Thinking of leaving FB but don't want to lose my pictures

I've been an MOL member for years, but I've been spending more time on FB due to relatives in foreign countries and pug friends all over the world being very easy to stay in contact with via that route (and MOL, while great, doesn't really allow for that). But I'm not happy with what's happening and may happen in the future and would consider moving to another site BUT I have so many photos organized into libraries on my FB page. I'd hate to lose them all - does anyone know of a not-very-complicated way of copying those libraries intact? I sort of remember that FB has some way of maximizing storage of phots that makes it difficult to offload them, but not sure where I've read that. I guess I could keep them there, but if I leave I'd like to make a clean break. Thanks for any ideas or suggestions.


I didn't think it would be easy to do - but I chatCPT's this:

Downloading your Facebook libraries (e.g., photos, videos, and other data) can be done using the platform's built-in tools. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Log in to Your Facebook Account

  • Visit Facebook and log in to your account.

2. Go to Settings

  • On desktop:
    • Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner.
    • Select Settings & Privacy > Settings.
  • On mobile:
    • Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom-right (iOS) or top-right (Android).
    • Select Settings & Privacy > Settings.

3. Access Your Facebook Information

  • Navigate to the Your Facebook Information section.
  • Click or tap Download Your Information.

4. Choose What to Download

  • You'll see a list of data categories (e.g., posts, photos, videos, comments, etc.).
  • Check the boxes next to the items you want to download. To download your libraries, ensure Photos and Videos is selected.

5. Set Preferences

  • Date Range: Choose a specific range or select All Time for all data.
  • Format: Choose HTML (easier to view) or JSON (for data portability).
  • Media Quality: Select High for the best quality if you're downloading photos and videos.

6. Request a Download

  • Scroll to the bottom and click or tap Request a Download.
  • Facebook will start preparing your file. This may take some time depending on the amount of data.

7. Download the File

  • Once ready, you'll receive a notification and/or email.
  • Go back to the Download Your Information section.
  • Click or tap Available Copies, then Download next to your file. You may need to re-enter your password.

8. Extract and View

  • The file will be in a compressed format (e.g., .zip). Extract it to view your photos, videos, and other data.

If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, let me know!


Thank you, Jamie! I will give this a try. I'd hate to lose all those organized albums - but I hate the current trend there!



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