Elements 2023 - How to exclude folders from being automatically included in the automatic scan?

Do you mean the 'watched folders' feature or the 'Import' one?

By default, the organizer offers an automatic choice to make things easier for new users, especially those not especiallay at ease with computers. The logic is to use the basic solution offered by the operating system, the 'Pictures' folder for Windows explorer for instance.

If you want to be your own master, which I recommend, take the time to define, not what should be skipped, but what should be selected.

In the import feature, use the 'skip' default choice to define the folder you want to import to by default. When importing, if your default folder is not your choice, specify the folder folder for that present import.

If you use the 'watched folders' services, remove anything put there by default (Pictures for instance) and specify the folders you want to be watched.