diff --git a/pylib/anki/collection.py b/pylib/anki/collection.py
index d46fd75d2..2f3c1e6ce 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/collection.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/collection.py
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ class Collection:
         else:
             return SearchNode.Group.Joiner.OR
 
-    # Browser rows
+    # Browser Table
     ##########################################################################
 
     def browser_row_for_id(
@@ -695,6 +695,30 @@ class Collection:
             row.font_size,
         )
 
+    def load_browser_card_columns(self) -> List[str]:
+        """Return the stored card column names and ensure the backend columns are set and in sync."""
+        columns = self.get_config(
+            "activeCols", ["noteFld", "template", "cardDue", "deck"]
+        )
+        self._backend.set_desktop_browser_card_columns(columns)
+        return columns
+
+    def set_browser_card_columns(self, columns: List[str]) -> None:
+        self.set_config("activeCols", columns)
+        self._backend.set_desktop_browser_card_columns(columns)
+
+    def load_browser_note_columns(self) -> List[str]:
+        """Return the stored note column names and ensure the backend columns are set and in sync."""
+        columns = self.get_config(
+            "activeNoteCols", ["noteFld", "note", "noteCards", "noteTags"]
+        )
+        self._backend.set_desktop_browser_note_columns(columns)
+        return columns
+
+    def set_browser_note_columns(self, columns: List[str]) -> None:
+        self.set_config("activeNoteCols", columns)
+        self._backend.set_desktop_browser_note_columns(columns)
+
     # Config
     ##########################################################################
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/table.py b/qt/aqt/table.py
index 6173a533c..f7141298c 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/table.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/table.py
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ class CardState(ItemState):
     def __init__(self, col: Collection) -> None:
         super().__init__(col)
         self._load_columns()
-        self._load_active_columns()
+        self._active_columns = self.col.load_browser_card_columns()
         self._sort_column = self.col.get_config("sortType")
         self._sort_backwards = self.col.get_config_bool(
             Config.Bool.BROWSER_SORT_BACKWARDS
@@ -644,11 +644,6 @@ class CardState(ItemState):
         ]
         self._columns.sort(key=itemgetter(1))
 
-    def _load_active_columns(self) -> None:
-        self._active_columns = self.col.get_config(
-            "activeCols", ["noteFld", "template", "cardDue", "deck"]
-        )
-
     @property
     def columns(self) -> List[Tuple[str, str]]:
         return self._columns
@@ -662,7 +657,7 @@ class CardState(ItemState):
             self._active_columns.remove(column)
         else:
             self._active_columns.append(column)
-        self.col.set_config("activeCols", self._active_columns)
+        self.col.set_browser_card_columns(self._active_columns)
 
     @property
     def sort_column(self) -> str:
@@ -711,7 +706,7 @@ class NoteState(ItemState):
     def __init__(self, col: Collection) -> None:
         super().__init__(col)
         self._load_columns()
-        self._load_active_columns()
+        self._active_columns = self.col.load_browser_note_columns()
         self._sort_column = self.col.get_config("noteSortType")
         self._sort_backwards = self.col.get_config_bool(
             Config.Bool.BROWSER_NOTE_SORT_BACKWARDS
@@ -731,11 +726,6 @@ class NoteState(ItemState):
         ]
         self._columns.sort(key=itemgetter(1))
 
-    def _load_active_columns(self) -> None:
-        self._active_columns = self.col.get_config(
-            "activeNoteCols", ["noteFld", "note", "noteTags", "noteMod"]
-        )
-
     @property
     def columns(self) -> List[Tuple[str, str]]:
         return self._columns
@@ -749,7 +739,7 @@ class NoteState(ItemState):
             self._active_columns.remove(column)
         else:
             self._active_columns.append(column)
-        self.col.set_config("activeNoteCols", self._active_columns)
+        self.col.set_browser_note_columns(self._active_columns)
 
