diff --git a/app/app.py b/app/app.py
index 4ebe0ae..10d38da 100644
--- a/app/app.py
+++ b/app/app.py
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ app.add_middleware(
 
 # Global settings (read-only at runtime)
 SETTINGS: Settings = load_settings()
+_public_uploads_enabled_runtime = SETTINGS.public_upload_page_enabled
+
 
 # Basic logging setup using settings
 logging.basicConfig(level=SETTINGS.log_level, format="%(asctime)s %(levelname)s %(name)s: %(message)s")
@@ -276,8 +278,25 @@ async def handle_telegram_update(update: dict):
         logger.warning("Ignoring Telegram message from non-owner: %s", from_id)
         return
 
+    global _public_uploads_enabled_runtime
     if text == "/start":
         await send_telegram_message(str(chat_id), "File Drop Bot active.")
+    elif text == "/help":
+        help_text = (
+            "/help - Show this help message\n"
+            "/start - Check if bot is active\n"
+            "/disable_public - Temporarily disable public uploads\n"
+            "/enable_public - Temporarily enable public uploads"
+        )
+        await send_telegram_message(str(chat_id), help_text)
+    elif text == "/disable_public":
+        _public_uploads_enabled_runtime = False
+        logger.info("Public uploads disabled by Telegram owner.")
+        await send_telegram_message(str(chat_id), "Public uploads have been disabled.")
+    elif text == "/enable_public":
+        _public_uploads_enabled_runtime = True
+        logger.info("Public uploads enabled by Telegram owner.")
+        await send_telegram_message(str(chat_id), "Public uploads have been enabled.")
 
 async def poll_telegram_updates():
     """Poll for Telegram updates and process them."""
@@ -489,7 +508,7 @@ async def send_progress(session_id: str, item_id: str, status: str, progress: in
 @app.get("/", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 async def index(request: Request) -> HTMLResponse:
     """Serve the SPA (frontend/index.html) or redirect to login if disabled."""
-    if not SETTINGS.public_upload_page_enabled:
+    if not _public_uploads_enabled_runtime:
         return RedirectResponse(url="/login")
     return FileResponse(os.path.join(FRONTEND_DIR, "index.html"))
 
@@ -523,7 +542,7 @@ async def api_ping() -> dict:
 async def api_config() -> dict:
     """Expose minimal public configuration flags for the frontend."""
     return {
-        "public_upload_page_enabled": SETTINGS.public_upload_page_enabled,
+        "public_upload_page_enabled": _public_uploads_enabled_runtime,
         "chunked_uploads_enabled": SETTINGS.chunked_uploads_enabled,
         "chunk_size_mb": SETTINGS.chunk_size_mb,
     }
@@ -679,7 +698,7 @@ async def api_upload(
         target_album_name = album_name
 
     album_for_saving = target_album_name if invite_token else "public"
-    if not invite_token and not SETTINGS.public_upload_page_enabled:
+    if not invite_token and not _public_uploads_enabled_runtime:
             await send_progress(session_id, item_id, "error", 100, "Public uploads disabled")
             return JSONResponse({"error": "public_upload_disabled"}, status_code=403)
     try:
@@ -1015,7 +1034,7 @@ async def api_upload_chunk_complete(request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
         target_album_name = album_name
 
     album_for_saving = target_album_name if invite_token else "public"
-    if not invite_token and not SETTINGS.public_upload_page_enabled:
+    if not invite_token and not _public_uploads_enabled_runtime:
         await send_progress(session_id_local, item_id_local, "error", 100, "Public uploads disabled")
         return JSONResponse({"error": "public_upload_disabled"}, status_code=403)