diff --git a/frontend/dispatcher.lua b/frontend/dispatcher.lua
index 42c8204c5..1d0bd1c13 100644
--- a/frontend/dispatcher.lua
+++ b/frontend/dispatcher.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+--[[--
+    Dispatcher module
+--]]--
+
 local CreOptions = require("ui/data/creoptions")
 local Device = require("device")
 local Event = require("ui/event")
@@ -73,12 +77,6 @@ local settingsList = {
     toggle_flash_on_chapter_boundaries = { category="none", event="ToggleFlashOnChapterBoundaries", title=_("Toggle flashing on chapter boundaries"), device=true, condition=Device:hasEinkScreen(),},
     set_no_flash_on_second_chapter_page = { category="string", event="SetNoFlashOnSecondChapterPage", title=_("Never flash on chapter's 2nd page"), device=true, condition=Device:hasEinkScreen(), args={true, false}, toggle={_("On"), _("Off")},},
     toggle_no_flash_on_second_chapter_page = { category="none", event="ToggleNoFlashOnSecondChapterPage", title=_("Toggle flashing on chapter's 2nd page"), device=true, condition=Device:hasEinkScreen(), separator=true,},
-    wallabag_download = { category="none", event="SynchronizeWallabag", title=_("Wallabag retrieval"), device=true,},
-    calibre_search = { category="none", event="CalibreSearch", title=_("Search in calibre metadata"), device=true,},
-    calibre_browse_tags = { category="none", event="CalibreBrowseTags", title=_("Browse all calibre tags"), device=true,},
-    calibre_browse_series = { category="none", event="CalibreBrowseSeries", title=_("Browse all calibre series"), device=true, separator=true,},
-    show_terminal = { category = "none", event = "TerminalStart", title = _("Show terminal"), device = true, },
-    edit_last_edited_file = { category = "none", event = "OpenLastEditedFile", title = _("Texteditor: open last file"), device = true, separator = true, },
     favorites = { category="none", event="ShowColl", arg="favorites", title=_("Favorites"), device=true,},
 
     -- filemanager settings
@@ -113,8 +111,6 @@ local settingsList = {
     toggle_inverse_reading_order = { category="none", event="ToggleReadingOrder", title=_("Toggle page turn direction"), rolling=true, paging=true,},
     cycle_highlight_action = { category="none", event="CycleHighlightAction", title=_("Cycle highlight action"), rolling=true, paging=true,},
     cycle_highlight_style = { category="none", event="CycleHighlightStyle", title=_("Cycle highlight style"), rolling=true, paging=true,},
-    kosync_push_progress = { category="none", event="KOSyncPushProgress", title=_("Push progress from this device"), rolling=true, paging=true,},
-    kosync_pull_progress = { category="none", event="KOSyncPullProgress", title=_("Pull progress from other devices"), rolling=true, paging=true, separator=true,},
     page_jmp = { category="absolutenumber", event="GotoViewRel", min=-100, max=100, title=_("Go %1 pages"), rolling=true, paging=true,},
     panel_zoom_toggle = { category="none", event="TogglePanelZoomSetting", title=_("Toggle panel zoom"), paging=true, separator=true,},
 
@@ -205,14 +201,6 @@ local dispatcher_menu_order = {
     "wifi_off",
     "toggle_wifi",
 
-    "wallabag_download",
-    "calibre_search",
-    "calibre_browse_tags",
-    "calibre_browse_series",
-
-    "show_terminal",
-    "edit_last_edited_file",
-
     "rotation_mode",
 
     -- filemanager
@@ -263,9 +251,6 @@ local dispatcher_menu_order = {
     "cycle_highlight_style",
     "panel_zoom_toggle",
 
-    "kosync_push_progress",
-    "kosync_pull_progress",
-
     "visible_pages",
 
     "h_page_margins",
@@ -332,11 +317,29 @@ function Dispatcher:init()
     for i=1,#CreOptions do
         parseoptions(CreOptions, i)
     end
+    UIManager:broadcastEvent(Event:new("DispatcherRegisterActions"))
     Dispatcher.initialized = true
 end
 
