diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp
index cc98eda78..2769c8b59 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp
@@ -930,7 +930,10 @@ void GameListModel::setColumnDisplayNames()
 class GameListSortModel final : public QSortFilterProxyModel
 {
 public:
-  explicit GameListSortModel(GameListModel* parent) : QSortFilterProxyModel(parent), m_model(parent) {}
+  explicit GameListSortModel(GameListModel* parent) : QSortFilterProxyModel(parent), m_model(parent)
+  {
+    m_merge_disc_sets = Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListMergeDiscSets", true);
+  }
 
   bool isMergingDiscSets() const { return m_merge_disc_sets; }
 
@@ -945,11 +948,13 @@ public:
     m_filter_type = type;
     invalidateRowsFilter();
   }
+
   void setFilterRegion(DiscRegion region)
   {
     m_filter_region = region;
     invalidateRowsFilter();
   }
+
   void setFilterName(std::string name)
   {
     m_filter_name = std::move(name);
@@ -1133,16 +1138,14 @@ GameListWidget::GameListWidget(QWidget* parent /* = nullptr */) : QWidget(parent
 
 GameListWidget::~GameListWidget() = default;
 
-void GameListWidget::initialize()
+void GameListWidget::initialize(QAction* actionGameList, QAction* actionGameGrid, QAction* actionMergeDiscSets,
+                                QAction* actionListShowIcons, QAction* actionGridShowTitles)
 {
-  const bool merge_disc_sets = Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListMergeDiscSets", true);
-
   m_model = new GameListModel(this);
   connect(m_model, &GameListModel::coverScaleChanged, this, &GameListWidget::onCoverScaleChanged);
 
   m_sort_model = new GameListSortModel(m_model);
   m_sort_model->setSourceModel(m_model);
-  m_sort_model->setMergeDiscSets(merge_disc_sets);
 
   m_ui.setupUi(this);
   for (u32 type = 0; type < static_cast<u32>(GameList::EntryType::MaxCount); type++)
@@ -1168,11 +1171,12 @@ void GameListWidget::initialize()
   m_empty_ui.supportedFormats->setText(qApp->translate("GameListWidget", SUPPORTED_FORMATS_STRING));
   m_ui.stack->insertWidget(2, m_empty_widget);
 
-  connect(m_ui.viewGameList, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &GameListWidget::showGameList);
-  connect(m_ui.viewGameGrid, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &GameListWidget::showGameGrid);
+  m_ui.viewGameList->setDefaultAction(actionGameList);
+  m_ui.viewGameGrid->setDefaultAction(actionGameGrid);
+  m_ui.viewMergeDiscSets->setDefaultAction(actionMergeDiscSets);
+  m_ui.viewGridTitles->setDefaultAction(actionGridShowTitles);
+
   connect(m_ui.gridScale, &QSlider::valueChanged, m_grid_view, &GameListGridView::setZoomPct);
-  connect(m_ui.viewGridTitles, &QPushButton::toggled, this, &GameListWidget::setShowCoverTitles);
-  connect(m_ui.viewMergeDiscSets, &QPushButton::toggled, this, &GameListWidget::setMergeDiscSets);
   connect(m_ui.filterType, &QComboBox::currentIndexChanged, this, [this](int index) {
     m_sort_model->setFilterType((index == 0) ? GameList::EntryType::MaxCount :
                                                static_cast<GameList::EntryType>(index - 1));
@@ -1199,13 +1203,16 @@ void GameListWidget::initialize()
 
   const bool grid_view = Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListGridView", false);
   if (grid_view)
-    m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(1);
+    actionGameGrid->setChecked(true);
   else
-    m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(0);
-  setFocusProxy(grid_view ? static_cast<QWidget*>(m_grid_view) : static_cast<QWidget*>(m_list_view));
+    actionGameList->setChecked(true);
+  actionMergeDiscSets->setChecked(m_sort_model->isMergingDiscSets());
+  actionListShowIcons->setChecked(m_model->getShowGameIcons());
+  actionGridShowTitles->setChecked(m_model->getShowCoverTitles());
+  onCoverScaleChanged(m_model->getCoverScale());
 
