Google Takeout just got an upgrade. The tool, which helps Google software users download and export copies of their data, has introduced a new feature called “Incremental Takeout for Photos” to Google Photos. The option will let users schedule regular downloads and exports of their Google Photos library, allowing new photos to be backed up in waves, rather than duplicating the entire library over and over.
This is ideal if you like to keep backup copies of your images and videos outside of the Google ecosystem. While Takeout normally packages all Photos content into one backup, Incremental Takeout gathers up only new photos, reducing the amount of time and storage needed to export your library.
To use the new feature:
Visit Google Takeout on the web, deselect all products, then select only Google Photos to make the incremental option appear.
After choosing albums or the full library, set exports to run every two months for one year, choose a destination like email links or connected storage, and pick archive sizes and formats.
The first export creates a complete backup of the chosen items, and later exports include only photos and videos that users add or edit after that initial run.
Incremental Takeout works only when Google Photos is the only software product in the export, and accounts in Google’s Advanced Protection Program cannot schedule exports. Google says that Takeout exports do not delete any content from Google’s servers, so you still need to delete content from Photos yourself if you’re trying to clear up space or close an account.
