Photo Import Says Complete but Some Images Were Skipped

An import application may skip files it considers duplicates, files it cannot decode, or items outside its selected source. A completed import can therefore be smaller than the card's contents.

What to check first

Compare the import log or summary with the source directory, including alternate formats and videos. Count files by type rather than using only the gallery total.

A practical recovery sequence

1. Locate and preserve the evidence. Keep the card unchanged and copy its full folder structure to a separate disk before retrying import.
2. Check the most relevant recovery source. Inspect skipped filenames and determine whether each is already present, unsupported, or damaged. Search the destination outside the current album or date filter.
3. Keep a separate working copy. Import missing verified files in a separate batch and preserve the source backup until all formats are accounted for.

Keep the recovery attempt reversible

Separate the original recording medium, your recovery output, and any edited deliverables. Keep folder relationships and support files when the camera or editor uses them. Thumbnails, proxy videos, and compressed exports can be useful fallback copies, but they should be labeled honestly. Once a recovered original is verified, make an additional independent copy before conversion or editing. This preserves a clean reference if a later export turns out to have missing frames, incorrect color, or reduced resolution.

How to verify the result

Open representative originals and compare camera sequence gaps. Remember that one RAW-plus-JPEG capture can count as two files but one gallery item.

Record which files you checked and which remain uncertain. Keep unverified candidates separate from files you have confirmed are usable; that distinction matters if someone else needs to continue the work.

The mistake to avoid

Do not format the card because the import window reported success without reviewing skipped items.

If files are still missing

For an actual deletion from a stable, accessible local device, Drecov’s data recovery resources provide another starting point. If you choose to evaluate its software, use the Drecov download, confirm support for your device and filesystem, and keep installation and recovered output off the affected storage. Recovery is not guaranteed. Software cannot substitute for missing encryption credentials, cloud permissions, or unreadable hardware.

Browse related data recovery guides for other storage situations. For platform-specific controls, use the official references below; menu names and available recovery options vary with application, account, and operating-system version.

References and further reading

• CGSecurity: disk imaging and damaged storage