-  updateToolbar();
-  resizeListViewColumnsToFit();
+  updateView(grid_view);
+  updateToolbar(grid_view);
   updateBackground(true);
 }
 
@@ -1219,21 +1226,6 @@ bool GameListWidget::isShowingGameGrid() const
   return m_ui.stack->currentIndex() == 1;
 }
 
-bool GameListWidget::isShowingGridCoverTitles() const
-{
-  return m_model->getShowCoverTitles();
-}
-
-bool GameListWidget::isMergingDiscSets() const
-{
-  return m_sort_model->isMergingDiscSets();
-}
-
-bool GameListWidget::isShowingGameIcons() const
-{
-  return m_model->getShowGameIcons();
-}
-
 void GameListWidget::refresh(bool invalidate_cache)
 {
   cancelRefresh();
@@ -1317,8 +1309,8 @@ void GameListWidget::onRefreshProgress(const QString& status, int current, int t
   if (m_ui.stack->currentIndex() == 2)
   {
     const bool grid_view = Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListGridView", false);
-    m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(grid_view ? 1 : 0);
-    setFocusProxy(grid_view ? static_cast<QWidget*>(m_grid_view) : static_cast<QWidget*>(m_list_view));
+    updateView(grid_view);
+    updateToolbar(grid_view);
   }
 
   if (!m_model->hasTakenGameList() || time >= SHORT_REFRESH_TIME)
@@ -1417,68 +1409,42 @@ void GameListWidget::onSearchReturnPressed()
 
 void GameListWidget::showGameList()
 {
-  if (m_ui.stack->currentIndex() == 0 || m_model->rowCount() == 0)
-  {
-    updateToolbar();
+  if (isShowingGameList())
     return;
-  }
 
   Host::SetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListGridView", false);
   Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
-  m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(0);
-  setFocusProxy(m_list_view);
-  resizeListViewColumnsToFit();
-  updateToolbar();
-  emit layoutChanged();
+
+  // keep showing the placeholder widget if we have no games
+  if (m_model->rowCount() > 0)
+    updateView(false);
+
+  updateToolbar(false);
 }
 
 void GameListWidget::showGameGrid()
 {
-  if (m_ui.stack->currentIndex() == 1 || m_model->rowCount() == 0)
-  {
-    updateToolbar();
+  if (isShowingGameGrid())
     return;
-  }
 
   Host::SetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListGridView", true);
   Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
-  m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(1);
-  setFocusProxy(m_grid_view);
-  updateToolbar();
-  emit layoutChanged();
-}
 
-void GameListWidget::setShowCoverTitles(bool enabled)
-{
-  if (m_model->getShowCoverTitles() == enabled)
-  {
-    updateToolbar();
-    return;
-  }
+  // keep showing the placeholder widget if we have no games
+  if (m_model->rowCount() > 0)
+    updateView(true);
 
-  Host::SetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListShowCoverTitles", enabled);
-  Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
-  m_model->setShowCoverTitles(enabled);
-  m_grid_view->updateLayout();
-  if (isShowingGameGrid())
-    m_model->refresh();
-  updateToolbar();
-  emit layoutChanged();
+  updateToolbar(true);
 }
 
 void GameListWidget::setMergeDiscSets(bool enabled)
 {
   if (m_sort_model->isMergingDiscSets() == enabled)
-  {
-    updateToolbar();
     return;
-  }
 
   Host::SetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListMergeDiscSets", enabled);
   Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
   m_sort_model->setMergeDiscSets(enabled);
-  updateToolbar();
-  emit layoutChanged();
 }
 
 void GameListWidget::setShowGameIcons(bool enabled)
@@ -1491,30 +1457,36 @@ void GameListWidget::setShowGameIcons(bool enabled)
   m_model->setShowGameIcons(enabled);
 }
 
-void GameListWidget::updateToolbar()
+void GameListWidget::setShowCoverTitles(bool enabled)
 {
-  const bool grid_view = isShowingGameGrid();
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.viewGameGrid);
-    m_ui.viewGameGrid->setChecked(grid_view);
-  }
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.viewGameList);
-    m_ui.viewGameList->setChecked(!grid_view);
-  }
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.viewGridTitles);
-    m_ui.viewGridTitles->setChecked(m_model->getShowCoverTitles());
-  }
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.viewMergeDiscSets);
-    m_ui.viewMergeDiscSets->setChecked(m_sort_model->isMergingDiscSets());
-  }
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.gridScale);
-    m_ui.gridScale->setValue(static_cast<int>(m_model->getCoverScale() * 100.0f));
-  }
+  if (m_model->getShowCoverTitles() == enabled)
+    return;
 
