How to Backup Google Drive to External Hard Drive [4 Simple Ways]

Google Drive is a popular cloud service that offers 15 GB of free cloud storage. Users employ this tool to store files in the cloud, sync files across devices, and share and collaborate on files with colleagues.

However, storing data in the cloud is not 100% secure since data leakage or theft may happen. Thus, it's necessary and important to back up Google Drive. This article lists 4 effective ways to back up Google Drive to an external hard drive, including using professional backup software and other Google Drive tools. Keep reading and find your solution here.

Yes, you can copy data from Google Drive to an external drive. Here's a simple explanation on how to do it: 1. Connect your external drive to your computer: Plug the external drive into an available USB port on your computer. 2. Open Google Drive on your web browser: Visit drive.google.com and sign in to your Google account if prompted. 3. Select the files or folders you want to copy: Check the boxes next to the items you wish to transfer. 4. Download the selected files or folders: Click on "Download" at the top of the page. This will create a compressed .zip file on your computer, containing all the selected items. 5. Extract the downloaded files: Once the download is complete, locate the .zip file, right-click on it, and choose "Extract All" (Windows) or "Unzip" (Mac). Choose the destination folder as your external drive. 6. Copy to external drive: After extraction, navigate to the extracted folder and copy the contents to your external drive by selecting them and pressing "Ctrl+C" (Windows) or "Cmd+C" (Mac), then paste them onto the external drive using "Ctrl+V" (Windows) or "Cmd+V" (Mac). Please note that this process may take some time depending on the size of the files you're copying. Also, consider using a cloud-to-cloud transfer service or Google Takeout for large amounts of data, as downloading everything locally might not be practical.

Many users might wonder whether it's possible to save Google Drive data to an external hard drive.

Yes, you can copy data stored in Google Drive to an external hard drive and use it as a backup.

You'll need to access your Google Drive and export your files and data to an external hard drive connected to your computer. There are various reasons why you might want to copy your Google Drive files to an external hard drive, such as protecting against file corruption, accidental deletion, or malware attacks.

If you want to access your Google Drive data offline, this could be a good option. In this article, we will discuss 4 ways to back up Google Drive to external hard drive. One of the methods is using a disk backup software called AOMEI Backupper Home.

Related Read: How to Backup Hard Drive to Google Drive

How to Back Up Google Drive to an External Hard Drive in 4 Ways

Backing up your Google Drive to an external hard drive is a great way to protect important files in case you accidentally delete them from the drive. Since external hard drives are portable, you can access your Google Drive files from anywhere without an internet connection.

Here are four ways to do so.

Method 1: Use the Google Drive Backup and Sync App?

The preferred and recommended way to back up Google Drive to an external hard drive is by using the Todo Backup software. This software supports backing up files, folders, systems, and hard drives on various devices, including Windows 11/10/8/7.

These tools allow you to back up/clone your files or folders and keep an exact copy of them on an external drive, network location, NAS, or cloud. In case you accidentally delete a file from Google Drive, the software can restore it from the backup. Your data safety is also ensured, as it has a Safe Zone backup feature that protects your data from malware or ransomware attacks.

Other features of Todo Backup Home include:

• Safeguard your files with comprehensive protection and back up data to local drives and external storage devices
• Offer various cloning options, such as from smaller to larger disks and vice versa
• Enable you to perform hot backups, saving your data while the system is running
• Feature intelligent backup that retains your data on a 7-day cycle

To use Todo Backup Home to back up Google Drive to an external hard drive, you first need to download and install the trial version of the software on your computer. Then, you can follow these steps to initiate the backup process: 1. **Launch Todo Backup Home**: After installation, open the software on your PC. 2. **Select Backup Type**: Click on "System Backup" or "File Backup," depending on whether you want to back up your entire system or just specific files from Google Drive. 3. **Choose Backup Source**: In the "Select what to backup" section, click on "Google Drive" and sign in with your Google account credentials to authorize access to your Google Drive files. 4. **Set Backup Destination**: Under "Select where to backup," choose your external hard drive as the destination for the backup. Make sure the drive is connected to your computer. 5. **Customize Backup Options (optional)**: You can choose to create a schedule for automatic backups, enable encryption for added security, or apply other available options as per your requirements. 6. **Start Backup**: Click on "Backup Now" to initiate the backup process. The time taken will depend on the size of your Google Drive data and the speed of your internet connection. 7. **Monitor Progress**: Todo Backup Home will display the progress of the backup. Once completed, you'll receive a notification. 8. **Verify Backup**: It's a good practice to verify the backup by restoring a few files to ensure everything has been backed up correctly. Remember that you might need a reliable internet connection during the backup process. If you're backing up a large amount of data, it's recommended to start the backup when you have ample time and a stable internet connection.

