diff --git a/spyder/plugins/outlineexplorer/widgets.py b/spyder/plugins/outlineexplorer/widgets.py
index 9604a4ccbb9..88247ab23ee 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/outlineexplorer/widgets.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/outlineexplorer/widgets.py
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent):
         self._current_editor = None
         self._languages = []
         self.is_visible = False
+        self.symbol_expanded = {}
 
         self.currentItemChanged.connect(self.selection_switched)
         self.itemExpanded.connect(self.tree_item_expanded)
@@ -597,6 +598,11 @@ def update_tree(self, items, editor):
             symbol_end = symbol_range['end']['line']
             symbol_repr = SymbolStatus(symbol_name, symbol_kind,
                                        (symbol_start, symbol_end), None)
+            if self.symbol_expanded.get(symbol_name):
+                symbol_repr.status = True
+            else:
+                self.symbol_expanded[symbol_name] = False
+                symbol_repr.status = False
             tree_info.append((symbol_start, symbol_end + 1, symbol_repr))
 
         tree = IntervalTree.from_tuples(tree_info)
@@ -817,10 +823,12 @@ def selection_switched(self, current_item, previous_item):
     def tree_item_collapsed(self, item):
         ref = item.ref
         ref.status = False
+        self.symbol_expanded[ref.name] = False
 
     def tree_item_expanded(self, item):
         ref = item.ref
         ref.status = True
+        self.symbol_expanded[ref.name] = True
 
     def set_editors_to_update(self, language, reset_info=False):
         """Set editors to update per language."""