+  Host::SetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "GameListShowCoverTitles", enabled);
+  Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
+  m_model->setShowCoverTitles(enabled);
+  m_grid_view->updateLayout();
+  if (isShowingGameGrid())
+    m_model->refresh();
+}
+
+void GameListWidget::updateView(bool grid_view)
+{
+  if (grid_view)
+  {
+    m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(1);
+    setFocusProxy(m_grid_view);
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    m_ui.stack->setCurrentIndex(0);
+    setFocusProxy(m_list_view);
+    resizeListViewColumnsToFit();
+  }
+}
+
+void GameListWidget::updateToolbar(bool grid_view)
+{
   m_ui.viewGridTitles->setEnabled(grid_view);
   m_ui.gridScale->setEnabled(grid_view);
 }
@@ -1538,7 +1510,7 @@ void GameListWidget::resizeListViewColumnsToFit()
 
 const GameList::Entry* GameListWidget::getSelectedEntry() const
 {
-  if (m_ui.stack->currentIndex() == 0)
+  if (isShowingGameList())
   {
     const QItemSelectionModel* selection_model = m_list_view->selectionModel();
     if (!selection_model->hasSelection())
@@ -1727,7 +1699,7 @@ void GameListListView::onHeaderContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& point)
     QAction* action = menu.addAction(m_model->getColumnDisplayName(column));
     action->setCheckable(true);
     action->setChecked(!isColumnHidden(column));
-    connect(action, &QAction::toggled, [this, column](bool enabled) {
+    connect(action, &QAction::triggered, [this, column](bool enabled) {
       setAndSaveColumnHidden(column, !enabled);
       resizeColumnsToFit();
     });
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h
index ec5262985..174ffeb63 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ public:
   ALWAYS_INLINE GameListListView* getListView() const { return m_list_view; }
   ALWAYS_INLINE GameListGridView* getGridView() const { return m_grid_view; }
 
-  void initialize();
+  void initialize(QAction* actionGameList, QAction* actionGameGrid, QAction* actionMergeDiscSets,
+                  QAction* actionListShowIcons, QAction* actionGridShowTitles);
   void resizeListViewColumnsToFit();
 
   void refresh(bool invalidate_cache);
@@ -232,9 +233,6 @@ public:
 
   bool isShowingGameList() const;
   bool isShowingGameGrid() const;
-  bool isShowingGridCoverTitles() const;
-  bool isMergingDiscSets() const;
-  bool isShowingGameIcons() const;
 
   const GameList::Entry* getSelectedEntry() const;
 
@@ -247,7 +245,6 @@ Q_SIGNALS:
   void entryContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& point);
 
   void addGameDirectoryRequested();
-  void layoutChanged();
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
   void onRefreshProgress(const QString& status, int current, int total, float time);
@@ -265,9 +262,9 @@ private Q_SLOTS:
 public Q_SLOTS:
   void showGameList();
   void showGameGrid();
-  void setShowCoverTitles(bool enabled);
   void setMergeDiscSets(bool enabled);
   void setShowGameIcons(bool enabled);
+  void setShowCoverTitles(bool enabled);
   void refreshGridCovers();
   void focusSearchWidget();
 
@@ -275,7 +272,8 @@ protected:
   void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent* event);
 
 private:
-  void updateToolbar();
+  void updateView(bool grid_view);
+  void updateToolbar(bool grid_view);
 
   Ui::GameListWidget m_ui;
 
