diff --git a/lib/doc/UserGuide.lyx b/lib/doc/UserGuide.lyx
index 1d0104a1de..82d588786d 100644
--- a/lib/doc/UserGuide.lyx
+++ b/lib/doc/UserGuide.lyx
@@ -8751,14 +8751,12 @@ Verbatim
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim
-
 This is Verbatim.
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim
 \noindent
 \align block
-
 The following 2 lines are empty:
 \end_layout
 
@@ -8771,7 +8769,6 @@ The following 2 lines are empty:
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim
-
 Almost everything is allowed in Verbatim:"%&$§#~'`
 \backslash
 }][{|
@@ -8795,7 +8792,6 @@ Verbatim
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim*
-
 This is Verbatim*.
 \end_layout
 
@@ -41119,13 +41115,41 @@ Command
 
 Buffer
 \family default
- can be turned on and off.
+ can be turned 
+\emph on
+on
+\emph default
+ and 
+\emph on
+off
+\emph default
+.
  The 
 \emph on
 on
 \emph default
  state is denoted in the menu with a checkmark.
- The 
+
+\change_deleted -712698321 1608195495
+ 
+\change_inserted -712698321 1608195492
+
+\end_layout
+
+\begin_layout Standard
+The
+\change_inserted -712698321 1608195407
+ 
+\family sans
+Phonetic
+\begin_inset space ~
+\end_inset
+
+Symbols
+\family default
+,
+\change_unchanged
+ 
 \family sans
 Table
 \family default
@@ -41156,12 +41180,34 @@ Panels
  toolbars can additionally be set to the state 
 \emph on
 automatic
+\change_deleted -712698321 1608195728
+
 \emph default
-, denoted in the menu with the suffix 
+, 
+\change_inserted -712698321 1608196033
+.
+ The state of these toolbars is set and indicated in a submenu which lets
+ you select 
+\family sans
+On
+\family default
+, 
+\family sans
+Off
+\family default
+, and 
+\family sans
+Automatic
+\family default
+.
+\change_deleted -712698321 1608195563
+denoted in the menu with the suffix 
 \family sans
 (auto)
 \family default
 .
+\change_unchanged
+
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Standard
@@ -41169,7 +41215,15 @@ In the
 \emph on
 on
 \emph default
- state the toolbar is permanently shown; in the 
+ state the toolbar is permanently shown
+\change_inserted -712698321 1608195803
+, in the 
+\emph on
+off
+\emph default
+ state it is never shown
+\change_unchanged
+; in the 
 \emph on
 automatic
 \emph default
@@ -41177,7 +41231,11 @@ automatic
  or when a certain feature is enabled.
  That means that the review toolbar will only be shown if change tracking
  is activated, the math and table toolbars are only shown if the cursor
- is inside a formula or table respectively.
+ is inside a formula or table respectively
+\change_inserted -712698321 1608195857
+, the phonetic symbols toolbar only in the phonetic symbols environment
+\change_unchanged
+.
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Standard
diff --git a/lib/doc/de/UserGuide.lyx b/lib/doc/de/UserGuide.lyx
index 105eb51c2e..dfe5702533 100644
--- a/lib/doc/de/UserGuide.lyx
+++ b/lib/doc/de/UserGuide.lyx
@@ -8649,10 +8649,12 @@ Unformatiert
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim
+
 Dies ist Unformatiert.
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim
+
 Die folgenden 2 Zeilen sind leer:
 \end_layout
 
@@ -8665,6 +8667,7 @@ Die folgenden 2 Zeilen sind leer:
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim
+
 Fast alles ist in Unformatiert erlaubt:"%&$§#~'`
 \backslash
 }][{|
@@ -8688,6 +8691,7 @@ Unformatiert
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Verbatim*
+
 Dies ist Unformatiert*.
 \end_layout
 
