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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To make a separate local copy of your Google Photos library, export it with Google Takeout, download every archive part, and save the files to an external drive. Takeout creates an export for you to download; it is not a continuous sync that automatically keeps the drive up to date. Downloading the export does not delete the photos and videos in your Google Account.
What you need before you start
Use the Google Account that owns the Photos library. You will also need an internet connection, an external drive with enough free space for the export, and a computer or other device that can download and extract the archive files. The export size depends on your library, so there is no single drive capacity that is right for everyone. If you do not yet know the archive size, leave more room than you expect to need: you may want to keep both the downloaded archive and its extracted files on the drive.
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- External storage: Google advises storing the export somewhere safe with enough room. An external hard drive is a practical destination; a USB flash drive is suitable only if the complete export fits.
- Download space: The browser’s download location and whether it can save directly to an external drive depend on your operating system and browser settings. Google does not specify one setting that works for every computer.
- Time: Export preparation can take from a few minutes to a few days, depending on how much account data is being exported. Google says most people receive the download link the same day, but that is not a guaranteed deadline.
Google Photos backup and an external-drive archive are different copies in different places. Google describes Photos backup as saving photos and videos to your Google Account; account storage is shared among Photos, Drive, and Gmail. The Takeout export gives you an additional local copy rather than replacing the online library.
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Before choosing a drive, consider whether you intend to keep only the downloaded archive or also extract its contents onto the drive. The two versions can require more room together, and the export’s actual size varies. Google does not publish a universal drive-capacity recommendation for every Photos library, so avoid choosing a drive based on a generic estimate. If the archive will not fit, a larger external hard drive is the most direct option. A USB flash drive is only a practical alternative when its available capacity exceeds the files you plan to store.
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Also check how your device handles large downloads. If the browser cannot save directly to the external drive, downloading to the computer first requires enough free internal storage for the files, at least temporarily. The exact setting to change depends on the browser and operating system; Google does not provide a single path that applies to every setup. If you cannot spare that internal space, check whether your browser allows you to choose the external drive as the download destination before starting.
Export Google Photos with Google Takeout
- Sign in to the right Google Account. Open Google Takeout while signed in to the account containing the Photos library you want to save. If you use more than one Google Account, check the account before selecting data.
- Select Google Photos. In Takeout, select Google Photos for export. If you want a Photos-only archive, deselect the other Google products offered in the export list. Exporting fewer products can make an export easier to manage and is one of Google’s suggestions if an export fails or is difficult to retrieve.
- Choose email delivery. Select the option to receive a download link by email. When the export is ready, Google emails a link to the Takeout folder. For an external-drive backup, this means the archive is downloaded to your device first and then stored on the drive; the drive is not being continuously synchronized with Photos.
- Choose an archive size. Takeout can divide an export into multiple files when it exceeds the archive-size limit you selected. Choosing the 50 GB size limit reduces the likelihood of splitting, but does not guarantee a single file. A smaller limit can create more parts, so make sure you can download and keep all of them.
- Start the export and wait for the email. The preparation time varies with the amount of data. Do not make plans around a fixed turnaround: Google says processing may take minutes to days, and most people get the link the same day.
Google Takeout does not currently support choosing certain time periods for an export, according to Google’s help guidance. Do not assume you can set a universal year-range filter to export only photos from a particular date range. If you need a Photos archive, plan for the export Takeout offers rather than relying on a date selection that may not be available.
The archive-size setting determines how large an individual archive file can be before Takeout splits the export; it does not tell you the total amount of space your complete library will occupy. Selecting 50 GB may reduce the number of parts, but even that setting does not ensure that the whole export arrives as one file. Treat every listed part as necessary unless you have a clear reason to believe it is an extra copy. The practical goal is to download the full set, not simply the largest-looking file.
Email delivery is useful when you want to keep the export local, but it does not mean the archive is attached to the email. The message provides a link to the Takeout folder. You still need to open it, download each archive part, and place those files on your drive. Keep in mind that the export takes time to prepare, so the email may not arrive immediately after you start the process.
Download every archive part to the external drive
- Connect the drive and check its available space. Use a drive with room for the downloaded archive files and, if you plan to extract them there too, additional room for the extracted media. The amount required depends on your export; Google does not state a universal capacity recommendation.
- Open the Takeout download link from Google’s email. Download every file listed for the export. If Takeout split the archive, each part belongs to the same export. Do not treat the first file, or a file with a familiar name, as the whole library.
- Choose where the browser saves the downloads. If your browser lets you choose a location, select the external drive. If it automatically downloads to the computer’s internal storage, use the browser or operating-system settings available on your device, or download locally and move the files to the external drive afterward. The exact controls vary, so Google does not provide one universal browser path.
- Keep the parts together. Store all archive parts in one clearly identifiable folder on the drive. Keeping the original files grouped makes it easier to tell whether a download is incomplete and to extract the export as a set.
