If your phone disappeared today, could you open last summer’s photos on another device? Could you also recover a photo you deleted from a folder that syncs with the cloud? Answering both questions helps you choose a backup that will work when you need it.
Gather your originals
Check old phones, computers, memory cards and cloud accounts. Keep original files where you can find them. Before clearing an old device, open a recent photo, an older photo and a video somewhere else to confirm that they are actually available.
Keep two independent copies
The 3-2-1 rule means keeping three copies in total, across two types of storage, with one copy off-site. For a home photo library, that could mean the computer, an external drive and a separate cloud backup. Disconnect the external drive after the backup if you can.
Sync keeps devices aligned. If a deletion syncs too, you need another copy or working version history to recover the file. Check how long your cloud service keeps deleted items.
Restore a photo as a test
Pick a photo at random and restore it into a different folder. Open it and check the quality. Then choose a routine you will remember, such as copying new photos after a trip and checking the off-site backup once a month.
If your photos are spread across several old devices or you are unsure whether the backup works, we can help gather the files and set up a backup. Ask for help backing up your photos · See file transfer and backup prices