     @property
     def sort_column(self) -> str:
diff --git a/rslib/backend.proto b/rslib/backend.proto
index e87af0a61..c8fd113f4 100644
--- a/rslib/backend.proto
+++ b/rslib/backend.proto
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ service SearchService {
   rpc ReplaceSearchNode(ReplaceSearchNodeIn) returns (String);
   rpc FindAndReplace(FindAndReplaceIn) returns (OpChangesWithCount);
   rpc BrowserRowForId(Int64) returns (BrowserRow);
+  rpc SetDesktopBrowserCardColumns(StringList) returns (Empty);
+  rpc SetDesktopBrowserNoteColumns(StringList) returns (Empty);
 }
 
 service StatsService {
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_row.rs b/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_row.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index d985cabb3..000000000
--- a/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_row.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
-// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
-
-use crate::{backend_proto as pb, browser_rows};
-
-impl From<browser_rows::Row> for pb::BrowserRow {
-    fn from(row: browser_rows::Row) -> Self {
-        pb::BrowserRow {
-            cells: row.cells.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect(),
-            color: row.color.into(),
-            font_name: row.font.name,
-            font_size: row.font.size,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl From<browser_rows::Cell> for pb::browser_row::Cell {
-    fn from(cell: browser_rows::Cell) -> Self {
-        pb::browser_row::Cell {
-            text: cell.text,
-            is_rtl: cell.is_rtl,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl From<browser_rows::Color> for i32 {
-    fn from(color: browser_rows::Color) -> Self {
-        match color {
-            browser_rows::Color::Default => pb::browser_row::Color::Default as i32,
-            browser_rows::Color::Marked => pb::browser_row::Color::Marked as i32,
-            browser_rows::Color::Suspended => pb::browser_row::Color::Suspended as i32,
-            browser_rows::Color::FlagRed => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagRed as i32,
-            browser_rows::Color::FlagOrange => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagOrange as i32,
-            browser_rows::Color::FlagGreen => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagGreen as i32,
-            browser_rows::Color::FlagBlue => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagBlue as i32,
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs b/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..768de1dad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+use crate::{backend_proto as pb, browser_table};
+
+impl From<pb::StringList> for Vec<browser_table::Column> {
+    fn from(input: pb::StringList) -> Self {
+        input.vals.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<String> for browser_table::Column {
+    fn from(text: String) -> Self {
+        match text.as_str() {
+            "question" => browser_table::Column::Question,
+            "answer" => browser_table::Column::Answer,
+            "deck" => browser_table::Column::CardDeck,
+            "cardDue" => browser_table::Column::CardDue,
+            "cardEase" => browser_table::Column::CardEase,
+            "cardLapses" => browser_table::Column::CardLapses,
+            "cardIvl" => browser_table::Column::CardInterval,
+            "cardMod" => browser_table::Column::CardMod,
+            "cardReps" => browser_table::Column::CardReps,
+            "template" => browser_table::Column::CardTemplate,
+            "noteCards" => browser_table::Column::NoteCards,
+            "noteCrt" => browser_table::Column::NoteCreation,
+            "noteEase" => browser_table::Column::NoteEase,
+            "noteFld" => browser_table::Column::NoteField,
+            "noteLapses" => browser_table::Column::NoteLapses,
+            "noteMod" => browser_table::Column::NoteMod,
+            "noteReps" => browser_table::Column::NoteReps,
+            "noteTags" => browser_table::Column::NoteTags,
+            "note" => browser_table::Column::Notetype,
+            _ => browser_table::Column::Custom,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<browser_table::Row> for pb::BrowserRow {
+    fn from(row: browser_table::Row) -> Self {
+        pb::BrowserRow {
+            cells: row.cells.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect(),
+            color: row.color.into(),
+            font_name: row.font.name,
+            font_size: row.font.size,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<browser_table::Cell> for pb::browser_row::Cell {
+    fn from(cell: browser_table::Cell) -> Self {
+        pb::browser_row::Cell {
+            text: cell.text,
+            is_rtl: cell.is_rtl,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<browser_table::Color> for i32 {
+    fn from(color: browser_table::Color) -> Self {
+        match color {
+            browser_table::Color::Default => pb::browser_row::Color::Default as i32,
+            browser_table::Color::Marked => pb::browser_row::Color::Marked as i32,
+            browser_table::Color::Suspended => pb::browser_row::Color::Suspended as i32,
+            browser_table::Color::FlagRed => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagRed as i32,
+            browser_table::Color::FlagOrange => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagOrange as i32,
+            browser_table::Color::FlagGreen => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagGreen as i32,
+            browser_table::Color::FlagBlue => pb::browser_row::Color::FlagBlue as i32,
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/search/mod.rs b/rslib/src/backend/search/mod.rs
index 8a5e781cc..e5acfb948 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/search/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/search/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
-mod browser_row;
+mod browser_table;
 mod search_node;
 