+--[[--
+    add settings at runtime
+    @param name: the key to use in the table
+    @param value: a table per settingsList above.
+    see helloworld plugin for an example.
+--]]--
+function Dispatcher:registerAction(name, value)
+    if settingsList[name] == nil then
+        settingsList[name] = value
+        table.insert(dispatcher_menu_order, name)
+    end
+    return true
+end
+
 -- Returns a display name for the item.
 function Dispatcher:getNameFromItem(item, location, settings)
+    if settingsList[item] == nil then
+        return _("Unknown item")
+    end
     local amount
     if location[settings] ~= nil and location[settings][item] ~= nil then
         amount = location[settings][item]
@@ -542,7 +545,7 @@ function Dispatcher:addSubMenu(caller, menu, location, settings)
             checked_func = function()
                 if location[settings] ~= nil then
                     for k, _ in pairs(location[settings]) do
-                        if settingsList[k][section[1]] == true and
+                        if settingsList[k] ~= nil and settingsList[k][section[1]] == true and
                             (settingsList[k].condition == nil or settingsList[k].condition)
                         then return true end
                     end
@@ -551,7 +554,7 @@ function Dispatcher:addSubMenu(caller, menu, location, settings)
             hold_callback = function(touchmenu_instance)
                 if location[settings] ~= nil then
                     for k, _ in pairs(location[settings]) do
-                        if settingsList[k][section[1]] == true then
+                        if settingsList[k] ~= nil and settingsList[k][section[1]] == true then
                             location[settings][k] = nil
                             caller.updated = true
                         end
@@ -573,7 +576,7 @@ arguments are:
 --]]--
 function Dispatcher:execute(ui, settings, gesture)
     for k, v in pairs(settings) do
-        if settingsList[k].conditions == nil or settingsList[k].conditions == true then
+        if settingsList[k] ~= nil and (settingsList[k].conditions == nil or settingsList[k].conditions == true) then
             if settingsList[k].category == "none" then
                 if settingsList[k].arg ~= nil then
                     ui:handleEvent(Event:new(settingsList[k].event, settingsList[k].arg))
diff --git a/plugins/calibre.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/calibre.koplugin/main.lua
index 35e41451b..01199332a 100644
--- a/plugins/calibre.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/calibre.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 local BD = require("ui/bidi")
 local CalibreSearch = require("search")
 local CalibreWireless = require("wireless")
+local Dispatcher = require("dispatcher")
 local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")
 local LuaSettings = require("luasettings")
 local UIManager = require("ui/uimanager")
@@ -57,8 +58,15 @@ function Calibre:closeWirelessConnection()
     end
 end
 
+function Calibre:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("calibre_search", { category="none", event="CalibreSearch", title=_("Search in calibre metadata"), device=true,})
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("calibre_browse_tags", { category="none", event="CalibreBrowseTags", title=_("Browse all calibre tags"), device=true,})
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("calibre_browse_series", { category="none", event="CalibreBrowseSeries", title=_("Browse all calibre series"), device=true, separator=true,})
+end
+
 function Calibre:init()
     CalibreWireless:init()
+    self:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
     self.ui.menu:registerToMainMenu(self)
 end
 
diff --git a/plugins/hello.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/hello.koplugin/main.lua
index 9f8699dac..a8d820891 100644
--- a/plugins/hello.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/hello.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ if true then
     return { disabled = true, }
 end
 
-local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")  -- luacheck:ignore
+local Dispatcher = require("dispatcher")  -- luacheck:ignore
+local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")
 local UIManager = require("ui/uimanager")
 local WidgetContainer = require("ui/widget/container/widgetcontainer")
 local _ = require("gettext")
@@ -13,7 +14,12 @@ local Hello = WidgetContainer:new{
     is_doc_only = false,
 }
 
+function Hello:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("helloworld_action", {category="none", event="HelloWorld", title=_("Hello World"), filemanager=true,})
+end
+
 function Hello:init()
+    self:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
     self.ui.menu:registerToMainMenu(self)
 end
 
@@ -21,7 +27,7 @@ function Hello:addToMainMenu(menu_items)
     menu_items.hello_world = {
         text = _("Hello World"),
         -- in which menu this should be appended
-        sorting_hint = "more_plugins",
+        sorting_hint = "more_tools",
         -- a callback when tapping
         callback = function()
             UIManager:show(InfoMessage:new{
@@ -31,4 +37,11 @@ function Hello:addToMainMenu(menu_items)
     }
 end
 
