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To make a separate local copy of Google Photos, use Google Takeout to export the library, download every archive part, and save the files to an external drive. Takeout creates a downloadable export; it does not continuously sync the drive with Google Photos. Downloading an export does not remove the online photos or videos.
Plan for both the archive files and, if you want to browse the media without extracting it later, the extracted files. The export’s size depends on your library, so check that the drive has enough free space before starting. The workflow and limits below reflect Google’s help guidance current as of October 13, 2026.
What this backup does—and what it does not do
Google Takeout packages account data for export. For an external-drive backup, the process is: request a Google Photos export, download the resulting archive file or files, and store them on the drive. You can keep the archives as your backup, or extract them on the drive to make the exported media more readily accessible.
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Google Photos backup refers to saving photos and videos to your Google Account. Account storage is shared across Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail; a Takeout archive on a physical drive is a separate local copy, not an extension of that cloud storage.
That distinction matters if your goal is protection against losing access to an online account, freeing cloud storage, or having files available without an internet connection. A downloaded archive provides a local copy for those purposes, but it does not change what is stored in Google Photos. It also does not update itself: any later photos or videos require another export if you want them included in the local copy.
Before you start: prepare the drive and choose a delivery method
Check the storage destination
Use an external hard drive with enough free space for the export. If you plan to extract the archive as well as retain it, allow room for both the downloaded archive files and the extracted contents. The exact space required depends on the size of your export; there is no universal capacity that fits every library. A USB flash drive is an option only if the complete export and any extracted files will fit.
Do not choose a drive based on a guess about the size of an average photo library. The archive size is specific to your account and the selected export, and the guidance from Google does not give a standard size for an individual’s Photos archive. If you do not know how much room you will need, wait until Takeout has prepared the export and review the archive parts before deciding whether to keep both the archive and extracted copy. Leave some free space rather than filling the drive to its limit.
An external hard drive is a straightforward destination for a collection of downloaded files. A flash drive can work for a small export, but it is not a default substitute for a larger library: its capacity must accommodate all archive parts and, if wanted, the extracted media. No particular model or capacity is right for everyone, and no drive model is being tested or endorsed here.
Connect the drive before downloading. If your computer’s internal storage is limited, you may be able to set the browser’s download location to the external drive, but the exact setting depends on your operating system and browser. Google’s Takeout instructions do not establish one universal direct-to-drive configuration. Check the browser’s download location before starting, and make sure the drive remains connected while the files are being saved.
Choose how to receive the export
For a local backup, choose email delivery for the archive link. Google sends a link to the Takeout export when it is ready; you then download the archive files to your computer or external drive. Google also lists Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive as export destinations. Those are cloud destinations rather than a direct external-drive workflow, and may be useful if downloading locally is unreliable. Files that exceed Box’s maximum upload size may not export there.
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Compare the options by where you can reliably receive and store the files. Email delivery gives you a link for downloading the archive, which is the direct path to an offline physical copy. A cloud destination can be convenient if your local connection or computer is a problem, but the exported files still need to be retrieved and copied to the external drive if that is your final destination. Consider the archive’s size and number of parts, the reliability of your connection, and available storage at each step.
Export creation can take from a few minutes to a few days depending on the amount of account data. Google says most people receive the link the same day, but that is not a guaranteed deadline. Do not plan around a fixed delivery time.
Step-by-step: export Google Photos to an external drive
- Sign in to the right Google Account. Open Google Takeout while signed in to the account that owns the Photos library you want to export. If you use more than one account, check the account identity before proceeding.
- Select Google Photos for export. Choose Google Photos and deselect other products if you want a Photos-only export. Exporting fewer products can make the job more manageable and is one of Google’s suggested responses if an export is too large or fails.
- Choose email delivery. Select the option to email a download link. The export must be created before the link is available, and processing time varies with the amount of data in the account.
- Set an archive size. Takeout can split an export into multiple files when it exceeds the selected archive-size limit. Google offers a 50 GB size limit to reduce the likelihood of splitting; it does not guarantee that the export will be a single file. If you receive multiple parts, you need all of them for the complete export.
