diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/CompletedDownloadsFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/CompletedDownloadsFragment.java
index f1befcd94..b4e4bebb9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/CompletedDownloadsFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/CompletedDownloadsFragment.java
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.ContextMenu;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
-import android.view.Menu;
 import android.view.MenuItem;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ import de.danoeh.antennapod.adapter.actionbutton.DeleteActionButton;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.event.DownloadEvent;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.event.DownloadLogEvent;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.menuhandler.MenuItemUtils;
-import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.service.download.DownloadService;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.storage.DBReader;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.util.FeedItemUtil;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.util.download.AutoUpdateManager;
@@ -67,16 +65,14 @@ public class CompletedDownloadsFragment extends Fragment
     private Disposable disposable;
     private EmptyViewHandler emptyView;
     private boolean displayUpArrow;
-    private boolean isUpdatingFeeds = false;
     private SpeedDialView speedDialView;
-    private Toolbar toolbar;
     private SwipeActions swipeActions;
 
     @Override
     public View onCreateView(@NonNull LayoutInflater inflater, @Nullable ViewGroup container,
                              @Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
         View root = inflater.inflate(R.layout.simple_list_fragment, container, false);
-        toolbar = root.findViewById(R.id.toolbar);
+        Toolbar toolbar = root.findViewById(R.id.toolbar);
         toolbar.setTitle(R.string.downloads_label);
         toolbar.inflateMenu(R.menu.downloads_completed);
         toolbar.setOnMenuItemClickListener(this);
@@ -85,7 +81,6 @@ public class CompletedDownloadsFragment extends Fragment
             recyclerView.post(() -> recyclerView.smoothScrollToPosition(0));
             return false;
         });
-        refreshToolbarState();
         displayUpArrow = getParentFragmentManager().getBackStackEntryCount() != 0;
         if (savedInstanceState != null) {
             displayUpArrow = savedInstanceState.getBoolean(KEY_UP_ARROW);
@@ -166,12 +161,6 @@ public class CompletedDownloadsFragment extends Fragment
         }
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public void onPrepareOptionsMenu(@NonNull Menu menu) {
-        menu.findItem(R.id.clear_logs_item).setVisible(false);
-        isUpdatingFeeds = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(menu, R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
-    }
-
     @Override
     public boolean onMenuItemClick(MenuItem item) {
         if (item.getItemId() == R.id.refresh_item) {
@@ -190,9 +179,6 @@ public class CompletedDownloadsFragment extends Fragment
     @Subscribe(sticky = true, threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onEventMainThread(DownloadEvent event) {
         Log.d(TAG, "onEventMainThread() called with: " + "event = [" + event + "]");
-        if (event.hasChangedFeedUpdateStatus(isUpdatingFeeds)) {
-            refreshToolbarState();
-        }
         if (!Arrays.equals(event.update.mediaIds, runningDownloads)) {
             runningDownloads = event.update.mediaIds;
             loadItems();
@@ -208,9 +194,6 @@ public class CompletedDownloadsFragment extends Fragment
         }
     }
 
-    private final MenuItemUtils.UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker updateRefreshMenuItemChecker =
-            () -> DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds();
-
     @Override
     public boolean onContextItemSelected(@NonNull MenuItem item) {
         FeedItem selectedItem = adapter.getLongPressedItem();
@@ -270,11 +253,6 @@ public class CompletedDownloadsFragment extends Fragment
         }
     }
 
-    private void refreshToolbarState() {
-        isUpdatingFeeds = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(),
-                R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
-    }
-
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onPlayerStatusChanged(PlayerStatusEvent event) {
         loadItems();
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/EpisodesListFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/EpisodesListFragment.java
index f581a16f5..03764f61c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/EpisodesListFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/EpisodesListFragment.java
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.ContextMenu;
 import android.view.KeyEvent;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
-import android.view.Menu;
 import android.view.MenuItem;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
@@ -84,11 +83,9 @@ public abstract class EpisodesListFragment extends Fragment
     @NonNull
     List<FeedItem> episodes = new ArrayList<>();
 
