"))
@@ -602,16 +633,10 @@ func (h *BufPane) ResetCmd(args []string) {
 	}
 
 	option := args[0]
+	defaults := config.DefaultAllSettings()
 
-	defaultGlobals := config.DefaultGlobalSettings()
-	defaultLocals := config.DefaultCommonSettings()
-
-	if _, ok := defaultGlobals[option]; ok {
-		SetGlobalOptionNative(option, defaultGlobals[option])
-		return
-	}
-	if _, ok := defaultLocals[option]; ok {
-		h.Buf.SetOptionNative(option, defaultLocals[option])
+	if _, ok := defaults[option]; ok {
+		SetGlobalOptionNative(option, defaults[option])
 		return
 	}
 	InfoBar.Error(config.ErrInvalidOption)
diff --git a/internal/buffer/buffer.go b/internal/buffer/buffer.go
index 15cfe33564..c623fd586b 100644
--- a/internal/buffer/buffer.go
+++ b/internal/buffer/buffer.go
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ type SharedBuffer struct {
 
 	// Settings customized by the user
 	Settings map[string]interface{}
+	// LocalSettings customized by the user for this buffer only
+	LocalSettings map[string]bool
 
 	Suggestions   []string
 	Completions   []string
@@ -326,6 +328,7 @@ func NewBuffer(r io.Reader, size int64, path string, startcursor Loc, btype BufT
 		// assigning the filetype.
 		settings := config.DefaultCommonSettings()
 		b.Settings = config.DefaultCommonSettings()
+		b.LocalSettings = make(map[string]bool)
 		for k, v := range config.GlobalSettings {
 			if _, ok := config.DefaultGlobalOnlySettings[k]; !ok {
 				// make sure setting is not global-only
@@ -364,6 +367,9 @@ func NewBuffer(r io.Reader, size int64, path string, startcursor Loc, btype BufT
 				case "dos":
 					ff = FFDos
 				}
+			} else {
+				// in case of autodetection treat as locally set
+				b.LocalSettings["fileformat"] = true
 			}
 
 			b.LineArray = NewLineArray(uint64(size), ff, reader)
diff --git a/internal/buffer/settings.go b/internal/buffer/settings.go
index 9d671dcf22..838df4a568 100644
--- a/internal/buffer/settings.go
+++ b/internal/buffer/settings.go
@@ -2,12 +2,54 @@ package buffer
 
 import (
 	"crypto/md5"
+	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/v2/internal/config"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/v2/internal/screen"
 )
 
-func (b *Buffer) SetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
+func (b *Buffer) ReloadSettings(reloadFiletype bool) {
+	settings := config.ParsedSettings()
+
+	if _, ok := b.LocalSettings["filetype"]; !ok && reloadFiletype {
+		// need to update filetype before updating other settings based on it
+		b.Settings["filetype"] = "unknown"
+		if v, ok := settings["filetype"]; ok {
+			b.Settings["filetype"] = v
+		}
+	}
+
+	// update syntax rules, which will also update filetype if needed
+	b.UpdateRules()
+	settings["filetype"] = b.Settings["filetype"]
+
+	config.InitLocalSettings(settings, b.Path)
+	for k, v := range config.DefaultCommonSettings() {
+		if k == "filetype" {
+			// prevent recursion
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := config.VolatileSettings[k]; ok {
+			// reload should not override volatile settings
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := b.LocalSettings[k]; ok {
+			// reload should not override local settings
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := settings[k]; ok {
+			b.DoSetOptionNative(k, settings[k])
+		} else {
+			b.DoSetOptionNative(k, v)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (b *Buffer) DoSetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) {
+	if reflect.DeepEqual(b.Settings[option], nativeValue) {
+		return
+	}
+
 	b.Settings[option] = nativeValue
 
