Choose cloud storage when access to selected files across devices and a copy away from the main computer matter most; check what the service actually backs up and whether your connection can handle the upload. An external HDD suits a large local archive, while an external SSD is worth considering for frequent transfers. For irreplaceable files, keep separate copies rather than relying on one drive or sync service alone.
If your photos and videos are growing faster than you can comfortably upload them, an external drive offers a local route. Which? describes HDDs as suited to long-term backup and SSDs as faster for transfers. Whichever you choose, the drive needs a regular backup routine.
If you need selected files on a computer and phone, cloud access may be useful. Microsoft and Apple describe ways to make files available across supported devices, but folder selection, syncing and photo-library settings determine what is covered.
Family photos and sensitive records call for attention to both recoverability and access. Apple advises keeping a local backup of a Mac photo library even when using iCloud Photos; Which? advises checking cloud sharing permissions for personal files.
Start with the copy you would need after a device failure, then decide whether local capacity, access across devices or tighter control of private files changes your choice. A drive and cloud storage can serve different purposes, but neither protects files that have been left out of its backup setup.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable copies | Identify every important folder and photo library. Check that a second copy is separate from the main device and that backups complete. | If my computer is lost or damaged, I need another copy I can retrieve; for around 33% of consumers, recovery is the primary concern. |
| Library size and first backup | Allow room for the current library and growth. Consider the initial upload on your connection, or the drive connection for a local copy. | A large photo or video library makes me weigh storage space against the time needed for its first cloud upload. Roughly 27% of consumers put this need first. |
| Access across devices | Confirm supported devices, included folders and any separate phone-photo settings. Check that syncing has finished. | I want selected documents and photos on my phone as well as my computer, without assuming that access means a complete device backup; this is the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Privacy and control | Review cloud sharing permissions and, for a portable drive, check the exact model’s access-protection options. | Sensitive household files make me careful about who can open a shared link or a misplaced drive. For roughly 13% of consumers, control of access comes first. |
Cloud and operating-system tools may cover selected folders, while phone photos can have separate settings. Accessing one synced document does not establish that an entire device can be restored.
List the folders, photo libraries and devices that matter, then confirm that each first backup has completed.
A drive can be lost or damaged alongside the computer. Apple also advises against keeping a Mac photo library and its Time Machine backup on the same external storage device.
Keep important copies separate. For a Mac photo library, use a distinct Time Machine destination or another separate copy.
Samsung says the T7 Shield’s maximum transfer speeds require a compatible host connection and cable. The speed stated for a drive is not a promise of the rate on every device.
Check the ports on the computer or phone and the connection needed by the exact drive.
A sharing link can allow access beyond the people you intended. Which? advises avoiding the ‘Anyone with the link’ setting for personal or sensitive files.
Review existing links and access lists, and use named-person access where privacy matters.
Apple-device households can consider iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos alongside Time Machine for a Mac.
OneDrive folder backup is relevant when selected PC files need to sync across devices.
The portable T7 Shield SSD line is relevant to people considering a compact drive for frequent transfers.
The Expansion external HDD line is relevant to local archive and backup storage.
These portable SSDs and HDDs are options for keeping a local copy of household files. Choose capacity against your library and expected growth, and plan how you will update the copy; a drive does not provide access to files away from home on its own.
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Consider this portable local drive if your photo and file library needs substantial space and you move files regularly.
USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Check your device’s port and allow room for future files when assessing the 4 TB capacity.
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This is a portable local-copy option if your files and expected growth fit within 2 TB.
USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Check the intended device’s port, and maintain a backup routine rather than relying on the drive merely being connected.
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Consider this portable SSD for a local copy you expect to carry, provided 1 TB accommodates the files you intend to back up.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Check host compatibility and the conditions attached to this model’s protection claims; do not treat its casing as a substitute for another copy.
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This portable HDD is a local archive option if a 5 TB capacity fits your household library and planned backups.
Check the file-system setup before using it with a Mac, and avoid moving the drive during transfers.
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This portable drive can hold a local copy if 2 TB meets your current and future storage needs.
Confirm the connector and compatibility with each device you plan to use. If private files need drive-level access protection, check the exact model’s options before choosing it.
Keep an additional copy of irreplaceable photos where practical, rather than assuming cloud access covers every file. Check that the photo library has finished uploading; Apple advises backing up a Mac photo library locally even when iCloud Photos is used.
Apple advises a storage device with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity. Its guidance also recommends using that disk for Time Machine backups rather than general file storage.
Microsoft says removable USB drives are not supported as OneDrive locations, and Folder Protection cannot be set up on external memory. Check its setup requirements before planning a backup around an external drive.
Check who can open each sensitive file or folder, including anyone with an existing sharing link. Which? advises avoiding ‘Anyone with the link’ for personal or sensitive files.