Choose cloud storage if automatic backup and access across devices matter most; choose an external hard drive for a substantial local copy, or a portable SSD if you frequently move large files between compatible devices. For photos and documents you cannot replace, keep an independently managed local copy alongside a cloud copy. Whichever route you take, check what is backed up, where the copy is kept and how you would restore it.
Family photos, videos and important documents may be difficult to recreate after a device is lost, fails or is replaced. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping a separate copy of important data so it can be restored.
If phones, tablets and computers all hold files you value, check which photos, folders and device data your Apple, Google or Microsoft account backs up. File syncing and a full-device restore do not necessarily cover the same things.
A growing collection of photos and videos calls for enough space to hold a separate copy. If you also move large files between computers, check the drive connection and the devices you will use with it.
Start with what must survive a device loss, then decide whether a cloud copy, a removable drive or both fit the way your household actually backs up files. A small selection of files may fit on USB flash storage, but check its capacity and keep it separately from the original device.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recovering files | Keep a separate copy; check the last successful backup and practise restoring a file. | If family photos are lost or deleted, I need to retrieve a current copy rather than discover that the backup stopped working. Around 33% of consumers would put recoverability first. |
| Automatic backup across devices | Check which devices, folders and data types are covered, and whether backup runs automatically. | With files spread across phones and computers, I want backups to continue without connecting a drive each time. Roughly 25% of consumers would make automatic, multi-device backup their primary concern. |
| Storage capacity | Compare the size of your files with drive capacity or the cloud allowance shared by other services. | As our photo and video archive grows, I need room for new files without backup uploads stopping. About 25% of consumers would prioritise capacity and plan limits. |
| Portable local transfers | Match the drive connector and USB specification to your devices; treat rated speeds as conditional. | When I regularly move large video or photo files, I want a portable drive that works with my computers. Around 17% of consumers would place fast local copying first. |
A cloud account may be full, and file sync, photo storage and device backups can follow different rules. Google, for example, applies different retention conditions to device backups and photos or videos.
List what you expect to recover, check each data type against your provider’s settings and restore a small file to confirm the steps work.
Samsung says the T7’s rated maximum speeds require a USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable with UASP enabled. A speed figure does not tell you what every computer will achieve.
Check the ports and cable on the devices you will use before choosing a drive for frequent large-file transfers.
The National Cyber Security Centre identifies loss, theft, device failure, deletion and malware as ways access to important files can be lost. A removable copy needs to remain separate from the original device.
Update the drive regularly, then store it in a separate safe place. Consider another independent copy for files you cannot replace.
Password protection or encryption controls access; it does not create another copy. Recovery may also be obstructed if you cannot access the password or account.
Check the security features of the exact model, keep recovery credentials securely and maintain a separate copy you can restore.
A cloud option for households using iPhone, iPad and Mac devices.
Cloud storage for households using Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos or Android backup.
Cloud file storage and syncing for households using Windows and Microsoft accounts.
A local-backup option through portable hard-drive ranges such as One Touch.
A portable SSD option for local copies and frequent file transfers between compatible devices.
These removable drives are options for keeping a local copy of household files. An HDD may suit a larger archive, while an SSD may suit frequent transfers; either way, plan how you will update the copy and keep it separate from the original device.
No image available
Consider this for a local copy if you regularly move large household files between compatible devices.
The named variant has 2 TB of storage and USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2. Check your device’s USB support and decide how you will maintain and restore the backup.
No image available
This Mac-labelled portable hard drive is an option for a substantial local household archive.
Its stated capacity is 5 TB. If you also use Windows, confirm file-system and driver compatibility before choosing this variant; check the applicable warranty terms as well.
No image available
Consider this portable SSD if you want a local copy of selected files and move them between compatible devices.
The named variant has 1 TB of storage and USB 3.2 Gen 2. Check whether your archive fits and whether your devices support the connection; do not assume the drive can withstand immersion.
No image available
This portable hard drive is an option for maintaining a local copy of household photos and documents.
Its stated capacity is 2 TB. Check operating-system support and which folders any backup software will cover, then test a restore before relying on scheduled copies.
No image available
Consider this portable hard drive when your priority is space for a substantial local household copy.
The named variant has 4 TB of storage and USB 3.0. Check compatibility before using it with a non-Windows device, and establish a regular copying and restore routine.
No: storing or syncing files does not, by itself, establish that every app, setting and photo can be restored. Google applies different rules to device backups and photos or videos, while Apple provides distinct iCloud and computer-backup restore routes. Check the coverage for your device and account.
The window depends on the service and what happened to the file. Microsoft says deleted files and folders in personal OneDrive accounts can be restored within 30 days; Apple says deleted iCloud Drive files can be recovered within 30 days unless permanently removed. Neither window should be treated as permanent storage.
Check that the files or device data you care about are included, confirm the date of the last successful backup and restore a small file to another folder or device where practical. The National Cyber Security Centre describes a backup as a separate copy of important data, so also check where that copy is kept.