No account · No AmberTime cloud · Pay once

Back up iPhone photos to a USB drive or external SSD — without a Mac

AmberTime backs up your iPhone Photo Library and selected Files folders directly to storage you control. It supports iCloud-only originals, Live Photos, videos, metadata, and incremental backup tasks — with no AmberTime cloud or account.

✓ no uploads ✓ original files ✓ custom folders ✓ multiple backup tasks
Download on App Store See how it works
  • Try 200 files free · unlock forever for $4.99
  • Photo Library + custom Files folders
  • Separate tasks for DJI, downloads, and projects
Large-file pipeline

Built for long videos and big libraries.

AmberTime reads from your iPhone and writes to your drive in small chunks, so long 4K videos and large photo libraries stay predictable. Files are finalized only after the copy completes.

  • Streamed in small chunks
  • .part safe writes
  • USB 3 fast SSD ready

Peak speed depends on your iPhone, cable, drive, and file system.

AmberTime backing up a photo library to an external drive
small chunks streamed writes
Large clips ProRes + RAW ready
What it preserves

A backup that actually remembers.

Use Photo Library for albums and metadata, or choose a folder in Files for creator media. AmberTime keeps the originals, the structure, and the meaning intact.

01 iCloud-only photos

Photos still in iCloud? Backed up too.

If "Optimize iPhone Storage" leaves originals in iCloud, AmberTime can fetch the full-resolution file from Apple first, then write it to your drive. Your archive is not a copy of thumbnails — it is the real thing.

  • ✓ Full-res HEIC, RAW, ProRAW originals
  • ✓ Optional iCloud download on demand, per file
  • ✓ No iCloud subscription required to keep them

Read the iCloud-only backup guide →

iCloud original
fetched
Streamed thru
written
USB drive
02 Folders + album index
Open anywhere /AmberTime/iPhone-15-Pro
Photos
2026-04412
2026-03308
Videos
2026-0422
Finder · Explorer · Linux
Browse in AmberTime album index
User albums
Tokyo Trip 2026214
Family3,201
Studio Work1,447
Smart albums
Favorites89
Videos512
One file can appear in many albums

Plain folders for computers. Albums for humans.

Your originals land in clean Photos/YYYY-MM/ and Videos/YYYY-MM/ folders any computer can read. AmberTime also writes a small .albums.db index, so the same archive can be browsed by your user albums and smart albums inside AmberTime.

  • ✓ Year-month folders open natively in Finder & Explorer
  • ✓ Custom and smart albums browsable inside AmberTime
  • ✓ One original, many albums — no duplicate files on disk
  • ✓ Album memberships remain in the archive even if photos leave your phone
  • ✓ Back up only the albums you choose, not the whole library
03 Metadata fidelity

Original files. Their metadata preserved.

AmberTime writes the original resources provided by iOS without compression or conversion. GPS, capture timestamps, lens and exposure details are preserved where iOS exposes them. Live Photos keep their paired photo and video resources, usually HEIC + MOV.

  • ✓ EXIF · GPS · timestamps · color profiles
  • ✓ Live Photos as paired photo and video resources
  • ✓ HEIC, RAW, ProRAW, ProRes, MP4, MOV
fileIMG_4821.HEIC
size3.8 MB
captured2026-04-12 18:42:09
gps35.6595° N · 139.7005° E
lensiPhone 16 Pro · 24 mm
exposureƒ/1.78 · 1/120 · ISO 100
live+ IMG_4821.MOV
preserved
04 Incremental engine
Last week 23,581 files
This session +208 new
99.1% recorded as completed · skipped

Incremental backup. Less to copy next time.

Create separate backup tasks for your Photo Library, DJI footage folder, downloads, or project media. Each task keeps its own backup record on this device, so later runs skip items recorded as completed for that task.

  • ✓ Multiple tasks for different source folders
  • ✓ On-device task records skip completed items
  • ✓ Rerun after disconnect; unfinished files restart from the beginning
  • ✓ Optional backup reminder when no backup has run within a chosen period
How It Works

Three steps. That's it.

No account setup, no configuration wizard. Just the essentials.

