Transferring your photos to an external hard drive is a great way to free up space on your computer and keep your cherished memories safe. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Connect Your External Storage Device
To get started, connect your external hard drive to your computer using a USB or Thunderbolt cable. Make sure your computer recognizes the external drive and assigns it a drive letter or mount point.
Step 2: Navigate to Your Pictures Folder
Next, open the file explorer or finder on your computer and navigate to the folder where your Photos Library is stored. On macOS, this is usually located in the Pictures folder, while on Windows it may be in the Pictures or My Pictures folder.
Step 3: Drag Photos Library to the External Drive
Once you’ve located your Photos Library folder, simply click and drag it to the external hard drive in your file explorer or finder window. This will initiate the copying process, and the time it takes will depend on the size of your library and the speed of your external drive.
Step 4: Open Your Copy of Photos Library
After the copying process is complete, you can safely disconnect the external hard drive from your computer. When you want to access your photos in the future, simply connect the external drive and open the Photos Library from there.
Step 5: Set Your Photo Library Preferences
To ensure that your Photos app recognizes the new location of your library, you may need to adjust the preferences. On macOS, open the Photos app, go to Preferences, and click on the General tab. Then, click on the “Use as System Photo Library” button (if it’s not already selected). On Windows, open the Photos app, go to Settings, and under the “Library” section, click on “Add a folder” and select the new location of your library on the external drive.
By following these steps, you can successfully transfer your Photos Library to an external hard drive. This way, you can free up space on your computer and have a backup of your precious photos. Remember to regularly back up your external drive to ensure the safety of your photos.