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.ui b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.ui
index 6c08dba6d..30ee5fbc6 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.ui
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.ui
@@ -54,9 +54,6 @@
        <property name="text">
         <string>Game List</string>
        </property>
-       <property name="icon">
-        <iconset theme="list-check"/>
-       </property>
        <property name="checkable">
         <bool>true</bool>
        </property>
@@ -76,9 +73,6 @@
        <property name="text">
         <string>Game Grid</string>
        </property>
-       <property name="icon">
-        <iconset theme="function-line"/>
-       </property>
        <property name="checkable">
         <bool>true</bool>
        </property>
@@ -98,9 +92,6 @@
        <property name="text">
         <string>Merge Multi-Disc Games</string>
        </property>
-       <property name="icon">
-        <iconset theme="play-list-2-line"/>
-       </property>
        <property name="checkable">
         <bool>true</bool>
        </property>
@@ -120,9 +111,6 @@
        <property name="text">
         <string>Show Titles</string>
        </property>
-       <property name="icon">
-        <iconset theme="price-tag-3-line"/>
-       </property>
        <property name="checkable">
         <bool>true</bool>
        </property>
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
index e3bcdc093..dc3e83e99 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ void MainWindow::createDisplayWidget(bool fullscreen, bool render_to_main, bool
     AssertMsg(m_ui.mainContainer->count() == 1, "Has no display widget");
     m_ui.mainContainer->addWidget(container);
     m_ui.mainContainer->setCurrentIndex(1);
+    m_ui.actionViewSystemDisplay->setChecked(true);
   }
 
   updateDisplayRelatedActions(true, render_to_main, fullscreen);
@@ -460,7 +461,10 @@ void MainWindow::destroyDisplayWidget(bool show_game_list)
       if (show_game_list)
       {
         m_ui.mainContainer->setCurrentIndex(0);
-        m_game_list_widget->resizeListViewColumnsToFit();
+        if (m_game_list_widget->isShowingGameGrid())
+          m_ui.actionViewGameGrid->setChecked(true);
+        else
+          m_ui.actionViewGameList->setChecked(true);
       }
     }
 
@@ -542,6 +546,7 @@ void MainWindow::onSystemStarted()
   m_was_disc_change_request = false;
   s_system_starting = false;
   s_system_valid = true;
+
   updateEmulationActions(false, true, s_achievements_hardcore_mode);
   updateWindowTitle();
   updateStatusBarWidgetVisibility();
@@ -1383,14 +1388,14 @@ void MainWindow::onViewStatusBarActionToggled(bool checked)
 
 void MainWindow::onViewGameListActionTriggered()
 {
-  switchToGameListView();
   m_game_list_widget->showGameList();
+  switchToGameListView();
 }
 
 void MainWindow::onViewGameGridActionTriggered()
 {
-  switchToGameListView();
   m_game_list_widget->showGameGrid();
+  switchToGameListView();
 }
 
 void MainWindow::onViewSystemDisplayTriggered()
@@ -1443,25 +1448,6 @@ void MainWindow::onGameListRefreshComplete()
   clearProgressBar();
 }
 
-void MainWindow::onGameListLayoutChanged()
-{
-  // re-sync with menu
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.actionGridViewShowTitles);
-    m_ui.actionGridViewShowTitles->setChecked(m_game_list_widget->isShowingGridCoverTitles());
-  }
-
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.actionMergeDiscSets);
-    m_ui.actionMergeDiscSets->setChecked(m_game_list_widget->isMergingDiscSets());
-  }
-
-  {
-    QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.actionShowGameIcons);
-    m_ui.actionShowGameIcons->setChecked(m_game_list_widget->isShowingGameIcons());
-  }
-}
-
 void MainWindow::onGameListSelectionChanged()
 {
   auto lock = GameList::GetLock();
@@ -1735,8 +1721,15 @@ void MainWindow::setupAdditionalUi()
   m_ui.actionViewToolbarLabelsBesideIcons->setChecked(
     Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("UI", "ToolbarLabelsBesideIcons", false));
 
