diff --git a/question/bank/columnsortorder/classes/column_manager.php b/question/bank/columnsortorder/classes/column_manager.php
index 534039384ac..5728aebbf6d 100644
--- a/question/bank/columnsortorder/classes/column_manager.php
+++ b/question/bank/columnsortorder/classes/column_manager.php
@@ -214,15 +214,12 @@ class column_manager extends column_manager_base {
      * @return array
      */
     public function get_disabled_columns(): array {
+        $result = $this->create_column_objects(array_keys($this->disabledcolumns));
         $disabled = [];
-        if ($this->disabledcolumns) {
-            foreach (array_keys($this->disabledcolumns) as $column) {
-                [$classname, $columnname] = explode(column_base::ID_SEPARATOR, $column, 2);
-                $columnobject = $classname::from_column_name($this->get_questionbank(), $columnname);
-                $disabled[$column] = (object) [
-                    'disabledname' => $columnobject->get_title(),
-                ];
-            }
+        foreach ($result as $column => $columnobject) {
+            $disabled[$column] = (object) [
+                'disabledname' => $columnobject->get_title(),
+            ];
         }
         return $disabled;
     }
@@ -368,11 +365,32 @@ class column_manager extends column_manager_base {
      * @return array
      */
     public function get_hidden_columns(): array {
-        return array_reduce($this->hiddencolumns, function($result, $hiddencolumn) {
-            [$columnclass, $columnname] = explode(column_base::ID_SEPARATOR, $hiddencolumn, 2);
-            $result[$hiddencolumn] = $columnclass::from_column_name($this->get_questionbank(), $columnname)->get_title();
-            return $result;
-        }, []);
+        $result = $this->create_column_objects($this->hiddencolumns);
+        $hidden = [];
+        foreach ($result as $column => $columnobject) {
+            $hidden[$column] = $columnobject->get_title();
+        }
+        return $hidden;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an array of column objects.
+     *
+     * @param array $columnsnames Array of columns.
+     * @return column_base[] Array of $columnsname => $columnobject
+     */
+    public function create_column_objects(array $columnsnames): array {
+        $result = [];
+        foreach ($columnsnames as $column) {
+            [$columnclass, $columnname] = explode(column_base::ID_SEPARATOR, $column, 2);
+            if (class_exists($columnclass)) {
+                $columnobject = $columnclass::from_column_name($this->get_questionbank(), $columnname, true);
+                if ($columnobject != null) {
+                    $result[$column] = $columnobject;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return $result;
     }
 
