How to Transfer Photos from Computer to External Hard Drive in Windows

Transferring photos from a computer to an external hard drive is a common requirement for many users, often for the following reasons:

1. Limited Storage Space: When the computer's internal storage is full, copying images to an external hard drive frees up space and ensures smooth performance.
2. Backup & Data Protection: By moving images to an external hard drive, you create a backup of valuable memories, protecting them from accidental deletion, hardware failures, or computer viruses.
3. Portable Storage: Transferring photos to an external hard drive lets you carry your entire photo collection, enabling access on other devices or while traveling.
4. Upgrading or Replacing Computers: When upgrading or replacing a computer, or giving it to someone else, moving photos to an external hard drive ensures a seamless transfer of the photo collection to the new device.
5. Sharing Photos with Others: Transferring photos to an external hard drive facilitates easy sharing with friends, family, or colleagues who might not have direct access to the computer or online photo storage.
6. Preserving Old or Rare Photos: If your photos hold cherished family memories, transferring them to an external hard drive helps preserve them for future generations, as hard drives have a longer lifespan.

In this post, we will explore three quick and effortless methods to transfer photos from computer to external hard drive. These approaches include the classic copy and paste method, utilizing Windows' built-in File History feature, and employing the advanced tools of Todo Backup software. Whether you favor a straightforward approach or an automated backup solution, we've got you covered. Let's examine these three options and determine which one best fits your requirements.

What to Prepare Before Transferring Photos to External Hard Drive Before transferring your photos to an external hard drive, there are a few things you should prepare to ensure a smooth and secure process. Here's a checklist: 1. **Backup Your Current Photos**: Make sure you have a backup of all your photos in case something goes wrong during the transfer. You can use another external drive or a cloud-based service for this. 2. **Select the Right External Hard Drive**: Choose an external hard drive with enough storage capacity to hold all your photos. Consider getting a drive with at least twice the amount of data you plan to store, as you may want to add more files in the future. 3. **Format the External Hard Drive**: If it's a new drive or one that has been used for different purposes, format it to ensure compatibility with your computer's operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). This will also erase any existing data on the drive. 4. **Update Software**: Update your computer's operating system and any software you'll be using for the transfer, such as photo management applications or file managers. This ensures that you're working with the latest bug fixes and security patches. 5. **Check Connections**: Ensure you have the necessary cables (USB, Thunderbolt, or other) to connect the external hard drive to your computer. Test the connection to confirm it's working properly. 6. **Organize Your Photos**: Sort and arrange your photos into folders or albums based on date, event, or any other preferred categorization method. This will make it easier to find specific photos later. 7. **Scan for Malware**: Run a malware scan on your computer to prevent any potential threats from being transferred to the external hard drive. 8. **Enable Error Checking**: Enable error checking on the external hard drive, if possible, to detect and fix any potential issues during the transfer process. 9. **Battery Backup**: If you're using a laptop, plug it in or ensure the battery is fully charged. Transferring large amounts of data can drain your battery quickly. 10. **Create a Plan B**: Have a secondary method of transferring your photos, such as using a USB flash drive or cloud service, in case the external hard drive transfer doesn't work as expected. Once you've completed these preparations, you can proceed with transferring your photos to the external hard drive. Remember to monitor the process to ensure it's proceeding without errors, and always safely eject the hard drive before disconnecting it.

1. Ensure that you have a reliable and appropriate external hard drive with sufficient storage capacity to accommodate all your photos. If your device lacks enough space, some images may be lost when the hard drive becomes full. 2. Connect the external hard drive to your computer properly using a cable or an adapter. Make certain that the external hard drive is compatible with your computer's operating system and is recognized correctly. 3. Organizing your photo files on your computer is advisable. Creating folders or subfolders to classify your images and facilitate easier access in the future can be beneficial.

Also Read: Best Way to Backup Thousands of Photos

3 Simple Methods to Transfer Photos from PC to External Hard Drive

This section will outline three methods for transferring photographs, along with their respective advantages and disadvantages. A comparison will be made in terms of difficulty, speed, effectiveness, and appropriate situations. Please examine the table below before selecting a preferred method.

