With the increasing quality and quantity of photos we take with our smartphones and digital cameras, cloud storage services like Google Photos have become invaluable. However, relying solely on cloud storage for your precious memories can be risky. Internet outages, service disruptions, or changes in Google Photos’ terms may affect access to your pictures. To safeguard your images, you might consider transferring them to an external hard drive. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you move your Google Photos to a more tangible form of backup.
Step 1: Preparing Your External Hard Drive
Before transferring files, ensure your external hard drive is properly formatted for your operating system. For instance, drives formatted as FAT32 have a file size limit of 4 GB, which may be problematic for large video files. If you’re using Windows, NTFS is a good option, while Mac users may prefer exFAT for compatibility with both macOS and Windows systems.
Connecting the Drive
Plug your external hard drive into your computer’s USB port. If your computer does not recognize the drive, troubleshoot by checking if it appears in your system’s disk management tool.
Step 2: Accessing Google Photos
Open any web browser and navigate to Google Photos (photos.google.com). Log in with the Google account that holds the photos you wish to transfer.
Step 3: Using Google Takeout
Google Takeout is a service provided by Google that allows users to export their data from various Google platforms. Here’s how to use it:
- Initiate the Export Process
- Go to Google Takeout.
- By default, all data types are selected. Click “Deselect all” since you only want to export photos.
- Scroll down and select “Google Photos”. You can also choose specific albums if you don’t want to export all photos.
- Once you’ve made your selections, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Next step”.
Customize the Export Settings
Google Takeout gives you options for customization:
- Choose the delivery method as “Send download link via email”.
- Select the frequency as “Export once”.
- Choose the file type & size. The recommended settings are .zip files and 2GB. If the archive exceeds the size you specify, Google will split it into multiple files.
Finalize and Create the Export
Click “Create export”. Google will then prepare your photos for download. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or even days, depending on the amount of data being processed. An email will be sent to you with the download link when ready.
Step 4: Downloading Your Photos
Once Google has finished preparing your data, follow these steps:
- Open the email from Google Takeout and click the download link.
- Enter your password to verify your identity.
- Click the “Download” button next to each file to start the downloading process. Ensure you have enough space on your local storage to accommodate the files.
Step 5: Transferring Photos to External Hard Drive
After the photos have been downloaded to your computer, you can now transfer them to your external hard drive:
- Locate the downloaded .zip files on your computer.
- Unzip the files to access the folders containing your Google Photos.
- Connect your external hard drive to your computer if it isn’t already connected.
- Copy the unzipped photo folders: you can either drag and drop them into your external hard drive directory or use copy-paste commands.
- Ensure the transfer completes before disconnecting the hard drive. Depending on the volume of data, this could take some time.
Step 6: Organizing Your Photos on the External Drive
Once your photos are copied to the external drive, spend some time organizing them. You might create folders by year, event, or any other way that makes sense to you. Good organization will make it easier to find your precious memories later on.
Best Practices for Data Transfer and Backup
- Verify the Transfer: After moving your photos, verify that they open correctly from the external hard drive.
- Keep Multiple Backups: It’s wise to maintain backups in different locations, such as another external hard drive or cloud service, following the 3-2-1 backup rule.
- Regularly Update Your Backup: Set a calendar reminder to periodically update your external hard drive with new photos from Google Photos.
- Maintain Hard Drive Health: Disconnect the external hard drive safely after each use, keep it in a dry place, and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures.
Conclusion
Transferring your Google Photos to an external hard drive provides you with a physical backup that can protect your memories from unforeseeable issues with cloud storage. The process may take some time, especially if you have many photos or a slow internet connection, but the peace of mind is well worth the effort. By following the detailed steps outlined above and adhering to the best practices for data management and backup, you can ensure that your photos are safe and accessible for years to come.
