For family photos and personal files that would be difficult to replace, keep a local copy and a separate off-site copy rather than relying on one drive or one account. An external hard drive suits a growing local library, an SSD suits frequent portable transfers, and a home NAS can provide shared local access; cloud storage can help with access away from home, but check whether its restore and version-history features meet your backup needs.
If losing photos, home videos or documents would be especially disruptive, focus on whether you can restore a separate copy after deletion, device loss or damage at home. The National Cyber Security Centre defines a backup as a copy kept in a separate safe location.
If photos and large videos are filling your devices, compare the space your collection uses now with the capacity available for future files and backup copies. A portable drive provides local storage, but should not be the only location for files you cannot recreate.
If several people need files on phones and computers, consider access permissions and account management alongside storage space. Cloud storage supports access from different locations, according to the Information Commissioner's Office; a home NAS offers a different, locally managed way to share files.
Decide where a recoverable copy will live before choosing how much space or transfer speed you need. A cloud folder that synchronises changes across devices needs its restore settings checked separately.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery after loss | Keep a copy separate from the main device and home; check how to restore deleted or earlier versions. | If photos cannot be recreated, I need a copy I can recover even when a device fails or files are accidentally changed. Around 26% of consumers put this recovery need first. |
| Room for a growing library | Compare your current files and expected growth with usable drive or cloud capacity. | My photo and video collection keeps growing, so enough room for the library and its copies is my main concern. For around 26% of consumers, capacity takes priority. |
| Access and private sharing | Check supported devices, household sharing arrangements and who can open or revoke a shared link. | When family members use different devices, I want them to reach the right files without making private albums public. Around 21% of consumers prioritise that access and sharing need. |
| Portable transfers | Check the drive's connector, the receiving device's USB support and any formatting requirements. | I regularly move large files between devices, so carrying a drive and completing transfers conveniently matters most. This is the leading need for around 16% of consumers. |
| Shared local storage | For a NAS, check compatible drives, usable capacity, household permissions and a separate backup destination. | If several devices contribute to one household library, I would rather manage a shared local hub than pass around a single drive. Around 11% of consumers put shared local access first. |
A drive can be lost with the files it protects, while synchronisation can copy an unwanted change across devices. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping important data in a separate safe location.
Keep a separate off-site copy where practical, check version and deletion recovery, and try restoring a small file before relying on the arrangement.
A growing video collection and additional device copies need space beyond the current photo library. On a NAS, raw drive capacity may also differ from usable capacity.
Check how much space your files use now, allow for growth and compare the capacity you can actually use after the storage arrangement is configured.
Which? distinguishes SSDs from HDDs on typical transfer speed, but a particular drive's result also depends on its connection and the device using it. Crucial likewise qualifies its stated X10 performance by host and device conditions.
Check the USB port and cable you will use with the exact drive, particularly if frequent large transfers are the reason for choosing an SSD.
A link or folder permission can expose family media to more people than intended. The Information Commissioner's Office distinguishes private, public and invitation-only cloud access.
Choose the intended recipients before sharing, review existing links and secure the account with a strong unique password and available multi-factor authentication.
A reference point for plug-in local HDD storage.
A reference point for portable SSDs intended for regular file transfers.
A reference point when comparing higher-capacity portable SSD variants.
A reference point for a shared household NAS rather than a drive connected to one computer.
A reference point for households using iCloud+ across Apple devices.
These portable drives and the diskless NAS offer ways to keep files locally. For photos and documents that would be difficult to replace, plan a separate off-site copy as well.
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Consider this portable HDD for a substantial local copy of family photos and videos. The listed variant is 5TB; check compatibility with the computers you intend to use, and keep another copy elsewhere.
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Consider this portable SSD if you regularly move files and its 1 TB capacity covers the copy you need. Check the connection on your intended devices; a portable drive alone does not protect against losing everything kept in one location.
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Consider this portable SSD for moving a local copy between compatible devices. The listed variant is 1TB with a magnetic set; check the attachment conditions for an intended iPhone 15 or 16 setup and whether the capacity covers your library.
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Consider this portable HDD for a sizeable local copy made through a computer. The listed variant is 4TB; check its USB connection and whether your computer requires the drive to be reformatted before use. Keep a separate recoverable copy elsewhere.
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Consider this NAS if your household wants shared local file storage and can manage the setup. It is a 2-bay diskless unit, so check compatible drives and the usable capacity of your planned configuration. Arrange a separate off-site copy if a home-level incident could affect your files.
Not necessarily: synchronisation copies changes between locations, which may include unwanted edits or deletions. For important files, check whether the service retains recoverable earlier versions or deleted files and how you would restore them.
A home NAS can provide shared local storage, but it remains at home. If theft, fire or another incident affecting the household is a concern, keep a recoverable copy in a separate location too.
Use encryption where available and keep another recoverable copy elsewhere. The Information Commissioner's Office notes that encryption helps protect information from unauthorised access when a storage device is lost or stolen; it does not replace a backup.
Check the usable allowance, who can share it, supported devices, access permissions and file-recovery features. Apple, Microsoft and Dropbox describe different household allowances and arrangements, so confirm the terms of the particular plan you intend to use.
Check who can open each album, file or folder link before sending it. The Information Commissioner's Office distinguishes private, public and invitation-only access; use the permission that matches your intended recipients and review links you have already shared.