Synology is tightening restrictions on third-party NAS hard drives

Synology is preparing to rotation retired caller restrictions connected third-party hard drives successful its aboriginal web attached retention (NAS) devices aboriginal this year, the institution confirmed to Ars Technica. The changes could marque it overmuch harder to usage third-party drives successful Synology’s devices for emblematic usage cases, similar backing up household computers oregon arsenic section media servers. The bully quality is that if you already ain a Synology NAS, the institution says the alteration won’t impact you.

Synology says successful an EU press release that “starting with Plus Series models released successful 2025,” lone Synology-branded drives and those the institution has certified to conscionable its specifications volition “offer the afloat scope of features and support.” According to Ars, Synology plans to update its compatibility lists to bespeak which third-party drives that it has certified.

The caller restrictions mean that without Synology-approved drives, you mightiness not beryllium capable to bash things similar excavation retention betwixt disks oregon instrumentality vantage of thrust lifespan investigation offered by the company’s software. The alteration doesn’t use to Synology J- and- Value-series devices, and won’t impact consumer-grade Synology Plus devices that were released successful 2024 and earlier. Nor volition it impact hard drives that are migrated to this year’s devices from its existing NAS systems, according to Synology’s property release.

As for wherefore it’s making this change, a Synology spokesperson told Ars, “Extensive interior investigating has shown that drives that travel a rigorous validation process erstwhile paired with Synology systems are astatine little hazard of thrust nonaccomplishment and ongoing compatibility issues.” The institution says akin things successful its property release, penning that the restrictions volition “reduce compatibility issues and summation strategy reliability and performance.” Synology did not instantly respond to The Verge’s petition for comment.

Restrictions similar this are irritating. To Synology’s credit, it’s introducing them successful a mode that’s little egregious than thing similar a printer institution blocking third-party ink with a bundle update. But that doesn’t hole the information that owners of its aboriginal NAS devices volition person less choices — and truthful less chances to prevention wealth — erstwhile it comes to buying the drives to instrumentality into them.