Should You Upgrade Your Synology from DSM 7.2 to DSM 7.3?

DSM 7.3 represents Synology’s final major release under the DSM 7 platform before the expected transition to DSM 8, and it introduces a mix of refinements, policy reversals, and new enterprise tools that signal both the maturity and the approaching end of this software generation. The update arrives after an extended rollout period that began in mid-2025 and has been deployed gradually across supported NAS models to ensure stability. It brings several notable changes, most prominently the revision of the company’s restrictive hard drive policy under the new HCL 5.0 standard, allowing a broader range of third-party drives on 2025 Plus series systems. Other additions include the Synology Tiering package, designed to automate storage management between multiple NAS devices, and the introduction of the AI Console, a framework that integrates external AI and LLM providers into Synology’s productivity applications. Alongside these new components, DSM 7.3 also adds incremental updates such as native exFAT support, more flexible encryption handling, improved domain and directory management, and several kernel-level security patches.

However, for most existing users running DSM 7.2, the decision to upgrade should not be automatic. Many of the most visible features in DSM 7.3, including Synology Drive 4.0 and early versions of Synology Tiering, can already be accessed through separate beta packages on DSM 7.2 without performing a full system upgrade. Moreover, DSM 7.3 has arrived without a public beta phase, leading to mixed community feedback on compatibility issues and minor application regressions reported during early adoption. The release is stable for general use, but it represents an incremental refinement rather than a fundamental reinvention of Synology’s operating environment. For many users, DSM 7.3 serves as both a capstone for the current platform and a preparatory step toward the next-generation DSM 8 ecosystem expected to follow in 2026.

Should You Upgrade to Synology DSM 7.3? The TL;DR

For most existing Synology users, DSM 7.3 is a cautious, incremental update rather than a transformative one. It refines several areas—particularly in data security via vulnerability patches, encrypted storage handling, and drive compatibility—but few of these changes are critical for stable systems already running DSM 7.2. The improved drive policy on 2025 Plus models is a welcome reversal of the restrictive compatibility introduced earlier, yet older systems benefit little beyond quality-of-life improvements. Similarly, the new Synology Tiering and AI Console frameworks show potential but are limited in scope, requiring multi-system deployments or external AI integrations that do not suit typical home or small business users. In short, DSM 7.3 is reliable and functionally solid, but it introduces no must-have feature for those already content with DSM 7.2. Users with newer 2025 Plus series hardware, or those who need to take advantage of the new tiering, encryption, or administrative tools, can confidently upgrade once their model is supported. However, administrators running mission-critical workloads, media servers, or older legacy devices may prefer to wait until early 2026 for further stability updates or the initial DSM 8 previews. The release feels transitional—a final, polished step for the DSM 7 generation rather than a defining milestone—so unless your deployment directly benefits from one of its headline features, remaining on DSM 7.2 remains a perfectly reasonable choice.

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Will Upgrading to DSM 7.3 Remove My Ability to Hardware Transcode?

Upgrading to DSM 7.3 does not remove hardware transcoding support on systems that already possess compatible integrated graphics or dedicated GPU functionality. The removal of hardware transcoding drivers occurred earlier, during the rollout of DSM 7.2.2, and affected only specific 2025-generation NAS models where Synology chose to disable HEVC (H.265) hardware acceleration for licensing and driver maintenance reasons. For all older devices—such as the DS920+, DS423+, and DS224+—the upgrade to DSM 7.3 preserves existing transcoding capabilities, including both H.264 and H.265 conversions, assuming these were functional in DSM 7.2. Users can continue to use hardware-assisted video conversion in applications such as Synology Video Station (if you still have it!), Plex, and Jellyfin without additional configuration. No drivers are removed or replaced by the DSM 7.3 upgrade process, and GPU-accelerated workloads remain fully accessible. The only cautionary point applies to future NAS models that will ship with DSM 7.3 preinstalled, as these may already reflect Synology’s newer driver policy, but existing systems upgrading from DSM 7.2 retain their transcoding performance entirely unchanged. Just remember that Synology 2025 series devices that have an integrated graphics CPU do NOT have the graphics driver by default. Watch the video below to learn more:

Will Upgrading to DSM 7.3 Result in My M.2 SSDs Becoming Unsupported or Unusable?

For most users, upgrading to DSM 7.3 will not cause any change to M.2 SSD functionality. Systems that already have existing cache or storage configurations using M.2 NVMe drives in DSM 7.2 will continue to operate normally after the upgrade, with no data loss or drive disconnection. The update does not remove support for previously installed third-party NVMe SSDs, nor does it alter existing caching or volume structures.

However, DSM 7.3 maintains Synology’s restrictive stance on creating new NVMe-based storage pools (i.e only their own bradned drives currently) or caches using unverified drives. While the broader HCL 5.0 policy restores open drive usage for SATA HDDs and SSDs on the 2025 Plus series, it does not extend to M.2 NVMe media, which still require official validation to be initialised in new roles. Users upgrading from DSM 7.2 who already have third-party M.2 drives configured will see no functional difference, but those attempting to add or reassign new NVMe devices after the upgrade will remain subject to the same compatibility enforcement introduced in DSM 7.2.

Is Synology Drive 4.0 Worth Upgrading to DSM 7.3 For?

Synology Drive 4.0 introduces a collection of small but practical improvements that enhance team collaboration and file management, but none of these changes require DSM 7.3 to function. The new version adds improved file labelling and categorisation tools, making it easier for teams to assign colour-coded or custom tags to shared content.

It also refines file request functionality, allowing users to specify reasons for requesting access and to track these submissions more transparently. File locking has also been expanded, now supporting manual control in addition to automatic version locking, which prevents conflicts when multiple users are editing the same document.

Together, these updates improve workflow precision and traceability, particularly in shared office environments or remote teams using Drive as a private alternative to cloud collaboration platforms such as OneDrive or Google Drive.

Beyond these refinements, Synology Drive 4.0 also brings stronger integration with Synology Account authentication, a requirement for accessing its newest collaborative features. This includes cross-user label sharing, improved audit tracking, and the option to enforce identity binding for Drive users in larger deployments.

However, all of these capabilities remain accessible to DSM 7.2 users via Synology’s beta package program, meaning there is no requirement to upgrade to DSM 7.3 to test or use them. Unless you specifically need tighter Drive account linkage or plan to adopt other DSM 7.3-only features such as Tiering or AI Console integration, the Drive 4.0 update alone does not justify upgrading your NAS operating system.

Is Synology Tiering Worth Upgrading to DSM 7.3 For?

