Want a copy of your Google data before you change phones or close an account?

Google Takeout lets you request an archive of data from supported Google services. Visit Takeout, select the products you want, choose a delivery method and create an export. Google prepares the archive and notifies you when it is ready.

An export is a copy, not a magic restore button. Some information may be missing or arrive in formats that need a particular app. Check the contents before deleting anything from your account.

What Google Takeout can export

Depending on your account and the services you use, Takeout may offer data from Gmail, Drive, Photos, Calendar, Contacts and other Google products. The choices shown to you are the ones that matter: not every Google product or every type of data is necessarily available.

A work or school account can have restrictions set by its administrator. If a product is unavailable, check the organisation’s policy before trying to move work records to a personal device.

An export can be useful when you want an extra copy of photos, records or messages. It can also help when you are preparing to move to a different service. However, saving an archive once does not keep it updated automatically unless you deliberately choose an available recurring export option.

Prepare a safe place for the download

Check how much free space is available on the device or storage destination you plan to use. A large photo collection or mailbox can produce several large archive files. If you are downloading over mobile data, the download can consume a substantial part of your bundle.

Use a trusted computer or phone and a connection you can rely on. If you use a shared computer, remember that the exported files may contain private emails, identity documents, photographs or contact details. Anyone with access to the files may be able to read them without signing in to your Google account.

Consider saving a separate copy on an external drive that you control. Protect the device and drive appropriately, and do not upload a private archive to a public folder just because it is convenient.

Choose the data to include

Visit Google Takeout and sign in to the correct account.
Review the list of available products. Google may select several products by default.
If you only need a few services, choose Deselect all, then tick the ones you want.
Open any available options for a product to review the data or formats included.
Scroll down and select Next step.

For example, select Google Photos if you want a copy of backed-up photos, and Drive if you need files stored there. Check the product options for the specific folders or albums available. The names on the page and the available selections can change.

An item shared with you may not be included in the same way as a file you own. If someone else owns an important file, check whether you can download a copy with their permission rather than assuming it is in your export.

Choose delivery, frequency and file size

On the next screen, select a delivery method. Google may offer an emailed download link or a transfer to a supported storage service. The available options can depend on your account. An emailed link is a notice that the archive is ready; the archive itself is not necessarily attached to the message.

Choose a one-time export if you only need a copy now. If a recurring option is offered, read the schedule and understand that each new export can use more storage. Google also lets you choose an archive file type and a maximum size for individual archive parts.

A ZIP file is familiar to many phone and computer users. If the export is larger than your selected part size, Google may split it into multiple files. Download every part listed and keep them together so you can check the full export.

When you are satisfied with the choices, select Create export. Google says preparation can take from minutes to days depending on the amount of data. You do not have to keep Takeout open while it works, but keep access to the account receiving the notification.

Download and open the archive

When Google says the export is ready, use the link from your account’s Takeout page or the notification you expected. Check that a link leads to a genuine Google address before entering your password. Google may ask you to sign in again to protect your data.

Download all archive parts before the available links expire. The expiration is shown in the notification or export details; if a link expires, you may need to create another export. Keep track of the destination folder on your phone or computer.

Open the ZIP with a file manager that supports extraction. On a computer, you can usually open a ZIP and choose an extract option. On a phone, the built-in Files app may offer extraction. File names and folder structure vary by product.

Do not be surprised if Gmail messages appear in a format such as MBOX rather than as individual PDFs. You may need a compatible email program to read them conveniently. Drive documents and other items may also be exported in formats different from their online originals, depending on Takeout’s choices.

Check the copy before deleting anything

Open a sample of important documents and photos. For a large archive, check several folders and make sure every part downloaded. If a file cannot be opened, confirm that you have an app that supports its format and that the download completed.

Do not delete your Google Account or its contents just because an export notification arrived. First confirm you have the items you need, that the copies open and that you understand how to use them. Google’s Takeout help describes the process and its limitations.

If your goal is simply to clear storage, you may not need to export everything. Start with the Google Drive storage guide and make separate copies of files you cannot replace before removing them.

Keep the archive private

Treat the download like a box containing your personal records. Do not send it to a stranger who offers to organise your files or recover your account. If you move it to cloud storage, check the sharing settings and avoid an open public link.

After checking your backup, remove temporary copies from a shared computer only when you are sure a safe copy remains elsewhere. Keep the account’s recovery details current too; an export can preserve selected data, but it does not replace access to your account or every feature of the original service.