How to Back Up Your Mac or PC with an External SSD

Whether it’s family photos, work files, or creative projects, your files deserve a safe home.

Learn the Basics of Backups

Don’t risk your favorite photos, footage, and files to data loss. Plan your backup, choose your SSD, and start protecting your content.

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The right SSD — and the right backup strategy with it — depends on how much content you want to save and what type of content you’re saving. For reference, 1TB1 of SSD storage can save one of the following types of content, up to2:

43,647 minutes of music3

138,178 photos4

150 movies5

1,935 mobile games6

900,000 minutes of podcasts7

Why is it important to back up your data?

If your files matter to you, giving them a backup is a smart move. Choosing the right SSD doesn’t have to be complicated — and a little prep today helps keep your memories and projects safe for the long run. Backing up your files prepares you against:

Hardware failure

Your favorite device won’t last forever. Make sure your files aren’t collateral damage.

Human error

Nobody’s perfect. Plan ahead, just in case you accidentally delete content you can’t do without.

Malware & ransomware

It’s estimated that, by 2031, a ransomware attack will occur every 2 seconds. Invest in backup now to avoid extortion later. 

Third-party breaches

Cloud storage keeps your data somewhere else, on someone else’s server. Don’t put your entire backup in one basket.

Windows Backup with SSDs

When you buy one of our eligible SSDs, you’ll also get Acronis® True Image for Sandisk — a complete cyber protection solution that will back up and help secure your information.

You can use Acronis True Image on your Windows device to:

  • Back up documents, photos, and emails
  • Save content like music and movies
  • Archive your disk drive, including your operating system, applications, settings, and your most important data

Learn more about backing up your entire computer with Acronis True Image for Sandisk — or get help with installation.

External SSDs for PC Backup

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Backup macOS with External SSDs

Our eligible Mac-compatible SSDs give you options for backing up with either Acronis True Image for Sandisk or Time Machine.

Depending on which option you choose, you can:

  • Back up selected disks or your Mac’s contents
  • Back up selected files and folders
  • Create Acronis bootable media
  • Prepare macOS recovery
  • Recover specific files and folders under macOS

Learn more about backing up your Mac with Acronis True Image for Sandisk — or get help with macOS installation.

Back Up macOS with External SSDs

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Frequently Asked Questions about Backups with SSDs

Yes, SSDs are versatile enough to back up many different content types including games, videos, photos, and documents. This flexibility makes SSDs a comprehensive storage solution for your entire digital life, helping you keep the content that’s most important to you.

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Disclosures:
1. 1TB=1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.
2. Approximations: results will vary based on file size, resolution, compression, bit rate, content, host device, pre-loaded files and other factors.
3. Based on High Fidelity Apple/Spotify Lossless Compression: 96KHz 24-bit Audio (20.62MB/minute).
4. Based on Standard Resolution: 22 Megapixel JPEG (6.5MB each).
5. Based on Full HD Movie: 2 hours (6GB).
6. Based on mobile game (465MB each).
7. Based on Standard (MP3): 128kbps Audio (1MB/minute).

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