Synology Tiering is one of the most significant new features in DSM 7.3, introducing an automated data management system designed to move infrequently accessed files from fast “hot” storage to lower-cost “cold” storage across multiple NAS devices. The concept is similar to hierarchical storage management in enterprise systems, but unlike QNAP’s QTier, it does not operate within a single NAS.

Instead, it requires two or more Synology NAS units running DSM 7.3, with the hot tier hosting the primary, frequently used data, and the cold tier configured as a secondary vault where less active files are migrated. Administrators can create tiering plans that determine how long a file remains in the hot tier based on modification or access frequency, with policies ranging from one day to several years. Transfers occur automatically over encrypted HTTPS connections, and stub files are left behind in the hot tier to preserve accessibility, allowing users to recall files seamlessly when needed.

However, despite its potential, Synology Tiering remains a beta-stage feature with limited configuration depth and hardware support. Not all NAS systems qualify for hot-tier deployment, and the supported model lists are inconsistent. For example, the DS425+—a system without M.2 slots—supports hot-tier operation, whereas the DS923+, which features greater performance and expandability, does not. Likewise, several older Plus-series models and most rackmount units are limited to cold-tier functionality only.

The service currently lacks integration with Synology Drive, encrypted folders, or other key DSM services, meaning many shared folders cannot participate in tiering policies. While the feature offers promise for businesses managing distributed sites or large archives, it is still early in development and unsuitable as the sole reason to perform a DSM 7.3 upgrade. It can also be tested independently on DSM 7.2 via the beta package, allowing administrators to evaluate its practicality before committing to a full system migration.

It is worth noting that Synology’s allocation of which NAS systems qualify as hot-tier and cold-tier devices under DSM 7.3 results in some unusual distinctions between models. Several systems with similar or even higher technical specifications are listed only as cold-tier devices, while others with more modest hardware are fully approved for hot-tier functionality.

For example, the Intel Celeron-based DS225+, which supports only SATA HDDs and lacks M.2 NVMe or 10GbE connectivity, is officially designated as a hot-tier system. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen R1600-based DS923+, which includes dual M.2 NVMe slots and 10GbE upgradability, appears only on the cold-tier list.

This creates a noticeable mismatch between capability and feature assignment across both desktop and rackmount systems, suggesting that Synology’s tiering support matrix has been determined on a per-model basis rather than by hardware class.

Model Listings (as defined under DSM 7.3):

• Hot-tier supported systems:
  FS6400, FS3600, FS3410, FS3400, FS2500, FS200T, HD6500, SA3400D, SA3200D, SA6400, SA3610, SA3600, SA3410, SA3400, RS4021xs+, RS3621xs+, RS3621RPxs, RS2825RP+, DS3622xs+, DS1823xs+, DS1621xs+, DS1825+, DS1525+, DS925+, DS725+, DS425+, DS225+.

• Cold-tier supported systems:
  HD6500, FS6400, FS3600, FS3410, FS3400, FS2500, FS200T, SA3400D, SA3200D, SA6400, SA3610, SA3600, SA3410, SA3400, RS4021xs+, RS3621xs+, RS3621RPxs, RS2825RP+, RS2423RP+, RS2423+, RS2821RP+, RS2421RP+, RS2421+, RS1221RP+, RS1221+, RS822RP+, RS822+, RS820RP+, RS820+, RS422+, DS3622xs+, DS1823xs+, DS1621xs+, DS2422+, DS1825+, DS1821+, DS1621+, DS1525+, DS1522+, DS1520+, DS925+, DS923+, DS725+, DS723+, DS920+, DS720+, DS620slim, DS425+, DS423+, DS420+, DS225+, DS224+, DS220+, DVA1622, DVA3221.

The division between these two groups highlights some unexpected choices, where NAS models with more advanced configurations—such as integrated NVMe storage or faster network options—are limited to cold-tier participation, while smaller, SATA-only systems are permitted full hot-tier operation.

Are Synology AI Admin Console Services Worth Upgrading to DSM 7.3 For?

The Synology AI Console is a new administrative framework introduced in DSM 7.3 that allows NAS administrators to connect external artificial intelligence and large language model (LLM) services, such as OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Amazon Bedrock, directly into select Synology productivity applications. Its purpose is to enhance tools like Synology MailPlus and Synology Office with text summarisation, translation, and content generation capabilities.

Rather than hosting AI workloads locally, the Console acts as a bridge between the NAS and third-party AI providers through user-supplied API keys. Administrators can control who can access these features, set daily or per-minute token limits to manage consumption, and monitor all requests via detailed transaction logs.

A privacy-focused de-identification mechanism can also be enabled to mask sensitive data—such as names, IP addresses, or account details—before it leaves the NAS for external processing, restoring it upon return.

While these controls demonstrate a well-considered security approach, the AI Console remains divisive. Because all AI requests are processed externally rather than on-device, the system sends portions of MailPlus and Office text content to third-party cloud providers for analysis and response generation.

Even with encryption and masking in place, this design conflicts with the expectations of users who adopt a NAS precisely to maintain full local control over data.

Moreover, the Console currently supports only text-based functions and does not provide local inference, on-device LLM hosting, or GPU-accelerated processing, which limits its appeal to professional or privacy-conscious users. For most home and small-business owners, the AI Console is an optional enhancement rather than a compelling reason to upgrade.

It may benefit organisations already running MailPlus or Office in a collaborative environment, but its dependence on external AI infrastructure means its inclusion in DSM 7.3 is unlikely to justify a system-wide update on its own.

A Pre-emptive Warning about DSM 7.3 and Synology RS / Rackstation and NVR / DVA Surveillance Systems

While DSM 7.3 restores third-party hard drive flexibility on the 2025 DiskStation Plus range, this policy change does not extend to RackStation (RS) or DVA/NVR systems. These models continue to enforce Synology’s restricted compatibility framework, requiring officially verified HAT, HAS, or SAT series drives for full SMART monitoring, health data reporting, and warranty-backed operation. Unverified drives may still function but typically appear with degraded status indicators, limited temperature or lifespan data, and persistent “incompatible” warnings within Storage Manager.

This limitation remains particularly relevant to surveillance deployments, as Synology has yet to certify common NVR-grade drives such as Seagate IronWolf, Seagate SkyHawk, or WD Purple series models. At the time of writing, only one 2025-generation RackStation has been released under this policy, but Synology is expected to expand the line-up significantly into Q1 2026, with new models such as the DVA7400, DVA3000, and additional 4- and 8-bay RS systems all expected to ship with DSM 7.3 pre-installed and to follow the same verified-drive enforcement. As such, administrators planning future rackmount or surveillance deployments should confirm drive support in advance, as Synology shows no signs of relaxing its enterprise compatibility standards for these product tiers.

