Start with automatic cloud backup if you need selected files available across devices or after a phone or computer is lost, stolen, damaged or fails. Add an external SSD for faster portable copies of large files, or an external hard drive when local archive capacity matters more than transfer speed. A USB drive can carry an extra copy, but it should not be the only backup for important files.
For people with personal files spread across phones, tablets and computers who want recent copies available after a device is lost, stolen, damaged or replaced. Which?, the National Cyber Security Centre, Apple and Google support the need to check what each backup route actually covers.
For people building local copies of sizeable photo, video or computer-file libraries who need to decide whether an HDD's capacity-focused approach or an SSD's faster, more portable approach fits better. Which? and the manufacturers' product guidance distinguish these routes.
For people more likely to keep a usable backup when they can enable the tools already associated with their Microsoft, Apple or Google account. Apple, Google and Microsoft each describe built-in options with different coverage and account requirements.
Choose the backup route around what must be recoverable, where it needs to be available and how much local capacity you need. A useful setup often combines an automatic off-device copy with a separate local copy.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable copies | Check which folders, photos, app data and settings are included. Review the latest successful backup and try a small restore before an emergency. | I want a recent separate copy of important photos and documents, with a restore method I can use if the original device is unavailable. |
| Capacity and ongoing storage | Calculate the current library, selected device backups and room for growth. Check cloud allowances and upgrade terms, or choose a drive with enough usable capacity for the local archive. | My backup should hold the files I value without forcing frequent deletion or leaving part of the library unprotected. |
| Access across devices | Confirm the supported operating systems, included data types, connectors and cable requirements. Check whether phone backup, computer folders and synced files are separate features. | I need selected files to be reachable from the phones, tablets and computers my household actually uses. |
| Privacy and account security | Review account passwords, sharing permissions and the provider's security and availability arrangements. For portable drives, check the exact model's password or encryption setup. | I want sensitive files kept private, especially when a cloud account is shared across devices or a drive may be carried away from home. |
Computer folders, phone data and cloud services can cover different categories of information. A synced folder or cloud account does not automatically mean every important photo, document, app item or setting is included.
List what you need to recover, enable the relevant backup options, check the latest successful backup and perform a small restore test.
A drive connected all the time can be exposed if malware or ransomware affects the computer. A drive kept beside the original can also be affected by the same theft or home incident.
Keep another separate copy, disconnect the external drive when it is not backing up and make sure you know how to restore files.
Maximum SSD transfer figures can depend on the computer or phone, cable, USB generation and supported mode. HDD and SSD speed ratings should not be treated as directly comparable.
Check the exact ports and cable supplied, then choose a speed tier your devices can support. If rapid transfers are occasional, capacity and a tested backup routine may matter more.
A higher-speed model may offer little practical benefit if the existing device, port or cable cannot support its stated performance.
Google says its Storage saver option can compress or resize photos and videos, while Original quality retains the captured resolution and uses Google Account storage.
Use Original quality for images you may edit, crop heavily or print large. Choose Storage saver only when reduced quality is acceptable and conserving storage matters more.
An iCloud Backup route for iPhone and iPad users who want automatic device backup through an Apple account.
A Google Photos and Google Account route for Android users and people wanting backed-up photos and videos accessible from signed-in devices.
A Windows Backup and OneDrive route for personal Microsoft-account users who want selected folders and settings available on another PC.
A portable SSD option for people prioritising compact local copies and faster transfers of large files.
An external HDD and SSD storage line for people creating larger local archives or scheduled computer backups.
These Joybuy options focus on external hard drives and portable SSDs for keeping an additional local copy of photos, documents and larger file libraries. They can complement cloud backup but do not replace a separate off-site copy.
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A local backup option for home-computer photos and documents where scheduled copying and capacity are the priority.
Stated 2TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity, scheduled backup software and password-protected 256-bit AES hardware encryption.
It is pre-formatted for Windows; check the stated downloadable driver requirement before using it with macOS 11 or later. Keep a separate off-site backup and avoid leaving the drive permanently connected.
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A sizeable local second-copy option for large photo, video and document libraries that are moved between compatible devices.
Stated 4TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, up to 2,000MB/s read and write, AES-256 hardware encryption, and USB-C-to-C and USB-C-to-A cables.
Check that the host device supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 before expecting the stated speed. Set up a backup routine and keep another separate copy for off-site protection.
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A portable local copy for large files where USB-C equipment and password-protected storage are relevant.
Stated 2TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, up to 2,000MB/s transfer rate, password authentication, AES-256 hardware encryption and 3m drop protection.
Only a USB-C-to-USB-C cable is listed in the box, so check ports and cable needs for non-USB-C equipment. Use it as an additional backup copy rather than sole protection for irreplaceable files.
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A compact local-storage choice for files moved between Macs, PCs and Android devices, including travel-oriented use.
Stated 1TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2, up to 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write, IP65 resistance and 3m drop resistance.
Calculate whether 1TB allows for the current library and future growth, and check port and cable support for the stated speeds. The listed IP65 protection is for temporary water exposure, not immersion.
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A portable local-copy option for moving files between Windows, macOS and Android equipment.
Stated 1TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, up to 2,000MB/s read and 1,950MB/s write, AES-256 encryption, password protection, 3m drop resistance and two cable types.
Check whether your devices can use USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 performance and whether 1TB covers future growth. Encryption and password protection require compatible software setup.
It can be the primary backup route when the files and folders you need are included, automatic backup is enabled, there is sufficient account capacity and you can restore through the account. For particularly important files, a separate local copy reduces reliance on one service and one account.
Usually not if you need protection from theft, loss or an incident affecting both the computer and the drive at home. An external drive is useful for faster local recovery and large archives, but it is strongest as an additional copy that is disconnected when not in use for backup.
Calculate the storage needed for your current photo and video library, documents, selected computer folders and device backups, then allow room for growth. Do not treat a free allowance as proof that the whole device is protected; Microsoft states that a free Microsoft account includes 5GB of OneDrive storage, and Google says Original-quality photo uploads use account storage.
Check usable capacity, the connector on the drive and your devices, the USB generation supported by both sides and whether a claimed speed needs a particular cable or mode. For use across Windows and Mac, check the exact model's formatting and compatibility instructions rather than assuming every drive behaves the same way.
The Information Commissioner's Office advises checking whether a cloud service's security and availability suit the files you plan to upload, reviewing private, shared and public access settings, and using a unique strong password. Cloud files are stored on servers controlled by the provider, so account and sharing settings are part of the backup decision.