Step 1: To begin the backup, tap “Choose Backup.”

Step 2. There are four backup types to choose from: Files, Disk, System, and Mail. Click on Files.

Step 3: On the left, you'll see all your local and network files. Expand the directories to locate the backup file.

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

Click "Options" to set up password encryption for your backup in the "Backup Options" and then click "Backup Schedule" to specify the timing of the backups and to initiate them upon specific events. You can also choose additional options as needed to customize the backup process.

Step Five: The backup can be stored on a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

Step 6: Todo Backup lets users back up their data to third-party cloud storage services as well as its own.

If you want to back up to a cloud service provided by a third party, choose “Local Disk,” scroll down, add a cloud device, and then sign in with your account.

You can also choose to back up to cloud storage. Sign up for an AOMEI account and click "AOMEI Cloud" to log in.

Step 7. Click Backup Now to start the backup process. When complete, the backup job appears as a card on the left pane. Right-click the backup job for more options.

If this article helped you back up Google Drive to an external hard drive, please share it with your fans and friends on social media.

?Related reading: How to backup your entire PC to an external hard drive

Method 2: Use Google Takeout

How do I download my Google Photos to an external hard drive?

As a premium Google service, Google Takeout enables you to download your data from various Google products in one go, including Google Photos and Google Drive. This service provides a convenient way to download files from Google Drive and save them to an external hard drive.

Here are the steps to back up your Google Drive using Google Takeout to an external hard drive:

Step 1: Go to the Google Takeout website (https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout) and, under “Select data to export,” check only “Drive.” Click “Next.”

Step 2: Choose the “Type,” “Frequency,” and “Destination” for your file. Then scroll down and click “Create Export.”

Step Three: Check your Gmail for a message from Google Takeout with a download link. Click the link to download the zip file to your computer.

Step 4: Once all the files have downloaded to your computer, click Extract.

Step 5: Select all of the unzipped files, then drag them to your external hard drive. Your Google Drive data is now saved on the external hard drive.

Method 3: Use the Google Drive Desktop App

After downloading and installing Google Drive Desktop on your computer, you can easily back up your data to an external hard drive. Here are the steps to use Google Drive Desktop to back up files and data to an external hard drive: 1. **Install Google Drive Desktop**: Visit the official Google Drive website (https://www.google.com/drive/download/) and download the version suitable for your operating system (Windows or macOS) before installing it. 2. **Connect the external hard drive**: Plug your external hard drive into your computer's USB port. 3. **Set up Google Drive**: Open the Google Drive desktop app and sign in with your Google account. Follow the wizard's instructions to configure the application, agree to the terms of service, and select the folders or files you want to back up. 4. **Choose the backup location**: In Google Drive's settings, you'll see an option to "Change" or "Add." Click on it to select your external hard drive as the backup destination. 5. **Sync your files**: Upon completing the setup, Google Drive will start syncing the selected files and folders to your external hard drive. This may take some time depending on file size and internet speed. 6. **Monitor progress**: Within the Google Drive app, you can view the sync progress. Once completed, your files and data will be safely stored on the external hard drive. 7. **Keep connected**: To ensure continuous backups, keep your external hard drive connected to your computer and keep the Google Drive app running. Any changes made to files within the selected folders will automatically sync to the external hard drive. Remember that while Google Drive helps you back up your data, it's also essential to ensure the safety of your external hard drive by avoiding exposure to extreme conditions or physical damage.

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2: Launch the Google Drive desktop app and click “Sign in with browser.”

Step 3: Once you're logged in, click on the Google Drive tab and check the box next to “Sync Entire Drive.” When a pop-up appears, click “Change Folder Location.”

Step 4. Click on the external drive to select it, and then click the “Choose Folder” button.

Step 5: Back in Google Drive, click “Confirm.”

Finally, click the “Save” button in the bottom-right corner. Your Google Drive files and data will begin syncing to your external hard drive.

