diff --git a/include/api.php b/include/api.php
index 7da32f36dd..492d3d1cb7 100644
--- a/include/api.php
+++ b/include/api.php
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ use Friendica\Model\Mail;
 use Friendica\Model\Notification;
 use Friendica\Model\Photo;
 use Friendica\Model\Post;
+use Friendica\Model\Profile;
 use Friendica\Model\User;
 use Friendica\Model\Verb;
 use Friendica\Network\HTTPException;
@@ -4552,12 +4553,7 @@ function api_account_update_profile_image($type)
 	Contact::updateSelfFromUserID(api_user(), true);
 
 	// Update global directory in background
-	$url = DI::baseUrl() . '/profile/' . DI::app()->user['nickname'];
-	if ($url && strlen(DI::config()->get('system', 'directory'))) {
-		Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, "Directory", $url);
-	}
-
-	Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', api_user());
+	Profile::publishUpdate(api_user());
 
 	// output for client
 	if ($data) {
@@ -4608,11 +4604,7 @@ function api_account_update_profile($type)
 		DBA::update('contact', ['about' => $_POST['description']], ['id' => $api_user['id']]);
 	}
 
-	Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', $local_user);
-	// Update global directory in background
-	if ($api_user['url'] && strlen(DI::config()->get('system', 'directory'))) {
-		Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, "Directory", $api_user['url']);
-	}
+	Profile::publishUpdate($local_user);
 
 	return api_account_verify_credentials($type);
 }
diff --git a/mod/settings.php b/mod/settings.php
index ec81339848..b248f017e6 100644
--- a/mod/settings.php
+++ b/mod/settings.php
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ use Friendica\Core\Renderer;
 use Friendica\Core\Worker;
 use Friendica\Database\DBA;
 use Friendica\DI;
-use Friendica\Model\Contact;
 use Friendica\Model\Group;
 use Friendica\Model\Notification;
+use Friendica\Model\Profile;
 use Friendica\Model\User;
 use Friendica\Module\BaseSettings;
 use Friendica\Module\Security\Login;
@@ -447,38 +447,15 @@ function settings_post(App $a)
 		$fields['openidserver'] = '';
 	}
 
-	if (!DBA::update('user', $fields, ['uid' => local_user()])) {
+	$profile_fields = ['publish' => $publish, 'net-publish' => $net_publish, 'hide-friends' => $hide_friends];
+
+	if (!User::update($fields, local_user()) || !Profile::update($profile_fields, local_user())) {
 		notice(DI::l10n()->t('Settings were not updated.'));
 	}
 
 	// clear session language
 	unset($_SESSION['language']);
 