 	if option == "fastdirty" {
@@ -26,17 +68,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) SetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
 	} else if option == "statusline" {
 		screen.Redraw()
 	} else if option == "filetype" {
-		config.InitRuntimeFiles(true)
-		err := config.ReadSettings()
-		if err != nil {
-			screen.TermMessage(err)
-		}
-		err = config.InitGlobalSettings()
-		if err != nil {
-			screen.TermMessage(err)
-		}
-		config.InitLocalSettings(b.Settings, b.Path)
-		b.UpdateRules()
+		b.ReloadSettings(false)
 	} else if option == "fileformat" {
 		switch b.Settings["fileformat"].(string) {
 		case "unix":
@@ -85,6 +117,15 @@ func (b *Buffer) SetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
 	if b.OptionCallback != nil {
 		b.OptionCallback(option, nativeValue)
 	}
+}
+
+func (b *Buffer) SetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
+	if err := config.OptionIsValid(option, nativeValue); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	b.DoSetOptionNative(option, nativeValue)
+	b.LocalSettings[option] = true
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/autosave.go b/internal/config/autosave.go
index 2d0f8cec30..0dbb2989b0 100644
--- a/internal/config/autosave.go
+++ b/internal/config/autosave.go
@@ -1,44 +1,49 @@
 package config
 
 import (
-	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
 
 var Autosave chan bool
-var autotime int
-
-// lock for autosave
-var autolock sync.Mutex
+var autotime chan float64
 
 func init() {
 	Autosave = make(chan bool)
+	autotime = make(chan float64)
 }
 
-func SetAutoTime(a int) {
-	autolock.Lock()
-	autotime = a
-	autolock.Unlock()
-}
-
-func GetAutoTime() int {
-	autolock.Lock()
-	a := autotime
-	autolock.Unlock()
-	return a
+func SetAutoTime(a float64) {
+	autotime <- a
 }
 
 func StartAutoSave() {
 	go func() {
+		var a float64
+		var t *time.Timer
+		var elapsed <-chan time.Time
 		for {
-			autolock.Lock()
-			a := autotime
-			autolock.Unlock()
-			if a < 1 {
-				break
+			select {
+			case a = <-autotime:
+				if t != nil {
+					t.Stop()
+					for len(elapsed) > 0 {
+						<-elapsed
+					}
+				}
+				if a > 0 {
+					if t != nil {
+						t.Reset(time.Duration(a * float64(time.Second)))
+					} else {
+						t = time.NewTimer(time.Duration(a * float64(time.Second)))
+						elapsed = t.C
+					}
+				}
+			case <-elapsed:
+				if a > 0 {
+					t.Reset(time.Duration(a * float64(time.Second)))
+					Autosave <- true
+				}
 			}
-			time.Sleep(time.Duration(a) * time.Second)
-			Autosave <- true
 		}
 	}()
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/settings.go b/internal/config/settings.go
index d25f0d0794..b8cfcd5166 100644
--- a/internal/config/settings.go
+++ b/internal/config/settings.go
@@ -154,10 +154,67 @@ var (
 func init() {
 	ModifiedSettings = make(map[string]bool)
 	VolatileSettings = make(map[string]bool)
-	parsedSettings = make(map[string]interface{})
+}
+
+func validateParsedSettings() error {
+	var err error
+	defaults := DefaultAllSettings()
+	for k, v := range parsedSettings {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(reflect.TypeOf(v).String(), "map") {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(k, "ft:") {
+				for k1, v1 := range v.(map[string]interface{}) {
+					if _, ok := defaults[k1]; ok {
+						if e := verifySetting(k1, v1, defaults[k1]); e != nil {
+							err = e
+							parsedSettings[k].(map[string]interface{})[k1] = defaults[k1]
+							continue
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			} else {
+				if _, e := glob.Compile(k); e != nil {
+					err = errors.New("Error with glob setting " + k + ": " + e.Error())
+					delete(parsedSettings, k)
+					continue
+				}
+				for k1, v1 := range v.(map[string]interface{}) {
+					if _, ok := defaults[k1]; ok {
+						if e := verifySetting(k1, v1, defaults[k1]); e != nil {
+							err = e
+							parsedSettings[k].(map[string]interface{})[k1] = defaults[k1]
+							continue
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if k == "autosave" {
+			// if autosave is a boolean convert it to float
+			s, ok := v.(bool)
+			if ok {
+				if s {
+					parsedSettings["autosave"] = 8.0
+				} else {
+					parsedSettings["autosave"] = 0.0
+				}
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := defaults[k]; ok {
+			if e := verifySetting(k, v, defaults[k]); e != nil {
+				err = e
+				parsedSettings[k] = defaults[k]
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return err
 }
 
