How to Backup Google Data Using Google Takeout:
Log into your Google Account:
- Access your Gmail account.
Go to Google Takeout:
- Visit the Google Takeout page.
Select Data to Include:
- Choose the types of Google data to include in your backup.
- You can either download all data or select specific Google products.
Customize Backup Settings:
- For Gmail, Calendar, and Drive backup:
- Click "Select None" and deselect Calendar, Contacts, and Drive.
- Customize file formats and folders if needed.
- Set archive format preferences (e.g., .zip, max size, delivery method, and frequency).
- Click "Next Step" to proceed.
- For Gmail, Calendar, and Drive backup:
Create Export:
- Click "Create Export" to initiate the backup creation process.
- The backup will take some time, depending on its size.
Downloading Your Backup (Archive):
Email Notification:
- Once the backup is complete, you'll receive an email from "Google Download Your Data" with the subject line "Your Google data archive is ready."
Download Archive:
- Open the email and click the blue "Download your archive" button(s).
- If the backup is large, multiple downloads may be available.
Move Downloads:
- Locate your downloads in the Downloads folder.
- Move them to another folder or an external hard drive.
Verify Email Authenticity:
- Beware of Spam:
- Confirm that you initiated the backup on the date mentioned in the email.
- Check the listed Google products to ensure they match your selected backup items.
- Avoid clicking download links if the date or products don't align with your memory.
Restoring from Backup:
Google Drive:
- Extract the .zip file and navigate to the "Takeout" folder to access your Drive documents in Microsoft formats.
Google Calendar:
- Extract the .zip file and find the "Calendar" folder containing .ics files.
- Log into your Google Calendar, choose "Import Calendar," and select the .ics files for import.
Gmail:
- Restoring Gmail is intricate and involves using Mozilla Thunderbird as an IMAP client.
- Follow the above instructions or find YouTube tutorials for a step-by-step walkthrough.
For more detailed instructions, refer to Google's documentation.