External hard drives have become a popular way for photographers to back up and archive their photos. Unlike storing photos on a computer’s internal drive or phone storage, external hard drives provide a separate physical location to keep images safe in case of device failure or loss. With people accumulating more and more digital photos each year, understanding how long files will last on an external drive is important for long-term storage and preservation.
Photos represent cherished memories and meaningful moments people want to be able to access years down the road. However, digital files are fragile and can be lost due to hardware failure, accidental deletion, file corruption, or format obsolescence. Storing original image files on an external drive provides redundancy against these risks. But to have confidence in an archive’s longevity, photographers need to know how long their files are likely to remain intact and accessible on various drive types under different conditions.
Factors That Determine Lifespan
There are several key factors that impact how long data will remain intact and accessible on an external hard drive in storage:
File format – Some file formats like RAW images or uncompressed video have a better chance of longevity compared to compressed formats like JPG images. The more a file is compressed, the higher the chance of data corruption over long periods of inactive storage [1].
Frequency of access – If a hard drive is powered on and files are accessed regularly, this can help refresh the magnetic charges on the platters and maintain data integrity. Hard drives that sit unused for years have a higher chance of data loss [2].
Environmental factors – Moisture, heat, humidity, and static electricity can impact hard drive components over time. Storing drives in a climate-controlled environment is ideal for preservation.
Avg Lifespan of Hard Drives
The average lifespan of an external hard drive depends on whether it uses traditional hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD) technology. HDDs rely on moving mechanical parts like platters and read/write heads, while SSDs use microchips for storage. This impacts their durability and lifespan.
According to a Reddit thread, most HDD drives last 3-5 years with regular use before mechanical failure. However, SSDs can last much longer between 5-10 years thanks to their lack of moving parts. SSDs are also more resistant to damage from drops or shocks.
A study by Backblaze examined HDD failure rates and found 90% of drives survived for 3 years. But heavy, frequent rewrites to a drive can shorten its lifespan by wearing out the physical media. So HDDs used for backup may outlast those used for applications with constant read/write operations.
In summary, HDDs provide shorter lifespans around 3-5 years, while SSDs offer enhanced longevity of 5-10 years. And frequent rewrites will diminish the usable lifespan of either drive type over time.
Best Practices for Long-Term Hard Drive Storage
To help extend the lifespan of your external hard drive photos and files, follow these best practices:
Store the hard drive in a cool, dry location away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Higher temperatures can accelerate degradation of storage media. Keeping the drive in a climate-controlled environment is ideal. Be sure to store it flat and avoid stacking objects on top of it (GW Blogs).
Periodically verify the integrity of files by running disk checks and calculating checksums. This can identify potential corruption issues early while there is still time to rescue data. Schedule integrity checks annually at minimum (PCWorld).
Every few years, transfer files to a new external drive. This refreshes the storage media and ensures accessibility of formats. Disks do wear out over time. Migrate data to new drives before the old ones fail (News Softwares).
Software for Long-Term Storage
Using specialized software designed for organizing and preserving photos can be beneficial for long-term storage on external hard drives. Software like Photo Supreme allows you to catalog your photos with keywords, ratings, and other metadata which makes searching and retrieving specific photos easier years later. The software also includes built-in functionality for verifying photos have not been corrupted or lost using checksum utilities.
Checksum utilities create a cryptographic hash value for each file which serves as a digital fingerprint. By comparing the hash values over time, you can ensure the integrity of the files has not changed and no data corruption or bit rot has occurred. This is useful for long-term archival storage. Some examples of checksum software are RapidCRC, MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility, and File Checksum Integrity Verifier.
File Formats
The file format you choose to store your photos in can greatly impact their lifespan on an external hard drive. The most common photo file formats are JPEG (JPG), RAW, and TIFF.
