diff --git a/src/server/api/config.py b/src/server/api/config.py
index 548804f..731b1fd 100644
--- a/src/server/api/config.py
+++ b/src/server/api/config.py
@@ -47,8 +47,19 @@ async def update_config(
         from src.config.settings import settings as app_settings
 
         anime_dir_changed = False
-        if update.other and update.other.get("anime_directory"):
-            anime_dir = update.other.get("anime_directory")
+        other_data = update.other
+        if isinstance(other_data, str):
+            try:
+                import ast
+                other_data = ast.literal_eval(other_data)
+            except (ValueError, SyntaxError):
+                try:
+                    import json
+                    other_data = json.loads(other_data)
+                except (ValueError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+                    other_data = None
+        if other_data and other_data.get("anime_directory"):
+            anime_dir = other_data.get("anime_directory")
             if anime_dir and not app_settings.anime_directory:
                 app_settings.anime_directory = str(anime_dir)
                 anime_dir_changed = True
diff --git a/src/server/models/config.py b/src/server/models/config.py
index 18872a6..4d0bf70 100644
--- a/src/server/models/config.py
+++ b/src/server/models/config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-from typing import Dict, List, Optional
+import ast
+import json
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, ValidationError, field_validator
 
@@ -244,12 +246,12 @@ class AppConfig(BaseModel):
 class ConfigUpdate(BaseModel):
     name: Optional[str] = None
     data_dir: Optional[str] = None
-    scheduler: Optional[SchedulerConfig] = None
-    logging: Optional[LoggingConfig] = None
-    backup: Optional[BackupConfig] = None
-    nfo: Optional[NFOConfig] = None
+    scheduler: Optional[Any] = None
+    logging: Optional[Any] = None
+    backup: Optional[Any] = None
+    nfo: Optional[Any] = None
     scan_key_overrides: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None
-    other: Optional[Dict[str, object]] = None
+    other: Optional[Any] = None
 
     def apply_to(self, current: AppConfig) -> AppConfig:
         """Return a new AppConfig with updates applied to the current config.
@@ -257,18 +259,61 @@ class ConfigUpdate(BaseModel):
         Performs a shallow merge for `other`.
         """
         data = current.model_dump()
+        if self.name is not None:
+            data["name"] = self.name
+        if self.data_dir is not None:
+            data["data_dir"] = self.data_dir
         if self.scheduler is not None:
-            data["scheduler"] = self.scheduler.model_dump()
+            scheduler_data = self.scheduler
+            if isinstance(scheduler_data, str):
+                try:
+                    scheduler_data = json.loads(scheduler_data)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    scheduler_data = ast.literal_eval(scheduler_data)
+            if isinstance(scheduler_data, dict):
+                scheduler_data = SchedulerConfig(**scheduler_data)
+            data["scheduler"] = scheduler_data.model_dump()
         if self.logging is not None:
-            data["logging"] = self.logging.model_dump()
+            logging_data = self.logging
+            if isinstance(logging_data, str):
+                try:
+                    logging_data = json.loads(logging_data)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    logging_data = ast.literal_eval(logging_data)
+            if isinstance(logging_data, dict):
+                logging_data = LoggingConfig(**logging_data)
+            data["logging"] = logging_data.model_dump()
         if self.backup is not None:
-            data["backup"] = self.backup.model_dump()
+            backup_data = self.backup
+            if isinstance(backup_data, str):
+                try:
+                    backup_data = json.loads(backup_data)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    backup_data = ast.literal_eval(backup_data)
+            if isinstance(backup_data, dict):
+                backup_data = BackupConfig(**backup_data)
+            data["backup"] = backup_data.model_dump()
         if self.nfo is not None:
-            data["nfo"] = self.nfo.model_dump()
+            nfo_data = self.nfo
+            if isinstance(nfo_data, str):
+                try:
+                    nfo_data = json.loads(nfo_data)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    nfo_data = ast.literal_eval(nfo_data)
+            if isinstance(nfo_data, dict):
+                nfo_data = NFOConfig(**nfo_data)
+            data["nfo"] = nfo_data.model_dump()
         if self.scan_key_overrides is not None:
             data["scan_key_overrides"] = self.scan_key_overrides
         if self.other is not None:
             merged = dict(current.other or {})
-            merged.update(self.other)
+            other_data = self.other
+            if isinstance(other_data, str):
+                try:
+                    other_data = json.loads(other_data)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    other_data = ast.literal_eval(other_data)
+            if isinstance(other_data, dict):
+                merged.update(other_data)
             data["other"] = merged
         return AppConfig(**data)