How do you keep all your photos safe? Have you ever lost a photo album or even a whole computer because you didn’t have a good backup system in place?

It’s always a good idea to back up your data, especially when it comes to photos. However, keeping a backup system in place for your photos can be tricky.

There are thousands of different hard drives available today. Finding the right one for your needs can be difficult.

This article will show you how to find the best hard drive for photo backup and keep your memories safe.

Backup hard drive for photos. Best sellers

Last update on 2024-03-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Top hard drives for photo backup

We’re going to take a look at some of the best hard drives for photo backups. These hard drives are a vital part of any photo backup plan.

If you’re not already backing up your photos, then you’re going to need to start today.

#5. Best 5TB HDD: Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive

Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue...
  • 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

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive is designed for the busy person who needs to carry more than just photos. With a large capacity of 5 TB, Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive offers ample storage space for the average user to store music, data files, music, video, and even games.

And with a shock proof enclosure and dust and water resistant technology, it’s ready to protect important files and media.

#4. Best 5TB HDD: Toshiba Canvio Flex 4TB

Toshiba Canvio Flex 4TB Portable External Hard Drive USB-C USB 3.0, Silver for PC, Mac, & Tablet -...
  • Designed for PC, Mac, and Tablet (check compatibility at Toshiba's Consumer HDD website).
  • Formatted exFAT for cross-device compatibility (2).
  • USB-C ready, USB 3.0 compatible.
  • Versatile design. Includes USB-C and USB-A cables.

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for the best hard drive to backup photos from multiple devices you must check out the Toshiba Canvio.

A Toshiba external drive that is designed to deliver up to 4 TB of storage with fast transfer speeds.

With USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3, this portable external hard drive lets you connect to all your devices seamlessly.

It’s a must-have for those who want to protect their photos.

#3. Reddot winner in 2021: SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD

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SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust...
  • Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
  • Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
  • Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
  • Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
  • Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5)

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD delivers performance that’s up to 1050MB/s, giving you up to 50X faster read speeds than a traditional spinning hard drive. A fast transfer speed lets you complete tasks in seconds, rather than minutes.

Plug it into a USB Type-C port on your computer to get the full speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2 for lightning-fast data transfers.

And it’s slim and light, so you can slip it in your bag or backpack and take it wherever your day takes you.

#2. Best Lightweight SDD: SAMSUNG T7 1TB

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SAMSUNG SSD T7 Portable External Solid State Drive 1TB, Up to USB 3.2 Gen 2, Reliable Storage for...
  • PORTABLE STORAGE ON THE GO: The light, pocket-sized Portable SSD T7 delivers fast speeds with easy and reliable data storage for transferring large files, including crucial business documents, games, or movies
  • TRANSFER IN A FLASH: Transfer massive files with the incredible speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2; PCIe NVMe technology delivers blazing fast sequential read/write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s1, making the T7 2x as fast as the previous T5 model2
  • STRONG & SECURE: Unlike HDDs, the Portable SSD T7 has no moving parts so it's more resistant to shock; Plus, its solid aluminum unibody adds more protection, keeping it safe from falls of up to 6 ft3 and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty4
  • RELIABLE THERMAL SOLUTION: The T7’s advanced thermal solution uses the Dynamic Thermal Guard to withstand and control heat, so the portable SSD stays at an optimal temperature even at fast speeds5
  • SLEEK & COMPACT STYLE: Roughly the size of a credit card and only weighing 2 ounces, the T7 fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and is light enough to take your files on the go

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is the best 1TB portable hard drive for photo backup on the market! With the Samsung T7 portable drive, you can easily backup files to your computer without losing data.

With the latest storage technology, the Samsung T7 is designed to maximize performance with the fastest transfer rate.

The large capacity 1TB hard drive will store thousands of digital images, videos, music, and other media files.

#1. Most reliable external hard drive for backup: Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB External Hard Drive

Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB External Hard Drive – Black USB-C USB 3.0, 1yr Mylio Create, 4 month...
  • SECURITY FIRST: Securely and easily manage photos, videos, movies, and more with password activated hardware encryption
  • STYLISH & SPACIOUS: Stylish tone-on-tone fabric design works seamlessly with USB-C and USB 3.0 laptops and PCs
  • PLUG & PLAY: The perfect external hard drive for Windows or Mac, simply back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups (Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine)
  • MYLIO & ADOBE: Edit, manage, and share photos with a 1-yr. complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a 4-mo. membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (must redeem within 1-yr. of drive registration; not available in China)

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB is the most reliable external hard drive for backup. Its fats, secure and easy to use.

The Seagate UltraTouch HDD 2TB External Hard Drive is the perfect way to store your photos, videos, music and documents safely.

Seagate’s Ultra-portable 2TB external hard drive offers a spacious capacity and easy portability.

This portable hard drive has a USB 3.0 interface that makes it easy to plug in and store data on the go. With fast read and write speeds, this portable hard drive is great for storing photos, videos, music and more.

Top Hard Drives For Photo Backup

Shopping guide. What to look for when buying a hard drive to back-up your photos? 

Hard drives are great for keeping copies of your data, but how do you choose which model is the right one for you?

There are two main categories of hard drives that you’ll need to consider.

Solid State Drives

Solid state drives (SSD) are the most expensive of the bunch. SSDs are typically about twice as fast as traditional hard drives.

SSDs also tend to be much more reliable and durable than traditional hard drives. While traditional hard drives have moving parts, SSDs use solid state chips to store data. This makes them much more reliable and durable.

The downside of SSDs is that they are significantly more expensive.

Traditional Hard Drives

Are way slower than SSDs but they are more affordable. These hard drives offer the best price/GB ratio and if you are on a tight budget and you don’t mind waiting the extra time for the back-up to finish, buying a HDD will be a good idea.

best hard drive to backup photos

What happens if you lose your photos?

Imagine losing all of your family photos, wedding photos, or even graduation photos. What if you lost everything from your house or car? That’s not something anyone wants to experience.

This is why you need a reliable back-up copy to safely store your photos.

What is the best hard drive to backup photos?

If you want a reliable hard drive and more space opt for the Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB and back-up done fast opt for the SAMSUNG T7 1TB SDD.

How to backup files on external hard drive

You can use an external hard drive to store your files and automatically backup your data whenever you plug the drive into a computer. All you need is a hard drive with a back-up software installed.

STEP 1: Plug the Drive Into Your Computer

Plug your external hard drive into your computer and turn it on. It should show up in the My Computer window.

STEP 2: Open Windows Explorer

Open Windows Explorer and browse to the folder where you want to store your files.

STEP 3: Backup Files

Click the File menu and select “Backup Files”. Select the external hard drive, select the files you want to back up and click “Back Up Files”.