Image: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Google announced that it will be closing down Google+. For many this social media platform was a bit like marmite. You either liked it or hated it. Those who didn’t engage with Google+ can stop reading now. Those who did and in particular I’m thinking of educators who have developed vibrant Google communities, then you may want to consider downloading your data.

This useful guide from Google explains how you can download your Google+ data. You can export and download your Google+ data, including your Google+ circles, communities, streams and +1s.

Note: Downloading your Google+ data will not delete your Google+ profile. Learn how to delete your Google+ profile.

Download all your Google+ data

You can download an archive of all your Google+ data at once, including your Google+ circles, communities, streams and +1s.

Note: If you want to download Google+ Pages content, sign in as the Google+ Page.

1. Go to the Download your data page. You might have to sign in.
2. Unselect the Google+ information that you don’t want to include in your download
3. Click Next.
4. Choose a file type.
5. Choose how you want your data delivered.
6. Click Create archive.

Note: If you want to download Google+ Pages content, sign in as the Google+ Page.

Download specific Google+ data

Instead of downloading all of your data, you can download specific Google+ data, such as your photos, events or posts.

1. Go to the Download your data page. You might have to sign in.
2. Next to the type of content that you want to download, such as Google+ Stream, click the down arrow.
3. Click Select specific data.
4. Select the specific data that you’d like to download.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Next.
7. Choose a file type.
8. Choose how you want your data delivered.
9. Click Create archive.

Note: If you want to download Google+ Pages content, sign in as the Google+ Page.

Learn about the types of Google+ content that you can download

Google+ Stream

To download content that you’ve created in Google+, such as photos, events and posts, select Google+ Stream. You will get:

• Posts that you’ve created, including comments, +1s and other activity
• Collections that you’ve created
• Events that you’ve created or were invited to
• Photos that you’ve shared in your posts and comments

Google+ circles

To download data about your circles, select Google+ circles. You will get:

• First names
• Surnames
• Nicknames
• Display names
• Google+ profile URLs

Google+ Communities

To download data for communities where you’re an owner or moderator, select Google+ Communities. You will get:

• Names and links to Google+ profiles of community owners, moderators, members, applicants, banned members and invitees
• Links to posts shared with the community
• Community metadata, including community pictures, community settings, content control settings, your role and community categories

Google+ +1

To download content that you’ve +1’d on external sites, select +1s. You will get:

• Links to articles, blog posts and other content that you’ve +1’d