Google Takeout: Backup Photos, Videos, etc…

Google Takeout is a service provided by Google that allows you to export a copy of your data from various Google services, including Google Drive, Google Photos, and more. Here’s how you can use Google Takeout to backup and download a copy of all your files stored in your G Suite account:

  1. Access Google Takeout:
    • Go to the Google Takeout website: takeout.google.com.
    • Make sure you’re signed in with the G Suite account from which you want to export data.
  2. Select Data to Include:
    • On the Google Takeout page, you’ll see a list of Google services with check-boxes next to them.
    • Scroll down and locate services like Google Drive and Google Photos. Check the check-boxes next to these services to include them in your backup.
  3. Customize Export Settings:
    • Click on each selected service to customize the export settings for that service. For example, in Google Drive, you can choose specific folders to export or export all of your Drive data.
    • In Google Photos, you can choose the format and quality for exported photos and videos.
  4. Choose File Format and Delivery Method:
    • Scroll down and click on the “Next” button.
    • You’ll be taken to the next page where you can choose the file format and delivery method for your backup. You can choose between formats like ZIP and TGZ.
    • You can also select the file size of the exported data. Larger files might be split into multiple parts.
    • Choose how you want to receive your export. You can get a download link via email, add the export to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, or even have it sent to a cloud storage service.
  5. Start Export:
    • After customizing the export settings, click on the “Create export” button.
    • Google Takeout will start preparing your data for export. This process may take some time, depending on the amount of data you have.
  6. Receive Download Link:
    • Once the export is ready, you’ll receive an email from Google with a download link to your exported data.
    • Click on the link provided in the email to download the ZIP file containing your data.
  7. Download and Extract Data:
    • After downloading the ZIP file, extract its contents to a location on your computer.
    • You’ll find the exported files organized in folders corresponding to the selected Google services (e.g., Google Drive, Google Photos).
  8. Review and Store Backup:
    • Open the extracted folders and review your backed-up data to ensure everything is as expected.
    • Store the backup in a secure location, such as an external hard drive or a cloud storage service, to keep your data safe.

Using Google Takeout, you can create a comprehensive backup of your G Suite account data, including files stored in Google Drive and Google Photos, among other services. This backup process ensures that you have a copy of your data that you can access even if changes are made to your G Suite account in the future.