Should You Upgrade to DSM 7.3? VERDICT

For most existing Synology users, DSM 7.3 stands as a careful, incremental evolution of the platform rather than a major overhaul. It introduces refinements in data protection, encryption handling, and administrative control while restoring a more open stance on third-party hard drive use under the new HCL 5.0 policy. These adjustments address several long-standing user concerns, particularly on the 2025 Plus series, where Synology has finally reintroduced full flexibility for HDD and SSD compatibility. However, outside of that reversal, DSM 7.3’s core updates—such as minor kernel improvements, user interface refinements, and system efficiency tweaks—represent evolutionary stability rather than innovation. The release also marks Synology’s first attempt to integrate AI-based administrative tools and multi-tier storage, but both features remain optional, niche in scope, and better suited to advanced users or multi-NAS deployments. For those running stable DSM 7.2 environments, the upgrade is beneficial but not essential, as few of the new capabilities materially alter day-to-day operations.

That said, DSM 7.3 remains a worthwhile step forward for users who want to align their systems with Synology’s next-generation framework before DSM 8’s eventual release. Owners of newer 2025 models such as the DS925+, DS1525+, or RS2825RP+ will likely find the update unavoidable, as it forms the baseline for upcoming package releases and extended security support. Administrators managing large data environments may also appreciate the improved directory integration, enhanced file versioning, and native exFAT support included in this release. Still, those relying on older Plus or XS-class devices for media, backup, or general storage tasks may prefer to wait for a few minor revisions before upgrading, allowing early adopters to expose any unforeseen issues. DSM 7.3 is polished and well-structured, but it feels transitional—a bridge between legacy DSM 7.2 deployments and the more modern, AI-aware infrastructure Synology is preparing for DSM 8. Unless you specifically require its new storage policies, tiering capabilities, or AI integration, remaining on DSM 7.2 remains a stable, low-risk option for the foreseeable future.

Which Systems Support the DSM 7.3 Upgrade? (Updated List)

The DSM 7.3 (version 7.3-81180) update is available as a manual download for an extensive range of Synology NAS systems, spanning the Plus, XS, SA, FS, HD, Value, and J series. Rollout continues in stages, meaning some users will not yet receive an automatic update notification. Once installed, DSM 7.3 cannot be downgraded to a previous version, and for many older models, it will be the final feature-bearing update, with future maintenance limited to security and stability patches.

The complete set of DSM 7.3 installation files, as listed in Synology’s October 2025 release, confirms support for virtually all NAS models released between 2016 and 2025. Key model families include:

DiskStation desktop systems:
DS1019+, DS116, DS118, DS119j, DS120j, DS124, DS1517+, DS1517, DS1520+, DS1522+, DS1525+, DS1618+, DS1621+, DS1621xs+, DS1817+, DS1817, DS1819+, DS1821+, DS1823xs+, DS1825+, DS216+, DS216, DS216+II, DS216j, DS216play, DS218+, DS218, DS218j, DS218play, DS220+, DS220j, DS223, DS223j, DS224+, DS225+, DS2419+, DS2419+II, DS2422+, DS3018xs, DS3617xs, DS3617xsII, DS3622xs+, DS416, DS416j, DS416play, DS416slim, DS418, DS418j, DS418play, DS419slim, DS420+, DS420j, DS423+, DS423, DS425+, DS620slim, DS716+, DS716+II, DS718+, DS720+, DS723+, DS725+, DS916+, DS918+, DS920+, DS923+, DS925+.

RackStation and enterprise systems:
RS1219+, RS1221+, RS1221RP+, RS1619xs+, RS18016xs+, RS18017xs+, RS217, RS2416+, RS2416RP+, RS2418+, RS2418RP+, RS2421+, RS2421RP+, RS2423+, RS2423RP+, RS2818RP+, RS2821RP+, RS2825RP+, RS3617RPxs, RS3617xs+, RS3617xs, RS3618xs, RS3621RPxs, RS3621xs+, RS4017xs+, RS4021xs+, RS422+, RS816, RS818+, RS818RP+, RS819, RS820+, RS820RP+.

Data-centre and performance platforms:
FS1018, FS2017, FS2500, FS3017, FS3400, FS3410, FS3600, FS6400, HD6500, SA3200D, SA3400, SA3400D, SA3410, SA3600, SA3610, SA6400.

Video analytics and surveillance models:
DVA1622, DVA3219, DVA3221.

Virtual DSM package:
VirtualDSM 7.3-81180.

This dataset confirms that DSM 7.3 has been compiled for almost every currently supported platform, with file sizes ranging from roughly 300 MB for entry-level systems (such as the DS120j and RS217) up to 430 MB for enterprise and FlashStation devices. Users operating 2025-generation systems such as the DS225+, DS425+, DS725+, DS925+, DS1525+, DS1825+, RS2825RP+, and SA3410 will receive DSM 7.3 pre-installed or as part of first-release firmware. For older devices dating back to 2016–2018, DSM 7.3 will act as the final major update before DSM 8 arrives in 2026.

Which Synology NAS will See DSM 7.3 as their LAST Major Synology Update?

The DSM 7.3 (version 7.3-81180) update is available for a wide range of Synology NAS models, though rollout is staged and certain older systems will remain on DSM 7.2 or earlier. It is important to note that DSM 7.3 will be the final major upgrade for many devices, after which they will continue to receive only security and maintenance patches. Users should also be aware that once installed, DSM 7.3 cannot be downgraded.

Models eligible for DSM 7.3 upgrade:
FS Series: FS3017, FS2017, FS1018
XS Series: RS18016xs+, RS4017xs+, RS3617xs+, RS3617xs, RS3617RPxs, RS18017xs+, DS3617xs, DS3617xsII, DS3018xs
Plus Series: RS2416RP+, RS2416+, DS916+, DS716+II, DS716+, DS216+II, DS216+, DS1817+, DS1517+, RS2818RP+, RS2418RP+, RS2418+, RS818RP+, RS818+, DS1618+, DS918+, DS718+, DS218+, RS1219+
Value Series: DS116, DS216, DS216play, DS416, DS416play, DS1517, DS1817, DS418play, RS217, RS816
J Series: DS216j, DS416j, DS416slim, DS419slim, DS418j, DS218j, DS119j

For these devices, DSM 7.3 represents the end of the feature update cycle, effectively marking the transition point toward DSM 8, which will accompany newer 2026 and later hardware. Users operating 2025-series NAS systems that are produced by Synology in 2026 (the DS225+, DS425+, DS725+, DS925+, DS1525+, DS1825+, and RS2825RP+) will receive DSM 7.3 by default and will likely be among the first to transition to DSM 8 once available.

