diff --git a/qt/aqt/main.py b/qt/aqt/main.py
index 8940065b2..e9368440f 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/main.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/main.py
@@ -396,6 +396,15 @@ close the profile or restart Anki."""
     def setupSound(self) -> None:
         aqt.sound.setup_audio(self.taskman, self.pm.base)
 
+    def process_av_tags(self, text: str) -> Tuple[str, List[AVTag]]:
+        "Return card text with play buttons added, and the extracted AV tags."
+        tags = self.col.backend.get_av_tags(text)
+        if self.pm.profile.get("showPlayButtons", True):
+            text = aqt.sound.av_flags_to_html(self.col.backend.flag_av_tags(text))
+        else:
+            text = self.col.backend.strip_av_tags(text)
+        return (text, tags)
+
     # Collection load/unload
     ##########################################################################
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/preferences.py b/qt/aqt/preferences.py
index a789ec236..669c828ad 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/preferences.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/preferences.py
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ Not currently enabled; click the sync button in the main window to enable."""
         self.form.pastePNG.setChecked(self.prof.get("pastePNG", False))
         self.form.uiScale.setValue(self.mw.pm.uiScale() * 100)
         self.form.pasteInvert.setChecked(self.prof.get("pasteInvert", False))
+        self.form.showPlayButtons.setChecked(self.prof.get("showPlayButtons", True))
 
     def updateOptions(self):
         self.prof["pastePNG"] = self.form.pastePNG.isChecked()
@@ -234,3 +235,4 @@ Not currently enabled; click the sync button in the main window to enable."""
         if newScale != self.mw.pm.uiScale():
             self.mw.pm.setUiScale(newScale)
             showInfo(_("Changes will take effect when you restart Anki."))
+        self.prof["showPlayButtons"] = self.form.showPlayButtons.isChecked()
diff --git a/qt/aqt/reviewer.py b/qt/aqt/reviewer.py
index 5ee5ec3ec..3091fea4d 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/reviewer.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/reviewer.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from anki.sound import AVTag
 from anki.utils import bodyClass, stripHTML
 from aqt import AnkiQt, gui_hooks
 from aqt.qt import *
-from aqt.sound import av_player, getAudio, process_av_tags
+from aqt.sound import av_player, getAudio
 from aqt.utils import (
     askUserDialog,
     downArrow,
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ The front of this card is empty. Please run Tools>Empty Cards."""
         else:
             q = c.q()
 
-        q, self._current_side_audio = process_av_tags(self.mw.col, q)
+        q, self._current_side_audio = self.mw.process_av_tags(q)
         if self.autoplay(c):
             av_player.play_tags(self._current_side_audio)
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ The front of this card is empty. Please run Tools>Empty Cards."""
         c = self.card
         a = c.a()
         # play audio?
-        a, self._current_side_audio = process_av_tags(self.mw.col, a)
+        a, self._current_side_audio = self.mw.process_av_tags(a)
         if self.autoplay(c):
             av_player.play_tags(self._current_side_audio)
         a = self._mungeQA(a)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/sound.py b/qt/aqt/sound.py
index 9f46b0ede..1d71c6589 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/sound.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/sound.py
@@ -585,17 +585,6 @@ for (k, v) in _exports:
 # Tag handling
 ##########################################################################
 
-
-def process_av_tags(
-    col: anki.storage._Collection, text: str
-) -> Tuple[str, List[AVTag]]:
-    "Return card text with play buttons added, and the extracted AV tags."
-    return (
-        av_flags_to_html(col.backend.flag_av_tags(text)),
-        col.backend.get_av_tags(text),
-    )
-
-
 AV_FLAG_RE = re.compile(r"\[anki:play\](\d+)\[/anki:play]")
 
 
diff --git a/qt/designer/preferences.ui b/qt/designer/preferences.ui
index bcbc77e73..2f638ceb3 100644
--- a/qt/designer/preferences.ui
+++ b/qt/designer/preferences.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>423</width>
-    <height>508</height>
+    <width>422</width>
+    <height>579</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="showPlayButtons">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Show play buttons on cards with audio</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
        <item>
         <widget class="QCheckBox" name="pastePNG">
          <property name="text">
@@ -514,6 +521,7 @@
   <tabstop>hwAccel</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showEstimates</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showProgress</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>showPlayButtons</tabstop>
   <tabstop>pastePNG</tabstop>
   <tabstop>pasteInvert</tabstop>
   <tabstop>nightMode</tabstop>