Apple’s iCloud and Google Photos facilitate convenient file storage, provided that one’s personal memories remain hosted on other servers. There exists an alternative approach.
Apple and Google have facilitated a highly convenient process for users to safeguard their valuable photographs and movies from their mobile devices. The entire process occurs seamlessly in the background, without the need for any physical connections or additional software. These organisations only request a nominal monthly fee and authorization to store your data on their servers.
However, several individuals are beginning to recognise the drawbacks associated with this level of ease. The current state of cloud services and monthly subscriptions has resulted in a heightened level of dependency, making it increasingly challenging to transition to other solutions or services. This is particularly evident when individuals encounter unfavourable modifications in terms and conditions, further exacerbating the difficulty of making a switch.
An alternative approach involves the manual management of one’s own collection of images and movies. Although the setup and maintenance process may be slightly more time-consuming, utilising this approach ensures that one’s files remain in their desired location and are not stored on servers belonging to third parties. Additionally, this implies that individuals possess an enhanced capacity to make informed decisions about the utilisation and management of their photographs and films in subsequent instances.
Transferring Images and Videos From Your Phone
The initial stage involves extracting all data stored within the cloud environment. The optimal approach entails transferring one’s images and movies to a computer’s hard drive. The automatic synchronisation of photos in the macOS Photos application may be facilitated by iCloud. To ensure this functionality, it is necessary to select the “Download Originals to This Mac” option under the iCloud settings of the application. Additionally, Windows users can utilise the iCloud for Windows software to achieve the same outcome. To access the contents of Google Photos, users can navigate to the Google Takeout platform in order to begin the process of downloading all available data.
The process of disabling the automatic iCloud backup feature for images and videos on an iPhone involves navigating to the Settings menu, selecting the user’s name located at the top, and subsequently accessing the iCloud and images options. A comparable feature may be found inside the settings of the Photos application on the macOS operating system. Within the mobile application of Google Photos, users have the ability to access their profile image located in the upper right corner. By selecting this icon, users may get to the Photos settings and Backup section, where they are provided with the option to deactivate the Backup functionality.
This raises the inquiry of the method to transfer newly captured photographs and movies from a mobile device to a computer, so allowing them to be integrated with the content recently retrieved from the cloud. In the event that these data are only saved on your mobile device, their loss would be imminent should any unforeseen circumstances befall your smartphone. Therefore, it is advisable to regularly move these files to mitigate the risk of permanent loss.
A conventional USB cord will effectively serve the purpose. One possible method for transferring data from an iPhone to a computer involves connecting the iPhone to the computer via a direct physical connection. This may be achieved by plugging the iPhone into the computer using a suitable cable. Subsequently, the user can utilise certain software applications such as Finder or Photos on a Mac, or File Explorer or the native Photos programme on Windows, to facilitate the transfer of files between the two devices. The procedure for relocating data inside your system is identical to that of transferring any other files. After generating these duplicates, you have the option to reclaim storage space on your mobile device, if necessary, by erasing the original files.
A synchronisation application, such as Dropbox, facilitates the wireless transfer of photos and videos from a smartphone to a desktop computer. However, it is necessary to subsequently relocate these files from the Dropbox folder on a Mac or PC. Failure to do so will result in the rapid consumption of the allocated free storage space, thereby reverting to a scenario where the photos and videos are stored on cloud servers rather than local hardware.
There are several software programmes that are specifically designed for this purpose. The Phone Link Windows application, developed by Microsoft, is effective in facilitating the transfer of images and movies from a linked iPhone or Android phone. On the other hand, MacDroid, available for a yearly fee of $20 after the complimentary trial period, simplifies the process of transferring data from an Android smartphone to a Mac.
Creating Pictures and Video Backups
It is advisable to create additional backups of the photographs and movies stored on your computer, even if you already have duplicate copies on your phone. In the event of a malfunction or damage to either device, the user will be left with only one instance of their valuable files, which is suboptimal. Prior to considering the methodology for backing up the aforementioned information, it is imperative to contemplate the manner in which one intends to organise those files.
One drawback associated with extracting photographs and videos from the Apple and Google service platforms is the loss of their robust search and sorting capabilities. However, it is worth noting that the basic photo management applications on macOS and Windows do offer some similar functionalities. To enhance the efficiency of locating snaps and clips, it is advisable to consider organising them into folders according to their respective month and year of capture.
Once the photo and video organisation structure has been established, users are presented with a multitude of options for securely duplicating their data in an alternative location. To ensure regular file backups, users can utilise the Time Machine feature on macOS or the File History utility on Windows. These applications provide automated backups, provided that an external hard drive is available for storage. Additionally, the purchase of an external hard drive generally includes basic backup software.
It may be advantageous to contemplate the potential benefits of allocating resources towards the acquisition of a network-attached storage (NAS) drive. This device establishes a direct connection with the router, as opposed to a computer, so enabling accessibility from all devices within the household. Network-attached storage (NAS) drives are equipped with software that facilitates the automated backup of information from both mobile devices and computers. This functionality ensures the creation of duplicate copies of crucial photographs and movies, therefore mitigating the risk of data loss in the event of accidental deletion or physical damage.
Similar to the process of transferring images and videos from your mobile device, it is important to ensure the regular execution of all backup procedures. Ideally, these routines should be performed on a weekly basis, or maybe even more often. The duration of intervals between backups directly correlates with the potential loss of data in the event of smartphone theft or accidental submersion in a body of water.
There are other procedures beyond the mere activation of iCloud or Google Photo backups and subsequent passive operation, which afford users enhanced data management capabilities and potential cost savings in relation to cloud storage membership prices. In the event that Apple or Google were to undertake the scanning of photo collections for any given purpose, concerns over this matter would be alleviated.