-    private volatile boolean isUpdatingFeeds;
     protected Disposable disposable;
     protected TextView txtvInformation;
 
-
     @Override
     public void onStart() {
         super.onStart();
@@ -118,14 +115,6 @@ public abstract class EpisodesListFragment extends Fragment
         }
     }
 
-    private final MenuItemUtils.UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker updateRefreshMenuItemChecker =
-            () -> DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds();
-
-    @Override
-    public void onPrepareOptionsMenu(@NonNull Menu menu) {
-        isUpdatingFeeds = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(menu, R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
-    }
-
     @Override
     public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(@NonNull MenuItem item) {
         if (super.onOptionsItemSelected(item)) {
@@ -423,9 +412,7 @@ public abstract class EpisodesListFragment extends Fragment
     public void onEventMainThread(DownloadEvent event) {
         Log.d(TAG, "onEventMainThread() called with: " + "event = [" + event + "]");
         DownloaderUpdate update = event.update;
-        if (event.hasChangedFeedUpdateStatus(isUpdatingFeeds)) {
-            updateToolbar();
-        }
+        updateToolbar();
         if (update.mediaIds.length > 0) {
             for (long mediaId : update.mediaIds) {
                 int pos = FeedItemUtil.indexOfItemWithMediaId(episodes, mediaId);
@@ -436,26 +423,19 @@ public abstract class EpisodesListFragment extends Fragment
         }
     }
 
-    private void updateUi() {
-        loadItems();
-        if (isUpdatingFeeds != updateRefreshMenuItemChecker.isRefreshing()) {
-            updateToolbar();
-        }
-    }
-
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onPlayerStatusChanged(PlayerStatusEvent event) {
-        updateUi();
+        loadItems();
     }
 
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onUnreadItemsChanged(UnreadItemsUpdateEvent event) {
-        updateUi();
+        loadItems();
     }
 
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onFeedListChanged(FeedListUpdateEvent event) {
-        updateUi();
+        loadItems();
     }
 
     void loadItems() {
@@ -498,8 +478,10 @@ public abstract class EpisodesListFragment extends Fragment
     protected abstract String getPrefName();
 
     protected void updateToolbar() {
-        isUpdatingFeeds = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(),
-                R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
+        if (toolbar.getMenu().findItem(R.id.refresh_item) != null) {
+            MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(), R.id.refresh_item,
+                    DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds());
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/FeedItemlistFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/FeedItemlistFragment.java
index d5dd51e93..dfae22491 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/FeedItemlistFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/FeedItemlistFragment.java
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
     private long feedID;
     private Feed feed;
     private boolean headerCreated = false;
-    private boolean isUpdatingFeed;
     private Disposable disposable;
     private FeedItemListFragmentBinding viewBinding;
     private MultiSelectSpeedDialBinding speedDialBinding;
@@ -140,7 +139,7 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
             displayUpArrow = savedInstanceState.getBoolean(KEY_UP_ARROW);
         }
         ((MainActivity) getActivity()).setupToolbarToggle(viewBinding.toolbar, displayUpArrow);
-        refreshToolbarState();
+        updateToolbar();
 
         viewBinding.recyclerView.setRecycledViewPool(((MainActivity) getActivity()).getRecycledViewPool());
         viewBinding.progLoading.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
@@ -234,17 +233,14 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
         super.onSaveInstanceState(outState);
     }
 
-    private final MenuItemUtils.UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker updateRefreshMenuItemChecker =
-            () -> DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFile(feed.getDownload_url());
-
-    private void refreshToolbarState() {
+    private void updateToolbar() {
         if (feed == null) {
             return;
         }
         viewBinding.toolbar.getMenu().findItem(R.id.visit_website_item).setVisible(feed.getLink() != null);
 