@@ -38548,12 +38552,16 @@ enen Werkzeugleisten eingestellt werden.
 Befehlseingabefenster
 \family default
  können an- und ausgeschaltet werden.
- Der Zustand 
+ Der Status 
 \emph on
 an
 \emph default
  ist im Menü mit einem Häkchen gekennzeichnet.
- Die Werkzeugleisten 
+ 
+\end_layout
+
+\begin_layout Standard
+Die Werkzeugleisten 
 \family sans
 Überarbeiten
 \family default
@@ -38571,29 +38579,36 @@ Kontrollflächen
 \family default
 , 
 \family sans
-Mathe-Makros
+Mathe-Makros,
 \family default
- und 
+ 
 \family sans
 Mathe
 \family default
- können zusätzlich auf den Zustand 
+ und 
+\family sans
+Phonetische Symbole
+\family default
+ können zusätzlich auf den Status 
 \emph on
 automatisch
 \emph default
- gesetzt werden, der im Menü mit dem Suffix 
-\family sans
-(automatisch)
-\family default
- gekennzeichnet ist.
+ gesetzt werden.
+ Der Status dieser Werkzeugleisten wird in einem Untermenü mit den Einträgen
+ Ein, Aus und Automatisch gesetzt und angezeigt.
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Standard
-Im Zustand 
+Im Status 
 \emph on
 an
 \emph default
- wird die Werkzeugleiste permanent angezeigt, im Zustand 
+ wird die Werkzeugleiste permanent angezeigt, im Status 
+\emph on
+aus
+\emph default
+ nie.
+ Im Zustand 
 \emph on
 automatisch
 \emph default
@@ -38603,13 +38618,18 @@ automatisch
 \family sans
 Überarbeiten
 \family default
- nur angezeigt wird, wenn Änderungsverfolgung aktiviert ist, die Mathe und
- Tabellen Werkzeugleisten werden nur angezeigt, wenn der Cursor in einer
+ nur angezeigt wird, wenn Änderungsverfolgung aktiviert ist, die Mathe-
+ und Tabellen-Werkzeugleisten werden nur angezeigt, wenn der Cursor in einer
  Formel bzw.
 \begin_inset space \space{}
 \end_inset
 
-Tabelle ist.
+Tabelle ist, die Werkzeugleiste mit phonetischen Symbolen nur in der Einfügung
+ 
+\emph on
+Phonetische Symbole
+\emph default
+.
 \end_layout
 
 \begin_layout Standard
diff --git a/src/FuncCode.h b/src/FuncCode.h
index 391faf71ce..6b970fb579 100644
--- a/src/FuncCode.h
+++ b/src/FuncCode.h
@@ -491,6 +491,8 @@ enum FuncCode
 	LFUN_IF_RELATIVES,              // spitz 20200102
 	LFUN_WINDOW_RAISE,              // forenr, 20202104
 	LFUN_CITATION_OPEN,             // sanda, 20200815
+	LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET,               // spitz 20201217
+	// 385
 	LFUN_LASTACTION                 // end of the table
 };
 
diff --git a/src/LyXAction.cpp b/src/LyXAction.cpp
index 25bf0493c6..462e397d3a 100644
--- a/src/LyXAction.cpp
+++ b/src/LyXAction.cpp
@@ -3975,6 +3975,19 @@ void LyXAction::init()
 */
 		{ LFUN_TOOLBAR_MOVABLE, "toolbar-movable", NoBuffer, Buffer },
 