01
Creating a backup task by choosing a source and a USB drive destination

Connect a drive. Create a task.

Plug in your USB drive first, then choose a source and a destination folder. Use separate tasks for Photo Library, DJI clips, downloads, or project folders.

02
Backup task cards showing connected drive status and recent runs

Scan the selected source

Open a task and AmberTime compares that source with the backup record stored on this device for that task, then shows exactly what is new.

03
Backup running, showing live throughput and per-file progress

Incremental backup for new photos and files

Start the task you need. Incremental backup transfers only new files, whether it is your photo library or a creator folder.

Who it's for

For libraries, shoots, and folders you cannot lose.

The creator

Keep separate tasks for DJI, Blackmagic, and iPhone Pro footage in Files. Plug in an SSD, run that source, and hand off the drive.

DJI folders · project media

The family archivist

Keeps cloud sync for daily access, but wants a second copy of the originals on a drive they control, with albums and metadata preserved.

Second copy · no uploads

The phone-space manager

When storage fills up, back up originals to a drive first. Then decide what stays on the phone, what stays in the cloud, and what moves to the archive.

Free space · keep originals
Best fit

Built for a physical archive, not another cloud.

AmberTime is best when you want original iPhone files on storage you control. It is not trying to replace every cloud or editing workflow.

Best for
  • ✓ Backing up iPhone photos to a USB drive or external SSD without a Mac
  • ✓ Keeping original HEIC, RAW, ProRAW, ProRes, Live Photos, albums, GPS, and timestamps
  • ✓ Creating separate incremental backup tasks for Photo Library, DJI folders, downloads, and projects
  • ✓ Users who want no AmberTime account, no AmberTime cloud, no tracking, and no subscription
Not for
  • × Continuous cloud sync across all Apple devices
  • × Editing, deduplication, cleanup, or deleting files from your iPhone after backup
  • × Using iCloud Drive or local iPhone storage as the backup destination
  • × Automatic background cloud backup that runs without connecting a drive
Read product facts Compare backup options Guide: iPhone photos to USB without a Mac
Why AmberTime

Keep the cloud. Own a second copy.

Cloud libraries are great for everyday access and device sync. AmberTime adds a separate physical archive of originals on storage you fully control.

Cloud library

Perfect for daily access.

  • ✓ Syncs memories across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web
  • ✓ Easy sharing with family, clients, and collaborators
  • ✓ Search, memories, and device restore are always nearby
  • ✓ Useful when you want access from anywhere
  • ✓ A strong first layer for everyday backup
AmberTime

The extra copy only you hold.

  • ✓ Originals stream from iPhone to your USB storage
  • ✓ Albums, Live Photos, GPS, and timestamps preserved
  • ✓ Multiple tasks keep different sources organized
  • ✓ Incremental scans skip items recorded as completed for this task
  • ✓ The archive works even if you change accounts later
  • ✓ No AmberTime account, cloud, analytics, or uploads
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AmberTime upload anything?

No. AmberTime does not upload your files to AmberTime servers, does not require an AmberTime account, and does not use analytics trackers. Backup data goes from your iPhone to the USB drive you choose.

Can AmberTime work with iCloud photos?

Yes. If "Optimize iPhone Storage" leaves originals in iCloud, AmberTime can download the full-resolution file from Apple before writing it to your USB drive. That download needs network access, but the backup is still written locally to your drive. Read the full iCloud-only guide →

Can I back up iPhone photos to an external SSD without iCloud?

Yes. If the originals are already on your iPhone, AmberTime can write them directly to the selected USB drive or external SSD. If some originals are only in iCloud because Optimize iPhone Storage is enabled, AmberTime can fetch those originals from Apple first before writing them locally.

Do I need a Mac to back up iPhone photos to USB?

No. Create a task, connect an external drive through Files, and run the backup on the iPhone. The drive can later be opened from Finder, Explorer, Linux, or AmberTime's archive browser. See the step-by-step walkthrough →

Does AmberTime work on iPad?