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Is the Synology DS925+, DS1825+, DS1525+, etc NAS OK to Buy Now?

As this change in unverified hard drive support policy by Synology seems to be rolled out in the DSM 7.3 update, that means that currently if you buy and deply a Synology x25 generation NAS, you will still be subject to the restricted HDD deployment status of DSM right now (i.e cannot initialize, cannot RAID build, Rebuild, hot spare, etc unless using a Synology labelled drive or one that eventually might arrive on the compatibility list). So, if you buy the new Synology DS925+, DS1825+ or DS1525+ – unless you were already going to buy Synology hard drive and SSD media, you won’t be able to do very much out the box! So, if you are only considering a Synology NAS right now IF it can be used with 3rd party and/or unverified storage media – DO NOT BUY until the DSM 7.3 update rolls out! You will just be wasting some of your 3 year included warranty whilst you wait!

HOWEVER –If/When you do wish to purchase a Synology NAS, please do use the links below in order to purchase your NAS. Doing so results in a small commission coming to me and Ed here at NASCompares, and it allows us to keep doing what we do here, and is the most frictionless and zero-cost way for you to support our articles, reviews, videos, guides, support systems and more.

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Below are further videos from over the course of the last 6+ months that cover the evolution of Synology and this controversial hard drive support policy.

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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The Synology Hard Drive and SSD Support Change in DSM 7.3 Explained – What You Can/Cannot Do

With the release of DSM 7.3, Synology has formally introduced its latest and most detailed round of storage compatibility policies to date, outlining exactly which hard drives and solid-state drives are supported across its growing NAS product ecosystem. These updates arrive after several years of gradual tightening in Synology’s hardware validation process, which began in 2021 with the introduction of the HAT5300 and HAT3300 drives and became fully enforced in the 2024–2025 generation of devices. Under DSM 7.2, many of these newer systems—in particular the Plus series—were restricted to using Synology-branded drives only, effectively preventing users from creating storage pools with unverified third-party disks. This limitation led to considerable backlash from the community and power users who had relied on flexible drive choices for mixed or repurposed storage builds.

DSM 7.3 introduces a new structure to this policy, known internally as the HCL 5.0 framework, which partially relaxes those restrictions for 2025 model-year DiskStation Plus and J series NAS systems. It reinstates the ability to use non-listed hard drives and SATA SSDs for pool creation, while maintaining a degree of verification for higher-end systems such as the XS, SA, FS, and HD series. The update is significant because it rebalances Synology’s approach to drive validation, aligning reliability goals with user flexibility. In addition, DSM 7.3’s drive-handling system now displays clearer notifications within Storage Manager, differentiating between listed, unlisted, and incompatible drives, helping users understand the operational impact of their hardware choices before deploying them into active volumes or caches.

For professionals managing larger deployments, DSM 7.3 also provides expanded transparency on what Synology considers “verified reliability,” listing the precise categories of tests that certified drives undergo—thermal stress, power cycle endurance, and abnormal shutdown simulation—before being added to the official compatibility list. These details are especially relevant for IT administrators planning storage upgrades or migrations, as the new compatibility tables make it clear which drive types can be used in different Synology product families. This article breaks down the logic behind these changes, explains how Synology’s updated system reacts to various drive types, and clarifies which NAS lines now support third-party drives under DSM 7.3.

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Why Synology Has Changed Hard Drive and SSD Support in DSM 7.3?

When the Synology 2025 PLUS series launched in spring 2025, Synology’s decision to restrict many newer NAS models to officially approved Synology-branded drives marked a major turning point in the company’s storage policy, triggering widespread criticism across its user base. Systems like the DS923+ and DS1522+ suddenly required drives from Synology’s HAT or SAT ranges for creating new storage pools, leaving long-time users frustrated that they could no longer use trusted third-party disks from vendors such as Seagate or Western Digital. Synology’s explanation at the time centered on reliability: they claimed a growing number of support incidents were linked to unverified drives with unstable firmware, inconsistent temperature readings, or poor power recovery behavior. The aim was to unify performance standards across the portfolio and ensure that every supported configuration met enterprise-grade validation tests already used in their FS and SA lines. However, as the backlash grew throughout 2024 and early 2025, it became clear that many customers—especially small businesses and home users—felt alienated by this rigid policy. Some migrated to alternative NAS ecosystems, while others publicly voiced concerns about the long-term openness of Synology’s platform. In response, Synology developed a new compatibility framework known as HCL 5.0, introduced in DSM 7.3, to strike a balance between reliability and flexibility. This new approach reinstates the ability to use unlisted hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs for storage pool creation on 2025 DiskStation Plus, Value, and J series models, provided the drives are not explicitly marked as incompatible. Meanwhile, enterprise systems such as the FS, SA, XS, and HD ranges continue to enforce strict compatibility for mission-critical stability. Synology described this as a pragmatic evolution of its policy, aligning with customer expectations while continuing to collaborate with major drive manufacturers to validate additional models under its new testing program. The result is a hybrid policy that protects Synology’s enterprise reliability standards but restores much of the flexibility and user confidence that defined the brand’s earlier systems.

What Happens When a User Installs a Hard Drive That Is Not on the Compatibility List but Is Not on the Incompatibility List Either?

Under DSM 7.3, Synology has overhauled how its NAS systems handle drives that are not officially listed in the compatibility database but are also not explicitly marked as incompatible. This new policy, part of the HCL 5.0 framework, restores the flexibility that was largely lost with DSM 7.2. For users of 2025 DiskStation Plus models, including systems such as the DS1525+, DS925+, and DS725+, these drives are now treated as fully functional and supported for installation, storage pool creation, and volume management. When a non-listed HDD or SATA SSD is installed in these units, DSM 7.3 accepts it without generating warnings, restrictions, or “unverified” messages. The drive behaves identically to a fully approved model, and users can create new RAID arrays, expand existing volumes, and use all standard DSM features such as snapshots, encryption, and Hyper Backup. This marks a significant shift from DSM 7.2, which blocked pool creation entirely if the installed drive was not verified by Synology.