 func ReadSettings() error {
+	parsedSettings = make(map[string]interface{})
 	filename := filepath.Join(ConfigDir, "settings.json")
 	if _, e := os.Stat(filename); e == nil {
 		input, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filename)
@@ -172,46 +229,54 @@ func ReadSettings() error {
 				settingsParseError = true
 				return errors.New("Error reading settings.json: " + err.Error())
 			}
-
-			// check if autosave is a boolean and convert it to float if so
-			if v, ok := parsedSettings["autosave"]; ok {
-				s, ok := v.(bool)
-				if ok {
-					if s {
-						parsedSettings["autosave"] = 8.0
-					} else {
-						parsedSettings["autosave"] = 0.0
-					}
-				}
+			err = validateParsedSettings()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
 			}
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func verifySetting(option string, value reflect.Type, def reflect.Type) bool {
+func ParsedSettings() map[string]interface{} {
+	s := make(map[string]interface{})
+	for k, v := range parsedSettings {
+		s[k] = v
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+func verifySetting(option string, value interface{}, def interface{}) error {
 	var interfaceArr []interface{}
+	valType := reflect.TypeOf(value)
+	defType := reflect.TypeOf(def)
+	assignable := false
+
 	switch option {
 	case "pluginrepos", "pluginchannels":
-		return value.AssignableTo(reflect.TypeOf(interfaceArr))
+		assignable = valType.AssignableTo(reflect.TypeOf(interfaceArr))
 	default:
-		return def.AssignableTo(value)
+		assignable = defType.AssignableTo(valType)
 	}
+	if !assignable {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Error: setting '%s' has incorrect type (%s), using default value: %v (%s)", option, valType, def, defType)
+	}
+
+	if err := OptionIsValid(option, value); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // InitGlobalSettings initializes the options map and sets all options to their default values
 // Must be called after ReadSettings
 func InitGlobalSettings() error {
 	var err error
-	GlobalSettings = DefaultGlobalSettings()
+	GlobalSettings = DefaultAllSettings()
 
 	for k, v := range parsedSettings {
 		if !strings.HasPrefix(reflect.TypeOf(v).String(), "map") {
-			if _, ok := GlobalSettings[k]; ok && !verifySetting(k, reflect.TypeOf(v), reflect.TypeOf(GlobalSettings[k])) {
-				err = fmt.Errorf("Global Error: setting '%s' has incorrect type (%s), using default value: %v (%s)", k, reflect.TypeOf(v), GlobalSettings[k], reflect.TypeOf(GlobalSettings[k]))
-				continue
-			}
-
 			GlobalSettings[k] = v
 		}
 	}
@@ -221,40 +286,25 @@ func InitGlobalSettings() error {
 // InitLocalSettings scans the json in settings.json and sets the options locally based
 // on whether the filetype or path matches ft or glob local settings
 // Must be called after ReadSettings
-func InitLocalSettings(settings map[string]interface{}, path string) error {
-	var parseError error
+func InitLocalSettings(settings map[string]interface{}, path string) {
 	for k, v := range parsedSettings {
 		if strings.HasPrefix(reflect.TypeOf(v).String(), "map") {
 			if strings.HasPrefix(k, "ft:") {
 				if settings["filetype"].(string) == k[3:] {
 					for k1, v1 := range v.(map[string]interface{}) {
-						if _, ok := settings[k1]; ok && !verifySetting(k1, reflect.TypeOf(v1), reflect.TypeOf(settings[k1])) {
-							parseError = fmt.Errorf("Error: setting '%s' has incorrect type (%s), using default value: %v (%s)", k, reflect.TypeOf(v1), settings[k1], reflect.TypeOf(settings[k1]))
-							continue
-						}
 						settings[k1] = v1
 					}
 				}
 			} else {
-				g, err := glob.Compile(k)
-				if err != nil {
-					parseError = errors.New("Error with glob setting " + k + ": " + err.Error())
-					continue
-				}
-
+				g, _ := glob.Compile(k)
 				if g.MatchString(path) {
 					for k1, v1 := range v.(map[string]interface{}) {
-						if _, ok := settings[k1]; ok && !verifySetting(k1, reflect.TypeOf(v1), reflect.TypeOf(settings[k1])) {
-							parseError = fmt.Errorf("Error: setting '%s' has incorrect type (%s), using default value: %v (%s)", k, reflect.TypeOf(v1), settings[k1], reflect.TypeOf(settings[k1]))
-							continue
-						}
 						settings[k1] = v1
 					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return parseError
 }
 