+/*!
+ * \var lyx::FuncCode lyx::LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET
+ * \li Action: Sets visibility of a given toolbar to on, off, or auto.
+ * \li Notion: Skipping "auto" when allowauto is false.
+ * \li Syntax: toolbar-set <NAME> [on|off|auto]
+ * \li Params: <NAME>: standard|extra|table|math|mathmacrotemplate|\n
+		       minibuffer|review|view/update|math_panels|vcs|
+		       view-others|update-others
+ * \li Origin: spitz, 17 Dec 2020
+ * \endvar
+ */
+		{ LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET, "toolbar-set", NoBuffer, Buffer },
+
 /*!
  * \var lyx::FuncCode lyx::LFUN_TOOLBAR_TOGGLE
  * \li Action: Toggles visibility of a given toolbar between on/off/auto.
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.cpp b/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.cpp
index 4e906e5e71..5600f4a74f 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.cpp
@@ -611,36 +611,51 @@ bool GuiToolbar::isVisibiltyOn() const
 }
 
 
-void GuiToolbar::toggle()
+void GuiToolbar::setState(string const state)
 {
-	docstring state;
-	if (visibility_ & Toolbars::ALLOWAUTO) {
-		if (!(visibility_ & Toolbars::AUTO)) {
+	docstring newstate;
+	if (state == "auto") {
+		if (visibility_ & Toolbars::ALLOWAUTO) {
 			visibility_ |= Toolbars::AUTO;
 			hide();
-			state = _("auto");
-		} else {
-			visibility_ &= ~Toolbars::AUTO;
-			if (isVisible()) {
-				hide();
-				state = _("off");
-			} else {
-				show();
-				state = _("on");
-			}
-		}
+			newstate = _("auto");
+		} else
+			owner_.message(bformat(_("Toolbar \"%1$s\" does not support state \"auto\""),
+				qstring_to_ucs4(windowTitle())));
 	} else {
-		if (isVisible()) {
+		if (visibility_ & Toolbars::AUTO)
+			visibility_ &= ~Toolbars::AUTO;
+		if (state == "off") {
 			hide();
-			state = _("off");
-		} else {
+			newstate = _("off");
+		} else if (state == "on") {
 			show();
-			state = _("on");
+			newstate = _("on");
 		}
 	}
 
 	owner_.message(bformat(_("Toolbar \"%1$s\" state set to %2$s"),
-		qstring_to_ucs4(windowTitle()), state));
+		qstring_to_ucs4(windowTitle()), newstate));
+}
+
+
+void GuiToolbar::toggle()
+{
+	if (visibility_ & Toolbars::ALLOWAUTO) {
+		if (!(visibility_ & Toolbars::AUTO) && !isVisibiltyOn()) {
+			setState("auto");
+		} else {
+			if (isVisibiltyOn())
+				setState("off");
+			else
+				setState("on");
+		}
+	} else {
+		if (isVisible())
+			setState("off");
+		else
+			setState("on");
+	}
 }
 
 void GuiToolbar::movable(bool silent)
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.h b/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.h
index aebc9e2844..262b09ef07 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt/GuiToolbar.h
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ public:
 	/// Refresh the contents of the bar.
 	void update(int context = 0);
 
+	///
+	void setState(std::string const state);
 	///
 	void toggle();
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt/GuiView.cpp b/src/frontends/qt/GuiView.cpp
index 6f50a15d57..1643493c08 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt/GuiView.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt/GuiView.cpp
@@ -2117,6 +2117,41 @@ bool GuiView::getStatus(FuncRequest const & cmd, FuncStatus & flag)
 		flag.setOnOff(devel_mode_);
 		break;
 
