Backup Your Google Photos to Your PC or Mac with Google Takeout
- berririchala
- Aug 2, 2023
- 14 min read
How to Download Google Photos to Your Hard Drive
Google Photos is a popular cloud service that lets you store, organize, and share your photos and videos. It offers many features and benefits, such as unlimited storage, smart editing, and automatic backup. But what if you want to download your Google Photos to your hard drive for offline access, extra backup, or transferring to another device? In this article, we'll show you how to download all or selected Google Photos to your hard drive, and how to transfer them to an external hard drive for more security and portability.
Why You Should Backup Your Google Photos
Before we get into the details of how to download Google Photos to your hard drive, let's first understand why you should backup your Google Photos in the first place.
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Benefits of Google Photos
Google Photos is one of the best photo cloud storage options available in 2023. Here are some of the reasons why you should use it:
It offers unlimited free storage for photos and videos up to 16MP and 1080p respectively. You can also choose to store your photos and videos in their original quality, but they will count against your Google account storage quota.
It automatically backs up your photos and videos from your phone, computer, camera, or SD card. You can also sync your photos and videos across all your devices with the same Google account.
It uses artificial intelligence to organize your photos and videos by date, location, people, pets, things, events, and more. You can also create albums, collages, animations, movies, and stories with your photos and videos.
It provides smart editing tools that let you enhance, crop, rotate, filter, adjust, and add effects to your photos and videos. You can also use Google Lens to identify objects, text, landmarks, plants, animals, and more in your photos.
It allows you to share your photos and videos with anyone via email, text, social media, or link. You can also create shared albums with your family and friends, where everyone can add their own photos and videos.
Risks of Losing Your Google Photos
Despite all the advantages of Google Photos, there are still some risks of losing your precious photos and videos if you rely solely on the cloud service. Here are some of the scenarios that could cause you to lose access to your Google Photos:
You forget your Google account password or get locked out of your account for some reason.
You accidentally delete some or all of your photos and videos from Google Photos. Although you can restore them from the trash bin within 60 days, they will be permanently deleted after that period.
You run out of storage space on your Google account and have to delete some or all of your photos and videos from Google Photos.
You lose internet connection or have limited bandwidth when you need to access your photos and videos from Google Photos.
You encounter a technical glitch or a security breach that affects Google Photos or your account.
To avoid these risks and ensure that you always have a copy of your photos and videos, it's a good idea to download them to your hard drive as a backup. This way, you can access them anytime and anywhere without relying on the internet or Google's servers.
How to Download All Your Google Photos at Once
If you want to download all your Google Photos to your hard drive in one go, there are two methods you can use: using Google Takeout or using Backup and Sync. Let's see how each method works.
Using Google Takeout
Google Takeout is a service that lets you export and download your data from various Google products, including Google Photos. Here are the steps to use Google Takeout to download all your Google Photos to your hard drive:
Go to and sign in with your Google account.
Select Google Photos from the list of products. You can also choose to include or exclude specific albums, formats, or sizes.
Click on Next Step and choose the delivery method, frequency, file type, and size for your export. You can either get a download link via email or add the export to your Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box account.
Click on Create Export and wait for Google to prepare your data. This may take some time depending on the size of your photos and videos.
Once your export is ready, you will receive an email notification with a link to download it. Click on the link and download the zip file to your hard drive.
Extract the zip file and you will find a folder named Takeout with a subfolder named Google Photos. Inside this subfolder, you will find all your photos and videos organized by date or album.
Using Backup and Sync
Backup and Sync is an app that lets you sync your files and folders between your computer and Google Drive, as well as backup your photos and videos to Google Photos. Here are the steps to use Backup and Sync to download all your Google Photos to your hard drive:
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Download and install Backup and Sync from .
Launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
Click on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Preferences.
Under the Google Drive tab, check the box next to Sync My Drive to this computer. You can also choose which folders you want to sync or sync everything in My Drive.
Under the Google Photos tab, check the box next to Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos. You can also choose the upload quality and the source folders for your photos and videos.
Click on OK and wait for Backup and Sync to sync your files and folders between your computer and Google Drive, as well as backup your photos and videos to Google Photos.
Once the sync is complete, you will find a folder named Google Drive on your hard drive. Inside this folder, you will find a subfolder named Google Photos. Inside this subfolder, you will find all your photos and videos organized by year.
How to Download Selected Google Photos
If you don't want to download all your Google Photos to your hard drive, but only selected ones, there are two methods you can use: using the Google Photos website or using the Google Photos app. Let's see how each method works.
