How to Back Up iPhone Photos to an External Drive

Information current as of 08/26/2026.

Connect a supported external drive to your iPhone, open Photos, select the photos and videos, choose Share > Export Unmodified Original, select the drive under Locations, and tap Save. If iCloud Photos uses Optimize Storage, first choose Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos > Download and Keep Originals. Inspect the exported files, compare counts and representative files, create at least one additional independent copy, and delete anything only after the copies open correctly.

1. Prepare the iPhone and external drive

Use an external storage device that the iPhone supports. Apple lists devices with a single data partition formatted as APFS, encrypted APFS, Mac OS Extended, exFAT, FAT32, or FAT. Confirm that the drive has enough free space; some external hard drives may also need separate power or a powered hub.

2. Download full-resolution originals when Optimize Storage is enabled

If iCloud Photos is using Optimize Storage, some originals may not be stored locally on the iPhone. Before exporting those items, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and choose Download and Keep Originals.

3. Export iPhone photos directly to the drive

Connect the external drive to the iPhone, open Photos, and select the items to copy. Tap Share > Export Unmodified Original, choose the external drive under Locations, and tap Save. Exporting in manageable batches is a practical way to make the transfer easier to inspect.

4. Understand unmodified originals versus edited versions

Export Unmodified Original saves the original version when a photo or video has been edited; it does not necessarily export the edited rendering. If preserving both the original and the visible edited result matters, treat those as separate files or workflows rather than assuming one export contains both.

5. Verify the external-drive copy before deletion

Open the drive in Files and inspect the exported folders. Compare the source and destination item counts, check file sizes and folder contents, and open representative photos and videos to confirm that they can be viewed or played. For a stronger byte-level check, generate SHA-256 hashes for corresponding source and destination files and compare the results; a checksum or cryptographic hash can detect changes in file data.

6. Make another independent copy before deleting anything

Copy the verified files to another device or another physical location before removing photos from the iPhone or cloud library. An additional copy provides protection if the first drive is lost, damaged, or later found to contain an unusable export.

7. Delete only after the backup passes the checklist

Do not treat a completed copy operation as proof of a usable backup. Delete photos only after the external-drive files have been inspected and opened successfully, the source and destination counts have been checked, and at least one additional independent copy is available.

Alternative: transfer photos to a Mac or PC

A USB connection can transfer iPhone photos and videos to a Mac or PC. When iCloud Photos has optimized local storage, download the original full-resolution versions to the iPhone before importing them to a PC. This computer-based route is an alternative to exporting directly to a connected drive.