-	q("UPDATE `profile`
-		SET `publish` = %d,
-		`name` = '%s',
-		`net-publish` = %d,
-		`hide-friends` = %d
-		WHERE `uid` = %d",
-		intval($publish),
-		DBA::escape($username),
-		intval($net_publish),
-		intval($hide_friends),
-		intval(local_user())
-	);
-
-	Contact::updateSelfFromUserID(local_user());
-
-	if (($old_visibility != $net_publish) || ($page_flags != $old_page_flags)) {
-		// Update global directory in background
-		$url = $_SESSION['my_url'];
-		if ($url && strlen(DI::config()->get('system', 'directory'))) {
-			Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, "Directory", $url);
-		}
-	}
-
-	Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', local_user());
-
 	DI::baseUrl()->redirect('settings');
 	return; // NOTREACHED
 }
diff --git a/src/Model/Contact.php b/src/Model/Contact.php
index 246a2967b2..f196f6f6a7 100644
--- a/src/Model/Contact.php
+++ b/src/Model/Contact.php
@@ -623,6 +623,7 @@ class Contact
 	 *
 	 * @param int     $uid
 	 * @param boolean $update_avatar Force the avatar update
+	 * @return bool   "true" if updated
 	 * @throws HTTPException\InternalServerErrorException
 	 */
 	public static function updateSelfFromUserID($uid, $update_avatar = false)
@@ -632,20 +633,20 @@ class Contact
 			'photo', 'thumb', 'micro', 'addr', 'request', 'notify', 'poll', 'confirm', 'poco'];
 		$self = DBA::selectFirst('contact', $fields, ['uid' => $uid, 'self' => true]);
 		if (!DBA::isResult($self)) {
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
 		$fields = ['nickname', 'page-flags', 'account-type', 'prvkey', 'pubkey'];
 		$user = DBA::selectFirst('user', $fields, ['uid' => $uid, 'account_expired' => false]);
 		if (!DBA::isResult($user)) {
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
 		$fields = ['name', 'photo', 'thumb', 'about', 'address', 'locality', 'region',
 			'country-name', 'pub_keywords', 'xmpp', 'net-publish'];
 		$profile = DBA::selectFirst('profile', $fields, ['uid' => $uid]);
 		if (!DBA::isResult($profile)) {
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
 		$file_suffix = 'jpg';
@@ -724,6 +725,8 @@ class Contact
 				'thumb' => DI::baseUrl() . '/photo/avatar/' . $uid .'.' . $file_suffix];
 			DBA::update('profile', $fields, ['uid' => $uid]);
 		}
+
+		return $update;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/Model/Profile.php b/src/Model/Profile.php
index 1943861856..03e35c02b0 100644
--- a/src/Model/Profile.php
+++ b/src/Model/Profile.php
@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ use Friendica\Core\Hook;
 use Friendica\Core\Logger;
 use Friendica\Core\Protocol;
 use Friendica\Core\Renderer;
+use Friendica\Core\Search;
 use Friendica\Core\Session;
 use Friendica\Core\System;
+use Friendica\Core\Worker;
 use Friendica\Database\DBA;
 use Friendica\DI;
 use Friendica\Protocol\Activity;
@@ -84,6 +86,71 @@ class Profile
 		return DBA::selectToArray('profile', $fields, ['uid' => $uid]);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Update a profile entry and distribute the changes if needed
+	 *
+	 * @param array $fields
+	 * @param integer $uid
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	public static function update(array $fields, int $uid): bool
+	{
+		$old_owner = User::getOwnerDataById($uid);
+		if (empty($old_owner)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if (!DBA::update('profile', $fields, ['uid' => $uid])) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		$update = Contact::updateSelfFromUserID($uid);
+
+		$owner = User::getOwnerDataById($uid);
+		if (empty($owner)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if ($old_owner['name'] != $owner['name']) {
+			User::update(['username' => $owner['name']], $uid);
+		}
+
+		$profile_fields = ['postal-code', 'dob', 'prv_keywords', 'homepage'];
+		foreach ($profile_fields as $field) {
+			if ($old_owner[$field] != $owner[$field]) {
+				$update = true;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if ($update) {
+			self::publishUpdate($uid, ($old_owner['net-publish'] != $owner['net-publish']));
+		}
+
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Publish a changed profile
+	 * @param int  $uid
+	 * @param bool $force Force publishing to the directory
+	 */
+	public static function publishUpdate(int $uid, bool $force = false)
+	{
+		$owner = User::getOwnerDataById($uid);
+		if (empty($owner)) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if ($owner['net-publish'] || $force) {
+			// Update global directory in background
+			if (Search::getGlobalDirectory()) {
+				Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'Directory', $owner['url']);
+			}
+		}
+
+		Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', $uid);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns a formatted location string from the given profile array
 	 *
diff --git a/src/Model/User.php b/src/Model/User.php
index a615f96bb3..f81b1ce764 100644
--- a/src/Model/User.php
+++ b/src/Model/User.php
@@ -1138,6 +1138,42 @@ class User
 		return $return;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Update a user entry and distribute the changes if needed
+	 *
+	 * @param array $fields
+	 * @param integer $uid
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	public static function update(array $fields, int $uid): bool
+	{
+		$old_owner = self::getOwnerDataById($uid);
+		if (empty($old_owner)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if (!DBA::update('user', $fields, ['uid' => $uid])) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		$update = Contact::updateSelfFromUserID($uid);
+
+		$owner = self::getOwnerDataById($uid);
+		if (empty($owner)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if ($old_owner['name'] != $owner['name']) {
+			Profile::update(['name' => $owner['name']], $uid);
+		}
+
+		if ($update) {
+			Profile::publishUpdate($uid);
+		}
+
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Sets block state for a given user
 	 *
diff --git a/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Index.php b/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Index.php
index 93d2bbd23c..35740a0a7e 100644
--- a/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Index.php
+++ b/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Index.php
@@ -86,8 +86,6 @@ class Index extends BaseSettings
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$namechanged = $profile['name'] != $name;
-
 		$about = Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['about']));
 		$address = Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['address']));
 		$locality = Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['locality']));
@@ -114,8 +112,7 @@ class Index extends BaseSettings
 
