diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live/index.ex b/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live/index.ex
index 8cb15e1a..0f4e82f7 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live/index.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live/index.ex
@@ -61,9 +61,31 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.ContactLive.Index do
      socket
      |> assign(:page_title, "Contacts")
      |> assign(:total_contacts, total)
+     |> assign(:visible_fields, visible_fields_for(scope))
      |> assign(:data_provider, {__MODULE__, :visible_query_provider, [scope_token(scope)]})}
   end
 
+  # Hide the Private column entirely unless this scope can actually see
+  # at least one private contact — avoids an always-empty column for
+  # visitors and owners who've never flagged one as private.
+  defp visible_fields_for(scope) do
+    if has_viewable_private?(scope) do
+      fields()
+    else
+      Keyword.delete(fields(), :private)
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp has_viewable_private?(%Scope{user: %User{is_admin: true}}) do
+    Repo.exists?(from(c in Contact, where: c.private == true))
+  end
+
+  defp has_viewable_private?(%Scope{user: %User{id: user_id}}) do
+    Repo.exists?(from(c in Contact, where: c.private == true and c.user_id == ^user_id))
+  end
+
+  defp has_viewable_private?(_), do: false
+
   @doc false
   # Called by LiveTable to get the base queryable. Must be a
   # named function because the helper persists MFA across renders.
@@ -183,7 +205,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.ContactLive.Index do
       </.header>
 
       <.live_table
-        fields={fields()}
+        fields={@visible_fields}
         filters={filters()}
         options={@options}
         streams={@streams}
diff --git a/test/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live_test.exs b/test/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live_test.exs
index 886a8ec7..4348c66b 100644
--- a/test/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live_test.exs
+++ b/test/microwaveprop_web/live/contact_live_test.exs
@@ -167,6 +167,62 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.ContactLiveTest do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "Index private column visibility" do
+    import Microwaveprop.AccountsFixtures
+
+    test "column hidden for anonymous viewer when no private contacts exist", %{conn: conn} do
+      _public = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PUB"})
+
+      {:ok, _lv, html} = live(conn, ~p"/contacts")
+      refute html =~ ">Private<"
+    end
+
+    test "column hidden for anonymous viewer even when others have private contacts", %{conn: conn} do
+      _private = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PRV", private: true})
+      _public = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PUB"})
+
+      {:ok, _lv, html} = live(conn, ~p"/contacts")
+      refute html =~ ">Private<"
+    end
+
+    test "column hidden for a user who has no private contacts of their own", %{conn: conn} do
+      owner = user_fixture()
+      viewer = user_fixture()
+      _others_private = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PRV", private: true, user_id: owner.id})
+      conn = log_in_user(conn, viewer)
+
+      {:ok, _lv, html} = live(conn, ~p"/contacts")
+      refute html =~ ">Private<"
+    end
+
+    test "column visible for a user with at least one of their own private contacts", %{conn: conn} do
+      owner = user_fixture()
+      _private = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PRV", private: true, user_id: owner.id})
+      conn = log_in_user(conn, owner)
+
+      {:ok, _lv, html} = live(conn, ~p"/contacts")
+      assert html =~ ">Private<"
+    end
+
+    test "column hidden for admin when there are no private contacts anywhere", %{conn: conn} do
+      admin = user_fixture() |> Ecto.Changeset.change(is_admin: true) |> Repo.update!()
+      _public = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PUB"})
+      conn = log_in_user(conn, admin)
+
+      {:ok, _lv, html} = live(conn, ~p"/contacts")
+      refute html =~ ">Private<"
+    end
+
+    test "column visible for admin as soon as any private contact exists", %{conn: conn} do
+      admin = user_fixture() |> Ecto.Changeset.change(is_admin: true) |> Repo.update!()
+      _private = create_contact(%{station1: "W5PRV", private: true})
+      conn = log_in_user(conn, admin)
+
+      {:ok, _lv, html} = live(conn, ~p"/contacts")
+      assert html =~ ">Private<"
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "Show private visibility" do
     import Microwaveprop.AccountsFixtures