The only distinction that remains is on the support side rather than the user interface. While DSM 7.3 operates normally with these drives, Synology’s technical support team may limit assistance for issues proven to be caused by non-listed hardware. This distinction allows experienced users to use mixed or legacy drives at their discretion while maintaining a clear boundary of responsibility. From a practical standpoint, performance, drive telemetry, and reliability monitoring remain fully available, including S.M.A.R.T. analysis, temperature reporting, and bad sector scanning. Storage pools built with these drives are indistinguishable from those using Synology-validated models, which means users can freely upgrade or migrate without worrying about feature loss.

The only exceptions to this open policy involve M.2 NVMe drives and systems outside the Plus, Value, or J series. NVMe SSDs used for caching or storage pools still require official validation because they endure heavier sustained write loads and generate more heat under continuous NAS workloads. As a result, only listed M.2 models can be used for new cache or pool creation, though previously configured drives can still be migrated. Meanwhile, enterprise-oriented NAS lines such as the RS, FS, SA, and XS series continue to operate under stricter compatibility rules, where only officially listed drives can be used for new storage pool creation. In these systems, non-listed drives can sometimes be recognized for migration, but cannot participate in new arrays or cache volumes.

For most users, this means that DSM 7.3 on the 2025 Plus series finally restores the traditional Synology experience: the ability to use virtually any NAS-grade hard drive or 2.5-inch SSD without restriction. It also removes the previous generation’s unnecessary barriers that alienated long-term customers. Synology has positioned this change as a response to community feedback, reaffirming that flexibility can coexist with reliability. The HCL 5.0 framework is now the baseline for all new consumer and prosumer systems, signaling Synology’s partial return to an open and more user-friendly storage policy.

How Is Hard Drive Compatibility in DSM 7.3 on the Rackstation/RS and NVR/DVA Surveillance NAS Systems?

While the original restrictions are expected (though not wholy welcome) for enterprise-grade units, DSM 7.3 also applies similar limitations to rackmount Plus (RS+) and DVA/NVR models, which has generated frustration among users expecting parity with desktop Plus series devices. Systems such as the RS2423RP+, RS422+, and DVA1622 remain governed by a more conservative policy, where only drives on the compatibility list can be used for new pool creation, and unlisted HDDs are accepted only for migration. In contrast to the new, flexible policy introduced for 2025 DiskStation Plus models, these rackmount and surveillance systems do not yet benefit from the same relaxed rules. This distinction is particularly disappointing given that many surveillance-optimized HDDs—such as Seagate’s SkyHawk or IronWolf ranges—have not yet been verified by Synology for DVA or NVR units, leaving buyers with fewer officially supported choices despite these drives being purpose-built for similar workloads.

The DVA and NVR product lines further complicate matters because their operating environments rely heavily on consistent write performance and power management behavior. Synology’s internal reasoning is that drive validation for continuous surveillance recording requires more predictable I/O latency and lower error recovery times than typical NAS workloads. However, the practical impact is a reduced range of compatible disks, even when many third-party NAS or CCTV-specific drives are known to perform reliably under similar conditions. Until Synology expands its verification program to include these models, administrators deploying rackmount Plus or DVA systems must continue to rely exclusively on officially listed drives or accept limited migration-only functionality.

These restrictions highlight an ongoing inconsistency in Synology’s product ecosystem. DSM 7.3 offers broad flexibility and open drive use on desktop Plus series systems but maintains enterprise-grade rigidity across rackmount Plus and surveillance-focused models. For now, this gap means that users deploying DSM 7.3 on RS or DVA systems cannot benefit from the same simplified, user-friendly drive policy available to standard DiskStation Plus NAS units.

How Is Hard Drive Compatibility in DSM 7.3 on the FS, HD, SA, UC, XS+, XS, and DP Series?

In DSM 7.3, Synology continues to apply the most stringent validation rules across its enterprise and datacenter-class NAS platforms, which include the FS, HD, SA, UC, XS+, XS, RS, and DP series. These systems are built for environments where sustained uptime, predictable throughput, and long-term data integrity are non-negotiable. As a result, they rely entirely on Synology’s Enterprise Compatibility Framework, which only permits the use of drives that have been formally validated and listed on the official compatibility database. These listed drives undergo intensive reliability testing, including extended read/write stress cycles, multi-node redundancy simulations, and controlled recovery from power or network failures. DSM 7.3 enforces this framework to guarantee consistent behavior across RAID arrays and to ensure that firmware-level optimizations, such as error recovery timing and caching algorithms, work as designed with Synology’s proprietary storage stack.

For users of these enterprise models, drives fall into three possible states: listed, not listed, and incompatible. Listed drives are fully supported for installation, storage pool creation, caching, and migration. Drives that are not listed may still appear in Storage Manager but are limited to migration-only use, meaning they can be mounted if they come from an existing Synology system but cannot be initialized for new volumes or RAID groups. This allows data recovery or transition from legacy setups without granting full functionality. Meanwhile, drives on the incompatibility list are blocked entirely and cannot be used in any capacity. These restrictions are designed to prevent firmware mismatches or mechanical inconsistencies that could undermine array stability. In practice, this means that enterprise and rackmount models remain tied to the official drive ecosystem, often limited to Synology’s own HAT or HAS series drives or verified OEM equivalents.

In these product classes, DSM 7.3 also maintains a strict policy for cache and SSD usage. M.2 NVMe drives can only be used for caching or storage pools if they appear on the official compatibility list. Unlisted M.2 drives are detected by the system but cannot be assigned to any cache operation, even for testing purposes. Similarly, 2.5-inch SATA or SAS SSDs that are not verified cannot participate in new array creation, even though they may mount for migration. This conservative approach reflects Synology’s focus on maintaining data integrity over flexibility in its upper-tier systems, where downtime or data corruption can carry substantial business costs. DSM communicates these restrictions clearly during setup: any attempt to use an unsupported drive for new pool creation will trigger a warning explaining that the operation cannot proceed due to compatibility enforcement.

What are the benefits of Buying Synology-branded Hard Drives and SSDs?

In parallel with the policy adjustments introduced in DSM 7.3, Synology has also begun expanding a series of benefits and incentives aimed at customers who purchase Synology NAS systems together with Synology-branded storage media. These initiatives are part of the company’s ongoing effort to strengthen its vertically integrated ecosystem, ensuring optimal performance and reliability when all components come from the same source. In selected markets, buyers who purchase Synology HAT, HAS, or SAT series drives on the same invoice as their NAS hardware now receive extended warranty coverage of up to five years, administered directly through authorized distributors and resellers. In addition, Synology has introduced an Express Replacement program, allowing for immediate drive swaps during the warranty period without waiting for the defective unit to be shipped and inspected, effectively mirroring the convenience of a premium RMA service. These benefits are available at no extra cost when drives are purchased through approved channels. The initiative is designed to make Synology’s validated ecosystem more appealing to businesses seeking predictable lifecycle management and faster recovery in the event of hardware failure, while also providing an incentive for users to standardize on Synology-branded components rather than mixing third-party storage.

