Choose a backup routine you will keep using, then make sure important photos and files have a recoverable copy separate from the original device. Cloud upload suits phone-first households that want automatic access across signed-in devices; an external hard drive suits a computer library kept mainly at home, while an SSD is worth considering for frequent large transfers. A USB flash drive is better suited to limited manual copies, and a NAS adds setup and management that makes more sense when several devices need a shared destination.
If most new photos arrive on an iPhone or Android phone, look for a routine that captures them automatically and lets you check that uploads have finished. Apple Support and Google One Help describe automatic photo upload when their respective features are enabled; changes to an iCloud Photos collection also appear on other signed-in devices, so consider how you will keep another recoverable copy.
For folders of family photos, videos and documents on a Windows PC or Mac, an external drive can provide a local copy. Choose the backup software and file system together: Microsoft Support says File History can retain versions for restoration, while Seagate warns that a format used for Windows–Mac file sharing may not suit built-in backup tools.
If you regularly move large video or photo folders, check transfer speed alongside the ports and cables you actually use. When several people or devices need one managed local destination, a NAS may be useful, but Synology’s described backup and version-recovery features also bring setup and ongoing administration.
Start with where the original files live and how you would restore them; then compare capacity, device compatibility and the work needed to keep the backup current.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable copy | Keep a copy separate from the original device. Check that you can restore a file, and consider whether a backup remains connected or accessible through the same account; the National Cyber Security Centre reports ransomware incidents affecting connected USB, network and cloud backup locations. | I want photos and documents back if the phone, computer or original drive becomes unavailable. A copy I have never tried to restore is not enough reassurance. |
| Backup routine | For phone photos, check that automatic upload is enabled and has completed. For Windows folders, Microsoft Support says File History can make regular backups to an external drive or network location and retain versions. | New photos and changed documents should be captured without my having to remember a manual copy every time. |
| Devices and format | Confirm the phones, computers, connectors and backup software involved. Seagate says exFAT permits Windows–Mac file access but is not recommended for File History or Time Machine; choose a format for the intended backup task, not just file transfers. | Files need to work on the devices in my household, without a format choice preventing the backup tool I plan to use. |
| Capacity and transfers | Allow room for the current library and its growth. Which? describes HDDs as suited to long-term computer backup and SSDs as usually faster but pricier; check the host port and cable before relying on an SSD’s stated speed. Google One Help says its up-to-15-GB account storage is shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos. | For a library that stays by one computer, storage room matters more to me than frequent fast transfers. If I regularly move large files, transfer speed becomes more relevant. |
| Limited copies | A USB flash drive can hold a selected manual copy or move files between devices. Check its capacity and connector, and confirm the intended files were copied and can be opened; manual transfers do not create an automatic routine. | I only need to move or keep a small selection of documents or photos, rather than back up an entire growing library. |
| Shared storage | For NAS, check device backup support, user access, setup and how the NAS itself will be backed up. Synology describes scheduled and versioned backup workflows; the National Cyber Security Centre cautions that connected network storage can also be affected by an incident. | Several household devices need a shared local destination, and I can manage it as well as keep another separate copy. |
The National Cyber Security Centre reports ransomware incidents that affected originals and connected USB, network or cloud backup locations. Two copies can therefore be exposed to the same incident.
Keep at least one recoverable copy separate from the live device or digitally disconnected when not in use, and periodically test a restore. Protect access to cloud accounts too.
Seagate says exFAT offers Windows–Mac file access but is not recommended for the built-in File History or Time Machine backup utilities. A drive that opens on both computers may not suit the planned backup workflow.
Decide whether the drive is for a backup utility or ordinary file transfers, then check its format requirements. Make another copy of important files before reformatting a drive.
Google One Help says the up-to-15-GB storage included with a Google Account is shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos. If the account reaches its quota, new uploads may not complete.
Check how much space the photo and video library uses, what else shares the account quota and whether recent uploads have finished.
Keeping a growing library in the cloud may require a storage subscription.
Samsung UK says the T7 Shield’s stated maximum speeds require a USB 3.2 Gen 2 host, compatible cable and UASP. That condition matters if faster transfers are the reason for choosing that model.
Check the ports and cables on the devices you will use. For a drive mainly used for occasional home backups, compare capacity and the backup routine as well as speed.
Samsung’s T7 Shield is a portable SSD example for buyers assessing transfer speed and physical handling alongside capacity.
Seagate’s portable-drive guidance is useful when one drive may be used with both Windows and macOS.
Crucial’s X9 portable SSD is an example to consider when checking compact-drive capacity and device compatibility.
Synology’s NAS products address households seeking a managed local destination for files from several devices.
These portable hard drives and SSDs are options for keeping a local copy of a computer-based photo and file library or moving files between devices. Choose the capacity and connection for your devices, then check that the drive’s format works with your intended backup software.
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A 5TB portable hard drive to consider for a Mac-based photo and document library. If files must also be used on Windows, confirm the driver, file format and backup workflow first; check the applicable warranty term before buying.
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A 4TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD to consider when a large local library is moved frequently. Check the host port and cable if transfer speed matters, and confirm the file format works with your backup software.
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A 2TB portable hard drive for a local computer-file copy. The listing gives conflicting descriptions of macOS driver requirements, so confirm its file format and compatibility before planning to use it across Windows and Mac.
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A 2TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD for a portable local file copy. Check the connection on each intended device and confirm the file format suits your backup software; this T7 should not be treated as water-resistant.
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A 4TB portable hard drive to consider for a computer-based local copy. For Mac or another operating system, check whether reformatting is needed and whether the resulting format supports your backup software before moving important files onto it.
Keep another recoverable copy of photos you could not replace. Apple Support says iCloud Photos reflects collection changes across devices, while the National Cyber Security Centre warns that connected cloud backup locations can be affected during an incident. Check that uploads have completed and test how you would recover files.
Yes for ordinary file access with an appropriate format, but check your backup software before choosing one. Seagate says exFAT works across Windows and Mac for file access but is not recommended for File History or Time Machine; it also notes that macOS does not natively write to NTFS.
A NAS is worth considering when several devices need a shared local backup destination and you can manage its setup, access and updates. Synology describes scheduled and versioned NAS backups, but the NAS itself still needs another separate backup copy.
Microsoft Support says File History can regularly back up monitored folders to an external drive or network location and retain versions for restoration. Choose a compatible destination, enable the feature for the folders that matter and periodically try restoring a file.
It can hold a limited manual secondary copy or transfer a selected set of files, but copying to it once will not capture later changes automatically. Check its capacity and connector, confirm the files can be opened, and keep a separate recovery copy for anything you could not replace.