How to use Google Takeout for backups

Do you want to know cHow to use Google Takeout for backups? From Android to Gmail, including your searches, your location, and the photos you upload every day. Google stores an immense amount of data about its users, and while much of it is necessary to provide its services efficiently, it doesn't hurt to know how to access, review, and save that information.

Google Takeout is the official tool that allows you to export and download all of your personal data stored in different Google products.Backing up your data is a good practice, whether for security reasons, changing accounts, shutting down services, or simply controlling what Google knows about you. Let's take a look at how to use Google Takeout to back up your data.

What exactly is Google Takeout?

Google Takeout is a free platform Launched in 2011 by the Google Data Liberation Front team, it aims to give users greater control over their information by making it easy and straightforward to download their own data. This tool offers the ability to extract data from more than 50 Google services, including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Photos, YouTube, and many more.

Contrary to what some may thinkDownloading your data using Google Takeout doesn't delete it from your account or Google servers. It simply creates a copy so you can save it wherever you prefer: on your computer, an external hard drive, or even on external cloud storage platforms.

This service stands out for its versatility and ease of use., since you don't need to be a tech expert to get started. Plus, every aspect of the export process can be customized to suit the user's needs.

We're moving on, but before you know how to use Google Takeout for backups, you need to solidify those reasons for using Google Takeout.

Reasons to use Google Takeout

Getting a copy of your data may seem unnecessary if you're not planning to close your account or move to another platform., but there are actually multiple reasons why you should consider using this tool:

• Security against loss of accessIf for some reason you lose access to your Google account, having an up-to-date backup can save you a lot of headaches.
• Change of services: It's a great option if you're moving to another email, storage, or photo provider, as you can easily migrate your data.
• Personal audit: You can check what kind of information Google has been storing about you across each of its services.
• Periodic backupsSome people prefer to keep local copies of emails, calendars, contacts, or images, in case they ever decide to do without some Google services.
• Storage limitsIf you're close to your free GB limit on Google Drive, Photos, or Gmail, you can free up space by storing that data elsewhere after downloading it.

Now that you have enough reasons, let's look at the compatible services and then show you how to use Google Takeout to back up your data.

Services supported by Google Takeout

Google Takeout allows you to select which services you want to extract data from.Some of the most popular and interesting ones are:

• Gmail: Files in MBOX format, including all messages or only certain types.
• Google Drive: All your documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, forms, websites, etc. can be exported in formats such as DOCX, PDF, ODS, among others.
• Google Photos: Images, videos, and album metadata.
• Google Calendar: Event data in iCalendar format.
• Google Maps: Marked points, preferences, frequent routes or location history.
• YouTube: Uploaded videos, viewing history, and comments.
• Google Fit: Health information, steps taken, heart rate and other physical data.

In addition to these, you can also include… your contacts, advertising preferences, interactions in Google Meet, Google Chat, tasks, Chrome bookmarks, and much more.

How to use Google Takeout step by step

The process to download your data from Google Takeout is very simple.Here's how to do it from the start:

Step 1: Log in with your account

You must log in with the Google account linked to the data you want to download.You can do this from any browser, on your computer or mobile, by accessing it directly. Google Takeout.

Step 2: Choose the services

You will see a list of all available servicesBy default, all are selected, but you can tap "Deselect all" and then manually select the ones you're interested in. Some services will allow you to choose which data to include; for example, in Google Photos, you can select specific albums.

Step 3: Customize the export

Here you can define several important aspects:

• Delivery method: You can receive a download link by email or export directly to services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box.
• Frequency: Choose whether the export will be a one-time export or repeated every two months for a year.
• File type: .zip (recommended for compatibility) or .tgz (for advanced users).
• File size: You can set a limit of 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 10 GB, or 50 GB. If the dataset exceeds this limit, it will be automatically split into multiple files.

Step 4: Create the export

Once everything is configured, click on “Create exports”Depending on the volume of data, creating the file can take from a few minutes to several hours or even days. Google will notify you via email when everything is ready.

Step 5: Download

When you receive the email from Google, you will access a link where you can download your compressed filesPlease note that these downloads are valid for 7 days, and you can download a maximum of 5 files per file before they expire.

Key aspects of file formats

When you download your data, you will find that Each service includes files in different formats, depending on its content:

• MBOX: For emails, compatible with programs like Thunderbird.
• VCARD or .vcf: For contacts.
• ICS: Calendars, compatible with multiple digital agendas.
• CSV, JSON: For configurations, lists, or structured data.
• JPEG, PNG, MP4, WEBM: For photos and videos in their original formats.

In cases, Takeout generates a file “archive_browser.html” inside the downloaded package. It's advisable to open it, as it includes an interface from which you can easily navigate your data.

Where to store your downloaded data?

Once you have the file in your possession, you decide what to do with it.. You can save it to:

• Your local hard drive or SSD.
• An external hard drive for frequent backups.
• A cloud storage service other than Google. For example, Dropbox.

If you use a public or shared computerAvoid saving your data there. Instead, upload it encrypted to a secure service or use an encrypted USB drive. By the way, another way to protect your files and maintain your privacy is explained in this article called Protect your privacy on Google Gemini.

Can automatic backups be scheduled?

Yeah, Google Takeout allows you to set up recurring exports every two months for a year.This option is ideal if you're used to making regular backups without having to repeat the process manually. It's another reason you're probably reading this article and learning how to use Google Takeout to make backups.

Nevertheless, This function has some limitations: It's not available to users participating in Google's Advanced Protection Program, which adds additional security measures. To conclude this article on how to use Google Takeout for backups, we'll address any questions you may have.

Frequently asked questions about Google Takeout

• Can only certain periods be exported? It is currently not possible to select a specific date range.
• Why are my files split? If your content exceeds the size you configured (for example, 2 GB), it will be automatically subdivided.
• What if I can't open a .tgz file? You may need an additional program like 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract it.
• What if I can't download it? Try choosing a smaller file size, selecting fewer products, or using an external cloud.
• Why do I have to enter my password again? For security reasons, Google verifies your identity before allowing the download of sensitive information.

With all this, you can now have complete control over the data Google stores about you. Perform a scheduled cleanup or migrate your content to another service, Google Takeout It gives you the tools you need to manage your information securely and in a way that's customized to your needs. Now you know how to use Google Takeout to back up your information.