+  // mutually exclusive actions
+  QActionGroup* group = new QActionGroup(this);
+  group->addAction(m_ui.actionViewGameList);
+  group->addAction(m_ui.actionViewGameGrid);
+  group->addAction(m_ui.actionViewSystemDisplay);
+
   m_game_list_widget = new GameListWidget(m_ui.mainContainer);
-  m_game_list_widget->initialize();
+  m_game_list_widget->initialize(m_ui.actionViewGameList, m_ui.actionViewGameGrid, m_ui.actionMergeDiscSets,
+                                 m_ui.actionShowGameIcons, m_ui.actionGridViewShowTitles);
   m_ui.mainContainer->addWidget(m_game_list_widget);
 
   m_status_progress_widget = new QProgressBar(m_ui.statusBar);
@@ -1774,7 +1767,6 @@ void MainWindow::setupAdditionalUi()
     connect(action, &QAction::triggered, [scale]() { g_emu_thread->requestDisplaySize(scale); });
   }
 
-  onGameListLayoutChanged();
   updateDebugMenuVisibility();
 
   m_shortcuts.open_file = new QShortcut(QKeySequence::Open, this, this, &MainWindow::onStartFileActionTriggered);
@@ -2154,7 +2146,7 @@ void MainWindow::switchToEmulationView()
   if (!wantsDisplayWidget() || !isShowingGameList())
     return;
 
-  // we're no longer surfaceless! this will call back to UpdateDisplay(), which will swap the widget out.
+  // we're no longer surfaceless! this will call back to acquireRenderWindow(), which will swap the widget out.
   g_emu_thread->setSurfaceless(false);
 
   // resume if we weren't paused at switch time
@@ -2313,7 +2305,6 @@ void MainWindow::connectSignals()
   // These need to be queued connections to stop crashing due to menus opening/closing and switching focus.
   connect(m_game_list_widget, &GameListWidget::refreshProgress, this, &MainWindow::onGameListRefreshProgress);
   connect(m_game_list_widget, &GameListWidget::refreshComplete, this, &MainWindow::onGameListRefreshComplete);
-  connect(m_game_list_widget, &GameListWidget::layoutChanged, this, &MainWindow::onGameListLayoutChanged);
   connect(m_game_list_widget, &GameListWidget::selectionChanged, this, &MainWindow::onGameListSelectionChanged,
           Qt::QueuedConnection);
   connect(m_game_list_widget, &GameListWidget::entryActivated, this, &MainWindow::onGameListEntryActivated,
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
index 41f375088..7debe1337 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
@@ -213,7 +213,6 @@ private Q_SLOTS:
 
   void onGameListRefreshComplete();
   void onGameListRefreshProgress(const QString& status, int current, int total);
-  void onGameListLayoutChanged();
   void onGameListSelectionChanged();
   void onGameListEntryActivated();
   void onGameListEntryContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& point);
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui
index 6b5ca5e0c..b092b01da 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui
@@ -743,9 +743,6 @@
    <property name="checkable">
     <bool>true</bool>
    </property>
-   <property name="checked">
-    <bool>false</bool>
-   </property>
    <property name="text">
     <string>Lock Toolbar</string>
    </property>
@@ -786,6 +783,9 @@
    </property>
   </action>
   <action name="actionViewGameList">
+   <property name="checkable">
+    <bool>true</bool>
+   </property>
    <property name="icon">
     <iconset theme="list-check"/>
    </property>
@@ -794,6 +794,9 @@
    </property>
   </action>
   <action name="actionViewSystemDisplay">
+   <property name="checkable">
+    <bool>true</bool>
+   </property>
    <property name="enabled">
     <bool>false</bool>
    </property>
@@ -826,6 +829,9 @@
    </property>
   </action>
   <action name="actionViewGameGrid">
+   <property name="checkable">
+    <bool>true</bool>
+   </property>
    <property name="icon">
     <iconset theme="function-line"/>
    </property>
@@ -840,6 +846,9 @@
    <property name="checked">
     <bool>true</bool>
    </property>
+   <property name="icon">
+    <iconset theme="play-list-2-line"/>
+   </property>
    <property name="text">
     <string>Merge Multi-Disc Games</string>
    </property>
@@ -851,9 +860,15 @@
    <property name="checked">
     <bool>true</bool>
    </property>
+   <property name="icon">
+    <iconset theme="price-tag-3-line"/>
+   </property>
    <property name="text">
     <string>Show Titles (Grid View)</string>
    </property>
+   <property name="toolTip">
+    <string>Show Titles</string>
+   </property>
   </action>
   <action name="actionGridViewZoomIn">
    <property name="text">