+	case LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET: {
+		string const name = cmd.getArg(0);
+		string const state = cmd.getArg(1);
+		if (name.empty() || state.empty()) {
+			enable = false;
+			docstring const msg =
+				_("Function toolbar-set requires two arguments!");
+			flag.message(msg);
+			break;
+		}
+		if (state != "on" && state != "off" && state != "auto") {
+			enable = false;
+			docstring const msg =
+				bformat(_("Invalid argument \"%1$s\" to function toolbar-set!"),
+					from_utf8(state));
+			flag.message(msg);
+			break;
+		}
+		if (GuiToolbar * t = toolbar(name)) {
+			bool const autovis = t->visibility() & Toolbars::AUTO;
+			if (state == "on")
+				flag.setOnOff(t->isVisible() && !autovis);
+			else if (state == "off")
+				flag.setOnOff(!t->isVisible() && !autovis);
+			else if (state == "auto")
+				flag.setOnOff(autovis);
+		} else {
+			enable = false;
+			docstring const msg =
+				bformat(_("Unknown toolbar \"%1$s\""), from_utf8(name));
+			flag.message(msg);
+		}
+		break;
+	}
+
 	case LFUN_TOOLBAR_TOGGLE: {
 		string const name = cmd.getArg(0);
 		if (GuiToolbar * t = toolbar(name))
@@ -4275,6 +4310,14 @@ void GuiView::dispatch(FuncRequest const & cmd, DispatchResult & dr)
 				dr.setMessage(_("Developer mode is now disabled."));
 			break;
 
+		case LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET: {
+			string const name = cmd.getArg(0);
+			string const state = cmd.getArg(1);
+			if (GuiToolbar * t = toolbar(name))
+				t->setState(state);
+			break;
+		}
+
 		case LFUN_TOOLBAR_TOGGLE: {
 			string const name = cmd.getArg(0);
 			if (GuiToolbar * t = toolbar(name))
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt/Menus.cpp b/src/frontends/qt/Menus.cpp
index c30b73807c..266fb68d30 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt/Menus.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt/Menus.cpp
@@ -1415,8 +1415,19 @@ void MenuDefinition::expandToolbars()
 	Toolbars::Infos::const_iterator cit = guiApp->toolbars().begin();
 	Toolbars::Infos::const_iterator end = guiApp->toolbars().end();
 	for (; cit != end; ++cit) {
-		MenuItem const item(MenuItem::Command, toqstr(cit->gui_name),
-				FuncRequest(LFUN_TOOLBAR_TOGGLE, cit->name));
+		MenuItem item(MenuItem::Command, toqstr(cit->gui_name),
+			      FuncRequest(LFUN_TOOLBAR_TOGGLE, cit->name));
+		if (cit->allow_auto) {
+			MenuDefinition tristate;
+			tristate.add(MenuItem(MenuItem::Command, qt_("[[Toolbar]]On|O"),
+					      FuncRequest(LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET, cit->name + " on")));
+			tristate.add(MenuItem(MenuItem::Command, qt_("[[Toolbar]]Off|f"),
+					      FuncRequest(LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET, cit->name + " off")));
+			tristate.add(MenuItem(MenuItem::Command, qt_("[[Toolbar]]Automatic|A"),
+					      FuncRequest(LFUN_TOOLBAR_SET, cit->name + " auto")));
+			item = MenuItem(MenuItem::Submenu,toqstr(cit->gui_name));
+			item.setSubmenu(tristate);
+		}
 		if (guiApp->toolbars().isMainToolbar(cit->name))
 			add(item);
 		else
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.cpp b/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.cpp
index 7d29344732..cf184ae9e2 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.cpp
@@ -405,8 +405,7 @@ void Toolbars::readToolbarSettings(Lexer & lex)
 
 		if (visibility & ALLOWAUTO) {
 			if (ToolbarInfo const * ti = info(name))
-				const_cast<ToolbarInfo *>(ti)->gui_name +=
-					" (" + _("auto") + ")";
+				const_cast<ToolbarInfo *>(ti)->allow_auto = true;
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.h b/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.h
index 2d9213986c..be621c9db8 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt/Toolbars.h
@@ -80,12 +80,14 @@ public:
 	typedef Items::const_iterator item_iterator;
 
 	explicit ToolbarInfo(std::string const & name = std::string())
-		: name(name) {}
+		: name(name), allow_auto(false) {}
 
 	/// toolbar name
 	std::string name;
 	/// toolbar GUI name
 	docstring gui_name;
+	/// allows auto visibility
+	bool allow_auto;
 	/// toolbar contents
 	Items items;