Choose an external HDD for a local photo archive when transfer speed is less important, or a portable SSD if you frequently move large videos. Cloud backup suits automatic phone uploads, while a NAS suits a household prepared to set up and maintain a shared library. Whichever route you choose, the National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping irreplaceable files in more than one place; check that the copies contain recent files before clearing space on your device.
If a phone, tablet or laptop is running out of room, you need a copy you can find and open before removing photos or videos from the device. Which? identifies full laptops and photo backup as reasons to consider external storage.
If you regularly move large video files, consider how the drive connects to each device you use. A portable SSD may suit repeated transfers, but its rated speed depends on the connection.
If several people need phone uploads or access to a shared library, compare an account-based cloud service with a NAS that someone in the household will set up and maintain.
Decide how the second copy will be made and accessed, then check whether your devices can use that route. A computer archive, frequent video transfers, automatic phone uploads and a shared household library lead to different checks.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping a separate copy | Choose another location or medium for irreplaceable files, and check that recent files can be restored. | If family photos cannot be recreated, I do not want one attached drive or synced library to be my only copy. Around 25% of consumers put a separate, recoverable copy first. |
| Automatic uploads | Check device and app support, account access, upload settings and what happens when files are deleted. | If I mainly take photos on my phone, I want uploads that do not depend on remembering to connect a drive. Around 25% of consumers prioritise automatic backup and access across devices. |
| Local capacity | Compare drive capacity with the current library and expected growth; check the computer connection and backup-software support. | With a growing computer archive, I need room for photos and videos more than rapid transfers. Around 19% of consumers place local capacity first. |
| Portable transfers | Confirm the source device's port, cable, power needs and file system; check the conditions behind any rated speed. | When I repeatedly offload large videos, a drive I can carry between compatible devices matters most. Around 19% of consumers prioritise portable transfer speed. |
| Shared home library | Check mobile-app support, user permissions and how the NAS itself will be backed up elsewhere. | If several household devices feed one photo library, I want to manage access in one place and can take on the setup. Around 12% of consumers put shared-library control first. |
Apple says iCloud Photos reflects edits and deletions across devices. An attached removable drive can also be affected by malware, so neither arrangement should be mistaken for an independent copy.
Keep irreplaceable files in another location or medium, disconnect removable media when it is not backing up, and try restoring a recent file.
Samsung says the T7's stated maximum speeds require a USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable with UASP enabled. A phone or computer connection may also need an adapter or separate power for a drive.
Identify your device's connector and USB capability, then check the supplied cables, power requirements and readable file systems before ordering.
Google says its Photos Storage saver setting can reduce quality and resize photos above 16 MP. That matters if you intend the cloud copy to preserve the original files.
Check the upload-quality setting and available account storage. If originals are essential, retain a separate original-quality copy.
An old backup drive may still contain personal photos and account-related files. Oxfordshire County Council warns people to clear personal data from devices before recycling them.
Clear personal files before donating or recycling a drive, and use an appropriate local electrical-recycling or retailer take-back route.
Seagate's Backup Plus Portable line is relevant if you want a portable HDD for a computer photo and video archive.
Samsung's portable T7 SSD is relevant to people who regularly transfer large files between compatible devices.
Synology is relevant to households considering a NAS for a central photo library and mobile uploads.
These portable HDDs and SSDs are options for keeping a local copy of a photo or video library. Choose by the devices you will connect, the amount of storage you need and how often you move large files; keep another copy of irreplaceable files elsewhere.
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Consider this for a portable local copy when you frequently move large files through compatible USB-C devices.
The product name specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and a stated maximum transfer speed of 2,000 MB/s; actual speed depends on the connection. Check your phone's exact compatibility before relying on it for a video workflow.
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This is a portable local-copy option if you move files between compatible devices and want the stated magnetic attachment arrangement for an iPhone 15 or 16.
The product name specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2 and stated maximum speeds of 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write; actual speeds depend on the connection. Magnetic attachment requires the specified case or ring, and the listing says wireless MagSafe charging is not supported. Check the file system before any first-use formatting.
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Consider this Mac-oriented portable HDD for a larger local computer archive when frequent high-speed transfers are not the priority.
The product name specifies 5TB. The stated HFS+ format means Windows use requires a downloadable driver; confirm that arrangement works with your devices. Check the applicable warranty terms before ordering.
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Consider this portable SSD for a 1TB local copy if your intended devices and backup workflow support it.
The product name specifies USB Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2. Confirm file-system and device compatibility before buying; do not treat the stated IP65 protection as permission to submerge the drive.
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This portable HDD may suit a smaller local photo and video library; compare its 1TB capacity with the files you need to copy and any expected growth.
For a Mac or another non-Windows device, check the required file system before use. Reformatting may be needed, so ensure any existing files are copied elsewhere first.
Do not treat iCloud Photos as an independent archive on its own. Apple says edits and deletions sync across devices and that iCloud Photos items are not duplicated in an iCloud device backup; keep another copy of photos you cannot replace.
Yes, if the connector, power arrangement and drive format are compatible. Apple says iPhone external storage must have one data partition and use APFS, encrypted APFS, Mac OS Extended, exFAT, FAT32 or FAT; some drives need an adapter or separate power.
No. Apple says the drive must use APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and the library cannot be stored on a device used for Time Machine backups. Apple also advises against using USB flash drives, SD cards, network-shared storage or cloud-based storage for the library itself.
Check available account storage and the upload-quality setting against the videos you intend to keep. Google says a Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage, while its Storage saver setting can reduce quality; choose deliberately if retaining originals matters to you.
Purely personal or household photo activity with no professional or commercial connection is outside the UK GDPR's scope, according to the Information Commissioner's Office. Do not extend that conclusion to a business, freelance or client photo archive.