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To back up media across Facebook, Google Photos, and iCloud, export or copy it from each service, then keep a separate copy on a computer or external drive. There is no single export that gathers everything from all three accounts. A cloud-to-cloud transfer can be convenient, but syncing or moving files between cloud libraries is not the same as keeping an independent backup.
Choose the kind of backup you need
Use an individual download when you need only a few items. For a broader safety copy, export the relevant library or account data and save the resulting files somewhere you control. If you want Google Photos items in iCloud Photos, Google Takeout can transfer them directly without first downloading them to a computer.
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- Selected files: convenient for a few photos or videos, but easy to overlook older media.
- Library or account export: better suited to making a broad copy. Check which categories, dates, and files the service lets you include.
- Cloud-to-cloud transfer: useful for adding Google Photos media to iCloud Photos, but it does not create a local copy.
- Independent local copy: keep exported files on a computer or a separate external drive. Choose enough capacity for the combined exports, with room to grow.
Do not assume that albums, comments, likes, timestamps, or every item of metadata will survive every export. The outcome depends on the service and route you use.
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Back up photos and videos from Facebook
Facebook provides controls named Download your information and Transfer a copy of your information. Start in Your information and permissions in Accounts Centre. If the relevant control is not available there, Facebook says to check Facebook settings. Availability and interface layout can vary by account.
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- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Sign in to the Facebook account that holds the media.
- Open Accounts Centre and look for Your information and permissions, or check Facebook settings if the control is not shown in Accounts Centre.
- Choose the download or transfer control that fits your goal. If offered, select the categories and date range you want.
- Request the download or transfer, then save the delivered copy in a separate, safe location.
Facebook’s help page describes downloads and transfers for photos, videos, posts, and other information, but does not establish a universal export format or destination list. Follow the options shown in your account rather than assuming that every account has the same steps or choices.
Export from Google Photos
Download a few items
- Go to photos.google.com and select a photo or video.
- Choose More, then Download.
- Move or copy the downloaded file into the separate storage location you are using for backup.
A downloaded file may receive a new operating-system timestamp based on when it was downloaded. Google says the photo or video’s metadata remains accessible in file details; do not treat the download timestamp as the original capture date.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Export a broad collection with Google Takeout
- Open Google Takeout and choose Google Photos. Use any data-selection controls offered to specify what to include.
- Select an archive delivery method and create the export. Depending on availability and account constraints, Google offers an emailed download link or destinations including Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box.
- When the archive is ready, download it promptly. Large exports may be split into multiple files, and Google says an archive expires in about seven days.
- Extract the files and check that representative photos and videos open before relying on the export as a backup.
- Keep the verified files on your computer or a separate drive. If you save an archive to another cloud provider, that archive is subject to that provider’s terms.
Google Takeout can also schedule an export every two months for one year, or create a one-time archive. Downloading a copy does not delete the source data from Google’s servers. Google’s product page lists 15 GB of storage for Google Photos (accessed October 4, 2026); that figure is not a guarantee of available space in your account or enough capacity for your library. Check your account’s actual storage before starting an export or transfer.
Transfer Google Photos directly to iCloud Photos
If your goal is to add Google Photos media to iCloud Photos, Google Takeout offers a direct transfer route: choose Apple – iCloud Photos, authenticate with your Apple Account, and allow Google to add the photos and videos. This avoids downloading the files to a computer first, and the originals remain in Google Photos. Apple says the transfer can take several hours to a few days, depending on library size.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Before starting, check the requirements and expected result:
- iCloud Photos must be enabled, and your iCloud account needs enough available storage.
- Child accounts and Managed Apple Accounts are ineligible. Advanced Data Protection for iCloud must be turned off for the import.
- JPEG, HEIC, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, and most MP4 and MOV files are supported in Photos. Unsupported media, including RAW files, is placed in iCloud Drive.
- Files arrive at the resolution Google makes available for export. Apple says associated metadata such as filename, description, file type, and location transfers; this is not a promise that every timestamp or organizational detail will carry over.
See Apple’s instructions for transferring a copy of Google Photos to iCloud Photos for current eligibility and setup details.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Make a separate copy of iCloud Photos
Apple describes three ways to export iCloud Photos items. Pick the method that suits the device and the scale of the copy you need.
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Export originals from iPhone or iPad to external storage
- Connect external storage to the iPhone or iPad.
- In Photos settings, choose Download and Keep Originals so originals are available on the device.
- In Photos, export the unmodified originals to the connected storage.
Use a drive with enough capacity for the media you are exporting. This route is intended to produce a separate local copy, not merely keep the library synchronized with iCloud.
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Export selected items from Photos on Mac
In Photos on Mac, select the items you want and use File > Export. Choose the export option appropriate to your goal; for an archive intended to preserve originals, use the option to export unmodified originals where available.
Download selected items from iCloud.com
Use iCloud.com Photos to select and download items. On an iPhone or iPad, Apple says downloads from iCloud.com arrive as a ZIP file in iCloud Drive; extract and move the files to the separate storage location where you want to keep the copy.
Apple recommends storing an exported library separately on a computer or different drive. Copies from Shared Albums may not be full resolution, and comments or likes are not saved, so a Shared Album download is not a substitute for exporting originals from your library. See Apple’s guidance on downloading and exporting iCloud Photos.
What carries over—and what to check
Exports and transfers preserve media differently. Verify the files and details that matter to you instead of assuming that the copy will mirror the source library exactly.
Quick Recap
| Route | What the guidance establishes | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook download or transfer | Facebook offers controls for downloading or transferring photos, videos, posts, and other information; available options can vary by account. | Categories, date range, destination, and format shown in your account. A universal format or destination list is not established. |
| Google Photos download or Takeout | Google says downloaded media metadata remains accessible in file details. A downloaded file can receive a new operating-system timestamp based on download time. | Open the files and inspect the metadata you rely on; do not treat the download timestamp as the original capture time. |
| Google Photos to iCloud Photos transfer | Apple says filename, description, file type, and location metadata transfer. Supported media goes to Photos; unsupported media, including RAW files, goes to iCloud Drive. | Check the destination for unsupported files and confirm that the available resolution and organization meet your needs. |
| iCloud Photos export | Apple describes exporting originals and selected items. Shared Album copies may not be full resolution; comments and likes are not saved. | Use a library export rather than relying on Shared Albums when you need original-resolution media. |
Verify the backup before relying on it
- Confirm the export or transfer has finished and that you have every archive part, if the service split a large export.
- Open a sample of photos and videos from different dates and devices. Check that videos play and images display at the expected resolution.
- Check the destination for files stored separately, such as unsupported media delivered to iCloud Drive.
- Keep the verified copy separate from the cloud library. If practical, keep another copy on a different drive or in another safe location.
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