How to use Google Takeout

To know what Google Takeout is click here

To use Google Takeout, go to takeout.google.com, sign in, select the Google products (like Drive, Photos, Gmail) you want to export, customize your archive (file type, size, delivery), and create the export; Google then emails you a link to download your data as a ZIP file, or adds it to Drive, which can take hours or days depending on data size.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Go to Takeout: Open your browser and navigate to takeout.google.com.
2. Sign In: Log in to the Google Account you want to export data from.
3. Select Data:
• By default, all products are selected; click Deselect all to start fresh.
• Scroll down and check the boxes next to the specific services (e.g., Drive, YouTube, Calendar) you want to download.
• For some services, click the button (e.g., "All data included") to select specific folders or data types within that service.
4. Next Step: Scroll to the bottom and click Next step.
5. Customize Archive:
• Delivery Method: Choose to get a download link via email or add it directly to Drive, Dropbox, etc..
• File Type: Select .zip (default) or .tgz.
• Archive Size: Set a max file size (e.g., 2GB, 10GB); larger exports will be split.
• Frequency: Choose to export once or schedule recurring exports.
6. Create Export: Click Create export.
7. Download: Wait for the email from Google (this can take hours or days) and click the download link to get your files.
8. Extract: Once downloaded, open the file to access your data.

Tips

• Patience is Key: Large exports can take a long time to prepare.
• Check the Email: You'll get an email when your archive is ready to download.
• Check Your Account: Make sure you're signed into the correct Google account before starting.