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Export photos via the Photos app by selecting all images, choosing Export > Export [number] Photos, selecting Originals and including videos, then saving to the external drive. 2. Copy the entire Photos Library.photoslibrary file from the Pictures folder to the external drive for a complete backup including edits and albums. 3. For ongoing backups, regularly export new photos or copy the updated library file, organizing folders by year for easier access. Always eject the drive properly and store it safely, and consider a second backup location to follow the 3-2-1 rule. Both export and library copy methods are effective, with the choice depending on future access needs.
Backing up photos from your Mac to an external drive is a smart way to protect your memories. The process is straightforward, especially if you're using the Photos app, which is the default photo management tool on macOS. Here’s how to do it effectively.

1. Use the Photos App’s Built-in Export Feature
The easiest and most reliable method is to export your entire photo library to the external drive.
- Connect your external drive to your Mac and make sure it’s formatted for macOS (APFS or Mac OS Extended). If it’s not showing up, check Disk Utility to format it.
- Open the Photos app.
- Select all the photos and videos you want to back up:
- To select everything, click on one photo, then press Command A.
- Go to the File menu and choose Export > Export [number] Photos.
- In the export window:
- Choose Originals to keep full quality.
- Make sure “Include video” is checked if you have videos.
- Optionally, check “Export IPTC metadata” if you use photo tagging.
- Click Next, then navigate to your external drive and choose a folder (or create a new one like “Photo Backup”).
- Click Export and wait for the process to finish.
This method gives you a full, usable copy of your photos outside the Photos library.

2. Copy the Entire Photos Library File
Your entire photo collection is stored in a single “Photos Library” file. You can copy this file directly to your external drive for a complete backup.
- Quit the Photos app.
- Open Finder, go to your Pictures folder (in your home directory).
- Locate the file named Photos Library.photoslibrary (it might just be called “Photos Library”).
- Drag this file to your external drive.
- This can take a long time depending on the size — be patient and don’t disconnect the drive.
- Once the copy is complete, right-click the file on the external drive and select Get Info to verify the size matches the original.
Note: This method backs up everything, including albums, edits, and metadata. But remember, this file is only usable with the Photos app. If the external drive is lost or corrupted, you can double-click the copied library to open it on another Mac.
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3. Enable Manual Management for Ongoing Backups
If you want to keep backing up new photos regularly:
- After the initial backup, repeat the export process monthly or quarterly.
- Or, manually drag new photos from your library into a folder on the external drive.
- Consider organizing folders by year (e.g., “2024 Photos”) to make browsing easier later.
You can also set a reminder to copy the updated Photos Library file every few months.
A Few Tips
- Always eject the external drive properly (right-click > Eject) before disconnecting it.
- Keep the external drive in a safe, dry place when not in use.
- For extra safety, consider a second backup (like cloud storage or another drive) — this follows the 3-2-1 backup rule.
Basically, exporting your photos or duplicating the library file works well. Pick the method that fits how you plan to access the backup later.
The above is the detailed content of How to back up photos from a Mac to an external drive?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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