Head over to Blackvoid HERE to read Luka’s great write-up on DSM 7.3 below:

DSM 7.3 and Hard Drive / SSD Support Conclusion

DSM 7.3 might well represent the most comprehensive and transparent storage compatibility framework Synology has released to date (after years of obviscation and unclear messaging), but it also reinforces a clear divide between its consumer and enterprise platforms. The introduction of the HCL 5.0 policy marks a pragmatic shift from the heavily restricted DSM 7.1/7.2 model, restoring the flexibility that long-time users had relied on for more than a decade. On the 2025 DiskStation Plus series, users can once again install and operate any third-party NAS-grade HDD or SATA SSD without limitation, bringing back the open and adaptable system design that helped define Synology’s reputation. This balance between openness and validation shows the company’s recognition of user feedback and its effort to rebuild trust after widespread criticism of its earlier drive-locking policy. By maintaining full functionality for unlisted drives while still reserving strict validation for high-end hardware, DSM 7.3 offers a compromise that keeps consumer-grade systems practical and professional-grade systems predictable. Not ideal, but better than what was already in place.

However, DSM 7.3 also underlines the growing separation between Synology’s desktop Plus models and its rackmount Plus, DVA, and enterprise systems. While home and small-business users benefit from restored flexibility, administrators working with rackmount or surveillance solutions remain tied to tightly controlled drive lists. The continued exclusion of common NAS and NVR-grade drives—such as Seagate IronWolf and SkyHawk or WD Purple series—from the verified list limits adoption and drives up deployment costs, particularly for surveillance users who require high-capacity, continuous-write storage. Until Synology expands its validation program or aligns its rackmount Plus systems with the same drive-handling rules as its desktop equivalents, this divide will remain a sticking point. DSM 7.3 is therefore both a meaningful correction and a reminder that Synology’s storage policy continues to evolve in response to user pressure. It moves the platform back toward flexibility without abandoning its enterprise reliability philosophy, but the differences between product tiers are now more visible than ever.

Want to Support What We Do? Use the Links Below to Buy your NAS and/or HDD and SSD Media. Clicking these links will result in a small commission for anything you purchase, heading to me and Eddie @NASCompares and allows us to keep doing this! It’s just us two here and between this and ads, it’s the most passive way to keep us sailing! Thanks

Synology NAS and Media on Amazon – HERE Synology Products on B&H – HERE Seagate Ironwolf Media on Amazon – HERE WD Red Media on Amazon – HERE Seagate Products on B&H – HERE WD Products on B&H – HERE

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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Synology (FINALLY) Gives In to 3rd Party HDD Support in 2025 PLUS Series NAS

7/10/25 – Updated with information supplied by Synology on how verifications and product ranges will support different HDD/SSD in DSM 7.3

Of all the stories of 2025, very few had the level of impact on the NAS industry that the Hard Drive support policy change by Synology did. Arguably THE name in the world of turnkey NAS, Synology enjoyed a fairly spotless reputation up until recent years, but when their gradual first-party support stance took a very drastic acceleration in April 2025 with a complete lockout of HDDs from Seagate and WD for their 2025 generation of hardware, the industry responded very, very unfavourably (Ed – understatement of the YEAR). Over the months that followed, even some of the biggest tech platforms and consumer rights focused media outlets on the internet made damning statements about the brand’s actions, previously very Synology-friendly outlets either criticised the move or simply ceased covering Synology, and even typically heavily supportive Synology-associated platforms such as the Synology subreddit and yes even here at NASCompares were keen to highlight every inconsistent turn of this story. After six months of heavy fire, undoubtedly poor sales of the 7–8 released Synology 2025 generation hardware launches in that time (eg DS925+, DS1825+, DS425+, etc), repeated missteps by the brand in user engagement (such as disabling comments on videos, contradictory press statements and baffling justifications around hardware)… now… NOW the brand has announced that you will once again be able to use Seagate and WD Hard Drives on the Synology 2025 generation of devices – and importantly, this time without the level of shouted alerts and warnings. So, let’s discuss when this WD and Seagate Hard Drive media support is coming back, what are the limits, is this too little too late and whether all this was ever worth it for Synology.

When and How Will Third-Party Hard Drive Support Return to the 2025 Synology NAS?

Synology has detailed that third-party hard drive support will return to 2025 devices alongside the rollout of DSM 7.3, the next major update to the Synology software platform. Unlike previous statements earlier this year, this U-turn now means that Seagate and WD drives will not only be usable again but also with a significant reduction (possibly even complete removal – still awaiting exact testing of DSM 7.3 ourselves) from the constant “unverified drive” and “at risk” warnings that plagued users. This represents a return to the compatibility model users were familiar with before 2025. Exact rollout dates of the DSM 7.3 update are still pending (likely Q4 2025 or early Q1 2026), but this will mark the point where Synology’s 2025 NAS systems no longer block unsupported drives at installation. Until that update arrives and users proceed with it’s installation, Synology 2025 systems will of course still not allow unconfirmed media to initialise DSM. Likewise, it remains unclear how the update will interact with users who have already employed community scripts to bypass restrictions – whether these fixes will still be needed, or whether DSM 7.3 will overwrite them entirely.

Another important detail is how far this reinstated compatibility extends. According to Synology’s new position in the DSM 7.3 rollout, users will again be able to initialise DSM, create storage pools, volumes, run disk checks, expand pools, perform RAID repairs and create hot spare disks – essentially restoring the same functionality that was lost earlier this year. Crucially, the obtrusive warning messages that previously accompanied unsupported drives will be removed, which means the user experience should be indistinguishable from older Synology generations. Synology has stated that testing of specific Seagate and WD drives was still “ongoing” in the last 6 months, but this appears largely academic now, since DSM 7.3 will no longer enforce the same restrictions. Which brings into question the validity of those claims. In practice though, this means users can once again choose from the wider drive market, without fear of blocked features or disruptive alerts. It is still not 100% clear on what the position regarding M.2 NVMe SSDs and Storage Pool use will be, as well as if this is going to be completely brand wide – or just affecting the PLUS series new and old that are eligible for the DSM 7.3 update.