Using the Google Photos Website
The Google Photos website is the web version of the cloud service that lets you access, manage, and share your photos and videos online. Here are the steps to use the Google Photos website to download selected Google Photos to your hard drive:
Go to and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by clicking on them or holding down the Ctrl key (or Command key on Mac) while clicking on them.
Click on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Download. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Shift + D.
A zip file containing your selected photos and videos will be downloaded to your hard drive. You can find it in your Downloads folder or wherever you set your browser to save downloads.
Extract the zip file and you will find all your selected photos and videos in it.
Using the Google Photos App
The Google Photos app is the mobile version of the cloud service that lets you access, manage, and share your photos and videos on your phone or tablet. Here are the steps to use the Google Photos app to download selected Google Photos to your hard drive:
Download and install the Google Photos app from for iOS devices.
Launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by tapping on them or holding down your finger on them.
Tap on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Save to device. You can also use the share icon and choose Save to device.
Your selected photos and videos will be saved to your device's internal storage or SD card. You can find them in your Gallery app or in a folder named Photos or Pictures.
Connect your device to your computer via a USB cable or a wireless method. You may need to enable USB debugging or file transfer mode on your device.
Copy and paste your selected photos and videos from your device to your hard drive.
How to Transfer Google Photos to an External Hard Drive
If you want to transfer your Google Photos to an external hard drive for more security and portability, there are some things you need to consider before doing so. Here are some tips and steps on how to transfer Google Photos to an external hard drive:
Choosing the Best External Hard Drive for Photos
Before you transfer your Google Photos to an external hard drive, you need to choose the best external hard drive for photos. Here are some factors you should consider when choosing an external hard drive for photos:
Capacity: You need to choose an external hard drive that has enough space to store all your photos and videos, as well as some extra space for future backups. The capacity of external hard drives ranges from a few gigabytes (GB) to several terabytes (TB). A good rule of thumb is to choose an external hard drive that has at least twice the size of your Google Photos storage.
Speed: You need to choose an external hard drive that has a fast data transfer rate, so that you can copy and paste your photos and videos quickly and smoothly. The speed of external hard drives depends on the type of connection they use, such as USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB-C, Thunderbolt, or FireWire. Generally, USB 3.0 and above are faster than USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt is faster than USB-C.
Reliability: You need to choose an external hard drive that has a high durability and reliability, so that you can protect your photos and videos from physical damage, data corruption, or data loss. The reliability of external hard drives depends on the quality of their components, such as the disk drive, the enclosure, the cable, and the power supply. You can also look for features such as shock resistance, water resistance, dust resistance, encryption, password protection, or warranty.
Portability: You need to choose an external hard drive that has a small size and weight, so that you can carry it around easily and conveniently. The portability of external hard drives depends on their design, shape, and dimensions. You can also look for features such as wireless connectivity, battery life, or built-in card reader.
Copying and Pasting Google Photos to an External Hard Drive
The simplest way to transfer your Google Photos to an external hard drive is to copy and paste them from your hard drive to your external hard drive. Here are the steps to do so:
Connect your external hard drive to your computer via a USB cable or a wireless method. You may need to format your external hard drive or assign it a drive letter if it's not recognized by your computer.
Open File Explorer or Finder on your computer and locate the folder where you have downloaded your Google Photos from Google Takeout or Backup and Sync.
Select all the photos and videos you want to transfer by clicking on them or holding down the Ctrl key (or Command key on Mac) while clicking on them.
Right-click on the selected photos and videos and choose Copy. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C (or Command + C on Mac).
Navigate to your external hard drive in File Explorer or Finder and open it.
Create a new folder named Google Photos or whatever you prefer.
Right-click on the empty space inside the folder and choose Paste. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V (or Command + V on Mac).
Wait for the copying process to finish. You can check the progress bar or the status window for details.
Using a Data Backup Software
An alternative way to transfer your Google Photos to an external hard drive is to use a data backup software that can automatically backup your Google Photos to your external hard drive. A data backup software is a program that can create copies of your files and folders and store them in another location, such as an external hard drive, a cloud service, or a network drive. Here are some of the benefits of using a data backup software to transfer your Google Photos to an external hard drive:
It can save you time and effort by automating the backup process. You can schedule the backup frequency, duration, and destination according to your preferences.
It can protect your photos and videos from accidental deletion, corruption, or loss by creating multiple versions of your backup. You can also restore your photos and videos from any point in time.
It can compress and encrypt your photos and videos to save space and enhance security. You can also customize the backup settings, such as file type, file size, file name, or file date.