Yes. AmberTime 1.2.0 runs natively on iPad with a sidebar and detail layout, keyboard shortcuts, and Split View support. A USB-C iPad connects to the drive directly, and the lifetime Pro unlock covers both iPhone and iPad. See the iPad walkthrough →

Can I back up only old photos, like everything before 2024?

Yes. AmberTime 1.1.0 supports Photo Library date-range backup tasks, so you can archive everything before a chosen date — or one year at a time — directly to a USB drive or external SSD, with nothing deleted from your iPhone. See how to archive old photos →

Can I back up only new iPhone photos after the first backup?

Yes. Each task keeps its backup record on the current device. Later runs compare the selected source with that record and skip items already recorded as completed for that task.

Can I back up folders outside of Photos?

Yes. Besides Photo Library, AmberTime can back up custom folders exposed through the iOS Files app. Create separate tasks for DJI footage, camera imports, downloaded media, and project folders.

What USB drives and external SSDs work with AmberTime?

AmberTime works with external storage that iOS exposes through Files, including many USB-C SSDs and flash drives. APFS, exFAT, and FAT32 are supported; FAT32 has a 4 GB single-file limit. Pick the right filesystem →

Does AmberTime delete anything from my iPhone after backup?

No. AmberTime backs up files to your drive. It does not delete your Photo Library or source folders after backup.

Does incremental backup update edits or mirror deletions?

AmberTime skips Photo Library items recorded as completed for the same task. Editing an already-backed-up photo does not trigger a fresh export. Deleting a source item does not delete its drive copy. Files folder changes use file attributes, and same-size edits may be skipped; this is not versioned or mirror backup. See backup behavior and limitations →

Can I continue an existing backup after reinstalling AmberTime or changing iPhone?

Backup task records are stored on the current device. A fresh install, a new task, or another device does not automatically import that state from the drive. Existing files may be reused when the expected path and size match, but this is not content verification or shared cross-device backup history. See backup behavior and limitations →

Can iPhone backup continue while locked or using another app?

AmberTime requests limited background time when you switch apps or lock the screen. iOS decides how much time is available; uninterrupted background backup is not guaranteed. If iOS pauses the task, return to AmberTime and start it manually. Completed items are skipped and the interrupted file restarts from the beginning. Keep large backups in the foreground. See backup behavior and limitations →

What happens if the cable disconnects mid-backup?

Reconnect the drive and run the task again. Items recorded as completed are skipped; an unfinished file restarts from the beginning, not from its last byte. Writes use temporary .part files before finalization. Cleanup is best effort, so a disconnect or forced quit may leave a .part file; it is discarded before retrying that file. Troubleshoot detection problems →

Is the backup really the original file?

AmberTime writes the original PhotoKit resources where available, preserves timestamps, and keeps Live Photos as paired resources. There is no compression step or format conversion in the backup pipeline. More on Live Photos as paired HEIC + MOV →

Does AmberTime preserve Live Photos?

Yes. AmberTime backs up Live Photos as paired photo and video resources, usually HEIC plus MOV, where those resources are available through iOS.

Does AmberTime preserve GPS and EXIF metadata?

AmberTime writes original PhotoKit resources where available, so GPS, EXIF, capture timestamps, and related metadata are preserved where iOS exposes them.

Can I open the backup on a Mac or Windows PC?

Yes. AmberTime writes regular files and folders to the drive. The archive can be opened on a Mac, Windows PC, Linux computer, or in AmberTime's archive browser.

Is AmberTime a cloud backup app?

No. AmberTime is a local physical archive tool, not a cloud backup service. It does not provide AmberTime cloud storage or upload your files to AmberTime servers.

Can AmberTime handle large photo libraries and ProRes videos?

Yes. The transfer engine streams files in small chunks, so large ProRes videos and big photo libraries are copied without loading a full file into memory.

Browse the full help center
Pricing

Pay once. Back up forever.

Back up your first 200 files free. Pro is a one-time $4.99 unlock that follows your Apple ID.

NO SUBSCRIPTIONS $4.99 lifetime
Download on App Store
  • Restore on any iPhone signed into the same Apple ID
  • No subscription. No upgrade tax. Ever.
AmberTime Pro upgrade sheet — one-time $4.99 purchase