Choose a desktop external hard drive for a large archive that stays beside one computer, or a portable SSD if you regularly carry files and your computer supports its connection standard. Cloud storage helps with access from a replacement computer or several devices, but quotas and account access matter; for irreplaceable files, keep a separate local copy as well as an off-site or cloud copy.
Start with where the files must be available: at one desk, wherever you carry a drive, or across several devices.
If photos, videos and older documents are filling your current backup drive, measure what you need to retain before choosing another local destination. A desktop hard drive is relevant when the archive normally stays beside one computer; Seagate’s Expansion Desktop range illustrates this desk-based approach.
If you move files between an old and a replacement computer, or carry a working library, a portable drive may fit your routine. Before choosing an SSD for its quoted speed, check the computer port and cable against the drive’s requirements; Samsung makes these conditions explicit for its T7 Shield range.
If household members need files on several devices, cloud storage can make access more convenient. Check the account, storage allowance and cancellation terms, and decide which files also need a separate local copy. Microsoft, Apple and Google each set service-specific quota or plan conditions.
Measure the files you need to keep, decide where you need access, then check that the chosen drive or service works with your backup routine. For irreplaceable files, plan a copy kept separate from the computer.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity for a growing archive | Measure the files and existing backups you will retain; allow for new files and any backup history you want to keep. | If an almost-full drive must hold family photos and older files after a computer replacement, room for the next backups comes first. Around 31% of consumers put archive capacity first. |
| Portability and connection | Check the computer’s port and cable against the drive’s USB requirements. If reusing an internal SSD, match its physical format and interface to the enclosure. | When large files regularly travel between computers, carrying the drive and connecting it easily matter more than leaving it at one desk. Around 25% of consumers prioritise portable transfer. |
| Access across devices | Identify which folders need cloud access, the account and storage allowance they will use, and how you will retain a local copy. | If files must be available on a replacement computer or several household devices, an account-based service may be useful. Cross-device access is the primary need for around 19% of consumers. |
| Independent recovery and privacy | Keep a copy separate from the main computer, check that you can restore it, and consider encryption and secure recovery-key storage for a portable drive. | For irreplaceable records, I need a copy that remains available if the computer or a connected backup is affected. Around 25% of consumers put independent recovery and privacy first. |
The National Cyber Security Centre warns that an incident can affect original files and connected backup locations. A second drive offers less separation if it is always attached to the same computer.
For important files, keep another copy separately stored. Connect an offline backup when needed for backing up or checking that files can be restored, then disconnect it.
Samsung’s quoted maximum speeds for the T7 Shield depend on a USB 3.2 Gen 2 host, a compatible cable and UASP. The drive’s advertised maximum does not describe every computer setup.
Check the exact computer port and cable requirements before using a speed claim to choose a drive.
Apple says a Windows-formatted disk may need to be erased and reformatted for Time Machine. Erasing it permanently removes the existing contents.
Confirm that you can read the old backup and have copied anything you need elsewhere before changing the disk’s format or backup role.
Storage allowances and cancellation consequences differ by service. Microsoft says an over-quota OneDrive account cannot upload, edit or sync files; Apple advises dealing with content above the new allowance before downgrading iCloud+.
Check the plan’s allowance and billing terms, how to download your files, and which local copy you would retain if you changed or left the service.
These examples illustrate different backup routes; a brand’s inclusion does not mean that every product or service in its range fits your computer.
Its Expansion Desktop range is relevant to an archive kept beside a computer.
Its T7 Shield range is relevant when portable SSD storage and transfers are the priority.
Its Windows backup tools and OneDrive serve different parts of a replacement-PC plan.
Time Machine is relevant to local Mac backups; iCloud+ addresses cloud storage separately.
Google One is relevant to households considering more shared storage for Google Photos, Drive and Gmail.
These Joybuy products cover portable SSDs and external hard drives for keeping a local copy. Choose capacity against the files you actually need to retain, and check the connection and backup method for your computer. A local drive can also form part of a plan with a separately stored copy.
No image available
Consider this portable SSD if you need to carry a sizeable local file collection between computers. The product name specifies 4 TB and USB 3.2 Gen 2; check your computer’s port and cable before relying on that connection standard. Keep a separate copy of important files.
No image available
This desktop hard drive is a local option when a large archive normally stays beside one computer. Its stated capacity is 10TB; check the available desk space, power arrangement and file-system requirements for your computer before buying. Preserve existing files before any reformatting.
No image available
This 2TB portable SSD is relevant if you carry a local backup or transfer files between locations. Confirm that its connector and cable suit your computer, and decide where a second copy of important files will be kept.
No image available
Consider this portable hard drive for a larger local archive used with a Mac. The product name specifies 5TB; check the file-system and driver requirements before planning to use it with Windows too. If it will serve as a Time Machine disk, preserve any existing files before changing its format.
No image available
This 1TB portable SSD is relevant if you want local computer storage and are also considering its magnetic attachment setup. The product name specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2 and iPhone 15/16 compatibility; check the required case or ring, cable and file format for your intended devices before buying.
Yes. Microsoft describes copying files to an external storage device, checking that they are present, safely ejecting it and then transferring them to the new PC. Moving files is not the same as maintaining versioned backups, so decide separately how you will keep future copies.
Yes, if the drive connects through a compatible Mac port and can be set up as a Time Machine destination. Apple prefers APFS or APFS Encrypted for the backup disk; setting up a Windows-formatted drive may require erasing it, so copy any files you need from it first.
Not simply by placing them in the area assigned to Time Machine. Apple says a device set up for Time Machine backups is used for those backups and advises creating an additional APFS volume if you need a separate area for ordinary files on the same physical device.
Check how much content you have and download any files you need to retain locally before changing the plan. Apple advises downloading or removing content above a reduced iCloud+ allowance; Microsoft says an over-quota OneDrive account cannot upload, edit or sync files, and existing files become read-only. Check your own provider’s terms and billing channel before cancelling.
Keep at least one important backup disconnected when it is not needed. The National Cyber Security Centre advises connecting an offline backup only when necessary, reducing the chance that an incident affecting the computer also reaches that copy. Reconnect it for planned backups and checks that files can be restored.