diff --git a/src/database/version_dao.rs b/src/database/version_dao.rs
index 61e852b..55f43f6 100644
--- a/src/database/version_dao.rs
+++ b/src/database/version_dao.rs
@@ -228,6 +228,17 @@ pub trait VersionDao: Sync + Send {
         view_library_ids: &[i32],
     ) -> Result<HashSet<(i32, String)>, DbError>;
 
+    /// Of `dirs` (rel paths), those that hold indexed files and where every
+    /// indexed file anywhere underneath is a version hidden in the view.
+    /// Such a folder would open empty. A folder with no indexed rows at all
+    /// is not reported (nothing says it is safe to hide). One indexed range
+    /// scan per dir; no filesystem walk.
+    fn dirs_holding_only_hidden_versions(
+        &mut self,
+        view_library_ids: &[i32],
+        dirs: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<HashSet<String>, DbError>;
+
     /// Rows in a library whose file name follows the version convention
     /// (`<name>.<kind>[.<n>].<ext>`), have a hash and aren't linked yet.
     /// Returns `(id, rel_path, content_hash)` ordered by row id, starting
@@ -780,6 +791,71 @@ impl VersionDao for SqliteVersionDao {
         .map_err(|e| DbError::log(DbErrorKind::QueryError, e))
     }
 
+    fn dirs_holding_only_hidden_versions(
+        &mut self,
+        view_library_ids: &[i32],
+        dirs: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<HashSet<String>, DbError> {
+        if dirs.is_empty() {
+            return Ok(HashSet::new());
+        }
+        trace_db_call("query", "dirs_holding_only_hidden_versions", |_span| {
+            #[derive(QueryableByName)]
+            struct Counts {
+                #[diesel(sql_type = BigInt)]
+                total: i64,
+                #[diesel(sql_type = BigInt)]
+                visible: i64,
+            }
+            #[derive(QueryableByName)]
+            struct Id {
+                #[diesel(sql_type = Integer)]
+                id: i32,
+            }
+            let mut conn = self.connection.lock().expect("Unable to get VersionDao");
+            // Scan the view's libraries (all of them when unscoped) so the
+            // (library_id, rel_path) index serves the prefix range.
+            let scan: Vec<i32> = if view_library_ids.is_empty() {
+                sql_query("SELECT id FROM libraries")
+                    .load::<Id>(&mut *conn)?
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|r| r.id)
+                    .collect()
+            } else {
+                view_library_ids.to_vec()
+            };
+            let list = scan
+                .iter()
+                .map(i32::to_string)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .join(",");
+            let sql = format!(
+                "SELECT COUNT(*) AS total, \
+                        COALESCE(SUM(CASE WHEN {} THEN 1 ELSE 0 END), 0) AS visible \
+                 FROM image_exif \
+                 WHERE library_id IN ({list}) AND rel_path >= ? AND rel_path < ?",
+                visible_version_clause(view_library_ids)
+            );
+            let mut out = HashSet::new();
+            for dir in dirs {
+                let dir = dir.trim_end_matches('/');
+                if dir.is_empty() {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                // '0' is the character after '/', closing the prefix range.
+                let c = sql_query(&sql)
+                    .bind::<Text, _>(format!("{dir}/"))
+                    .bind::<Text, _>(format!("{dir}0"))
+                    .get_result::<Counts>(&mut *conn)?;
+                if c.total > 0 && c.visible == 0 {
+                    out.insert(dir.to_string());
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(out)
+        })
+        .map_err(|e| DbError::log(DbErrorKind::QueryError, e))
+    }
+
     fn unlinked_name_candidates(
         &mut self,
         library_id: i32,
diff --git a/src/files.rs b/src/files.rs
index fcd398b..8f38412 100644
--- a/src/files.rs
+++ b/src/files.rs
@@ -725,6 +725,23 @@ pub async fn list_photos<TagD: TagDao, FS: FileSystemAccess>(
         return HttpResponse::BadRequest().finish();
     }
 
+    // A folder whose indexed contents are all hidden versions (typically
+    // `aiedits/`) would open empty: leave it out unless versions are asked
+    // for. Recursive listings are flat and carry no dirs.
+    if !search_recursively && !include_versions && !dirs_set.is_empty() {
+        let candidates: Vec<String> = dirs_set.iter().cloned().collect();
+        let view: Vec<i32> = library.into_iter().map(|l| l.id).collect();
+        match app_state
+            .version_dao
+            .lock()
+            .expect("Unable to lock VersionDao")
+            .dirs_holding_only_hidden_versions(&view, &candidates)
+        {
+            Ok(empty) => dirs_set.retain(|d| !empty.contains(d.trim_end_matches('/'))),
+            Err(e) => warn!("dirs_holding_only_hidden_versions failed: {:?}", e),
+        }
+    }
+
     let dirs: Vec<String> = dirs_set.into_iter().collect();
 
     info!(
diff --git a/src/versions/integration_tests.rs b/src/versions/integration_tests.rs
index b3f27e6..1e4290b 100644
--- a/src/versions/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/src/versions/integration_tests.rs
@@ -433,6 +433,35 @@ async fn photos_hides_versions_and_adds_parallel_arrays() {
     );
 }
 
+#[actix_rt::test]
+async fn folders_holding_only_hidden_versions_are_left_out_of_dirs() {
+    let (fx, _o, _v1, _v2) = seeded();
+    // A second folder whose aiedits holds a version that is NOT hidden
+    // (its original isn't indexed), and a folder nothing is indexed under.
+    fx.put_png("2004/album_a/aiedits/lost.jpg.edit.png", None, 20);
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(fx.root.join("2004/not_indexed")).unwrap();
+    let app = photos_app!(fx);
+
+    let dirs = |body: &serde_json::Value| -> Vec<String> {
+        let mut d: Vec<String> = body["dirs"]
+            .as_array()
+            .unwrap()
+            .iter()
+            .map(|v| v.as_str().unwrap().to_string())
+            .collect();
+        d.sort();
+        d
+    };
+    let (_, body) = get_json!(app, "/photos?path=2004");
+    assert_eq!(dirs(&body), vec!["2004/album_a", "2004/not_indexed"]);
+
+    let (_, body) = get_json!(app, "/photos?path=2004&include_versions=true");
+    assert_eq!(
+        dirs(&body),
+        vec!["2004/aiedits", "2004/album_a", "2004/not_indexed"]
+    );
+}
+
 #[actix_rt::test]
 async fn photos_without_versions_is_unchanged() {
     let fx = fx();