     public function get_column_width(column_base $column): string {
diff --git a/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/admin_settings.feature b/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/admin_settings.feature
index affcb047c32..0be07b34947 100644
--- a/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/admin_settings.feature
+++ b/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/admin_settings.feature
@@ -116,3 +116,37 @@ Feature: Set default question bank column order and size
     Then "Last used" "table_row" should exist
     And "Question" "table_row" should appear before "Comments" "table_row"
     And the field "Width of 'Question' in pixels" matches value ""
+
+  Scenario: Deleting a custom field which is removed from the Column sort order
+    Given the following "custom field categories" exist:
+      | name              | component          | area     | itemid |
+      | Category for test | qbank_customfields | question | 0      |
+    And the following "custom fields" exist:
+      | name    | category          | type | shortname | configdata         |
+      | Field 1 | Category for test | text | f1        | {"visibility":"2"} |
+      | Field 2 | Category for test | text | f2        | {"visibility":"2"} |
+    And I change the window size to "large"
+    When I log in as "admin"
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Column sort order" in site administration
+    And "Field 1" "table_row" should exist
+    And "Field 2" "table_row" should exist
+    And I click on "Actions menu" "link" in the "Field 1" "table_row"
+    And I choose "Remove" in the open action menu
+
+    # Delete a question custom field.
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Question custom fields" in site administration
+    And I click on "Delete" "link" in the "Field 1" "table_row"
+    And I click on "Yes" "button" in the "Confirm" "dialogue"
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Column sort order" in site administration
+    Then I should see "Column sort order"
+    And "Field 2" "table_row" should exist
+    And I click on "Actions menu" "link" in the "Field 2" "table_row"
+    And I choose "Remove" in the open action menu
+
+    # Delete the question custom category.
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Question custom fields" in site administration
+    And I click on "[data-role='deletecategory']" "css_element"
+    And I click on "Yes" "button" in the "Confirm" "dialogue"
+    And I should not see "Category for test" in the "#customfield_catlist" "css_element"
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Column sort order" in site administration
+    And I should see "Column sort order"
diff --git a/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/question_bank.feature b/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/question_bank.feature
index 93269279b14..fed6ab56be4 100644
--- a/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/question_bank.feature
+++ b/question/bank/columnsortorder/tests/behat/question_bank.feature
@@ -141,3 +141,38 @@ Feature: Set question bank column order and size
     Then I should see "Question bank"
     And "Create a new question" "button" should exist
     # Really, we are just checking the question bank displayed without errors.
+
+  Scenario: Deleting a custom field which a user had removed from his preferences
+    Given the following "custom field categories" exist:
+      | name              | component          | area     | itemid |
+      | Category for test | qbank_customfields | question | 0      |
+    And the following "custom fields" exist:
+      | name    | category          | type | shortname | configdata         |
+      | Field 1 | Category for test | text | f1        | {"visibility":"2"} |
+      | Field 2 | Category for test | text | f2        | {"visibility":"2"} |
+    And I am on the "Test quiz Q001" "mod_quiz > question bank" page logged in as "teacher1"
+    And I apply question bank filter "Category" with value "Question category 1"
+    And I click on "Actions menu" "link" in the "Field 1" "qbank_columnsortorder > column header"
+    And I choose "Remove" in the open action menu
+    And I click on "Actions menu" "link" in the "Field 2" "qbank_columnsortorder > column header"
+    And I choose "Remove" in the open action menu
+    And "Field 2" "qbank_columnsortorder > column header" should not exist
+
+    # Delete a question custom field.
+    And I log in as "admin"
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Question custom fields" in site administration
+    And I click on "Delete" "link" in the "Field 1" "table_row"
+    And I click on "Yes" "button" in the "Confirm" "dialogue"
+    And I am on the "Test quiz Q001" "mod_quiz > question bank" page logged in as "teacher1"
+    And I apply question bank filter "Category" with value "Question category 1"
+    Then I should see "Question bank"
+
+    # Delete the question custom category.
+    And I log in as "admin"
+    And I navigate to "Plugins > Question bank plugins > Question custom fields" in site administration
+    And I click on "[data-role='deletecategory']" "css_element"
+    And I click on "Yes" "button" in the "Confirm" "dialogue"
+    And I should not see "Category for test" in the "#customfield_catlist" "css_element"
+    And I am on the "Test quiz Q001" "mod_quiz > question bank" page logged in as "teacher1"
+    And I apply question bank filter "Category" with value "Question category 1"
+    And I should see "Question bank"
diff --git a/question/bank/customfields/classes/custom_field_column.php b/question/bank/customfields/classes/custom_field_column.php
index 6a21e10b77e..3785018b841 100644
--- a/question/bank/customfields/classes/custom_field_column.php
+++ b/question/bank/customfields/classes/custom_field_column.php
@@ -44,14 +44,18 @@ class custom_field_column extends column_base {
         $this->field = $field;
     }
 
-    public static function from_column_name(view $view, string $columnname): custom_field_column {
+    public static function from_column_name(view $view, string $columnname, bool $ingoremissing = false): ?custom_field_column {
         $handler = question_handler::create();
         foreach ($handler->get_fields() as $field) {
             if ($field->get('shortname') == $columnname) {
                 return new static($view, $field);
             }
         }
-        throw new \coding_exception('Custom field ' . $columnname . ' does not exist.');
+        if ($ingoremissing) {
+            return null;
+        } else {
+            throw new \coding_exception('Custom field ' . $columnname . ' does not exist.');
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/question/bank/upgrade.txt b/question/bank/upgrade.txt
index 4ef4a3ae07b..070bf21e4bb 100644
--- a/question/bank/upgrade.txt
+++ b/question/bank/upgrade.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 This file describes core qbank plugin changes in /question/bank/*,
 information provided here is intended especially for developers.
 
+=== 4.4.1 ===
+
+* column_base::from_column_name now has an ignoremissing field, which can be used to ignore
+  if the class does not exist, instead of throwing an exception.
+
 === 4.4 ===
 
 * Question bank actions (anything that subclasses question_action_base) should implement the
diff --git a/question/classes/local/bank/column_base.php b/question/classes/local/bank/column_base.php
index cc122865de3..c4abe2dc8a0 100644
--- a/question/classes/local/bank/column_base.php
+++ b/question/classes/local/bank/column_base.php
@@ -57,9 +57,10 @@ abstract class column_base extends view_component {
      *
      * @param view $view Question bank view
      * @param string $columnname The column name for this instance, as returned by {@see get_column_name()}
-     * @return column_base An instance of this class.
+     * @param bool $ingoremissing Whether to ignore if the class does not exist.
+     * @return column_base|null An instance of this class.
      */
-    public static function from_column_name(view $view, string $columnname): column_base {
+    public static function from_column_name(view $view, string $columnname, bool $ingoremissing = false): ?column_base {
         return new static($view);
     }