The Alerts and ‘Warnings’ that users have gotten used to up tll now (i.e pre DSM 7.3 roll out):

To confirm, the current 2025 systems that primarily this Synology U-turn on Hard Drive compatibility in DSM would affect are:

• Synology DS925+
• Synology DS1525+
• Synology DS725+
• Synology DS1825+
• Synology DS425+
• Synology DS225+
• Synology RS2825RP+

Previous PLUS series devices did not arrive with the exceedingly strict ‘no verified = no initialization’ rule that the above system’s had, so although these will benefit in DSM 7.3 with lessened warnings that they currently had, it is not the deal breaker proposition that it is/was in the x25 series.

However, let’s return to the point. Was ALL of this chaos by Synology worth it? Was there actually a coherent strategy in place here? Let’s discuss the damage that the last 6 months have caused.

What Happens When a User Installs a Hard Drive That Is Not on the Compatibility List but Is Not on the Incompatibility List Either?

Under DSM 7.3, Synology has overhauled how its NAS systems handle drives that are not officially listed in the compatibility database but are also not explicitly marked as incompatible. This new policy, part of the HCL 5.0 framework, restores the flexibility that was largely lost with DSM 7.2. For users of 2025 DiskStation Plus models, including systems such as the DS1525+, DS925+, and DS725+, these drives are now treated as fully functional and supported for installation, storage pool creation, and volume management. When a non-listed HDD or SATA SSD is installed in these units, DSM 7.3 accepts it without generating warnings, restrictions, or “unverified” messages. The drive behaves identically to a fully approved model, and users can create new RAID arrays, expand existing volumes, and use all standard DSM features such as snapshots, encryption, and Hyper Backup. This marks a significant shift from DSM 7.2, which blocked pool creation entirely if the installed drive was not verified by Synology.

The only distinction that remains is on the support side rather than the user interface. While DSM 7.3 operates normally with these drives, Synology’s technical support team may limit assistance for issues proven to be caused by non-listed hardware. This distinction allows experienced users to use mixed or legacy drives at their discretion while maintaining a clear boundary of responsibility. From a practical standpoint, performance, drive telemetry, and reliability monitoring remain fully available, including S.M.A.R.T. analysis, temperature reporting, and bad sector scanning. Storage pools built with these drives are indistinguishable from those using Synology-validated models, which means users can freely upgrade or migrate without worrying about feature loss.

The only exceptions to this open policy involve M.2 NVMe drives and systems outside the Plus, Value, or J series. NVMe SSDs used for caching or storage pools still require official validation because they endure heavier sustained write loads and generate more heat under continuous NAS workloads. As a result, only listed M.2 models can be used for new cache or pool creation, though previously configured drives can still be migrated. Meanwhile, enterprise-oriented NAS lines such as the RS, FS, SA, and XS series continue to operate under stricter compatibility rules, where only officially listed drives can be used for new storage pool creation. In these systems, non-listed drives can sometimes be recognized for migration, but cannot participate in new arrays or cache volumes.

For most users, this means that DSM 7.3 on the 2025 Plus series finally restores the traditional Synology experience: the ability to use virtually any NAS-grade hard drive or 2.5-inch SSD without restriction. It also removes the previous generation’s unnecessary barriers that alienated long-term customers. Synology has positioned this change as a response to community feedback, reaffirming that flexibility can coexist with reliability. The HCL 5.0 framework is now the baseline for all new consumer and prosumer systems, signaling Synology’s partial return to an open and more user-friendly storage policy.

How Is Hard Drive Compatibility in DSM 7.3 on the Rackstation/RS and NVR/DVA Surveillance NAS Systems?

While the original restrictions are expected (though not wholy welcome) for enterprise-grade units, DSM 7.3 also applies similar limitations to rackmount Plus (RS+) and DVA/NVR models, which has generated frustration among users expecting parity with desktop Plus series devices. Systems such as the RS2423RP+, RS422+, and DVA1622 remain governed by a more conservative policy, where only drives on the compatibility list can be used for new pool creation, and unlisted HDDs are accepted only for migration. In contrast to the new, flexible policy introduced for 2025 DiskStation Plus models, these rackmount and surveillance systems do not yet benefit from the same relaxed rules. This distinction is particularly disappointing given that many surveillance-optimized HDDs—such as Seagate’s SkyHawk or IronWolf ranges—have not yet been verified by Synology for DVA or NVR units, leaving buyers with fewer officially supported choices despite these drives being purpose-built for similar workloads.

The DVA and NVR product lines further complicate matters because their operating environments rely heavily on consistent write performance and power management behavior. Synology’s internal reasoning is that drive validation for continuous surveillance recording requires more predictable I/O latency and lower error recovery times than typical NAS workloads. However, the practical impact is a reduced range of compatible disks, even when many third-party NAS or CCTV-specific drives are known to perform reliably under similar conditions. Until Synology expands its verification program to include these models, administrators deploying rackmount Plus or DVA systems must continue to rely exclusively on officially listed drives or accept limited migration-only functionality.

These restrictions highlight an ongoing inconsistency in Synology’s product ecosystem. DSM 7.3 offers broad flexibility and open drive use on desktop Plus series systems but maintains enterprise-grade rigidity across rackmount Plus and surveillance-focused models. For now, this gap means that users deploying DSM 7.3 on RS or DVA systems cannot benefit from the same simplified, user-friendly drive policy available to standard DiskStation Plus NAS units.

How Is Hard Drive Compatibility in DSM 7.3 on the FS, HD, SA, UC, XS+, XS, and DP Series?

In DSM 7.3, Synology continues to apply the most stringent validation rules across its enterprise and datacenter-class NAS platforms, which include the FS, HD, SA, UC, XS+, XS, RS, and DP series. These systems are built for environments where sustained uptime, predictable throughput, and long-term data integrity are non-negotiable. As a result, they rely entirely on Synology’s Enterprise Compatibility Framework, which only permits the use of drives that have been formally validated and listed on the official compatibility database. These listed drives undergo intensive reliability testing, including extended read/write stress cycles, multi-node redundancy simulations, and controlled recovery from power or network failures. DSM 7.3 enforces this framework to guarantee consistent behavior across RAID arrays and to ensure that firmware-level optimizations, such as error recovery timing and caching algorithms, work as designed with Synology’s proprietary storage stack.

For users of these enterprise models, drives fall into three possible states: listed, not listed, and incompatible. Listed drives are fully supported for installation, storage pool creation, caching, and migration. Drives that are not listed may still appear in Storage Manager but are limited to migration-only use, meaning they can be mounted if they come from an existing Synology system but cannot be initialized for new volumes or RAID groups. This allows data recovery or transition from legacy setups without granting full functionality. Meanwhile, drives on the incompatibility list are blocked entirely and cannot be used in any capacity. These restrictions are designed to prevent firmware mismatches or mechanical inconsistencies that could undermine array stability. In practice, this means that enterprise and rackmount models remain tied to the official drive ecosystem, often limited to Synology’s own HAT or HAS series drives or verified OEM equivalents.