 		DI::profileField()->saveCollection($profileFields);
 
-		$result = DBA::update(
-			'profile',
+		$result = Profile::update(
 			[
 				'name'         => $name,
 				'about'        => $about,
@@ -130,26 +127,13 @@ class Index extends BaseSettings
 				'pub_keywords' => $pub_keywords,
 				'prv_keywords' => $prv_keywords,
 			],
-			['uid' => local_user()]
+			local_user()
 		);
 
 		if (!$result) {
 			notice(DI::l10n()->t('Profile couldn\'t be updated.'));
 			return;
 		}
-
-		if ($namechanged) {
-			DBA::update('user', ['username' => $name], ['uid' => local_user()]);
-		}
-
-		Contact::updateSelfFromUserID(local_user());
-
-		// Update global directory in background
-		if (Session::get('my_url') && strlen(DI::config()->get('system', 'directory'))) {
-			Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'Directory', Session::get('my_url'));
-		}
-
-		Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', local_user());
 	}
 
 	public static function content(array $parameters = [])
diff --git a/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Photo/Crop.php b/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Photo/Crop.php
index c3663e59ca..adbf83311a 100644
--- a/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Photo/Crop.php
+++ b/src/Module/Settings/Profile/Photo/Crop.php
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ use Friendica\Database\DBA;
 use Friendica\DI;
 use Friendica\Model\Contact;
 use Friendica\Model\Photo;
+use Friendica\Model\Profile;
 use Friendica\Module\BaseSettings;
 use Friendica\Network\HTTPException;
 
@@ -137,12 +138,9 @@ class Crop extends BaseSettings
 				Contact::updateSelfFromUserID(local_user(), true);
 
 				info(DI::l10n()->t('Shift-reload the page or clear browser cache if the new photo does not display immediately.'));
-				// Update global directory in background
-				if ($path && strlen(DI::config()->get('system', 'directory'))) {
-					Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'Directory', DI::baseUrl()->get() . '/' . $path);
-				}
 
-				Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', local_user());
+				// Update global directory in background
+				Profile::publishUpdate(local_user());
 			} else {
 				notice(DI::l10n()->t('Unable to process image'));
 			}
@@ -183,9 +181,7 @@ class Crop extends BaseSettings
 			Contact::updateSelfFromUserID(local_user(), true);
 
 			// Update global directory in background
-			if (Session::get('my_url') && strlen(DI::config()->get('system', 'directory'))) {
-				Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'Directory', Session::get('my_url'));
-			}
+			Profile::publishUpdate(local_user());
 
 			info(DI::l10n()->t('Profile picture successfully updated.'));
 
diff --git a/update.php b/update.php
index 551d208fe4..aa043468ca 100644
--- a/update.php
+++ b/update.php
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ use Friendica\Model\ItemURI;
 use Friendica\Model\Notification;
 use Friendica\Model\Photo;
 use Friendica\Model\Post;
+use Friendica\Model\Profile;
 use Friendica\Model\Storage;
 use Friendica\Worker\Delivery;
 
@@ -98,8 +99,9 @@ function update_1298()
 					DBA::update('profile', [$translateKey => $key], ['id' => $data['id']]);
 					Logger::notice('Updated contact', ['action' => 'update', 'contact' => $data['id'], "$translateKey" => $key,
 						'was' => $data[$translateKey]]);
-					Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, 'ProfileUpdate', $data['id']);
+
 					Contact::updateSelfFromUserID($data['id']);
+					Profile::publishUpdate($data['id']);
 					$success++;
 				}
 			}
@@ -153,7 +155,9 @@ function update_1323()
 {
 	$users = DBA::select('user', ['uid']);
 	while ($user = DBA::fetch($users)) {
-		Contact::updateSelfFromUserID($user['uid']);
+		if (Contact::updateSelfFromUserID($user['uid'])) {
+			Profile::publishUpdate($user['uid']);
+		}
 	}
 	DBA::close($users);