Synology has announced plans to impose new restrictions on third-party hard drives in its upcoming network attached storage (NAS) devices, slated for later this year, as stated in a confirmation to Ars Technica. These changes might complicate the use of third-party drives in Synology devices for common applications like computer backups or local media servers. However, if you already own a Synology NAS, the company assures that this update will not impact your current setup.
According to a press release from Synology in the EU, starting with the Plus Series models introduced in 2025, only Synology-branded drives or those certified by the company to meet its specifications will provide the full feature set and support. Ars reports that Synology will update its compatibility lists to identify which third-party drives have been certified.
These new restrictions imply that without Synology-approved drives, users might miss out on features like storage pooling between disks or utilizing drive lifespan analysis provided by Synology’s software. The change will not apply to the Synology J- and Value-series devices, nor will it affect consumer-grade Synology Plus products released in 2024 and earlier. Additionally, hard drives migrated from existing NAS systems to this year’s devices will remain unaffected, as per Synology’s press release.
When asked about the rationale behind this change, a Synology spokesperson told Ars, “Extensive internal testing has shown that drives undergoing a comprehensive validation process with Synology systems have a reduced risk of drive failure and compatibility issues.” The press release reflects similar sentiments, stating that the restrictions aim to “reduce compatibility issues and enhance system reliability and performance.” Synology has yet to respond to The Verge’s request for further comment.
While such restrictions can be frustrating, Synology is implementing them in a manner less extreme than a printer company that blocks third-party ink via software updates. Nonetheless, future NAS device owners will face limited options—and potentially fewer cost-saving opportunities—when purchasing compatible drives.