 // WriteSettings writes the settings to the specified filename as JSON
@@ -269,7 +319,7 @@ func WriteSettings(filename string) error {
 
 	var err error
 	if _, e := os.Stat(ConfigDir); e == nil {
-		defaults := DefaultGlobalSettings()
+		defaults := DefaultAllSettings()
 
 		// remove any options froms parsedSettings that have since been marked as default
 		for k, v := range parsedSettings {
@@ -304,7 +354,7 @@ func OverwriteSettings(filename string) error {
 
 	var err error
 	if _, e := os.Stat(ConfigDir); e == nil {
-		defaults := DefaultGlobalSettings()
+		defaults := DefaultAllSettings()
 		for k, v := range GlobalSettings {
 			if def, ok := defaults[k]; !ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(v, def) {
 				if _, wr := ModifiedSettings[k]; wr {
@@ -370,8 +420,8 @@ func GetInfoBarOffset() int {
 	return offset
 }
 
-// DefaultCommonSettings returns the default global settings for micro
-// Note that colorscheme is a global only option
+// DefaultCommonSettings returns a map of all common buffer settings
+// and their default values
 func DefaultCommonSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 	commonsettings := make(map[string]interface{})
 	for k, v := range defaultCommonSettings {
@@ -380,21 +430,8 @@ func DefaultCommonSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 	return commonsettings
 }
 
-// DefaultGlobalSettings returns the default global settings for micro
-// Note that colorscheme is a global only option
-func DefaultGlobalSettings() map[string]interface{} {
-	globalsettings := make(map[string]interface{})
-	for k, v := range defaultCommonSettings {
-		globalsettings[k] = v
-	}
-	for k, v := range DefaultGlobalOnlySettings {
-		globalsettings[k] = v
-	}
-	return globalsettings
-}
-
-// DefaultAllSettings returns a map of all settings and their
-// default values (both common and global settings)
+// DefaultAllSettings returns a map of all common buffer & global-only settings
+// and their default values
 func DefaultAllSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 	allsettings := make(map[string]interface{})
 	for k, v := range defaultCommonSettings {
@@ -419,18 +456,15 @@ func GetNativeValue(option string, realValue interface{}, value string) (interfa
 	} else if kind == reflect.String {
 		native = value
 	} else if kind == reflect.Float64 {
-		i, err := strconv.Atoi(value)
+		f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(value, 64)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, ErrInvalidValue
 		}
-		native = float64(i)
+		native = f
 	} else {
 		return nil, ErrInvalidValue
 	}
 
-	if err := OptionIsValid(option, native); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	return native, nil
 }
 
@@ -446,13 +480,13 @@ func OptionIsValid(option string, value interface{}) error {
 // Option validators
 
 func validatePositiveValue(option string, value interface{}) error {
-	tabsize, ok := value.(float64)
+	nativeValue, ok := value.(float64)
 
 	if !ok {
 		return errors.New("Expected numeric type for " + option)
 	}
 
-	if tabsize < 1 {
+	if nativeValue < 1 {
 		return errors.New(option + " must be greater than 0")
 	}
 
diff --git a/runtime/plugins/comment/comment.lua b/runtime/plugins/comment/comment.lua
index 034c490497..f86da9452f 100644
--- a/runtime/plugins/comment/comment.lua
+++ b/runtime/plugins/comment/comment.lua
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ local last_ft
 function updateCommentType(buf)
     if buf.Settings["commenttype"] == nil or (last_ft ~= buf.Settings["filetype"] and last_ft ~= nil) then
         if ft[buf.Settings["filetype"]] ~= nil then
-            buf.Settings["commenttype"] = ft[buf.Settings["filetype"]]
+            buf:SetOptionNative("commenttype", ft[buf.Settings["filetype"]])
         else
-            buf.Settings["commenttype"] = "# %s"
+            buf:SetOptionNative("commenttype", "# %s")
         end
 
         last_ft = buf.Settings["filetype"]