For World Backup Day 2025, Techradar Pro wanted to know the most popular backup methods among our readers, so we sent a poll on our WhatsApp channel (which you can find here if you want to vote in future polls).
We asked ‘How do you keep your files in security?’ And the results may surprise you.
The most popular response among our 2,000 voters was an online backup option where over 1,100 respondents (65%) chose to secure their files digitally. This could mean Apple Cloud, Microsoft OneDrive, Idrive, Google Photos or one of the many available digital settings.
Only 20% of respondents (340 people) choose to back up their files using physical storage as hard drives, USB drives or memory cards. But worrying, 15% of our readers do not back up their files -it is over 250 people whose files are unprotected. If it’s you, you can check out our recommendations for the best ways to back up photos so you can make sure your memories are safe.
Which is best for you?
Given physical storage gives you the greatest privacy, these results are a bit surprising. SD card does not require a third party to handle your files and does not incur subscription fees or even require an internet connection, so for all confidentiality -conscious users out there, this is probably your best option.
Cloud Storage is perhaps the most trouble -free option as you can access your files anywhere and can share your files easily and collaborative systems are built in so you can edit real -time documents with colleagues.
Perhaps most importantly, many cloud storage solutions come with end-to-end encryption, making them super secure and can be backed up across multiple servers-what means you can restore them if something goes wrong.
However, if you follow Apple’s privacy series with the British government, you know that an end-to-end encryption is not guaranteed for sky storage, choose your platform with care.
Everyone has precious memories and photos that they will keep in safety, and World Backup Day is a great chance to make sure your photos are safe.
There are plenty of options and whether you use cloud storage solutions, USB flash drive, external hard drives, SD cards or you print your photos directly, it’s always important to back up your files.
