How to Download a Copy of Your Google Data
Google provides tools to download a copy of all data you’ve recorded using services from Google.
Google will send you an archive of files detailing all activity you’ve had with a Google product—including every Gmail message sent and received, every Google calendar item you’ve scheduled, everything you’ve asked Google Assistant, each location you’ve searched on Google Maps and even all the YouTube videos you have watched.
That can be a lot of information if you use Google services daily, but getting it is not complicated. To download your Google data, follow these steps.
First, go to takeout.google.com. Select from the list of 25 products. You can deselect services using the toggle buttons on the right.
Click “Next” at the bottom of the page.
Now, choose the file format. Zip files can be opened by most computers, but the other option, “.tgz,” might require additional software.
In the next dropdown, there are four five sizes to choose from: 1Gb, 2 Gb, 4 Gb, 10 Gb and 50 Gb. If you use multiple Google services every day and estimate that you have a lot of data, choose the maximum 50 Gb file size so your data doesn’t have to be split into multiple files.
Next, choose how you want your archive delivered. You can choose to receive an email or have the files sent to Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive.
Finally, select “Create Archive.” Google says the archive can take hours or days to create. Exporting a copy of your data does not delete it from Google servers; it is merely a backup for your records. The archive expires after about 7 days, after which you’ll have to download a new archive to get the latest data. For more information, visit Google’s help page here.
If you need tools to protect your digital experience and back up your data, Arvig can help. Visit arvig.com/internet-security for details.
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