diff --git a/src/config/frontend.config.json b/src/config/frontend.config.json
index 5dc093125..437e0a8cd 100644
--- a/src/config/frontend.config.json
+++ b/src/config/frontend.config.json
@@ -27,86 +27,6 @@
   "jupyterHubUrl": "",
   "landingPage": "doi.ess.eu/detail/",
   "lbBaseURL": "http://127.0.0.1:3000",
-  "localColumns": [
-    {
-      "name": "select",
-      "order": 0,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "pid",
-      "order": 1,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "datasetName",
-      "order": 2,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "runNumber",
-      "order": 3,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "sourceFolder",
-      "order": 4,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "size",
-      "order": 5,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "creationTime",
-      "order": 6,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "type",
-      "order": 7,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "image",
-      "order": 8,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "metadata",
-      "order": 9,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": false
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "proposalId",
-      "order": 10,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "ownerGroup",
-      "order": 11,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": false
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "dataStatus",
-      "order": 12,
-      "type": "standard",
-      "enabled": false
-    }
-  ],
   "logbookEnabled": true,
   "loginFormEnabled": true,
   "maxDirectDownloadSize": 5000000000,
@@ -181,18 +101,106 @@
       "authorization": ["#datasetAccess", "#datasetPublic"]
     }
   ],
-  "defaultSearchInterfaceSettings": {
-    "columns": [],
+  "labelMaps": {
+    "filters": {
+      "LocationFilter": "asdasd",
+      "PidFilter": "asdasdsad identifiler",
+      "GroupFilter": "fff",
+      "TypeFilter": "Typfggge",
+      "KeywordFilter": "ggg",
+      "DateRangeFilter": "Start Date - End Date",
+      "TextFilter": "Text"
+    }
+  },
+  "defaultDatasetsListSettings": {
+    "columns": [
+      {
+        "name": "select",
+        "order": 0,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "pid",
+        "order": 1,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "datasetName",
+        "order": 2,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "runNumber",
+        "order": 3,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "sourceFolder",
+        "order": 4,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "size",
+        "order": 5,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "creationTime",
+        "order": 6,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "type",
+        "order": 7,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "image",
+        "order": 8,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "metadata",
+        "order": 9,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": false
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "proposalId",
+        "order": 10,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": true
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "ownerGroup",
+        "order": 11,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": false
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "dataStatus",
+        "order": 12,
+        "type": "standard",
+        "enabled": false
+      }
+    ],
     "filters": [
-      { "type": "LocationFilterComponent", "visible": true },
-      { "type": "PidFilterComponent", "visible": true },
-      { "type": "PidFilterContainsComponent", "visible": false },
-      { "type": "PidFilterStartsWithComponent", "visible": false },
-      { "type": "GroupFilterComponent", "visible": true },
-      { "type": "TypeFilterComponent", "visible": true },
-      { "type": "KeywordFilterComponent", "visible": true },
-      { "type": "DateRangeFilterComponent", "visible": true },
-      { "type": "TextFilterComponent", "visible": true }
+      { "LocationFilter": true },
+      { "PidFilter": true },
+      { "GroupFilter": true },
+      { "TypeFilter": true },
+      { "KeywordFilter": true },
+      { "DateRangeFilter": true },
+      { "TextFilter": true }
     ],
     "conditions": []
   }
diff --git a/src/users/schemas/user-settings.schema.ts b/src/users/schemas/user-settings.schema.ts
index 59f4aea5a..ad9d9b564 100644
--- a/src/users/schemas/user-settings.schema.ts
+++ b/src/users/schemas/user-settings.schema.ts
@@ -5,24 +5,24 @@ import { Document } from "mongoose";
 
 export type UserSettingsDocument = UserSettings & Document;
 