Method 4: Back Up Google Drive with Google Vault

Google Vault is an archiving tool that lets users retain data stored on G Suite even after permanent deletion. While it's not a backup solution, the tool can indefinitely save and migrate Google Drive folders.

To archive files and data using Google Vault, you need to set up a retention policy specifying the types of data and how long to retain them. Here are the steps to start backing up your Google Drive to an external hard drive with Google Vault: 1. **Enable Google Vault Service**: - Log in to the Google Workspace Admin console (admin.google.com). - Go to the "Services" section and find "Google Vault." - Click "Enable" to start using Vault. 2. **Create a Retention Policy**: - In the Google Vault management interface, navigate to the "Retention Policies" option. - Click "Create Retention Policy." - Specify a policy name and set the retention period. - Choose the data type to retain, such as Google Drive files. - Add more conditions and exceptions as needed. 3. **Set Data Collection**: - In the Vault admin interface, go to the "Collect" section. - Select "Google Drive" as the data source. - Specify which users or groups to include. - Confirm the settings and initiate data collection. 4. **Download and Backup Data**: - In Vault, search for and select the Google Drive files or folders you want to back up. - Create an export job, choosing an appropriate file format (like MIME or RAW). - Specify where to export the files, typically a network location or cloud storage. - Since Google Vault doesn't directly support exporting to external hard drives, you'll need to manually copy the files to the external drive after the export is complete. 5. **Schedule Regular Backups**: - Set up recurring export and backup tasks to ensure data stays up-to-date. - Monitor the task status in Vault to confirm successful backups. Please note that Google Vault is primarily for online archiving and compliance, not direct backup to external hardware devices. The process above might involve extra steps, like manually copying files from a network location to an external hard drive. It's recommended to use dedicated backup software or services for a more direct way to back up Google Drive content to an external hard drive.

Step 1: Sign in to your G Suite account.

On the Google Vault homepage, click Retention in the left sidebar.

Click Drive to edit the retention policy.

Step 4. Check the box next to “Set default retention rules for Drive.”

Step 5: Under “Duration,” select “Indefinite.”

Step Six: Click “Save.” Google Vault will now keep your Google Drive files indefinitely.

Step 7. To move the saved file to an external drive (like a USB, HDD, or SSD), download it to your computer first.

Step 8. Drag the files to the external hard drive's location. Your Google Drive data is now backed up on the hard drive.

Did you find this article useful? If it helped you back up Google Drive to an external hard drive, share it with your fans and friends on social media.

Conclusions

Backing up your Google Drive data to an external hard drive protects your files from damage, accidental deletion, and malware attacks. It also gives you a good way to access your files offline. The recommended tool for backing up your Google Drive files is Todo Backup Home. Other methods of backing up Google Drive include using Google Takeout, the Google Drive desktop app, and Google Vault.

If you're looking to safely back up Google Drive to an external hard drive, Todo Backup Home is your best bet. This tool offers secure zone backup protection against malware or ransomware attacks. It supports Windows 11/10/8/7 operating systems. Make sure to download and install Todo Backup Home today to back up your Google Drive to an external hard drive.

Frequently Asked Questions about Backing Up Google Drive to an External Hard Drive

Here are some common questions and answers about backing up Google Drive to an external hard drive.

1. Can I put Google Drive on an external hard drive?

Yes, you can back up your Google Drive files and data to an external hard drive. You can achieve this using software like Todo Backup Home, Google Takeout, the Google Drive desktop app, or Google Vault.

2. Can I download my entire Google Drive?

Yes, you can download and export your entire Google Drive data, including Google Docs, Forms, Slides, Sheets, Jamboard files, Sites, Drawings, and more. You can then save these files to another location, such as an external hard drive, and access them anytime you wish. Additionally, you can create an archive of your files and data for record-keeping purposes.

Can I download Google Drive to my computer?

Yes, you can download and install the Google Drive desktop app on your computer. This will allow you to access your Google Drive files offline on your computer and save them to an external drive for additional backup.

How do I back up Google Drive to an external hard drive on my Mac?

Here's how you can do that:

Step 1: Go to the Google Drive website and locate the files and folders you want to export to your external hard drive. Step 2: Hold down the "Control" key (or "Command" if you're using a Mac) and click on all the files you want to back up. Step 3: Next, click on "Download." Make sure your external hard drive is set as the default download location. Your files will be saved onto the external hard drive.