-        isUpdatingFeed = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(viewBinding.toolbar.getMenu(),
-                R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
+        MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(viewBinding.toolbar.getMenu(), R.id.refresh_item,
+                DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFile(feed.getDownload_url()));
         FeedMenuHandler.onPrepareOptionsMenu(viewBinding.toolbar.getMenu(), feed);
     }
 
@@ -338,9 +334,7 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
     public void onEventMainThread(DownloadEvent event) {
         Log.d(TAG, "onEventMainThread() called with: " + "event = [" + event + "]");
         DownloaderUpdate update = event.update;
-        if (event.hasChangedFeedUpdateStatus(isUpdatingFeed)) {
-            updateSyncProgressBarVisibility();
-        }
+        updateToolbar();
         if (adapter != null && update.mediaIds.length > 0 && feed != null) {
             for (long mediaId : update.mediaIds) {
                 int pos = FeedItemUtil.indexOfItemWithMediaId(feed.getItems(), mediaId);
@@ -383,7 +377,7 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
             speedDialBinding.fabSD.removeActionItemById(R.id.delete_batch);
         }
         speedDialBinding.fabSD.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-        refreshToolbarState();
+        updateToolbar();
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -416,9 +410,7 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
     }
 
     private void updateSyncProgressBarVisibility() {
-        if (isUpdatingFeed != updateRefreshMenuItemChecker.isRefreshing()) {
-            refreshToolbarState();
-        }
+        updateToolbar();
         if (!DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds()) {
             nextPageLoader.getRoot().setVisibility(View.GONE);
         }
@@ -443,7 +435,7 @@ public class FeedItemlistFragment extends Fragment implements AdapterView.OnItem
             swipeActions.setFilter(feed.getItemFilter());
         }
 
-        refreshToolbarState();
+        updateToolbar();
         updateSyncProgressBarVisibility();
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/QueueFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/QueueFragment.java
index 370deee76..467299e4c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/QueueFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/QueueFragment.java
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ public class QueueFragment extends Fragment implements Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickLi
 
     private List<FeedItem> queue;
 
-    private boolean isUpdatingFeeds = false;
-
     private static final String PREFS = "QueueFragment";
     private static final String PREF_SHOW_LOCK_WARNING = "show_lock_warning";
 
@@ -191,9 +189,7 @@ public class QueueFragment extends Fragment implements Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickLi
     public void onEventMainThread(DownloadEvent event) {
         Log.d(TAG, "onEventMainThread() called with DownloadEvent");
         DownloaderUpdate update = event.update;
-        if (event.hasChangedFeedUpdateStatus(isUpdatingFeeds)) {
-            refreshToolbarState();
-        }
+        refreshToolbarState();
         if (recyclerAdapter != null && update.mediaIds.length > 0) {
             for (long mediaId : update.mediaIds) {
                 int pos = FeedItemUtil.indexOfItemWithMediaId(queue, mediaId);
@@ -221,18 +217,14 @@ public class QueueFragment extends Fragment implements Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickLi
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onPlayerStatusChanged(PlayerStatusEvent event) {
         loadItems(false);
-        if (isUpdatingFeeds != updateRefreshMenuItemChecker.isRefreshing()) {
-            refreshToolbarState();
-        }
+        refreshToolbarState();
     }
 
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onUnreadItemsChanged(UnreadItemsUpdateEvent event) {
         // Sent when playback position is reset
         loadItems(false);
-        if (isUpdatingFeeds != updateRefreshMenuItemChecker.isRefreshing()) {
-            refreshToolbarState();
-        }
+        refreshToolbarState();
     }
 
     @Subscribe(threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
@@ -261,17 +253,14 @@ public class QueueFragment extends Fragment implements Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickLi
         recyclerAdapter = null;
     }
 