 use std::convert::TryInto;
@@ -92,6 +92,16 @@ impl SearchService for Backend {
     fn browser_row_for_id(&self, input: pb::Int64) -> Result<pb::BrowserRow> {
         self.with_col(|col| col.browser_row_for_id(input.val).map(Into::into))
     }
+
+    fn set_desktop_browser_card_columns(&self, input: pb::StringList) -> Result<pb::Empty> {
+        self.with_col(|col| col.set_desktop_browser_card_columns(input.into()))?;
+        Ok(().into())
+    }
+
+    fn set_desktop_browser_note_columns(&self, input: pb::StringList) -> Result<pb::Empty> {
+        self.with_col(|col| col.set_desktop_browser_note_columns(input.into()))?;
+        Ok(().into())
+    }
 }
 
 impl From<SortKindProto> for SortKind {
diff --git a/rslib/src/browser_rows.rs b/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
similarity index 79%
rename from rslib/src/browser_rows.rs
rename to rslib/src/browser_table.rs
index 06388db7a..e699c8257 100644
--- a/rslib/src/browser_rows.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use itertools::Itertools;
+use serde_repr::{Deserialize_repr, Serialize_repr};
 
 use crate::err::{AnkiError, Result};
 use crate::i18n::I18n;
@@ -20,7 +21,30 @@ use crate::{
     timestamp::{TimestampMillis, TimestampSecs},
 };
 
-const CARD_RENDER_COLUMNS: [&str; 2] = ["question", "answer"];
+#[derive(Serialize_repr, Deserialize_repr, Debug, PartialEq, Clone, Copy)]
+#[repr(u8)]
+pub enum Column {
+    Custom = 0,
+    Question = 1,
+    Answer = 2,
+    CardDeck = 3,
+    CardDue = 4,
+    CardEase = 5,
+    CardLapses = 6,
+    CardInterval = 7,
+    CardMod = 8,
+    CardReps = 9,
+    CardTemplate = 10,
+    NoteCards = 11,
+    NoteCreation = 12,
+    NoteEase = 13,
+    NoteField = 14,
+    NoteLapses = 15,
+    NoteMod = 16,
+    NoteReps = 17,
+    NoteTags = 18,
+    Notetype = 19,
+}
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Row {
@@ -53,13 +77,13 @@ pub struct Font {
 }
 
 trait RowContext {
-    fn get_cell_text(&mut self, column: &str) -> Result<String>;
+    fn get_cell_text(&mut self, column: &Column) -> Result<String>;
     fn get_row_color(&self) -> Color;
     fn get_row_font(&self) -> Result<Font>;
     fn note(&self) -> &Note;
     fn notetype(&self) -> &Notetype;
 
-    fn get_cell(&mut self, column: &str) -> Result<Cell> {
+    fn get_cell(&mut self, column: &Column) -> Result<Cell> {
         Ok(Cell {
             text: self.get_cell_text(column)?,
             is_rtl: self.get_is_rtl(column),
@@ -77,9 +101,9 @@ trait RowContext {
         html_to_text_line(&self.note().fields()[index]).into()
     }
 
-    fn get_is_rtl(&self, column: &str) -> bool {
+    fn get_is_rtl(&self, column: &Column) -> bool {
         match column {
-            "noteFld" => {
+            Column::NoteField => {
                 let index = self.notetype().config.sort_field_idx as usize;
                 self.notetype().fields[index].config.rtl
             }
@@ -87,7 +111,7 @@ trait RowContext {
         }
     }
 
-    fn browser_row_for_id(&mut self, columns: &[String]) -> Result<Row> {
+    fn browser_row_for_id(&mut self, columns: &[Column]) -> Result<Row> {
         Ok(Row {
             cells: columns
                 .iter()
@@ -125,20 +149,27 @@ struct NoteRowContext<'a> {
     tr: &'a I18n,
 }
 
-fn card_render_required(columns: &[String]) -> bool {
+fn card_render_required(columns: &[Column]) -> bool {
     columns
         .iter()
-        .any(|c| CARD_RENDER_COLUMNS.contains(&c.as_str()))
+        .any(|c| matches!(c, Column::Question | Column::Answer))
 }
 
 impl Collection {
     pub fn browser_row_for_id(&mut self, id: i64) -> Result<Row> {
         if self.get_bool(BoolKey::BrowserTableShowNotesMode) {
-            let columns = self.get_desktop_browser_note_columns();
+            let columns =
+                self.get_desktop_browser_note_columns()
+                    .ok_or(AnkiError::InvalidInput {
+                        info: "Note columns not set.".into(),
+                    })?;
             NoteRowContext::new(self, id)?.browser_row_for_id(&columns)
         } else {
-            // this is inefficient; we may want to use an enum in the future
-            let columns = self.get_desktop_browser_card_columns();
+            let columns =
+                self.get_desktop_browser_card_columns()
+                    .ok_or(AnkiError::InvalidInput {
+                        info: "Card columns not set.".into(),
+                    })?;
             CardRowContext::new(self, id, card_render_required(&columns))?
                 .browser_row_for_id(&columns)
         }
@@ -329,23 +360,23 @@ impl<'a> CardRowContext<'a> {
 }
 
 impl RowContext for CardRowContext<'_> {
-    fn get_cell_text(&mut self, column: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    fn get_cell_text(&mut self, column: &Column) -> Result<String> {
         Ok(match column {
-            "answer" => self.answer_str(),
-            "cardDue" => self.card_due_str(),
-            "cardEase" => self.card_ease_str(),
-            "cardIvl" => self.card_interval_str(),
-            "cardLapses" => self.card.lapses.to_string(),
-            "cardMod" => self.card.mtime.date_string(),
-            "cardReps" => self.card.reps.to_string(),
-            "deck" => self.deck_str()?,
-            "note" => self.notetype.name.to_owned(),
-            "noteCrt" => self.note_creation_str(),
-            "noteFld" => self.note_field_str(),
-            "noteMod" => self.note.mtime.date_string(),
-            "noteTags" => self.note.tags.join(" "),
-            "question" => self.question_str(),
-            "template" => self.template_str()?,
+            Column::Question => self.question_str(),
+            Column::Answer => self.answer_str(),
+            Column::CardDeck => self.deck_str()?,
+            Column::CardDue => self.card_due_str(),
+            Column::CardEase => self.card_ease_str(),
+            Column::CardInterval => self.card_interval_str(),
+            Column::CardLapses => self.card.lapses.to_string(),
+            Column::CardMod => self.card.mtime.date_string(),
+            Column::CardReps => self.card.reps.to_string(),
+            Column::CardTemplate => self.template_str()?,
+            Column::NoteCreation => self.note_creation_str(),
+            Column::NoteField => self.note_field_str(),
+            Column::NoteMod => self.note.mtime.date_string(),
+            Column::NoteTags => self.note.tags.join(" "),
+            Column::Notetype => self.notetype.name.to_owned(),
             _ => "".to_string(),
         })
     }
@@ -421,17 +452,17 @@ impl<'a> NoteRowContext<'a> {
 }
 
 impl RowContext for NoteRowContext<'_> {
-    fn get_cell_text(&mut self, column: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    fn get_cell_text(&mut self, column: &Column) -> Result<String> {
         Ok(match column {
-            "note" => self.notetype.name.to_owned(),
-            "noteCards" => self.cards.len().to_string(),
-            "noteCrt" => self.note_creation_str(),
-            "noteEase" => self.note_ease_str(),
-            "noteFld" => self.note_field_str(),
-            "noteLapses" => self.cards.iter().map(|c| c.lapses).sum::<u32>().to_string(),
-            "noteMod" => self.note.mtime.date_string(),
-            "noteReps" => self.cards.iter().map(|c| c.reps).sum::<u32>().to_string(),
-            "noteTags" => self.note.tags.join(" "),
+            Column::NoteCards => self.cards.len().to_string(),
+            Column::NoteCreation => self.note_creation_str(),
+            Column::NoteEase => self.note_ease_str(),
+            Column::NoteField => self.note_field_str(),
+            Column::NoteLapses => self.cards.iter().map(|c| c.lapses).sum::<u32>().to_string(),
+            Column::NoteMod => self.note.mtime.date_string(),
+            Column::NoteReps => self.cards.iter().map(|c| c.reps).sum::<u32>().to_string(),
+            Column::NoteTags => self.note.tags.join(" "),
+            Column::Notetype => self.notetype.name.to_owned(),
             _ => "".to_string(),
         })
     }
diff --git a/rslib/src/config/mod.rs b/rslib/src/config/mod.rs
index 0c61b3f77..3b39ca46a 100644
--- a/rslib/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ mod string;
 pub(crate) mod undo;
 
 pub use self::{bool::BoolKey, string::StringKey};
+use crate::browser_table;
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use serde::{de::DeserializeOwned, Serialize};
 use serde_derive::Deserialize;
@@ -65,9 +66,7 @@ pub(crate) enum ConfigKey {
     #[strum(to_string = "schedVer")]
     SchedulerVersion,
 
-    #[strum(to_string = "activeCols")]
     DesktopBrowserCardColumns,
-    #[strum(to_string = "activeNoteCols")]
     DesktopBrowserNoteColumns,
 }
 
@@ -140,28 +139,26 @@ impl Collection {
         self.get_config_default(ConfigKey::BrowserNoteSortKind)
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn get_desktop_browser_card_columns(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+    pub(crate) fn get_desktop_browser_card_columns(&self) -> Option<Vec<browser_table::Column>> {
         self.get_config_optional(ConfigKey::DesktopBrowserCardColumns)
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| {
-                vec![
-                    "noteFld".to_string(),
-                    "template".to_string(),
-                    "cardDue".to_string(),
-                    "deck".to_string(),
-                ]
-            })
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn get_desktop_browser_note_columns(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+    pub(crate) fn set_desktop_browser_card_columns(
+        &mut self,
+        columns: Vec<browser_table::Column>,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        self.set_config(ConfigKey::DesktopBrowserCardColumns, &columns)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn get_desktop_browser_note_columns(&self) -> Option<Vec<browser_table::Column>> {
         self.get_config_optional(ConfigKey::DesktopBrowserNoteColumns)
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| {
-                vec![
-                    "noteFld".to_string(),
-                    "note".to_string(),
-                    "noteTags".to_string(),
-                    "noteMod".to_string(),
-                ]
-            })
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn set_desktop_browser_note_columns(
+        &mut self,
+        columns: Vec<browser_table::Column>,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        self.set_config(ConfigKey::DesktopBrowserNoteColumns, &columns)
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn get_creation_utc_offset(&self) -> Option<i32> {
diff --git a/rslib/src/lib.rs b/rslib/src/lib.rs
index 0795fdc38..a277e6cb0 100644
--- a/rslib/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 pub mod adding;
 pub mod backend;
 mod backend_proto;
-pub mod browser_rows;
+pub mod browser_table;
 pub mod card;
 pub mod cloze;
 pub mod collection;