In this era of relying on remote cloud storage platforms for our digital needs, Google Photos has become a popular choice for storing our cherished memories. However, unexpected issues can sometimes arise, making it essential to create backups of your precious images. With thousands of photos stored, safeguarding them is paramount to avoid future disappointments.
Why Backing Up Google Photos Matters
Backing up your Google Photos collection involves creating duplicates of your images, which can be stored on other cloud platforms or external devices. This precautionary measure ensures the preservation of your personal photos accumulated over the years, especially considering that, starting in December, Google plans to remove accounts inactive for over two years. This impending change underscores the importance of creating backups.
How to Back Up Google Photos
The method you choose for backing up Google Photos depends on the number of images you have stored. Below, we’ll explore various approaches to assist you in this essential task.
Backing Up Individual Image Groups:
- Select up to 500 photos at a time in your browser or the Google Photos app.
- Hold down the Shift key while making your selection.
- In the upper-right corner, click the three vertical dots icon.
- Choose the “Download” option.
- Google Photos will automatically generate a Zip file containing all the selected images.
Backing Up an Entire Album:
- If you’ve organized your Google Photos account into albums, you can back up individual albums.
- Click on the albums you want to back up, and access the “Download” option.
- There’s no limit on the number of photos for album backups, but the download size must not exceed 2 gigabytes.
Using Google Takeout for Automated Backups:
- Google Takeout offers an automated backup solution for various Google services, including Google Photos.
- Visit the Google Takeout platform and select Google Photos.
- The backup will be initiated automatically, and you can choose to save your images and albums locally, on an external hard drive, or on another remote storage service.
By following these methods, you can take proactive steps to protect your precious memories stored in Google Photos. Don’t leave the fate of your visual story to chance—create reliable backups to ensure their preservation for years to come.