-// Define possible filter component types as a union of string literals
-export type FilterComponentType =
-  | "LocationFilterComponent"
-  | "PidFilterComponent"
-  | "PidFilterContainsComponent"
-  | "PidFilterStartsWithComponent"
-  | "GroupFilterComponent"
-  | "TypeFilterComponent"
-  | "KeywordFilterComponent"
-  | "DateRangeFilterComponent"
-  | "TextFilterComponent";
-
-// Define the Filter interface
-export interface FilterConfig {
-  type: FilterComponentType;
-  visible: boolean;
+// NOTE: PidFilterContains and PidFilterStartsWith filters are not implemented
+export enum FilterComponentType {
+  LocationFilter = "LocationFilter",
+  PidFilter = "PidFilter",
+  PidFilterContains = "PidFilterContains",
+  PidFilterStartsWith = "PidFilterStartsWith",
+  GroupFilter = "GroupFilter",
+  TypeFilter = "TypeFilter",
+  KeywordFilter = "KeywordFilter",
+  DateRangeFilter = "DateRangeFilter",
+  TextFilter = "TextFilter",
 }
 
+// NOTE: The key is one of FilterComponentType, and the value is a string
+export type FilterConfig = Partial<{
+  [K in FilterComponentType]: boolean;
+}>;
+
 // Define the Condition interface
 export interface ScientificCondition {
   field: string;
diff --git a/src/users/users.controller.ts b/src/users/users.controller.ts
index d894ef955..687ae6544 100644
--- a/src/users/users.controller.ts
+++ b/src/users/users.controller.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ import { CreateCustomJwt } from "./dto/create-custom-jwt.dto";
 import { AuthenticatedPoliciesGuard } from "../casl/guards/auth-check.guard";
 import { ReturnedUserDto } from "./dto/returned-user.dto";
 import { ReturnedAuthLoginDto } from "src/auth/dto/returnedLogin.dto";
-import { PoliciesGuard } from "src/casl/guards/policies.guard";
 
 @ApiBearerAuth()
 @ApiTags("users")
diff --git a/src/users/users.service.ts b/src/users/users.service.ts
index 7369730d7..09c5fab21 100644
--- a/src/users/users.service.ts
+++ b/src/users/users.service.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { JwtService, JwtSignOptions } from "@nestjs/jwt";
 import { JWTUser } from "../auth/interfaces/jwt-user.interface";
 import * as fs from "fs";
 import {
+  FilterComponentType,
   UserSettings,
   UserSettingsDocument,
 } from "./schemas/user-settings.schema";
@@ -273,16 +274,39 @@ export class UsersService implements OnModuleInit {
   }
 
   async findByIdUserSettings(userId: string): Promise<UserSettings | null> {
-    return this.userSettingsModel.findOne({ userId }).exec();
+    const result = await this.userSettingsModel.findOne({ userId }).exec();
+
+    if (!result) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    // NOTE: The extra functions ensure filters in user setting record match the FilterComponentType format.
+    // If not, reset the user settings to maintain consistency.
+    const validFilters = result.filters.some((filter) => {
+      const [key, value] = Object.entries(filter)[0];
+      return this.isValidFilterComponentType(key, value);
+    });
+
+    if (!validFilters) {
+      return this.findOneAndUpdateUserSettings(userId, { filters: [] });
+    }
+
+    return result;
   }
 
   async findOneAndUpdateUserSettings(
     userId: string,
     updateUserSettingsDto: UpdateUserSettingsDto | PartialUpdateUserSettingsDto,
   ): Promise<UserSettings | null> {
-    return this.userSettingsModel
-      .findOneAndUpdate({ userId }, updateUserSettingsDto, { new: true })
+    const result = await this.userSettingsModel
+      .findOneAndUpdate({ userId }, updateUserSettingsDto, {
+        new: true,
+        upsert: true,
+        setDefaultsOnInsert: true,
+      })
       .exec();
+
+    return result;
   }
 
   async findOneAndDeleteUserSettings(userId: string): Promise<unknown> {
@@ -339,4 +363,14 @@ export class UsersService implements OnModuleInit {
     const jwtString = this.jwtService.sign(user, signAndVerifyOptions);
     return { jwt: jwtString };
   }
+
+  private isValidFilterComponentType(
+    key: string,
+    value: unknown,
+  ): key is FilterComponentType {
+    return (
+      Object.keys(FilterComponentType).includes(key) &&
+      typeof value === "boolean"
+    );
+  }
 }