When using Include Subfolders, Lightroom scans folders in multiple passes. The file count (e.g. “5521 photos / 4 GB”) jumps up and down as new subfolders are discovered, suspected duplicates are filtered out, etc. The Import button, however, is active from the very beginning.
This creates two major problems:
1. Users can press Import before scanning is finished and end up importing only a partial set of photos — with no warning.
2. The detailed progress status (remaining files, duplicates ignored, previously imported, total size) is hidden unless you click or hover over the counter. Most users never discover this.
Suggested improvements:
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Always display the full scanning/progress status (remaining, duplicates ignored, previously imported, size selected/ignored).
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If Include Subfolders is enabled, keep the Import button disabled until scanning is complete.
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At minimum, show a warning dialog: “Scanning is not finished yet. Are you sure you want to import only partial results?”
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Alternatively, display a visible progress bar or a clear “Scanning complete” indicator.
This would prevent confusion, ensure that users always import the full folder tree, and avoid situations where folders appear “missing” in the catalog simply because the scan was incomplete at the time of import.
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