Choose an automatic cloud route when recent phone or computer backups matter most; use a removable drive when you can maintain a separate local copy; consider NAS when several devices need shared home storage and you can back it up elsewhere. For important photos and documents, combining a regular backup with a separately stored or disconnected copy avoids relying on one device, account or connected location—a distinction reflected in National Cyber Security Centre guidance on separate backups and connected-drive risks.
If most photos and personal data live on an iPhone or Android phone, an automatic account-based backup can help with a replacement device. Check separately which photos, app data and settings will actually restore: Apple and Google describe different sync and backup arrangements.
An external drive provides a local destination for periodic copies of photos, videos and documents. Choose capacity against the files you intend to copy, then decide whether you can keep the drive separate between backups. An external SSD is also worth considering when frequent portable transfers matter and your devices have compatible connections.
Network-attached storage (NAS) can give several people and devices a shared home location. Synology describes phone-photo and computer-backup workflows, but also recommends another backup destination; a shared NAS is not, by itself, a separately stored copy.
Start with what you must be able to restore, then choose how often copies should run and where another copy will live.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery | Identify the files and device data covered. Check how to restore them, and keep a copy in a separate safe location; the National Cyber Security Centre defines a backup as a copy stored separately. | If my device is lost or a file is deleted, I need to know which copy I can restore and whether it contains the version I need. |
| Backup frequency | Check automatic-backup conditions, selected folders and the date of the last completed copy. For a removable drive, plan when it will be connected and disconnected. | Recent phone photos matter to me, so a manual copy made only occasionally may leave a gap after device loss. |
| Capacity and files | Compare the full library with the storage available and allow for new files. Check service rules for file types and sizes; Google lists conditions for Google Photos uploads. | My videos and camera files need room alongside documents, and I want to confirm that each type is included before choosing capacity. |
| Compatibility | Check the intended phone or computer, account, ports, cables and backup software. Confirm whether an external drive needs reformatting before use. | Files may come from different devices in my household; I need both a way to copy them and a way to open or restore them later. |
| Shared storage | For NAS, check device-backup workflows, household access and a second backup destination. Synology recommends copies on more than one storage medium, including an off-site copy. | Several of us want one home location for files, but I do not want that location to be the only copy. |
The National Cyber Security Centre describes ransomware incidents affecting both original files and connected USB or network drives.
Keep another copy separate from the live device or network. Disconnect removable storage when it is not needed, and test that you can restore a file.
Apple says iCloud Photos syncs separately from iCloud Backup; Google notes that some Android apps cannot restore all settings and data. Microsoft says Windows Backup syncs selected folders to OneDrive.
List the photos, documents, messages, app data and settings you care about. Check the route and storage allowance for each, then try the relevant restore procedure.
Samsung says the T7’s maximum read and write speeds depend on a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and connection cable.
Check the ports and cables on the devices you will use, alongside the capacity and backup workflow you need.
Synology warns that RAID or drive failures can still result in data loss and recommends a backup strategy with an off-site copy.
Plan another destination for NAS data and test restoring a file from that destination.
iCloud Backup and iCloud Photos address different parts of an Apple household’s phone and tablet data.
Google Account backup and Google Photos are routes for Android device data and photos.
Windows Backup, OneDrive and File History offer different routes for selected folders and local copies.
Seagate’s Backup Plus Portable line is an example of external hard-drive storage for local file copies.
Samsung’s portable SSD line is relevant when a compact local drive and frequent file transfers suit the household’s routine.
Synology NAS products provide a shared home destination for supported photo and computer-backup workflows.
These external hard drive, portable SSD and USB flash drive options are for making local copies. Choose one alongside a backup routine that covers the files you need, and keep a separate copy where appropriate.
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Consider this 5 TB external hard drive for a local copy of a larger photo and document library. Check the connection and backup software for your computer, set a regular copying routine and test restoring a file.
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This 4 TB portable SSD is an option for keeping a local copy and moving files between compatible devices. Check your ports and cables: Samsung says maximum T7 transfer speeds require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. Plan backups and test recovery separately.
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This 1 TB portable SSD offers a destination for a selected local copy of household files. Check that its capacity and connection suit the devices involved, then arrange regular copies and test that the files can be opened or restored.
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This 1 TB portable SSD is an option for a local copy of selected photos and videos. Confirm that your device supports the connection you intend to use; a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 label alone does not establish the transfer speed on your device. Test your backup and restore routine.
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This 512 GB USB-C flash drive suits a deliberately selected local copy of documents or other files rather than an unattended backup routine. Confirm a compatible port on both the copying and recovery devices, and check that the copied files open.
Not necessarily. Apple says iCloud Photos syncs separately from iCloud Backup, while Microsoft distinguishes OneDrive folder syncing from its restore features. Check what happens when a file is deleted or overwritten, whether an earlier version can be recovered, and whether you also need a separate copy.
Confirm that iCloud Backup is on, there is enough storage and the iPhone or iPad meets Apple’s conditions for automatic backup, including power, Wi-Fi and a locked screen. Check iCloud Photos separately because its synced photos are not part of the daily iCloud Backup.
Do not assume it will. Google says backed-up information can be restored to the original phone or certain other Android phones, but not every app can back up or restore all its settings and data. Check any essential apps and files before relying on a device-level restore.
Choose the folders to copy, run the backup regularly and test restoring a file. Keep the drive separate when it is not in use: the National Cyber Security Centre has described ransomware affecting connected USB and network backup drives.
No. A NAS can provide shared storage and supported backup workflows, but Synology warns that RAID or drive failures can still cause data loss. Arrange another backup destination for the NAS data and test a restore from it.