- Check that the downloads are present and readable. Before you depend on the local copy, confirm that the expected archive files are on the drive and that you can open or extract them. A visual check is a basic check, not proof of long-term file integrity; Google’s cited instructions do not prescribe a checksum or other validation utility.
Google warns that TGZ archives may require special software to open. If an archive will not extract with the tools already available on your device, check its file type and use compatible extraction software rather than assuming the export is corrupt. The specific software and steps depend on your operating system.
Do not unplug the external drive while files are still downloading or copying. Wait until the browser indicates the downloads have finished and, if you moved files from the computer, that the copy operation is complete. Then check the drive itself—not just the browser’s download list—to confirm the archive files are where you expect them. This is a basic completeness check, not a guarantee against later damage or data loss.
If the export contains several parts, make sure all of them have finished downloading before you try to extract the full set. An incomplete download can make the archive difficult to open, and a missing part means you do not have the complete export. If a part appears absent, return to the Takeout link while it is still available and check for the remaining files. Keep the parts together in a clearly named folder so they are less likely to be confused with another export.
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Keep the archive, extract it, or do both?
Takeout produces archive files. Keeping those files preserves the downloaded export in its original packaged form; extracting them makes the media easier to browse as ordinary files. If the drive has enough room, retaining the archive after extraction gives you both the original package and an immediately browsable copy. If space is tight, decide which version is most useful before deleting anything: extraction is a practical way to access the media, but it does not create extra storage capacity.
Keep the archive files
This is the minimum local-storage step: download all parts and keep them together on the drive. You will need to extract the files when you want to browse or use the exported contents. If extraction software reports an error, first confirm that every part finished downloading and that you are using software able to handle the archive format.
Extract the media onto the drive
Extracting the archive to the external drive creates a browsable copy of the media. Choose a destination folder on that drive and allow enough free space for the extracted contents as well as any archive parts you are keeping. Avoid extracting only one part of a split export and then concluding that it contains the complete library.
Retain both when space allows
Keeping both the archive and extracted files is useful when you want the original Takeout package as well as access to the extracted media. It requires more drive space. If your available space cannot accommodate both, the export size and your need for easy browsing should determine which copy to retain.
Whichever approach you choose, do not remove the only complete copy until you have confirmed that the version you plan to keep is present and accessible on the external drive. If you keep the archives, keep every part in the same place. If you keep extracted files instead, check that the extraction completed and that the files can be opened. Google does not prescribe a specific long-term integrity test, so these checks are practical ways to catch an incomplete download or extraction—not a promise that files will remain readable forever.
Understand what this backup does—and does not do
A completed Takeout export is a separate copy of the library at the time of export. It does not establish an ongoing connection between Google Photos and the external drive. Photos added to the Google Account after the export are not automatically added to the copy already on the drive; to make a newer local copy, you need to create and download another export.
The download does not remove the online photos or videos. Keep the local files and confirm they are accessible before making any later account or library changes. An external-drive copy is useful as a separate destination, but the fact that files were downloaded once does not by itself guarantee they will remain readable indefinitely.
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The export process also has limits that affect planning. Takeout’s archive link expires in about seven days, and Google says each archive may be downloaded up to five times before you need to request a new archive. Download promptly and keep the files somewhere safe. An expired link means you can no longer use that link to retrieve the archive; Google says it does not mean the underlying data itself has expired.
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Think of the Takeout files as an additional local archive, not a replacement for Google Photos backup. Google Photos backup saves photos and videos to your Google Account, and the storage used by that account is shared with Google Drive and Gmail. The external drive is separate from that shared online storage. Downloading an export does not free the Google Account’s storage by itself, and it does not turn off or replace Google Photos backup.
Because the export is not continuously updated, it represents only the library included when that export was created. If you later add more photos or videos to Google Photos and want a current local copy, start another Takeout export and download that new set as well. Do not expect the existing drive folder to update when the cloud library changes.
Email download or another delivery destination?
Email delivery is the straightforward route when your goal is a local external-drive copy: receive the link, download the archive files, and save them to the drive. Google also identifies Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive as possible export destinations. Those are alternatives for delivery, not requirements for the external-drive method.
| Delivery choice | What it means for an external-drive backup | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Email download link | Download the Takeout archive files to your device and store them on the external drive. | Consider connection reliability, where the browser saves files, available device and drive space, and whether the export is split into parts. |
| Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, or OneDrive | Export to a cloud destination instead of using email delivery. The files would still need to be moved or downloaded to an external drive if you want a local copy there. | Consider whether you can access the destination and whether its storage and upload limits suit the export. Google notes that files exceeding Box’s maximum upload size may not export to Box. |
If the local download is unreliable, a cloud destination may be an alternative, but it does not remove the need to consider archive parts, storage capacity, and how you will get the files onto the physical drive. Pick the route based on the destination you can access reliably and the space available where the files will ultimately be stored.
