How to Backup Photos from Mac to External Hard Drive [3 Detailed Guides]

Do you know how to back up photos to an external hard drive on Mac? Don't worry! This page will offer you three methods to back up photos from Mac to an external drive to relieve storage pressure and prevent photo loss.

Introduction

Photos are precious memories, and most Mac users store them on their Mac. However, duplicate photos can be a big headache, especially when they try to keep their photos organized and safe. What should you do? Backup photos to an external hard drive. But is an external hard drive good for photo backup? Read on.

Is an external hard drive a good device to store photos?

Certainly! Standard portable external hard drives are very popular due to their convenience and portability, which greatly facilitate photo access. Their advantages include:

• Additional storage capacity
• Plug-and-play functionality
• Reasonable pricing
• No internet connection required

We know external hard drives are reliable, but how to back up photos from Mac to external hard drive? Let's find out in the next section.

How do I backup photos from Mac to an external hard drive?

There are several ways to back up photos on Mac to an external hard drive. Firstly, users can copy photos to the external hard drive manually. Time Machine can also help back up Mac photos, but it may be troublesome and could slow down your operation. Therefore, if you want to back up Mac photos easily and efficiently, you might want to learn about a professional photo backup tool like Todo Backup for Mac. But how do these methods work to back up a Mac to an external hard drive?

Suggestion: If you have a MacBook Pro, the following link might be helpful:

How to Backup Photos from a Mac to an External Drive – 3 Ways

In this section, users can learn the specific steps to back up photos from a Mac to an external hard drive. Let's start with the simplest method.

Method 1: How to Back Up Photos from Mac to External Hard Drive with Todo Backup for Mac

Todo Backup for Mac is compatible with all Mac systems and can also backup Mac without Time Machine, thus reducing data loss. Hence, all Mac users can use it to back up photos and other data. In addition, as a practical backup utility, Todo Backup for Mac can backup photos to hard drive, network volume, CD, DVD, or external hard drive.

In this text, you'll find the specific steps to back up your Mac photos to an external hard drive.

Now, let's see how to back up Mac photos to an external hard drive with professional backup software.

Step 1: Run and launch Todo Backup for Mac. Click the first "Backup" tab, or directly hit the + button at the bottom left to create a backup task – name your backup task and then click OK.

Step 2 Choose the backup destination, where you want to save your Mac file backup, set the frequency for automatic backups, etc., and then click OK.

Step 3. Add files and folders to your backup set.
Click Add Files+ to include specific files and folders in the backup, then click the blue Start button to back up your Mac to another drive or external device.

What else can Todo Backup for Mac do besides backup photos? Read on.

What else can Todo Backup for Mac do?

As you can see, Todo Backup for Mac is very professional and efficient in backing up photos on Mac. Apart from this, it has many other features. Here's a list to give you an idea:

• Synchronize files and folders
• Clone Mac hard drive to SSD
• Offer automated backup schedules
• Compress backups to save storage space
• Securely back up any data on your Mac device
• Full, differential, and incremental backup modes

So, if you have any backup issues, don't hesitate to download it and let it help you.

Method 2: How to Back Up Photos from Your Mac to an External Hard Drive with Time Machine

Time Machine is a built-in backup tool on Mac devices. You can use it to back up your photos without downloading anything else.

Read on to learn how to back up your photos from a Mac to an external hard drive.

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to the Mac from where you need to recover data.

Step 2: Click the Apple icon, then choose System Preferences > Time Machine.

Step 3: Click "Select Backup Disk".

Click Select backup disk.

4. Select your external drive and click “Use Disk.”

Select the destination disk

Step 5: Select the photos you want to back up and start the backup process.

Here's how to manually back up or move your photos from your Mac to an external hard drive.

Method 3: How to Manually Back Up Photos from a Mac to an External Hard Drive

Aside from the two methods above, users can also manually back up photos from a Mac to an external hard drive. Let's look at the steps in detail.

Step 1: Connect your external storage device.

Step 2: Navigate to your photos folder.

Step 3: Right-click on iPhoto and select “Get Info.” Make sure you have enough free space on your external hard drive.

Step 4 Drag the photos you want to back up onto the external hard drive.

Step 5: Wait for the backup to complete.

This part provides 3 ways to back up photos on Mac to external hard drive. Users can choose any of them based on actual needs. However, if you want to keep your hands off, Todo Backup for Mac would be a better option.

Additional Tip: Why Can't I Move Photos from Mac to External Hard Drive?

There could be several reasons for this issue, but often users can resolve it through some investigation and troubleshooting. First, inspect the hard drive's cables to ensure that all devices are properly connected. If everything seems fine, there are several factors to consider. Here's a table outlining some possible causes: | Possible Cause | Solution | | --- | --- | | 1. Cable or Connector Issues | Check and replace damaged cables, ensuring secure connections. | | 2. Driver Compatibility | Update or reinstall the appropriate drivers for your hardware. | | 3. BIOS Settings | Enter BIOS and ensure the hard drive is set as the first boot device. | | 4. Physical Damage | If the drive is physically damaged, data recovery services may be needed. | | 5. Software Corruption | Run a disk utility (e.g., chkdsk for Windows or Disk Utility for macOS) to check for and fix errors. | | 6. Malware Infection | Perform a malware scan using an antivirus software to clean any infections. | | 7. Overheating | Ensure proper ventilation and cooling for your computer to prevent overheating. | | 8. Power Supply Issues | Test the power supply with a multimeter or replace it if necessary. | Start with the simplest solutions and work your way through the list. If you're still experiencing issues, seeking professional assistance might be necessary.

Here, if you're curious about how to address specific issues like filesystem incompatibility, this link can help.

Fix External Hard Drive 'Read Only' Error on Mac Without Data Loss

When your external hard drive shows as read only on Mac, don't panic. This page includes 3 reliable methods to remove the 'read only' error from your Mac external hard drive.

This page guides you on how to back up photos from Mac to an external hard drive. Mac users can manually backup photos or use Time Machine to back up photos to an external hard drive. However, if you're looking for a more efficient way to back up your photos while occupying less storage space, this page also introduces a versatile backup software for Mac called Todo Backup for Mac.

It can help you back up Mac photos or other data to a local drive, network drive, or external hard disk. So download and give it a try now.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Backup Photos from Mac to External Hard Drive in UTF-8 Encoding

Got any other questions about Mac photo backup? In this section, we have three questions about how to back up photos from Mac to an external hard drive. Keep reading if you need them.

How can I export my entire Mac photo library?

Follow these steps to export your library.

Step 1: In the Photos app on your Mac, select the items you want to export.

Step 2: Choose File > Export.

Step 3: Choose the file type for your exported photos.

Step 4: Click “Export.”

2. What is the best way to back up photos on a Mac?

You can back up your photos manually, use Time Machine, or use a tool like Todo Backup for Mac. If you want the backup process to be more automated, Todo Backup for Mac is a better choice.

3. Where are Mac Photos stored?

The System Photo Library is located in the “Photos” folder on your Mac. Users can also create additional libraries on their Mac and other storage devices.