Incorrect photo counts importing iPhone to Mac via USB

Hello,

I am experiencing a persistent software bug when trying to import photos from an iPhone to a Mac using a wired USB connection with Apple’s native tools (Image Capture and the Photos app).

Problem Description

When I connect my iPhone via USB and open Image Capture (or Photos), the total number of images displayed by macOS is completely incorrect. Even worse, if I disconnect and reconnect the iPhone, the total photo count changes every single time in a completely random way—sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down, but it is never correct.

Key Factors & Troubleshooting Already Done

To isolate the issue, I have performed extensive testing across multiple setups:

• No iCloud Photos: iCloud Photos is disabled on the devices. All photos/videos are stored locally on the iPhone.
• Tested Multiple Hardware Combinations: I have reproduced the exact same behavior across 3 different Macs and 2 different iPhones.
• Official Cables Only: All tests were conducted using official Apple USB cables directly connected to the Macs.
• Camera Roll vs Mac Count: The total count shown on the Mac never matches the actual item count in the iPhone’s Camera Roll.
• App Isolation: The exact same random count fluctuation happens whether I use Image Capture or the Photos app.

Since this issue persists across multiple fresh Mac computers, different iPhones, and official cables without iCloud involved, this clearly points to a core bug within macOS (ImageCaptureCore / PTP import protocol) when indexing the iPhone's local storage database over USB.

How can this indexation bug be resolved so that macOS accurately and consistently reflects the real number of photos stored on the iPhone?

Thank you for your assistance.