-    private final MenuItemUtils.UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker updateRefreshMenuItemChecker =
-            () -> DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds();
-
     private void refreshToolbarState() {
         boolean keepSorted = UserPreferences.isQueueKeepSorted();
         toolbar.getMenu().findItem(R.id.queue_lock).setChecked(UserPreferences.isQueueLocked());
         toolbar.getMenu().findItem(R.id.queue_lock).setVisible(!keepSorted);
         toolbar.getMenu().findItem(R.id.queue_sort_random).setVisible(!keepSorted);
         toolbar.getMenu().findItem(R.id.queue_keep_sorted).setChecked(keepSorted);
-        isUpdatingFeeds = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(),
-                R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
+        MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(),
+                R.id.refresh_item, DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds());
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/SubscriptionFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/SubscriptionFragment.java
index 578a2fa84..6ee5d5c20 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/SubscriptionFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/SubscriptionFragment.java
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ public class SubscriptionFragment extends Fragment
     private TextView feedsFilteredMsg;
     private Toolbar toolbar;
     private String displayedFolder = null;
-    private boolean isUpdatingFeeds = false;
     private boolean displayUpArrow;
 
     private Disposable disposable;
@@ -200,8 +199,8 @@ public class SubscriptionFragment extends Fragment
         int columns = prefs.getInt(PREF_NUM_COLUMNS, getDefaultNumOfColumns());
         toolbar.getMenu().findItem(COLUMN_CHECKBOX_IDS[columns - MIN_NUM_COLUMNS]).setChecked(true);
 
-        isUpdatingFeeds = MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(),
-                R.id.refresh_item, updateRefreshMenuItemChecker);
+        MenuItemUtils.updateRefreshMenuItem(toolbar.getMenu(), R.id.refresh_item,
+                DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds());
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -407,14 +406,9 @@ public class SubscriptionFragment extends Fragment
     @Subscribe(sticky = true, threadMode = ThreadMode.MAIN)
     public void onEventMainThread(DownloadEvent event) {
         Log.d(TAG, "onEventMainThread() called with: " + "event = [" + event + "]");
-        if (event.hasChangedFeedUpdateStatus(isUpdatingFeeds)) {
-            refreshToolbarState();
-        }
+        refreshToolbarState();
     }
 
-    private final MenuItemUtils.UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker updateRefreshMenuItemChecker =
-            () -> DownloadService.isRunning && DownloadService.isDownloadingFeeds();
-
     @Override
     public void onEndSelectMode() {
         speedDialView.close();
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/menuhandler/MenuItemUtils.java b/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/menuhandler/MenuItemUtils.java
index cfa35ea29..3b9d6a08d 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/menuhandler/MenuItemUtils.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/menuhandler/MenuItemUtils.java
@@ -11,31 +11,21 @@ import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.R;
 public class MenuItemUtils {
 
     /**
-     * Changes the appearance of a MenuItem depending on whether the given UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker
-     * is refreshing or not. If it returns true, the menu item will be replaced by an indeterminate progress
-     * bar, otherwise the progress bar will be hidden.
-     *
      * @param menu    The menu that the MenuItem belongs to
      * @param resId   The id of the MenuItem
-     * @param checker Is used for checking whether to show the progress indicator or not.
-     * @return The returned value of the UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker's isRefreshing() method.
      */
-    public static boolean updateRefreshMenuItem(Menu menu, int resId, UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker checker) {
+    public static void updateRefreshMenuItem(Menu menu, int resId, boolean isRefreshing) {
         // expand actionview if feeds are being downloaded, collapse otherwise
         MenuItem refreshItem = menu.findItem(resId);
-        if (checker.isRefreshing()) {
-            refreshItem.setActionView(R.layout.refresh_action_view);
-            return true;
+        if (isRefreshing) {
+            if (refreshItem.getActionView() == null) {
+                refreshItem.setActionView(R.layout.refresh_action_view);
+            }
         } else {
             refreshItem.setActionView(null);
-            return false;
         }
     }
 
-    public interface UpdateRefreshMenuItemChecker {
-        boolean isRefreshing();
-    }
-
     /**
      * When pressing a context menu item, Android calls onContextItemSelected
      * for ALL fragments in arbitrary order, not just for the fragment that the