diff --git a/pylib/anki/decks.py b/pylib/anki/decks.py
index 47696ad8a..084dc3238 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/decks.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/decks.py
@@ -219,23 +219,26 @@ class DeckManager:
             self.select(int(list(self.decks.keys())[0]))
         self.save()
 
-    def allNames(self, dyn: bool = True, forceDefault: bool = True) -> List:
+    def allNames(self, dyn: bool = True, force_default: bool = True) -> List:
         "An unsorted list of all deck names."
         if dyn:
-            return [x["name"] for x in self.all(forceDefault=forceDefault)]
+            return [x["name"] for x in self.all(force_default=force_default)]
         else:
             return [
-                x["name"] for x in self.all(forceDefault=forceDefault) if not x["dyn"]
+                x["name"] for x in self.all(force_default=force_default) if not x["dyn"]
             ]
 
-    def all(self, forceDefault: bool = True) -> List:
-        "A list of all decks."
+    def all(self, force_default: bool = True) -> List:
+        """A list of all decks.
+
+        list contains default deck if either:
+        * force_default is True
+        * there are no other deck
+        * default deck contains a card
+        * default deck has a child (assumed not to be the case if assume_no_child)
+        """
         decks = list(self.decks.values())
-        if (
-            not forceDefault
-            and not self.col.db.scalar("select 1 from cards where did = 1 limit 1")
-            and len(decks) > 1
-        ):
+        if not force_default and not self.should_default_be_displayed(force_default):
             decks = [deck for deck in decks if deck["id"] != 1]
         return decks
 
@@ -513,6 +516,42 @@ class DeckManager:
         self._recoverOrphans()
         self._checkDeckTree()
 
+    def should_deck_be_displayed(
+        self, deck, force_default: bool = True, assume_no_child: bool = False
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Whether the deck should appear in main window, browser side list, filter, deck selection...
+
+        True, except for empty default deck without children"""
+        if deck["id"] != "1":
+            return True
+        return self.should_default_be_displayed(force_default, assume_no_child)
+
+    def should_default_be_displayed(
+        self,
+        force_default: bool = True,
+        assume_no_child: bool = False,
+        default_deck=None,
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Whether the default deck should appear in main window, browser side list, filter, deck selection...
+
+        True, except for empty default deck (without children)"""
+        if force_default:
+            return True
+        if self.col.db.scalar("select 1 from cards where did = 1 limit 1"):
+            return True
+        if len(self.decks) == 1:
+            return True
+        # looking for children
+        if assume_no_child:
+            return False
+        if default_deck is None:
+            default_deck = self.get(1)
+        defaultName = default_deck["name"]
+        for name in self.allNames():
+            if name.startswith(f"{defaultName}::"):
+                return True
+        return False
+
     # Deck selection
     #############################################################
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser.py b/qt/aqt/browser.py
index 87d912324..a46388eed 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser.py
@@ -1156,6 +1156,15 @@ by clicking on one on the left."""
 
         def fillGroups(root, grps, head=""):
             for g in grps:
+                baseName = g[0]
+                did = g[1]
+                children = g[5]
+                if str(did) == "1" and not children:
+                    if not self.mw.col.decks.should_default_be_displayed(
+                        force_default=False, assume_no_child=True
+                    ):
+
+                        continue
                 item = SidebarItem(
                     g[0],
                     ":/icons/deck.svg",
@@ -1312,7 +1321,10 @@ by clicking on one on the left."""
                     subm.addSeparator()
                     addDecks(subm, children)
                 else:
-                    parent.addItem(shortname, self._filterFunc("deck", name))
+                    if did != 1 or self.col.decks.should_default_be_displayed(
+                        force_default=False, assume_no_child=True
+                    ):
+                        parent.addItem(shortname, self._filterFunc("deck", name))
 
         # fixme: could rewrite to avoid calculating due # in the future
         alldecks = self.col.sched.deckDueTree()
diff --git a/qt/aqt/studydeck.py b/qt/aqt/studydeck.py
index 8a331f5e6..1a024b7c4 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/studydeck.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/studydeck.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class StudyDeck(QDialog):
         if title:
             self.setWindowTitle(title)
         if not names:
-            names = sorted(self.mw.col.decks.allNames(dyn=dyn, forceDefault=False))
+            names = sorted(self.mw.col.decks.allNames(dyn=dyn, force_default=False))
             self.nameFunc = None
             self.origNames = names
         else: