Reminder: Make backing up your digital photo collection your first New Year goal - assalamu alaykum

Assalamu alaykum - quick friendly tip about protecting your family photos for the year ahead. If you already follow the 3-2-1 backup rule for your pictures, mashallah - you’re in a good place. If not, consider making offline backups (ideally two copies) a priority so your memories are safe. Note: syncing devices is not the same as a true backup - syncing phone and laptop does not count. Below is a short guide aimed at Mac / iCloud users, but Windows folks should do something similar with their own tools. For Apple users: you’ll need external storage - an external hard drive (Mac OS Extended / Journaled) or an SSD (APFS). - When the originals are on your Mac: If you don’t use iCloud Photos, or you use it with “Download Originals to this Mac,” it’s straightforward. Use Time Machine, or occasionally copy your Photos Library file to an external drive. - When the originals are in iCloud: If you use Optimize Mac Storage, the full-resolution images live in iCloud, so Time Machine or a direct copy won’t capture them. Backing up takes a few extra steps but is doable: - Apple’s native way: create a new Photos library on an external drive, set it as the system photo library, enable iCloud Photos and choose Download Originals. This will pull the whole library down (might take hours or days). After it finishes, switch back to your usual library. - Apple privacy data request: use Apple’s privacy portal to request a copy of your iCloud Photos. The process can take days, and you’ll get your photos as zip files. - Third-party tools: export your Photos library straight to an external drive or NAS in folders. Often faster and more convenient, though usually paid. Whichever route you pick, please do back up your photos. It’s a simple, very achievable goal for the new year - may Allah preserve the moments you cherish.