Choose your backup route around the size of your files, how often the drive travels and whether you can keep another copy away from the computer. A portable hard drive suits regular local backups at home, while a portable SSD is more appropriate for a drive carried between locations; USB flash storage is better kept for a small, defined set of essential files. National Cyber Security Centre guidance stresses that a backup is a separate copy, so keep an additional offline, offsite or cloud-based copy for irreplaceable family files.
You keep family photos, documents and possibly videos on a Windows PC or Mac, and need a routine that creates a separate copy you can restore rather than simply moving files to another folder. National Cyber Security Centre, NI Cyber Security Centre, Apple Support and Microsoft Support guidance cover this approach.
You need to allow for the files you have now, future growth and retained backup history. For Time Machine, Apple Support advises using a disk with at least twice the storage capacity of the Mac.
You need a portable device that can travel with you or be kept away from home. Physical-resistance features can be useful, but they do not replace a separate offsite copy.
Start with the files you need to protect and the routine you can maintain. Then check capacity, connection and how the drive will be kept separate from the computer.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable separate copy | Check that the drive can be used with your backup software or operating system. Confirm that intended folders are included, and restore a representative file before relying on the copy. | I want photos and documents to remain accessible if the computer fails, is lost or files are deleted. |
| Capacity and backup history | Measure the photo, document and video folders first. Leave room for growth and retained versions; for Time Machine, Apple Support advises a dedicated disk with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity. | My backup drive needs room for more than today’s visible files, including future photos and earlier backup versions. |
| Protection from a shared incident | Keep at least one copy offline when practical, and keep another copy in a separate location or cloud service. Check which folders a cloud service includes and whether synchronisation has completed. | I do not want the computer and its only backup to be exposed to the same malware, theft, fire or local damage. |
| Connection and portability | Match the drive connection to your computer’s USB-A, USB-C or Thunderbolt ports and check whether an adapter or cable is supplied. For a travelling SSD, read the exact model’s stated resistance conditions. | The drive must connect directly to the computer I use and fit a routine at home or while travelling. |
A backup is a separate copy from which files can be restored. If only one copy remains, it does not protect you from drive failure, loss or corruption.
Keep the originals until the backup has completed and you have restored representative files successfully. Retain additional copies for irreplaceable family files.
A connected drive can be affected by the same malware, theft or local damage as the computer.
Disconnect the removable drive after a backup when practical, and keep another copy in a separate location or cloud service.
Future photos, videos and retained backup versions use additional space. Time Machine removes older backups when its disk becomes full.
Inventory the folders you need to protect before buying. Apple Support advises Time Machine users to choose a dedicated backup disk with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity.
A tougher drive can still be lost, damaged, overwritten or affected by the same incident as the computer. Physical-resistance claims also have model-specific test conditions and warranty limits.
Use protective features as one factor in your choice, confirm the exact model’s conditions and keep independent copies elsewhere.
Relevant for households choosing a portable external hard drive as a local destination for documents, photos and videos. Seagate’s UK Backup Plus Portable information describes use with Windows backup tools; a compatible drive can be reformatted for Time Machine on Mac.
Relevant for a portable SSD route when transport, stated transfer performance and model-specific physical-resistance features matter alongside capacity.
Relevant for USB flash storage used as an additional copy of a small, defined set of essential files rather than the main destination for an expanding family photo library.
Joybuy product options for household local backups, covering portable SSDs for drives that travel and portable hard drives for larger home backup sets.
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A portable SSD option for a larger family photo, video and document backup set that may travel between devices.
Stated 4 TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection, USB-C-to-C and USB-C-to-A cables, and up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write speeds. The fastest speeds require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host connection. Check that 4 TB covers your files, future growth and retained versions, and keep another offline or offsite copy.
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A compact SSD to consider when a defined backup set is carried between home, work or relatives’ homes.
Stated 1 TB capacity, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write, and IP65 testing with up to 3 m drop resistance. Samsung’s stated resistance conditions do not cover every loss event, and liquid and dust damage are not covered by warranty. Check capacity before buying and retain a separate copy.
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A portable hard drive route for a growing home-computer library of photos, documents and videos.
Stated 5 TB capacity, USB-C connection and a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter. It is pre-formatted for Windows; macOS use requires reformatting, which can erase existing content. Avoid moving, dropping or exposing a mechanical drive to liquid while it is operating, and keep an additional offline or offsite copy.
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A portable hard drive for regular backups of a defined photo and document collection on a household computer with USB-A.
Stated 1 TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity, bus power and automated-backup software. macOS 11+ read/write use requires a downloadable driver according to the supplied product information. Check that 1 TB leaves room for growth and backup history, and do not rely on this drive as the only copy.
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A straightforward portable hard drive option for a local copy of photos, videos and important documents.
Stated 2 TB capacity, USB 3.0 connection and USB 2.0 backward compatibility. Confirm the delivered capacity, cable arrangement and formatting for your computer before purchase. Measure your folders first, allow for future files and retain an additional offline or offsite copy.
Measure the folders and libraries you need to protect, including photos, documents and videos, then allow room for expected growth and retained versions. For a Mac using Time Machine, Apple Support advises a dedicated backup disk with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity. This is a Mac-specific guideline rather than a universal rule for every Windows PC or manual-copy workflow.
Choose a portable hard drive for a dedicated local backup destination that mainly stays at home. Choose a portable SSD when the drive travels frequently or when the exact model’s stated transfer and physical-resistance features suit your routine. Reserve USB flash storage for a small, bounded set of essential files rather than the only copy of a growing photo and video library.
Keep the originals while you copy or back up files, use scheduled backups where your operating system supports them, check that the intended folders are included and practise restoring a file or folder. National Cyber Security Centre and NI Cyber Security Centre guidance also supports keeping a removable backup disconnected when practical and retaining another copy in a separate location or cloud service.
Apple Support advises using a Time Machine backup disk only for Time Machine backups, not for ordinary file storage. If you want both storage and backups, use a separate drive or confirm that your planned partitioning and backup setup is supported before erasing or reformatting anything.
Treat it as electrical and electronic equipment rather than ordinary household waste. UK WEEE guidance from the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs supports recovery, reuse and recycling; remove or securely erase personal data before handing over a drive.