In these product classes, DSM 7.3 also maintains a strict policy for cache and SSD usage. M.2 NVMe drives can only be used for caching or storage pools if they appear on the official compatibility list. Unlisted M.2 drives are detected by the system but cannot be assigned to any cache operation, even for testing purposes. Similarly, 2.5-inch SATA or SAS SSDs that are not verified cannot participate in new array creation, even though they may mount for migration. This conservative approach reflects Synology’s focus on maintaining data integrity over flexibility in its upper-tier systems, where downtime or data corruption can carry substantial business costs. DSM communicates these restrictions clearly during setup: any attempt to use an unsupported drive for new pool creation will trigger a warning explaining that the operation cannot proceed due to compatibility enforcement.

What are the benefits of Buying Synology-branded Hard Drives and SSDs?

In parallel with the policy adjustments introduced in DSM 7.3, Synology has also begun expanding a series of benefits and incentives aimed at customers who purchase Synology NAS systems together with Synology-branded storage media. These initiatives are part of the company’s ongoing effort to strengthen its vertically integrated ecosystem, ensuring optimal performance and reliability when all components come from the same source. In selected markets, buyers who purchase Synology HAT, HAS, or SAT series drives on the same invoice as their NAS hardware now receive extended warranty coverage of up to five years, administered directly through authorized distributors and resellers. In addition, Synology has introduced an Express Replacement program, allowing for immediate drive swaps during the warranty period without waiting for the defective unit to be shipped and inspected, effectively mirroring the convenience of a premium RMA service. These benefits are available at no extra cost when drives are purchased through approved channels. The initiative is designed to make Synology’s validated ecosystem more appealing to businesses seeking predictable lifecycle management and faster recovery in the event of hardware failure, while also providing an incentive for users to standardize on Synology-branded components rather than mixing third-party storage.

Head over to Blackvoid HERE to read Luka’s great write-up on DSM 7.3 below:

Is it Too Little, Too Late? Is the Damage to the Synology Brand Already Done?

It’s a valid point. As mentioned in the intro, Synology has been a brand that, short of a few knocks along the way, has had a sterling reputation. Although their hardware has often been a little underwhelming, the software and services have been largely A1. But the move by Synology in restricting the use of drives from brands such as Seagate and WD burned A LOT of bridges. One cannot imagine that Western Digital or Seagate Technology were especially pleased by the rebuke either. The backlash was immediate and huge. Numerous sources I have spoken to in Europe and the U.S regarding Synology PLUS series sales (even for the 2023/22/21 ranges) confirmed the same sentiment: “Synology Diskstation sales were at a fraction of the previous year.” How much these support changes impacted enterprise solutions is unconfirmed, but given the number of sys-admins who quietly admitted to changing their buying plans, and sales teams who admitted recommending other vendors when Synology quotes became less competitive, the damage over the last 6 months has been palpable.

However, what about the next six months? Or the next 12 or 24? The timing of Synology’s disastrous hard drive support policy flip-flop could hardly have been worse. Alongside tech buyers (home and business) having tighter budgets due to rising costs, international trade tariffs being debated, new players entering the NAS industry, and rising expectations of what a system should do, Synology could not have chosen a worse moment for an unpopular policy. Many users who saw the way the policy was rolled out interpreted it as “the writing on the wall” and changed their stance on the brand. Some already jumped ship to alternative vendors, and others opted for older Synology hardware from pre-2025 ranges to avoid the lockout. For those buyers, the fact that the restrictions are now being removed will feel like a bitter twist – they could have had the newer hardware with the same freedom if they had simply waited a little longer.

How much of this shift can be attributed to public and media backlash is hard to quantify, but the scale of the U-turn speaks for itself. This is not the first time Synology has reversed course under pressure. Back in 2021/22, when DSM 7.0 introduced the earliest versions of its compatibility enforcement with red critical warnings, the outcry forced a retreat in DSM 7.1 to amber warnings instead (read here). History has now repeated itself on a much bigger stage. The difference is that this time, months of poor reviews, negative coverage, and lost sales will remain part of the public record, and Synology will struggle to erase that damage.

Much like QNAP and its long-running association with Deadbolt ransomware attacks, Synology may find that users do not easily forget this saga. For months, the internet has been awash with angry comments, critical reviews, and valid frustration at the brand’s direction. Even with DSM 7.3 restoring full drive freedom, the stigma of this six-month debacle will linger. Some users will never return. Others will approach Synology with renewed caution, mindful that the company could change course again in the future. The reaction from existing and potential Synology PLUS series NAS users was loud enough that I felt compelled to make two videos SPECIFICALLY because users were DM’ing and commenting about why I/NASCompares was continuing in our coverage of this brand:

Is the Synology DS925+, DS1825+, DS1525+, etc NAS OK to Buy Now?

As this change in unverified hard drive support policy by Synology seems to be rolled out in the DSM 7.3 update, that means that currently if you buy and deply a Synology x25 generation NAS, you will still be subject to the restricted HDD deployment status of DSM right now (i.e cannot initialize, cannot RAID build, Rebuild, hot spare, etc unless using a Synology labelled drive or one that eventually might arrive on the compatibility list). So, if you buy the new Synology DS925+, DS1825+ or DS1525+ – unless you were already going to buy Synology hard drive and SSD media, you won’t be able to do very much out the box! So, if you are only considering a Synology NAS right now IF it can be used with 3rd party and/or unverified storage media – DO NOT BUY until the DSM 7.3 update rolls out! You will just be wasting some of your 3 year included warranty whilst you wait!

HOWEVER –If/When you do wish to purchase a Synology NAS, please do use the links below in order to purchase your NAS. Doing so results in a small commission coming to me and Ed here at NASCompares, and it allows us to keep doing what we do here, and is the most frictionless and zero-cost way for you to support our articles, reviews, videos, guides, support systems and more.

Synology DS925+ NAS	Synology DS1525+ NAS	Synology DS1825+ NAS
Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS925+ NAS	Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS1525+ NAS @ $799	Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS1825+ NAS @ $1149
heck B&H for the Synology DS925+ NAS	B&H for the Synology DS1525+ NAS @ $1149.99	B&H for the Synology DS1825+ NAS @ $1149.99

 

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Below are further videos from over the course of the last 6+ months that cover the evolution of Synology and this controversial hard drive support policy.

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE