diff --git a/src/tribler/core/components/libtorrent/settings.py b/src/tribler/core/components/libtorrent/settings.py
index 1b6270bc7b5..12a369aaace 100644
--- a/src/tribler/core/components/libtorrent/settings.py
+++ b/src/tribler/core/components/libtorrent/settings.py
@@ -88,8 +88,6 @@ class DownloadDefaultsSettings(TriblerConfigSection):
     seeding_time: float = 60
     channel_download: bool = False
     add_download_to_channel: bool = False
-    remember_columns: bool = False
-    columns: str = ""
 
     @validator('number_hops')
     def validate_number_hops(cls, v):
diff --git a/src/tribler/gui/widgets/downloadspage.py b/src/tribler/gui/widgets/downloadspage.py
index 17ab49a85e9..fa71a0bd683 100644
--- a/src/tribler/gui/widgets/downloadspage.py
+++ b/src/tribler/gui/widgets/downloadspage.py
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ def showEvent(self, QShowEvent):
         """
         super().showEvent(QShowEvent)
         self.schedule_downloads_refresh(REFRESH_DOWNLOADS_SOON_INTERVAL_MSEC)
-        request_manager.get("settings", self.initialize_with_settings)
 
     def hideEvent(self, QHideEvent):
         super().hideEvent(QHideEvent)
@@ -101,20 +100,17 @@ def initialize_downloads_page(self):
         connect(self.window().downloads_filter_input.textChanged, self.on_filter_text_changed)
 
         self.window().downloads_list.header().setSortIndicator(12, Qt.AscendingOrder)
-        self.window().downloads_list.header().resizeSection(12, 146)
+        columns = self.window().gui_settings.value("remember_columns", "")
+        if columns == "":
+            self.window().downloads_list.header().resizeSection(12, 146)
+        else:
+            for kv in columns.split(","):
+                key, value = kv.split(":")
+                self.window().downloads_list.header().resizeSection(int(key), int(value))
 
         self.background_refresh_downloads_timer.setSingleShot(True)
         connect(self.background_refresh_downloads_timer.timeout, self.on_background_refresh_downloads_timer)
 
-    def initialize_with_settings(self, settings):
-        if not settings:
-            return
-        self.settings = settings = settings["settings"]
-        if settings['download_defaults']['remember_columns']:
-            for kv in settings['download_defaults']['columns'].split(","):
-                key, value = kv.split(":")
-                self.window().downloads_list.header().resizeSection(int(key), int(value))
-
     def on_filter_text_changed(self, text):
         self.window().downloads_list.clearSelection()
         self.window().download_details_widget.hide()