JPEG images are compressed to reduce file size, making them convenient for sharing online and viewing on screens. However, the compression is lossy, meaning image quality degrades each time the photo is edited and re-saved as JPEG. For long-term storage, JPEGs have a relatively short lifespan of around 10 years before showing visible quality loss.[1]
RAW image files contain unprocessed image data direct from the camera sensor. They maintain full image quality for editing, but result in large file sizes. Stored properly, RAW files can last over 100 years without deterioration. The uncompressed high-quality makes RAW the ideal format for permanent photo storage.[2]
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is lossless like RAW, offering high image quality without compression. TIFFs have proven stability for archival purposes, with estimated longevity of 100+ years. However, file sizes are large. For permanent preservation, TIFF is an excellent alternative to RAW.
Cloud Backup
Backing up files to the cloud has some advantages and disadvantages compared to using an external hard drive for storage. On the plus side, cloud storage provides redundancy across multiple servers, so files are protected even if one server fails. Cloud storage is also accessible from anywhere with an internet connection and automatic syncing can keep files up-to-date across devices. However, bandwidth constraints may limit the size of files that can be backed up or how quickly they can be accessed. There are also monthly costs associated with most cloud storage services.
Compared to an external hard drive, cloud storage better protects against local failures like drive corruption or theft. But keeping a local backup allows faster access and avoids relies on having an internet connection. For optimal redundancy, many experts recommend using both a local external drive and a cloud service. That way files can be quickly accessed and edited locally, then synced to the cloud for offsite protection.
According to a Quora thread, most cloud providers will permanently delete files 30-60 days after deletion, though some may allow file recovery during that window. Overall, cloud backup provides more redundancy but should be used alongside external hard drives, not as a complete replacement.
Printing for Permanent Storage
One of the most reliable ways to store photos for the very long term is by printing them out. While digital files may degrade over decades of storage, a high-quality print can last over 100 years if stored properly. When it comes to print longevity, the most important factors are the print process, paper choice, and storage conditions.
For the longest lasting prints, experts recommend choosing a pigment-based inkjet print on archival-quality photo paper. This combination can last up to 400+ years before noticeable fading occurs, especially if framed under UV filtered glass [1]. Other processes like dye-sublimation (dye-sub) prints may only last 10-25 years before fading.
Storing prints in a climate-controlled environment away from direct light, high humidity, and air pollution will also extend their lifespan dramatically. Consider only printing and framing your very best images that you want to pass down through generations. While digital backups are still recommended, a high-quality print is the most permanent physical form for treasured photos.
Organizing for Better Preservation
Proper organization of your photo library is crucial for long-term preservation. By carefully structuring your folders and cataloging your photos with relevant metadata, you make it much easier to locate, maintain, and back up your images decades into the future.
Experts recommend organizing your photos in a logical folder structure based on date and event. For example, you may have a folder for each year, and within that, sub-folders for individual events or trips. When naming folders and files, use descriptive names like “2023-06-FamilyReunion” rather than vague names like “JunePics.” More info: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/08/944307272/heres-how-tech-experts-recommend-organizing-your-photos
Cataloging your photos is also important. Use your photo organizing software to add titles, descriptions, dates, locations, keywords and other metadata to each photo. This makes them much easier to search and sort through later. The more information you add upfront, the more useful your photo archive will be in the future. More info: https://expertphotography.com/best-way-to-store-photos/
Conclusion
In summary, there are several key factors that determine how long photos will last when stored on an external hard drive, including the lifespan of the hard drive itself, proper storage conditions, file formats, and backup practices. While hard drives do not last forever, following best practices like organizing files, using open formats like TIFF and RAW, performing regular backups, and storing drives properly can help extend the life of your photo archives to decades. Though prints or off-site cloud backups provide the most permanent options, external drives remain a practical solution for long-term photo storage and preservation. By understanding the average lifespans and adopting the right storage habits, photographers can feel reassured their images will last well into the future.
The ability to preserve photographs is incredibly important for photographers hoping to protect meaningful memories and art. While no storage solution grants true permanence, external hard drives provide a convenient and low-cost method for keeping images intact for many years if properly managed. With the right workflows, drive technology can help keep your photo archives available until you are ready to move them to a more permanent home.