+function Hello:onHelloWorld()
+    local popup = InfoMessage:new{
+        text = _("Hello World"),
+    }
+    UIManager:show(popup)
+end
+
 return Hello
diff --git a/plugins/kosync.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/kosync.koplugin/main.lua
index 88408f392..74a90ffa7 100644
--- a/plugins/kosync.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/kosync.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+local Dispatcher = require("dispatcher")
 local InputContainer = require("ui/widget/container/inputcontainer")
 local LoginDialog = require("ui/widget/logindialog")
 local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")
@@ -97,6 +98,11 @@ local function validateUser(user, pass)
     end
 end
 
+function KOSync:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("kosync_push_progress", { category="none", event="KOSyncPushProgress", title=_("Push progress from this device"), rolling=true, paging=true,})
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("kosync_pull_progress", { category="none", event="KOSyncPullProgress", title=_("Pull progress from other devices"), rolling=true, paging=true, separator=true,})
+end
+
 function KOSync:onReaderReady()
     local settings = G_reader_settings:readSetting("kosync") or {}
     self.kosync_custom_server = settings.custom_server
@@ -112,6 +118,7 @@ function KOSync:onReaderReady()
         self:_onResume()
     end
     self:registerEvents()
+    self:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
     self.ui.menu:registerToMainMenu(self)
     -- Make sure checksum has been calculated at the very first time a document has been opened, to
     -- avoid document saving feature to impact the checksum, and eventually impact the document
diff --git a/plugins/terminal.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/terminal.koplugin/main.lua
index d5cecf4b8..fd8965775 100644
--- a/plugins/terminal.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/terminal.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local ButtonDialog = require("ui/widget/buttondialog")
 local CenterContainer = require("ui/widget/container/centercontainer")
 local DataStorage = require("datastorage")
+local Dispatcher = require("dispatcher")
 local Font = require("ui/font")
 local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")
 local InputDialog = require("ui/widget/inputdialog")
@@ -30,7 +31,12 @@ local Terminal = WidgetContainer:new{
     source = "terminal",
 }
 
+function Terminal:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("show_terminal", { category = "none", event = "TerminalStart", title = _("Show terminal"), device = true, })
+end
+
 function Terminal:init()
+    self:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
     self.ui.menu:registerToMainMenu(self)
     self.shortcuts = self.settings:readSetting("shortcuts") or {}
 end
diff --git a/plugins/texteditor.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/texteditor.koplugin/main.lua
index 95f272850..71316b4c7 100644
--- a/plugins/texteditor.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/texteditor.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local BD = require("ui/bidi")
 local ConfirmBox = require("ui/widget/confirmbox")
 local DataStorage = require("datastorage")
+local Dispatcher = require("dispatcher")
 local Font = require("ui/font")
 local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")
 local InputDialog = require("ui/widget/inputdialog")
@@ -29,7 +30,12 @@ local TextEditor = WidgetContainer:new{
     min_file_size_warn = 200000, -- warn/ask when opening files bigger than this
 }
 
+function TextEditor:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("edit_last_edited_file", { category = "none", event = "OpenLastEditedFile", title = _("Texteditor: open last file"), device = true, separator = true, })
+end
+
 function TextEditor:init()
+    self:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
     self.ui.menu:registerToMainMenu(self)
 end
 
diff --git a/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua
index fe23c3244..c434bad4e 100644
--- a/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 local BD = require("ui/bidi")
 local DataStorage = require("datastorage")
+local Dispatcher = require("dispatcher")
 local DocSettings = require("docsettings")
 local Event = require("ui/event")
 local FFIUtil = require("ffi/util")
@@ -38,6 +39,10 @@ local Wallabag = WidgetContainer:new{
     name = "wallabag",
 }
 
+function Wallabag:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
+    Dispatcher:registerAction("wallabag_download", { category="none", event="SynchronizeWallabag", title=_("Wallabag retrieval"), device=true,})
+end
+
 function Wallabag:init()
     self.token_expiry = 0
     -- default values so that user doesn't have to explicitely set them
@@ -50,6 +55,7 @@ function Wallabag:init()
     self.ignore_tags = ""
     self.articles_per_sync = 30
 
+    self:onDispatcherRegisterActions()
     self.ui.menu:registerToMainMenu(self)
     self.wb_settings = self.readSettings()
     self.server_url = self.wb_settings.data.wallabag.server_url