How to Put Google Photos on a Backup Disc

Backing up your Google Photos library to a physical disc — whether that's a DVD, Blu-ray, or optical disc of any kind — is a smart move for anyone who wants an offline copy of their memories that doesn't depend on an internet connection or a subscription. The process isn't a one-click operation, but it's completely doable if you understand the steps involved.

Why Back Up Google Photos to a Disc at All?

Cloud storage is convenient, but it's not infallible. Accounts can be suspended, storage limits change, and internet access isn't always guaranteed. A physical disc backup gives you an air-gapped copy — one that exists entirely offline and can't be remotely deleted or locked behind a paywall.

This is especially relevant after Google ended its unlimited free storage policy. Anyone managing a large photo library has good reason to think about redundancy.

Step 1: Export Your Photos Using Google Takeout

You can't burn photos directly from Google Photos to a disc — you first need to download them to your computer. Google's official tool for this is Google Takeout (takeout.google.com).

Here's how the export process works:

1. Go to Google Takeout and sign in with your Google account
2. Deselect everything, then scroll down and select Google Photos only
3. Choose which albums or date ranges to include — you can export everything or specific folders
4. Select your export format: ZIP files are the most universally compatible
5. Choose your file size limit per archive (1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 10 GB, or 50 GB chunks)
6. Google will prepare your download and email you a link — this can take hours or even days for large libraries

Your photos will download as .jpg, .png, or .mp4 files depending on what you originally uploaded, along with JSON sidecar files that contain metadata like timestamps and location data.

A Note on File Size Limits Per Disc

This is where disc format matters. Standard DVDs hold about 4.7 GB of data. Dual-layer DVDs hold roughly 8.5 GB. Blu-ray discs start at 25 GB for single-layer and go up to 100 GB or more for higher-capacity formats. If your Google Photos library is dozens or hundreds of gigabytes, you'll need to plan accordingly — either by using multiple discs or higher-capacity Blu-ray media.

Step 2: Organize Your Downloaded Files

Before burning anything, organize your downloaded archives. Extract the ZIP files into clearly labeled folders — by year, event, or album — so the disc is actually usable when you need it later. Keeping thousands of photos in a single unnamed pile defeats the purpose of a backup.

Also decide whether to include the JSON metadata files. They're not human-readable on their own, but they carry important metadata that some software can use to restore original timestamps. If long-term archiving is the goal, keeping them is generally the better choice.

Step 3: Burn the Files to Disc 🔥

Once your files are organized and your disc drive is ready, you'll use disc-burning software to write the data.

On Windows, the built-in File Explorer can burn data discs — right-click a folder, select "Send to," then choose your disc drive. For more control, software like ImgBurn or CDBurnerXP (both free) give you options for burn speed, verification, and disc format.

On macOS, Finder has native disc burning support. Insert a blank disc, drag files to the disc icon that appears, and select "Burn." For larger jobs or Blu-ray discs, third-party tools like Toast offer more robust options.

Key settings to get right:

• Burn speed: Slower burn speeds (4x–8x) generally produce more reliable discs than burning at maximum speed
• Disc format: For pure data archiving, ISO 9660 or UDF formats offer broad compatibility
• Verification: Always enable disc verification after burning — this confirms the written data matches the source files

Step 4: Store and Label the Discs Properly

A disc that degrades in storage defeats the whole purpose. Burned optical discs — especially cheaper DVD-R media — can degrade over time, particularly when exposed to heat, light, or humidity. M-DISC (Millenniata) is a format specifically designed for long-term archival, claiming significantly longer data retention than standard recordable media, though it requires compatible drives to burn.

Label discs clearly with a permanent marker on the non-data side (never a ballpoint pen) and store them in a cool, dark, dry location in proper disc sleeves or cases.

Variables That Affect How This Works for You

The right approach depends on factors that vary significantly from person to person:

• Library size determines how many discs you'll need and whether Blu-ray is worth the investment over DVD
• Whether you have an optical drive — many modern laptops no longer include one, requiring an external USB disc drive
• Operating system affects which burning software is available and how straightforward the process is
• How often you update your backup — a one-time archive is simpler than maintaining an ongoing disc backup routine
• Metadata priorities — whether you need timestamps and location data preserved changes how you handle the JSON files

Someone with a 10-year photo library spread across 80 GB will approach this very differently than someone backing up a single year of photos for the first time. The tools and formats that make sense in one situation can be overkill — or insufficient — in another. 💿