Either way, you can conveniently manage your Google Photos library from your phone or desktop. The backup and sync function should be on by default when you download the app, but you can also turn it on manually in your settings. I have photos backed up all the way from 2014, when I first made the transition to Android. The Google Photos app - available on iOS and Android - can back up your photos to your Gmail account. Google Photos is a great resource for both organizing and editing photos that requires little to no work on your part. Here are a few different apps and services you can use to safeguard your memories for little to no cost. For example, Photobucket has a Bill of Rights for its users. Research how the company handles photo retention and what rights you have to the photos once they're on that site. But before you entrust precious memories into any service, make sure to read through the terms of service. Think of those black and white snaps of your grandparents as kids, the silly photos you took on a disposable camera and more. Plus, your photos will be compressed to a lower resolution - they won't look as good if you want to print them out.īetter yet, there are dedicated services to preserve shots, whether they're from your phone, a digital camera or that film camera you used years ago. Though Facebook and other social media platforms can hold your photos, not everyone may be comfortable making them the keepers of your memories.

Even if your computer is lost, you can still access a cloud-based account with your photos attached.Ĭhoosing the right option is critical. But a digital backup is the best way to safeguard your memories.

You also can make a photo book as a backup of your all-time favorites and store it somewhere like a fireproof safe deposit box. Portable hard drives can store your memories and they fit nicely in a bug-out bag.

Amazon photo app keeps crashing