For most families, years of photos live in one place: Google Photos or iCloud. That is convenient until the storage plan fills up, the price goes up, or an account gets locked. The good news is that both services let you download everything. Here is how to do it, and what to do with the copy once you have it.
Before you start
- Check how much space your library uses so you know how much storage you need on your end.
- Use a computer, not a phone, and a reliable internet connection. Large libraries take hours to download.
- Do not delete anything from the cloud until you have checked your downloaded copy.
Downloading from Google Photos
Google’s export tool is called Google Takeout. Sign in at takeout.google.com, choose Deselect all, then select only Google Photos. Pick a delivery method and a file size, and Google prepares your archive. When it is ready you get an email with download links.
Two things to know: large libraries arrive as several archive files, and some details like dates and descriptions are stored in separate small files next to each photo. Keep all of it together. Good photo software can read those files and put the dates back where they belong.
Downloading from iCloud Photos
If you have a Mac, the most reliable route is the Photos app. In Photos settings, under iCloud, choose Download Originals to this Mac and give it time to bring every full-size photo and video down. Then select your library and export the unmodified originals to an external drive.
Without a Mac, you can request a copy of your data from Apple at privacy.apple.com, or download photos in batches from iCloud.com. Apple’s request process takes a few days, but it covers your whole library.
Keep your copy safe
A single download on a single drive is not a backup. The rule most IT professionals follow is simple: keep three copies, on two different kinds of storage, with one copy somewhere other than your home. For a family that might mean a home photo server, an external drive, and an encrypted off-site backup.
Where your photos can live next
A private photo server gives you the best parts of Google Photos and iCloud without the monthly bill: automatic backup from every phone, search, albums and shared family libraries, all stored in your own home. Open-source apps like Immich do this well, and they can import a Google Takeout archive directly.
If you would rather not set this up yourself, that is exactly what we do. See how our home tech setups work, or check what your current subscriptions cost you each year.
