diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.py
index 6c2eff781c27..a145b6e6a552 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.py
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ def genesis(self, gui):
         for signal in ('Activated', 'Changed', 'DoubleClicked', 'Clicked'):
             signal = getattr(self.opt_columns, 'item'+signal)
             signal.connect(self.columns_changed)
+        self.show_all_button.clicked.connect(self.show_all)
+        self.hide_all_button.clicked.connect(self.hide_all)
 
     def initialize(self):
         ConfigWidgetBase.initialize(self)
@@ -137,6 +139,20 @@ def restore_geometry(self):
                 return
         self.opt_columns.resizeColumnsToContents()
 
+    def hide_all(self):
+        for row in range(self.opt_columns.rowCount()):
+            item = self.opt_columns.item(row, 0)
+            if item.checkState() != Qt.CheckState.PartiallyChecked:
+                item.setCheckState(Qt.CheckState.Unchecked)
+        self.changed_signal.emit()
+
+    def show_all(self):
+        for row in range(self.opt_columns.rowCount()):
+            item = self.opt_columns.item(row, 0)
+            if item.checkState() != Qt.CheckState.PartiallyChecked:
+                item.setCheckState(Qt.CheckState.Checked)
+        self.changed_signal.emit()
+
     def setup_row(self, row, key, order, force_checked_to=None):
         flags = Qt.ItemFlag.ItemIsEnabled | Qt.ItemFlag.ItemIsSelectable
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.ui
index 32996814dd22..0672464e85c8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/columns.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>504</width>
-    <height>399</height>
+    <width>611</width>
+    <height>482</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -191,15 +191,46 @@
     </layout>
    </item>
    <item row="2" column="0" colspan="2">
-    <widget class="QPushButton" name="add_col_button">
-     <property name="text">
-      <string>Add &amp;custom column</string>
-     </property>
-     <property name="icon">
-      <iconset resource="../../../../resources/images.qrc">
-       <normaloff>:/images/plus.png</normaloff>:/images/plus.png</iconset>
-     </property>
-    </widget>
+    <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout">
+     <item>
+      <widget class="QPushButton" name="add_col_button">
+       <property name="text">
+        <string>Add &amp;custom column</string>
+       </property>
+       <property name="icon">
+        <iconset resource="../../../../resources/images.qrc">
+         <normaloff>:/images/plus.png</normaloff>:/images/plus.png</iconset>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
+     <item>
+      <spacer name="horizontalSpacer">
+       <property name="orientation">
+        <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+       </property>
+       <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+        <size>
+         <width>40</width>
+         <height>20</height>
+        </size>
+       </property>
+      </spacer>
+     </item>
+     <item>
+      <widget class="QPushButton" name="show_all_button">
+       <property name="text">
+        <string>&amp;Show all</string>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
+     <item>
+      <widget class="QPushButton" name="hide_all_button">
+       <property name="text">
+        <string>&amp;Hide all</string>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
+    </layout>
    </item>
   </layout>
  </widget>