Synology Tightens Restrictions on Third-Party NAS Hard Drives

Synology, a well-known name in the world of network attached storage (NAS), has announced some significant changes coming to its future devices. According to a statement given to *Ars Technica*, the company is set to introduce new restrictions on the use of third-party hard drives in its upcoming NAS models. This move could make it more challenging for users to utilize non-Synology drives for common tasks such as backing up household computers or running local media servers. However, there's a silver lining for current Synology NAS owners: these changes won't impact your existing devices.

In an EU press release, Synology specified that "starting with Plus Series models released in 2025," only drives that are either Synology-branded or certified by the company will provide access to the full suite of features and support. *Ars* reports that Synology will update its compatibility lists to clearly indicate which third-party drives have been certified.

What Does This Mean for Users?

Without Synology-approved drives, users might find themselves unable to perform essential functions like pooling storage across multiple disks or utilizing the company's drive lifespan analysis tools. It's worth noting that these restrictions won't apply to Synology's J- and Value-series devices, nor will they affect consumer-grade Synology Plus devices released in 2024 or earlier. Additionally, hard drives transferred from existing NAS systems to this year's models will remain unaffected, as per the company's press release.

Why the Change?

A Synology spokesperson explained to *Ars* that the decision stems from "extensive internal testing," which has shown that drives subjected to a rigorous validation process are less likely to fail and cause ongoing compatibility issues when used with Synology systems. The company's press release echoes this sentiment, stating that the new restrictions aim to "reduce compatibility issues and increase system reliability and performance." Synology did not immediately respond to *The Verge*'s request for further comment.

While these restrictions might be frustrating, it's worth acknowledging that Synology is implementing them in a less harsh manner than, say, a printer company that might block third-party ink through a software update. Still, the reality remains that future Synology NAS device owners will have fewer options—and potentially higher costs—when it comes to choosing the hard drives they'll use.