diff --git a/qtc-net-server/Data/DataContext.cs b/qtc-net-server/Data/DataContext.cs
index 3430ee3..3a2e19b 100644
--- a/qtc-net-server/Data/DataContext.cs
+++ b/qtc-net-server/Data/DataContext.cs
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ namespace qtc_api.Data
             builder.Entity<User>().HasMany(e => e.ContactsMade);
             builder.Entity<User>().HasMany(e => e.OwnedStoreItems);
 
+            builder.Entity<User>()
+                .Property<string>("_tagsString")
+                .HasColumnName("Tags");
+
             // Rooms (no relations)
 
             builder.Entity<Room>();
diff --git a/qtc-net-server/Models/User.cs b/qtc-net-server/Models/User.cs
index 3098e7c..d1e37bf 100644
--- a/qtc-net-server/Models/User.cs
+++ b/qtc-net-server/Models/User.cs
@@ -20,7 +20,14 @@
         public string CurrentRoomId { get; set; } = string.Empty;
         public DateTime LastLogin { get; set; }
         public string TextStatus { get; set; } = string.Empty;
-        public string[] Tags { get; set; } = [];
+
+        private string? _tagString;
+        [BackingField(nameof(_tagString))]
+        public string[] Tags
+        {
+            get => _tagString?.Split(',') ?? [];
+            set => _tagString = string.Join(',', value ?? []);
+        }
 
         public virtual IEnumerable<RefreshToken>? RefreshTokens { get; }
         public virtual IEnumerable<Contact>? ContactsMade { get; }