Way 1. Copy and Paste Photos to External Hard Drive in File Explorer Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your computer. Make sure to properly connect the external hard drive to your computer using the appropriate cable or USB port. Step 2: Open File Explorer. Click on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar or press the Windows key + E on your keyboard to launch it. Step 3: Navigate to the photo folder. In the File Explorer window, locate and navigate to the folder containing the photos you want to transfer. Step 4: Select the photos. Hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple photos individually, or use the Shift key to select a range of photos. You can also simply click on a photo and drag your cursor to select a contiguous group. Step 5: Copy the selected photos. Right-click on the selected photos and choose "Copy" from the context menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C. Step 6: Access the external hard drive. In the left pane of File Explorer, locate the external hard drive, which is usually labeled with a letter (e.g., E:) under "This PC" or "Devices with Removable Storage." Step 7: Create a new folder (optional). If desired, right-click within the external hard drive's window and choose "New" > "Folder" to create a designated folder for your photos. Step 8: Paste the photos. Navigate to the desired location on the external hard drive and right-click, then select "Paste" from the context menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V. Step 9: Wait for the transfer to complete. Be patient as the photos are copied to the external hard drive. This may take some time depending on the number and size of the files. Step 10: Safely eject the external hard drive. Once the transfer is finished, make sure to safely remove the external hard drive by clicking on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the system tray and following the prompts.

Copy and Paste is the easiest method that doesn't require any technical skills. Most individuals use this approach to transfer and move photos, videos, and other file documents. However, this method can be time-consuming when moving a large number of photos. Copy and Paste is best suited for transferring a single or a small number of photos.

Step 1. On your Windows computer, open File Explorer and locate the folder where the photos are stored.

< strong >Step 2. Select the folder, right-click on it, and choose the Copy option. (Shortcut: Ctrl + C) This translates to: < strong >Step 2. Choose the folder, click on it with the right mouse button, and select the Copy option. (Shortcut: Ctrl + C)

Step 3. Navigate to the external hard drive and create a new folder.

< strong >Step 4. Open the new folder, right-click on any blank area, and select Paste. (Shortcut: Ctrl + V)

The copying process will begin immediately. The speed and time taken will depend on the number of photos and the file sizes.

Method 2: Transfer Photos to an External Hard Drive Using File History

If you don't wish to use Copy and Paste or manual operations, you can utilize the built-in Windows application File History to automatically copy images to an external hard drive. File History is available on Windows 8/8.1/10/11 and enables you to save files to external storage devices or network locations.

However, File History is also suitable for a small number of folders, and it can be very time-consuming if you have many photos to move. If you use an automatic backup plan, it will create multiple versions of your files, which can lead to redundancy on the external hard drive, taking up extra storage space.

Follow the steps below to set up an automatic backup of your photos to an external hard drive.

Step 1. Click the Windows Start menu > Settings > Update & Security > Backup.

Step 2. Click +Add a drive to select the external hard drive as the destination for photo backup.

Step 3. Tap on more options to choose a folder where you want to save the photo backup.

Step 4. You can also set and change how often the photos will be backed up, and it will automatically save photos to the external hard drive at the set time.

Step 5. Click on Add a folder to select the photo folders that you organized previously.

Step 6. Once you've completed all the settings, click Back up now to begin transferring your photos to the external drive immediately.

Method 3: Easily and Safely Backup and Transfer Photos to External Hard Drive

Copying and pasting or using File History are both efficient methods to transfer photos from a computer to an external hard drive. However, these methods can be somewhat time-consuming and are more suitable for transferring a small quantity of photos. Furthermore, based on user feedback, issues such as File History not functioning properly or not recognizing the drive (File History not recognizing this drive) have been reported.

Considering all these limitations, we recommend using a more straightforward and secure file backup software to transfer your photos to external storage devices. Tools Todo Backup is an all-in-one backup and recovery solution with file, disk, partition, system, and application data backup capabilities. With this tool, you can easily and quickly back up your photos, making it particularly suitable for large image collections. Tools offers various advanced features that make it a confident choice.

• Scheduled backup to save photos to a designated location, including external drives, NAS, cloud services, and secure zones.
• Incremental and differential backup enables you to backup only modified photos, significantly conserving storage space and preventing redundancy.
• Fast recovery speed ensures prompt retrieval of photos in case they are lost due to computer crashes or hard drive failures.

Download it now and start transferring your photos right away.

Step 1. Click "Select backup contents" to start a backup.

Step 2. There are four data backup categories, File, Disk, OS, and Mail, click File.

Step 3. Local and network files will be displayed on the left side. You may extend the directory to choose which files to back up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the location where you want to save the backup.

Click “Options” to encrypt the backup with a password in “Backup Options,” and to set up a backup schedule and choose to initiate a backup at a certain event in “Backup Scheme.” There are various other customization options available for the backup process.

Step 5. You can save the backup to a local drive, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to a third-party cloud drive or its own cloud drive.

If you want to back up data to a third-party cloud drive, choose Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, add your account, and then log in.

You can also save backups to the tool's cloud storage service. Sign up for a Tool Account and log in after clicking Tool Cloud.

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to start the backup. When the backup process is finished, it will appear as a card on the left pane. Right-click a backup job to manage it further.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, transferring photos from a computer to an external hard drive is a vital step to ensure the safety and organization of your precious memories. By following the proper preparations, such as using a compatible external hard drive, organizing and backing up your files, and checking for file corruption, you can successfully transfer your images.