There are many data backup software available in the market, such as Acronis True Image, EaseUS Todo Backup, AOMEI Backupper, and more. You can choose the one that suits your needs and budget. Here are the general steps to use a data backup software to transfer your Google Photos to an external hard drive:
Download and install the data backup software of your choice on your computer.
Connect your external hard drive to your computer via a USB cable or a wireless method.
Launch the data backup software and select the backup option. You may need to create a backup plan or a backup task first.
Select the source folder where you have downloaded your Google Photos from Google Takeout or Backup and Sync.
Select the destination folder on your external hard drive where you want to store your backup.
Configure the backup settings, such as backup mode, backup frequency, backup version, compression level, encryption password, etc.
Start the backup process and wait for it to finish. You can check the progress bar or the status window for details.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download Google Photos to your hard drive using various methods. We have also given you some tips on how to transfer Google Photos to an external hard drive for more security and portability. By following these steps, you can ensure that you always have a copy of your precious photos and videos on your hard drive, and you can access them anytime and anywhere without relying on the internet or Google's servers.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about downloading Google Photos to your hard drive:
Q: How do I download Google Photos to my Mac?
A: You can download Google Photos to your Mac using the same methods as downloading them to your PC. You can use Google Takeout, Backup and Sync, the Google Photos website, or the Google Photos app. The only difference is that you may need to use different keyboard shortcuts or commands on your Mac.
Q: How do I download Google Photos to my iPhone?
A: You can download Google Photos to your iPhone using the Google Photos app. Here are the steps:
Download and install the Google Photos app from .
Launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by tapping on them or holding down your finger on them.
Tap on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Save to device. You can also use the share icon and choose Save Image or Save Video.
Your selected photos and videos will be saved to your iPhone's Camera Roll. You can find them in your Photos app.
Q: How do I download Google Photos to my Android phone?
A: You can download Google Photos to your Android phone using the Google Photos app. Here are the steps:
Download and install the Google Photos app from .
Launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by tapping on them or holding down your finger on them.
Tap on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Download. You can also use the share icon and choose Save to device.
Your selected photos and videos will be saved to your Android phone's Gallery app or in a folder named Photos or Pictures.
Q: How do I download Google Photos to my Chromebook?
A: You can download Google Photos to your Chromebook using the Google Photos website or the Google Photos app. Here are the steps:
Go to and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by clicking on them or holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Click on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Download. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Shift + D.
A zip file containing your selected photos and videos will be downloaded to your Chromebook's Downloads folder. You can find it in your Files app.
Extract the zip file and you will find all your selected photos and videos in it.
Alternatively, you can use the Google Photos app if you have enabled Google Play Store on your Chromebook. Here are the steps:
Download and install the Google Photos app from .
Launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by tapping on them or holding down your finger on them.
Tap on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Download. You can also use the share icon and choose Save to device.
Your selected photos and videos will be saved to your Chromebook's Gallery app or in a folder named Photos or Pictures. You can find them in your Files app.
Q: How do I download Google Photos to my Windows 10 PC?
A: You can download Google Photos to your Windows 10 PC using the same methods as downloading them to your Mac. You can use Google Takeout, Backup and Sync, the Google Photos website, or the Google Photos app. The only difference is that you may need to use different keyboard shortcuts or commands on your Windows 10 PC.
Q: How do I download Google Photos to my Linux PC?
A: You can download Google Photos to your Linux PC using Google Takeout or the Google Photos website. Here are the steps:
Go to and sign in with your Google account.
Select Google Photos from the list of products. You can also choose to include or exclude specific albums, formats, or sizes.
Click on Next Step and choose the delivery method, frequency, file type, and size for your export. You can either get a download link via email or add the export to your Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box account.
Click on Create Export and wait for Google to prepare your data. This may take some time depending on the size of your photos and videos.
Once your export is ready, you will receive an email notification with a link to download it. Click on the link and download the zip file to your Linux PC.
Extract the zip file and you will find a folder named Takeout with a subfolder named Google Photos. Inside this subfolder, you will find all your photos and videos organized by date or album.
Alternatively, you can use the Google Photos website to download selected Google Photos to your Linux PC. Here are the steps:
Go to and sign in with your Google account.
Select the photos and videos you want to download by clicking on them or holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Click on More (three dots icon) in the top right corner and select Download. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Shift + D.
A zip file containing your selected photos and videos will be downloaded to your Linux PC. You can find it in your Downloads folder or wherever you set your browser to save downloads.
Extract the zip file and you will find all your selected photos and videos in it.
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