How to Transfer Photos from Mac to USB

Are you tired of running out of storage space on your Mac? Do you want to free up some space and keep your photos safe and organized? Transferring your Photos library to an external drive can be a great solution. In this article, we will show you how to transfer photos from your Mac to a USB drive.

Step 1: Connect Your External Drive

To start the process, connect an external drive to your Mac via USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt. Make sure it's properly connected and recognized by your computer.

Step 2: Open Your Photos Library

Open your Photos library on your Mac and select all the photos you want to transfer. You can also choose specific albums or folders if you prefer.

Step 3: Move Your Photos Library to External Drive

To move your Photos library to an external drive, go to 'Photos' > 'Preferences' > 'Advanced' and click on 'Change Folder Location'. Select the external drive as the new location for your Photos library.

Choosing the Right External Hard Drive

When choosing an external hard drive, there are a few things to consider. Best Shock-Resistant Hard Drives for Mac is a great resource to find some recommendations. You'll also want to consider the speed of the drive - faster write speeds will help you transfer your photos quicker.

Why You Should Use an External Drive

Using an external drive can be beneficial in several ways. For one, it frees up space on your Mac. Additionally, if something happens to your computer, your photos will still be safe on the external drive. If you plan on frequently moving around with your drive connected, consider buying a Solid-State Drive (SSD) for added durability.

Tips and Considerations

Before transferring your photos, make sure you have enough space on your external drive. A minimum of 1-2TB is recommended, but 4TB or more is even better.

If you already have an external drive, you can use it to store your Photos library instead of buying a new one. Just make sure you set up a second set of rules for backing up your hard drive if you use an automated backup service.

On the other hand, if you don't want to spend money on an external drive or prefer not to work externally, you can always keep your Photos library on your Mac. However, be aware that working with an external drive may be slower than working on your default hard drive unless you purchase a speedy one.

Remember to avoid accidentally creating duplicate libraries that can't be connected to iCloud Photo Library. If you plan on using the external drive frequently, consider purchasing a drive with good read and write speeds for smoother performance.

Transferring your Photos library to an external USB drive is a great way to free up space on your Mac and keep your photos organized and safe. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy having more storage space without sacrificing the quality of your photos.

How to transfer photos from mac to usb