Family archive keepers
If photos, videos and scanned records have accumulated over years, measure what needs protecting and leave room for new files and backup history. A routine you can repeat matters as much as the drive's stated capacity.
Who needs which backup setup?
Multi-device households
If files are spread across Macs, Windows PCs and phones, check the ports, adapters, power requirements and file systems for the devices you actually use before choosing a drive.
Resilience-first backup planners
If recovery after device failure, ransomware or a household incident is the priority, plan for a separate copy and practise restoring files. The National Cyber Security Centre warns that connected USB and network backups can be affected by ransomware alongside the original files.
What matters when choosing storage?
A portable HDD or SSD can serve one computer or travel between devices, while a desktop HDD stays in a fixed setup and a NAS can provide a shared local destination. An off-site or cloud copy addresses a different risk: losing the storage kept at home. None of these arrangements removes the need to check that you can restore your files.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving a wider loss | Decide when the backup will be disconnected and where a separate off-site copy will be kept. Restore a test folder. | If ransomware could reach a connected drive, or an incident could affect everything kept at home, I need a copy beyond that risk. About 27% of consumers put this separation first. |
| Room for a growing archive | Measure the files to protect and allow for growth and backup history. For Mac Time Machine, Apple advises a disk with at least twice the Mac's storage capacity. | Years of photos, videos and scans make today's file size a poor endpoint for my capacity choice; about 26% of consumers prioritise room for the archive to grow. |
| A usable backup routine | Check which backup tool works with your computer, when it runs and whether you can restore a recent file. | If copying files relies on someone remembering each time, I need a routine that keeps running and produces a usable copy. Roughly 26% of consumers make that their primary concern. |
| Connecting different devices | Check ports, cables, adapters, power and the intended file system before formatting a drive. | When family files sit on phones and different computers, I need a workable way to move or back up files from each one; about 21% of consumers put device compatibility first. |
Backup mistakes to avoid
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Treating one permanently connected drive as the whole backup
The National Cyber Security Centre describes ransomware incidents affecting connected USB and network backup drives. A second drive kept in the same home also remains exposed to a household-wide loss.
Disconnect a backup drive when the copy is complete, keep another copy offline or off-site for irreplaceable files, and periodically restore a test folder.
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Choosing capacity for today's files alone
New photos and retained backup versions need space beyond the files currently on a computer. For Time Machine, Apple recommends a backup disk with at least twice the Mac's storage capacity.
Measure the data you intend to protect before buying. If the disk is for Time Machine, keep it dedicated to that backup rather than using it as everyday file storage.
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Assuming every USB drive connects directly to every device
Apple says external storage used with an iPhone needs a single data partition and a supported format; some external HDDs also need additional power. A portable SSD's quoted speed depends on the host connection and cable.
Check your devices' ports, the supplied cable, any adapter or power requirements and the file system before choosing or formatting a drive.
Your setup may also require an adapter, powered hub or different cable.
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Encrypting a backup without keeping its recovery method
Encryption can restrict access to a lost portable drive, but losing the password or recovery key can also prevent your household from restoring its files.
If you encrypt a backup, make sure the devices you use support the chosen method and keep its recovery details separately in a secure place accessible to the appropriate household member.
Brands to consider
Seagate
A reference point for portable and desktop external HDDs used as local household backups.
- Seagate UK describes both portable and desktop formats and lists capacities up to 24 TB across its external-drive range.
- Capacity, connectors, supplied cables and security features vary by model; do not assume that a particular drive includes encryption or password protection.
Samsung
Relevant when considering a compact portable SSD that will be moved or handled regularly.
- For its T7 Shield, Samsung UK specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2 and publishes model-specific dust, water and drop-test claims.
- Samsung says the T7 Shield's quoted transfer speeds require a compatible host, cable and protocol. Its tested resistance does not protect against losing the only copy of a file.
Synology
Relevant to households considering a personal backup hub or NAS for files gathered from several devices.
- Synology presents BeeDrive as a way to gather data spread across devices.
- Synology's NAS guidance warns that RAID crashes and drive failures can still cause data loss. A shared local destination needs a separate backup copy.
Joybuy external-drive selections
These portable HDDs, portable SSDs and a desktop HDD offer different ways to keep a local copy of family files. Choose by archive size, where the drive will be used and how it connects to your devices; plan a separate copy alongside any of them.
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Western Digital My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB
Consider this portable HDD if you want a 5TB local archive for a Mac-centred backup routine. Check that its connection, file system and backup workflow fit any other household devices you intend to use, and confirm the applicable warranty before ordering.
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SanDisk Portable SSD 2TB
This 2TB portable SSD is an option when you want to carry a local copy or move files between devices. Compare its capacity with your archive, then confirm the connector, supplied cable and file-system requirements for each device you plan to use.
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Samsung T7 Shield MU-PE1T0S 1TB
Consider this USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 portable SSD for a 1TB copy that you will carry or use for frequent transfers. Samsung UK says its T7 Shield's quoted speeds depend on a compatible host, cable and protocol; check those conditions and your intended file system before relying on it for backups.
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Western Digital Elements Desktop 10TB
This 10TB desktop HDD suits a sizeable archive kept beside a computer rather than carried between locations. Plan for a fixed setup, check how it connects and confirm the formatting required by your intended backup software before putting files on it.
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Western Digital Elements Portable 4TB USB 3.0
This 4TB portable HDD is an option for a local family archive that you can put away between backups. Check the connection and file-system needs of the computers or phones involved, and handle the drive carefully when moving it.
Questions about family backups
How large should a drive be for Mac Time Machine?
Apple advises a backup device with at least twice the Mac's storage capacity. Measure what you need to protect and leave space for future files and retained backups; keep the Time Machine disk for backups rather than general file storage.
Can I connect an external drive directly to an iPhone?
An iPhone can access supported external storage through the Files app and other supported apps, provided the connection and drive meet Apple's requirements. Apple specifies a single data partition and a supported format; some external HDDs also need external power, so check the adapter and power arrangement for your setup.
Should I leave my only backup drive connected?
Disconnecting it between planned backups reduces the chance that a problem on the computer also reaches that copy. The National Cyber Security Centre describes ransomware affecting connected USB and network backup drives. Keep another separate copy and test that you can restore files from it.
Is encryption useful for a portable family backup?
Encryption is worth considering when a drive containing sensitive files could be lost or stolen, provided your devices support the method and you can retain the recovery details. Microsoft says BitLocker Drive Encryption is available on Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education, not Windows Home; keep the password or recovery key separately from the drive.