Two copies of your photo library, without paying for two clouds
One copy on a disk you hold. One copy that backs up the computer. That is enough. Do not upload the same library into a second photo app yet.
1. Copy one: a disk you control
Start from the export in How to export your whole Google Photos library with Takeout. Put those zip files on an external drive. If you do not have one yet, leave them on the computer and buy the drive before you delete anything in Google.
2. Copy two: back up the computer
This is a backup of the machine that holds the export, not another Google Photos. A photo app in the cloud is a different job.
IDrive online backup is one service that does this. LibraryOut may earn a commission if you buy through that link. You do not pay more.
3. Point it at the export folder
- Install the backup on the computer that has the zip files.
- Include the folder that holds the export. Do not select the whole disk on the first run if the disk is huge.
- Let the first backup finish.
- Open the backup and confirm one small folder from the export is listed.
4. Do not empty Google yet
- Both copies must exist before you delete anything in Google Photos.
- Phone backup is not this copy. This copy is the computer that holds the Takeout files.
- One disk in the house can fail with the laptop. That is why the second copy is off the machine.
Previous: Leave Google Photos without losing the library.
Next: Where to put the photo library if you do not want a second Google.