Choose an external HDD for a sizeable archive that you mainly back up at home, or an external SSD if you regularly carry and transfer large files. Cloud storage helps when you need access across devices and a copy outside the home; for irreplaceable photos and documents, keeping both a local copy and a separate off-site copy reduces reliance on one device or location. Whichever route you use, check what is actually backed up and whether you can restore it.
If your photos, videos and documents form a growing collection that stays mostly at home, start with the amount of data to protect and a backup routine you can repeat. Which? identifies external HDDs as a route for longer-term file backup; the National Cyber Security Centre advises against leaving a backup drive permanently connected.
If you regularly copy large batches between computers or carry files with you, consider a portable SSD. Which? distinguishes SSDs by their generally faster transfers, but the connection on each computer and the cable you use still matter.
If you need selected files on several devices or away from home, cloud storage can be useful. Check which files sync, how much capacity the account has and who can access shared files; the Information Commissioner's Office advises checking whether a service's security and availability suit what you upload.
Decide which files need a recoverable copy before choosing between an HDD, an SSD and cloud storage. Transfer speed and access across devices then help narrow the route; a local drive and cloud storage can also serve different parts of the same backup plan.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable copies | Confirm that important files exist in separately managed places. If using a drive, plan to disconnect it after backup and test a restore. | If losing the computer could also put my only backup at risk, I want another copy I can recover. Around 36% of consumers put protection from a single loss event first. |
| Local capacity | Add up the files and device backups you intend to protect, then allow room for additions. Compare that requirement with the exact drive capacity. | With a growing collection kept mostly at home, I need enough space for the whole archive before I worry about transfer speed. Roughly 29% of consumers make local capacity their primary concern. |
| Portable transfers | Check the ports and cables on the devices you will use. Treat quoted maximum transfer speeds as conditional on a compatible connection. | When I move large photo or video batches between devices, copying time and carrying the drive matter most. Around 21% of consumers prioritise portable transfers. |
| Access across devices | Check which folders sync, available account capacity, recovery options and sharing permissions. | If I need selected files away from my main computer, I want to know they will appear on the devices I use. Approximately 14% of consumers put cross-device access first. |
A drive can be lost or damaged, while cloud access depends on the account and service. Neither location covers every way files might become unavailable.
For irreplaceable files, keep a separate local copy and an off-site copy where practical, and check that you can restore files from each.
Samsung says the cited T7 Shield's maximum speeds require a compatible host, cable, USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection and UASP. A speed figure does not establish what your computer will achieve.
Check the exact drive variant, your computer's port and the supplied cable before relying on its rated transfer speed.
Google states that account storage is shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos. At the storage limit, Drive uploads, photo and video backup, and Gmail functions can be affected.
Review storage use across the connected services and check a plan's capacity and terms before using it for a growing family archive.
Samsung says its cited T7 Shield resistance claims come from controlled tests and that liquid, dust and drop damage are not covered under its warranty.
Read the exact model's test conditions and warranty exclusions, and retain another copy of files carried on the drive.
Seagate has portable HDD and SSD lines relevant to local photo and file backup.
Samsung's portable SSD lines are relevant when compact storage and regular file transfers matter.
Google is a cloud-storage option for households using Drive, Gmail and Photos across devices.
These portable SSDs are local-drive choices for carrying or regularly transferring family photos and files. Compare their stated capacities with the size of your archive; a drive is not an off-site copy on its own.
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A portable local-drive option if you regularly carry or transfer a sizeable file collection.
The product name specifies 4 TB and a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Check the size of the files you plan to protect and the ports on your devices.
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Consider this portable local drive if you move large file collections and need to assess whether 4 TB fits your archive.
The product name specifies USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2x2. Check your computer's port if that connection matters to your choice.
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This portable SSD is a local-copy option when its 2 TB capacity accommodates the files you intend to back up.
The product name specifies a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Check capacity against your archive and confirm the connection on each device you will use.
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This is a portable local-copy choice if the files you need to protect fit within its stated 1 TB capacity.
The product name specifies a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Add up your files before choosing this capacity and check your device ports.
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Consider this portable local drive for files you carry between devices, provided 1 TB covers the copy you need.
The product name specifies a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Check capacity and connection compatibility; do not rely on a carried drive as the only copy.
Not necessarily: a cloud service may copy only selected folders or file types. Check exactly what your setup includes and try restoring a file; Microsoft documents selectable OneDrive folder backup, while Apple distinguishes Time Machine backups from iCloud storage and syncing.
If the drive is intended to protect important files during a ransomware incident, do not leave it permanently connected. The UK National Cyber Security Centre advises disconnecting the device containing the backup and checking that you can restore the files you need.
Check which photos and folders are copied, available capacity, account recovery and sharing permissions. If you use Google, its account storage is shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos, and reaching the limit can affect photo and video backup as well as other account functions.
The Information Commissioner's Office says processing personal data for a purely personal or household activity, with no professional or commercial connection, is outside the scope of UK GDPR. That does not answer questions about a provider's own obligations or other uses of the files; for your choice of service, check its security, availability and sharing controls.