diff --git a/core/docs/changelog/WCM-462.change b/core/docs/changelog/WCM-462.change
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..917fe160c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/docs/changelog/WCM-462.change
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+WCM-462: toggle single columns on and off
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/zeit/connector/models.py b/core/src/zeit/connector/models.py
index 7cf58635e9..2b8dc3b310 100644
--- a/core/src/zeit/connector/models.py
+++ b/core/src/zeit/connector/models.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class PublishInfo:
         Boolean,
         server_default='false',
         nullable=False,
-        info={'namespace': 'workflow', 'name': 'published'},
+        info={'namespace': 'workflow', 'name': 'published', 'toggled': True},
     )
 
 
@@ -188,8 +188,18 @@ def column_by_name(cls, name, namespace):
                 return column
 
     @classmethod
-    def _columns_with_name(cls):
-        return [x for x in sqlalchemy.orm.class_mapper(cls).columns if x.info.get('namespace')]
+    def is_column_enabled(cls, column, mode):
+        namespace = column.info.get('namespace')
+        name = column.info.get('name')
+        if column.info.get('toggled'):
+            return FEATURE_TOGGLES.find(f'{namespace}_{name}_{mode}')
+        return namespace is not None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _columns_with_name(cls, mode='read'):
+        return [
+            c for c in sqlalchemy.orm.class_mapper(cls).columns if cls.is_column_enabled(c, mode)
+        ]
 
     @property
     def binary_body(self):
@@ -253,7 +263,7 @@ def from_webdav(self, props):
         if FEATURE_TOGGLES.find('write_metadata_columns') or FEATURE_TOGGLES.find(
             'write_metadata_columns_strict'
         ):
-            for column in self._columns_with_name():
+            for column in self._columns_with_name(mode='write'):
                 namespace, name = column.info['namespace'], column.info['name']
                 value = props.get((name, self.NS + namespace), self)
 
diff --git a/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_mock.py b/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_mock.py
index 427fa0f053..230bacc83e 100644
--- a/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_mock.py
+++ b/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_mock.py
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ class MockTypeConversionTest(zeit.connector.testing.MockTest):
     def test_converts_sql_properties_on_read(self):
         params = [
             [
-                ('workflow', 'published'),
-                True,
-                'yes',
+                ('document', 'year'),
+                2024,
+                '2024',
             ],
             [
                 ('document', 'date_created'),
diff --git a/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_postgresql.py b/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_postgresql.py
index f54d718d76..9cd084ea54 100644
--- a/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_postgresql.py
+++ b/core/src/zeit/connector/tests/test_postgresql.py
@@ -390,3 +390,26 @@ def test_search_looks_in_columns_or_unsorted_depending_on_toggle(self):
             result = self.connector.search([var], var == 'Wissen')
             unique_id, uuid = next(result)
             self.assertEqual(res.id, unique_id)
+
+    def test_single_properties_can_be_toggled(self):
+        FEATURE_TOGGLES.set('write_metadata_columns')
+        FEATURE_TOGGLES.set('read_metadata_columns')
+        res = self.add_resource('foo', properties={('published', f'{NS}workflow'): 'yes'})
+        content = self.connector._get_content(res.id)
+        self.assertEqual({'workflow': {'published': 'yes'}}, content.unsorted)
+        # we have not written into the column yet
+        self.assertFalse(content.published)
+        # now you are allowed to write
+        FEATURE_TOGGLES.set('workflow_published_write')
+        content = self.connector._get_content(res.id)
+        self.connector[res.id] = res
+        self.assertTrue(content.published)
+        # check if we can read our value back
+        content.published = False
+        props = content.to_webdav()
+        # now still read from unsorted
+        self.assertEqual(props[('published', f'{NS}workflow')], 'yes')
+        # and now read from column
+        FEATURE_TOGGLES.set('workflow_published_read')
+        props = content.to_webdav()
+        self.assertEqual(props[('published', f'{NS}workflow')], False)