Manual method
Copy selected local folders into an independent archive. This is a file-preservation workflow, not an internet service export.
- Create a list of folders you want to keep, such as Documents and selected project folders.
- Connect an external drive with sufficient free space and create a dated destination folder.
- On macOS use Finder Copy/Paste; on Windows use File Explorer Copy/Paste. Copy rather than move the originals.
- Wait for all copies to finish, record errors, then open samples from the destination.
Coverage and limitations: A folder copy does not guarantee bootable system recovery, every application database, permissions or version history. Close apps before copying their active data stores; cloud placeholders must first download.
Size and time to allow
Illustrative small / central / large case: 10 / 100 / 1000 GB (decimal GB). These are planning assumptions, not a measured average per person. 100 GB represents a selected personal folder collection; a whole creative workstation can exceed 1 TB.
Preparation: No provider preparation wait. Actual copying depends on storage speed and small-file overhead. Internet times below apply only if also uploading/downloading an online backup.
For the central 100 GB example, network transfer alone is approximately:
| Connection | Estimated transfer |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 31.7 hours |
| 50 Mbps | 6.3 hours |
| 100 Mbps | 3.2 hours |
Assumes 70% sustained use of the stated connection. Provider throttling, many small files, retries, local extraction and copying add time. For online backup use your upload speed. These are not estimates of the provider’s preparation queue. See calculation and large-file advice.
Store and verify the archive
Use an external SSD or hard drive as the main archive. A USB key is suitable for a selected transfer copy, but capacity and sustained speed can be limiting. Keep a second encrypted copy on a separate drive or in private online backup.
Create local_files/YYYY-MM-DD/originals/, preserve the untouched download, and extract a separate working copy when needed. Allow extra free space for archive plus extraction; compressed text can expand far beyond twice its size. Record account/scope, export date, date coverage and missing items in a local README without passwords.
Compare file counts and total bytes; use checksums for important originals. Disconnect/reconnect the drive and open a sample. Reopen a sample from the second copy before deleting or replacing any source. Storage choices and verification.
Sources and review
Public documentation was reviewed on 27 October 2026. No signed-in export or restoration was performed. Account options and availability can change; follow the current provider instructions.