For a direct drive backup, compare the options by asking where you can reliably retrieve large files, how much storage is available at each step, and whether you need an offline copy. Email delivery gives you a link to download the files; a cloud destination stores the export there first, so you would still need to retrieve it to the external drive later. The choice does not change the need to download all parts or keep them together.
Google lists Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive as export destinations, but a cloud route is not automatically a better fit for every reader. Destination capacity, upload limits, connection reliability, and access to the destination can all matter. Google specifically notes that files larger than Box’s maximum upload size may not export to Box. If the goal is an offline physical copy, ensure that the cloud step is only part of the path and that you ultimately copy the export to the external drive.
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Troubleshoot failed, incomplete, or oversized exports
The export is taking longer than expected
Preparation time depends on how much account data is included. Google says it can range from a few minutes to a few days, with most people receiving the link the same day. If you have not received it yet, allow for that variable processing time rather than assuming the export has failed at a particular hour.
The download fails or the export is difficult to retrieve
Google’s recommendations are to create another export, choose a smaller archive size, or export fewer products—one product at a time if needed. For a Photos-only backup, selecting only Google Photos avoids including unrelated products in the export.
If a large download is repeatedly interrupted, reducing the size of each archive part may make the export easier to retrieve, though it can mean more individual files to download. Google also recommends exporting fewer products or one product at a time when an export is difficult to retrieve. For this task, limiting the selection to Google Photos is a straightforward way to avoid adding unrelated account data to the same export.
You see more than one archive file
Multiple files can be expected when an export exceeds the selected size limit. Download all of them and keep them together. Choosing 50 GB as the archive-size limit reduces the likelihood of splitting, but a multi-part export can still occur.
The link no longer works
The Takeout archive link expires in about seven days. Google says the archive can be downloaded five times; after that, request a new archive if you still need another download. An expired or exhausted link is a retrieval limit, not evidence that your Google Photos library has expired.
Because the link has a limited lifetime and download count, do not leave the files in the Takeout folder as your only plan. Download them to the device or external drive promptly, and confirm the files are there. If the link has expired or the archive has already been downloaded five times, create a new export to get another archive link rather than assuming the old link can be reused indefinitely.
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Check the size of the files you need to store and compare it with free space on the drive. Leave room for extracted files if you plan to keep both the archive and the browsable copy. If capacity is insufficient, use a drive with more room or keep only the version you need; do not assume that a selected archive size describes the full space required after extraction.
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The archive will not open
Confirm that all archive parts have downloaded and are stored together. Google notes that TGZ archives may require special software. If the files are present but your usual extraction tool cannot open them, try compatible software for that archive type. Google does not specify a single extraction utility for every operating system.
If you are unsure whether an error means a damaged archive or an unsupported format, first check the file type and make sure every part is present. TGZ files may need software that your device does not include by default. Google does not identify one universal extraction program, so choose a compatible tool for your device rather than treating any one application as required by Takeout.
A practical completion checklist
- The export was created from the Google Account that owns the intended Photos library.
- Google Photos was selected, and other products were deselected if the goal was a Photos-only export.
- Every archive file or split part listed for the export has finished downloading.
- The files are stored together on the external drive, not only in a temporary download location.
- You have opened or extracted the archive successfully enough to confirm the local files are accessible.
- You understand that the drive copy is an export, not an automatic sync, and that the download did not delete the online library.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transfer Google Photos directly to an external hard drive?
Create a Google Takeout export with Google Photos selected, choose email delivery, then download every archive part and save it to the external drive. Whether the browser can download directly to that drive depends on your device and browser settings; if it cannot, download locally and move the files to the drive.
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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 download link the same day, but there is no guaranteed turnaround.
Does downloading Google Photos to an external drive delete it from Google?
No. Downloading the Takeout export creates a separate local copy and does not delete the photos and videos in your Google Account.
Can I export only photos from a particular year?
Google Takeout’s current help guidance says it does not support selecting certain time periods for export. Do not assume a year-range filter is available for a Photos export.
What if my Takeout archive has several files?
Download every listed part and keep the files together. Takeout may split an export when it exceeds the selected archive-size limit. Choosing 50 GB reduces the likelihood of splitting but does not guarantee a single file.
How long does the Takeout download link work?
Google says the link expires in about seven days and each archive may be downloaded five times. If it expires or you need more downloads, request a new export. An expired link does not mean your Google Photos data has expired.
Do I need to extract the archive?
Not necessarily. You can keep the downloaded archive files together and extract them when you want to browse the contents. Extracting creates a more readily browsable copy, but needs additional space if you also keep the archive. TGZ archives may require special software.
The Bottom Line
Use Google Takeout to export Google Photos, download every archive part before its link expires, and store the files together on an external drive with enough room. Extract them if you want a browsable copy, and remember that the drive is an additional archive—not an automatic sync or a replacement for the online library.
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