- Wait for the link and download promptly. When Google emails the Takeout link, open it and download every archive part. The link expires after about seven days, and each archive can be downloaded five times before you need to request a new export. Keep the drive connected if your browser is saving directly to it.
- Keep the parts together. Store all downloaded archive files in one clearly named folder on the external drive. Do not treat one part as the whole export if Takeout produced several files.
- Decide whether to extract the archive. If you want to browse the exported media without extracting it later, extract the files onto the external drive. Takeout produces archive files, and Google notes that special software may be needed for TGZ archives. If you have room, retain the original archive files as an additional copy alongside the extracted files.
- Check the saved files before finishing. Confirm that the archive files are present on the drive and that they can be opened or extracted. If you extracted the export, check that the resulting files are present and accessible. A visual check is a practical first check, not proof of long-term data integrity; Google’s cited guidance does not prescribe a checksum or a specific validation utility.
Before you begin the download, confirm that the external drive is mounted and that you can write files to it. If you are unsure where the browser saves downloads, check its setting before starting rather than discovering after a large transfer that the computer’s internal drive has filled up. If you download to the computer first, allow enough temporary space for the archive and then copy all parts to the external drive.
When Takeout offers an archive-size choice, think about the trade-off. A 50 GB limit can reduce how often the export is split, while smaller archive limits can produce more parts that must all be tracked and downloaded. Neither option changes the total amount of Photos data being exported. The selected limit is a packaging choice, not a promise about the size of your full library.
What to expect from archive size and multiple parts
The export may arrive as one file or as several files. Takeout splits archives when they exceed the size limit you selected, so downloading just the first file can leave you with an incomplete backup. Download every part before moving or extracting anything, and keep them together until you have confirmed the export is accessible.
Selecting the 50 GB archive-size limit reduces the chance that an export will be split, but does not eliminate it. A large export can still consist of multiple files. The number and size of parts depend on the export and the selected limit, so check what Takeout actually provides rather than assuming a particular file count.
Think about capacity at two stages: downloading the archive and, if desired, extracting its contents. Keeping both versions provides a retained archive plus a more accessible copy, but requires additional space. If the drive cannot accommodate both, decide whether you want to keep the archive or extracted files after confirming that the version you retain is readable.
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For a complete copy, treat the parts as a set. Keep them in the same folder, avoid deleting or renaming pieces before extraction, and do not assume that a file that opens on its own represents the whole library. If an export is split, all its parts belong to that export. If you are copying the files from a computer to the external drive, check that the full set—not just the first file—arrived at the destination.
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Common problems and how to respond
The export is taking longer than expected
Google says export preparation can take from a few minutes to a few days, with most people receiving the link the same day. If the link has not arrived yet, allow for that variable processing time rather than assuming the export is lost or failed.
The download fails or the export is too large to handle
Google suggests creating another export, selecting a smaller archive size, or exporting fewer products—one product at a time if needed. For a Photos-only backup, make sure other products are deselected. A 50 GB archive-size choice can reduce splitting, but smaller parts may be more manageable on an unreliable connection; whichever size you choose, download every part.
If a download is interrupted, return to the Takeout link while it is still valid and try again. Keep track of which parts have successfully downloaded so that you do not mistake a partial set for a complete archive. Google allows each archive to be downloaded five times; if the limit is reached or the link expires, request a new export rather than relying on a partial download.
The download is going to the wrong place
If the files are landing on your computer instead of the external drive, check the browser’s download-location setting and available internal storage. The setting varies by browser and operating system, and Google’s help does not specify one universal path. You can also download the files to the computer first and then copy them to the drive, provided there is enough temporary space for the archive.
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The link has expired or the archive has reached its download limit
An expired link does not mean your Google Photos data has expired. Google says the archive link lasts about seven days, and each archive can be downloaded five times. If you cannot retrieve it within those limits, request a new export and download it promptly.
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You expected an export for a particular date range
Google Takeout’s help says it does not currently support selecting certain time periods for export. Do not assume you can create a Takeout archive limited to a chosen year or date range. The described workflow is an export of the selected product, not a guaranteed date-filtered archive.