If you're still unsure which approach to take, here's a summary of our findings:

Here are the translations:
1. Copy & Paste: The easiest method, but very time-consuming, and only suitable for a small number of photos.
2. File History: A built-in Windows utility for automatic photo backup, but it requires technical knowledge and may not always work.
3. Todo Backup: Overall the best way to bulk transfer photos to external hard drives, with user-friendly operation and space-saving features.

"Transfer Photos From Computer to External Hard Drive" FAQs

1. How do I transfer my entire photo library to an external hard drive?

To copy your entire photo library to an external hard drive, you can follow these steps: 1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer: Plug one end of the USB cable into the hard drive and the other end into your computer's USB port. Make sure the hard drive is powered on if it requires an external power source. 2. Ensure the hard drive is formatted correctly: Check that the external hard drive is formatted in a file system compatible with your operating system (e.g., exFAT for Windows and macOS). If not, you may need to reformat the drive, which will erase all its existing data. 3. Launch the Photos app: On a Mac, open the "Photos" app; on a Windows PC, open "File Explorer." 4. Locate your photo library: On a Mac, your photo library is usually stored in the "Pictures" folder within your user account. On Windows, it might be in the "Pictures" folder or another location depending on your settings. 5. Select and copy your photos: In the Photos app (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows), select the folder containing your photo library. You can use the "Command+A" (Mac) or "Ctrl+A" (Windows) shortcut to select all photos. 6. Paste to the external hard drive: Navigate to the external hard drive in the same app (Photos or File Explorer). Right-click (or Control-click on a Mac) and choose "Paste" or use the "Command+V" (Mac) or "Ctrl+V" (Windows) shortcut. 7. Wait for the transfer to complete: Depending on the size of your photo library and the speed of your hard drive, this process could take several hours. Do not disconnect the external hard drive during the transfer to avoid data loss. 8. Verify the transfer: Once the transfer is done, check the external hard drive to ensure all your photos are there and intact. You can compare the number of files and their names with the original library. 9. Backup regularly: To keep your photos safe, remember to periodically update the copy on the external hard drive as you add new photos to your library. 10. Safely eject the external hard drive: Before disconnecting, make sure to safely eject the hard drive from your computer. On a Mac, click the eject button next to the drive in the Finder sidebar, and on Windows, click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the system tray and follow the instructions.

1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer. 2. Open the file explorer on your computer (Windows Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS) to view your files. 3. Locate your photo library folder. 4. Select the photo library folder by clicking on it once to highlight it. 5. Right-click on the selected folder and choose **Copy** from the context menu. (shortcut **Ctrl+C**) 6. Open the external hard drive in the file explorer. It should appear as a separate drive or volume. 7. Right-click on an empty space within the external hard drive folder and select **Paste** from the context menu. (shortcut **Ctrl+V**)

2. How do I transfer photos from Windows 10 to an external hard drive? To transfer photos from Windows 10 to an external hard drive, follow these steps: 1. Connect the external hard drive to your Windows 10 computer using a USB cable or the appropriate connector. 2. Ensure that the hard drive is properly recognized by your system. It should appear in File Explorer under "This PC" or "My Computer." 3. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard or by clicking the File Explorer icon on the taskbar. 4. Navigate to the folder where your photos are stored. Typically, this would be the "Pictures" folder within your user account, but it could also be in another location like "Downloads" or a specific album folder. 5. Select the photos you want to transfer by clicking on them. To select multiple photos, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking. To select a continuous range, click the first photo, hold down Shift, and then click the last photo. 6. Right-click on the selected photos and choose "Copy" from the context menu. 7. Navigate to the external hard drive in File Explorer. It should be listed under "This PC" or "My Computer" with a drive letter assigned to it (e.g., E:). 8. Locate a suitable folder on the external hard drive where you want to store the photos, or create a new one by right-clicking and selecting "New" > "Folder." 9. Once inside the target folder, right-click anywhere in the empty space and choose "Paste" from the context menu. This will initiate the transfer process. 10. Wait for the transfer to complete. Depending on the number of photos and their size, this may take some time. 11. After the transfer is finished, it's a good idea to safely eject the external hard drive before unplugging it. To do this, right-click the drive icon in File Explorer and select "Eject." Once the notification says it's safe to remove the device, you can unplug the hard drive. Now your photos should be successfully transferred to the external hard drive.

Transferring photos from Windows 10 to an external hard drive is similar to other Windows devices. You can use Copy & Paste, File History, or a backup tool like Todo Backup to move your photos to the external drive.

3. What is the quickest method to transfer files from a PC to an external hard drive?

The fastest way to transfer files from a PC to an external hard drive is by using professional backup software, such as Todo Backup. This tool will automatically back up your photos to your designated location at a very fast speed without any data loss.