Synology is tightening restrictions on third-party NAS hard drives

theverge.comPublished: 4/19/2025

Summary

Synology is rolling out new rules later this year that will limit the use of third-party hard drives in its NAS devices, starting with Plus Series models in 2025. Only Synology-branded or certified third-party drives will be fully supported, which means existing users won't be affected since their older devices aren't impacted. The change aims to reduce compatibility issues and improve system reliability but is raising concerns about reduced choice for customers.

Additional Summaries

Synology is set to impose stricter restrictions on third-party hard drives in its future NAS devices, starting with 2025 models. Users will only be able to use Synology-branded or certified drives to access full features like storage pooling and drive lifespan analysis. While existing NAS owners won’t face issues, new buyers may have fewer options and potentially higher costs, despite Synology’s claim that the changes aim to reduce compatibility problems and improve system performance.