How to keep the local copy useful
- Retain every part. A split export is only complete when all its archive files have been downloaded and kept together.
- Preserve the archive if you have room. The archive is the downloaded export; the extracted files are a more immediately browsable form. Keeping both gives you both formats, at the cost of more drive space.
- Verify before changing the online library. Confirm the local files are present and readable before making later account or library changes. The Takeout download itself does not delete the online library.
- Make a new export when you need a newer copy. Because this is not continuous synchronization, photos added after an export are not automatically present on the drive.
Google’s guidance is to store downloaded data somewhere safe with enough room. For a practical archive, give the folder a name that helps you identify the export and its date, and keep the pieces of the same export together. That makes it easier to distinguish an older snapshot from a later export if you create more than one. This is organizational advice, not a Google requirement.
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Choosing between an external drive and a cloud destination
Email delivery followed by a download is the direct route when your goal is an offline copy on a physical drive. A cloud destination can be an alternative when local downloading is difficult, but it does not by itself put the export on an external drive. The practical choice depends on the destination you can access, the reliability of your connection, the size and number of archive parts, and the space available where you plan to store the files.
If you export to a cloud destination and still want a physical backup, you would need to retrieve the exported files and save them to the external drive. Google lists Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive as possible destinations; Box may not export files that exceed its maximum upload size.
For readers whose priority is offline access and a copy under their physical control, the external drive is the destination to prepare. For readers who cannot reliably complete a large local download, a listed cloud destination may be worth considering as an intermediate option, subject to its storage and file-size limits. Neither delivery route changes the fact that Takeout produces an export rather than a live sync.
What this process cannot guarantee
The export size, download time, number of archive parts, and required drive capacity depend on your account data and setup. Google’s guidance provides operational limits—such as the approximate seven-day link expiry and five-download limit—but does not state how large an individual reader’s library will be or how long that reader’s transfer will take. Nor does the workflow create continuous synchronization or, by itself, establish long-term integrity of the files after download.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I back up Google Photos directly to an external hard drive?
Google’s documented local workflow is to create a Google Takeout export, download its archive files, and save them to the external drive. You may be able to choose the drive as your browser’s download location, depending on your computer and browser settings, but Takeout is not a continuously synced drive backup.
Will downloading Google Takeout delete my photos from Google Photos?
No. Downloading a Takeout export gives you a separate local copy and does not delete the Google-hosted library. Verify that the files are present and accessible on the drive before making any later account or library changes.
How much space do I need on the external drive?
It depends on the size of your export; there is no universal capacity that fits every Photos library. Allow enough room for every archive part. If you also want to extract the files and keep the original archive, leave space for both versions.
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How long does a Google Photos Takeout export take?
Google says preparing an export can take from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the amount of account data. Most people receive the link the same day, but it is not a guaranteed deadline.
Why did Google Takeout create multiple archive files?
Takeout splits an export when it exceeds the selected archive-size limit. Choosing the 50 GB size can reduce the likelihood of splitting, but does not guarantee one file. Download and keep every part together for a complete export.
How long is the Takeout download link available?
Google says the archive link expires in about seven days, and each archive can be downloaded five times. Download the files promptly. If the link expires or the download limit is reached, request a new export; an expired link does not mean the Google Photos data has expired.
Can I export only a specific year or date range?
Google Takeout’s help says it does not currently support selecting certain time periods for export. Do not assume a Photos export can be limited to a chosen year or date range.
Should I keep the archive or extract it?
Keep the archive if you want to retain the downloaded export in its original packaged form. Extract it if you want the media to be more readily browsable. If space allows, keep both. Google notes that special software may be needed to extract TGZ archives.
The Bottom Line
Use Google Takeout to create a separate Google Photos export, download every archive part before the link expires, and save the files to an external drive with enough room. Extract the files if you want them readily browsable, and verify that the saved copy is accessible. Takeout is an archive download—not a continuous sync—and it does not delete the online library.
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