Let IT Block show you the easy way to connect a Windows computer to a brand new Synology NAS.
There is an easy and simple way to connect your Synology DiskStation NAS to your Windows computer. We have laid out the steps to securely complete the connection process, which also applies to Windows 10. While the process may seem daunting at first, we have broken down the process into easily manageable instructions.
There is no need to worry about connecting your Synology DiskStation NAS to your Windows computer. With this guide, we will walk you through the process step by step, including all of the information you need to know. Even beginners can follow these steps to connect their Synology DiskStation NAS.
For seasoned users, we have also provided an alternative method for connection at the end of this article. If you are not a fan of installing third-party software on your Windows computer, this alternative method may be best for you. Keep reading for a full look at connecting your Synology DiskStation NAS to your Windows computer.
Step one: Install SYNOLOGY assistant in Windows
Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer
Start by turning on the NAS and waiting for the unit to get through its complete boot sequence. Next, you can open your preferred web browser and go to find.synology.com or search for diskstation:5000. From here, you should be able to find the configuration wizard.
Alternatively, you can download the file here or click on the logo to download the file. When downloading, make sure to choose the .exe file and install it into Windows. This download works for Windows 10 as well, so there is no need to worry about which version of Windows you are currently using.
The installation process is fairly straightforward, so it should not take too long to complete. To complete the installation, you should run the software as an administrator or use your admin account.
Step two: Setup your DSM, your Synology NAS operating system.
Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer
Before we can start conneting your Synoloy NAS to Windows, we have to ensure that the rights, permissions, files, and folders are properly set up on your DSM Synology machine. If you have already gone through the processes that we will cover in this section, feel free to skip on to the next part of this guide.
Connecting directly to your NAS IP is the most straightforward way to connect to your DSM or Disk Station Manager. If you can see the screen shown above, you are ready to proceed to the next step. If you do not know how to access this screen at all, keep reading for more information.
First, you should find your SYNOLOGY and connect to it. The simplest way to find your SYNOLOGY is to click on the web address listed above. Once the program starts to run in your browser, it will help you find your NAS that is connected to your network. When you find your NAS, you can follow the steps in this guide to complete your installation. The following video illustrates the installation process to help make things a bit easier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCoTuGuGL0
As soon as you find the DiskStation that is connected to your network, you should see an image that is similar to the one on the right. Once you see this image on your screen, you can select “Connect” to continue.
Now that your NAS is found, we can log in to the operating system of the NAS. This will allow you to complete some basic user set up functions and group set up functions. Doing so will help you with some shared drives and mapping them to your Windows computer.
Step three: Create a Shared folder in Synology NAS to connect to your Windows computer.
Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer
To create a shared folder, navigate to the File Station application in your SYNOLOGY. From here, click on Create, then select Create New Shared Folder.
Next, you can enter the name and description of your shared folder. Both fields are required before you can move on, so don’t skip past this step. Once you have added this information, click on “Next” until the file is launched.
When this step is completed, you have created your first shared folder in your SYNOLOGY NAS. Congratulations! Now, you can set up the rights to this shared folder. Going forward, we will call your new shared folder Folder A to simplify the setup process. Keep in mind that you can name this folder whatever you prefer.
Step four: Create user accounts and groups in Synology DSM for Windows to authenticate a connection.
Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer
Creating a group is a very straightforward and uncomplicated process. Follow these steps to set up your first group.
To create a group, navigate to Control Panel, then select Group. It is best to set up groups first, so you can set some access policies before adding users. When we say policy, we are referring to what you are allowed to access or not allowed to access as a group member. Any contradictions in policy usually result in the more restrictive policy taking charge.
For example, one policy set to no will result in “no.” Two policies set to no will also result in “no.” If one policy is set to no and another is set to yes, the “no” will overrule the yes and the policy will be set to “no.” However, two policies set to yes will result in “yes.” As you can see, the restrictive policy will always win.
Once you have set up your group policy, allow the group to access “Read/Write” to the shared folder that you created in the earlier set, Folder A.
Next, we will create a user. There’s no need to worry because the process for setting up a user is as simple as setting up a group.
It is important to make sure that you either give the same rights to both the user and the group or choose to use the group policy for your new user. Keep in mind that the more restrictive policy will win out if the multiple policies conflict.
Allow the new user to access Folder A to simplify the process. It is important to make note of your username and password for your new user. We recommend writing it down on a piece of paper beside you until you have it memorized or can pass the information along to the person who will use the account.
Under “Info:” This tab is the place to input your email address for recovery purposes. You should also input your username and password in this tab. Please remember the password because it will be important for the next step in your Windows computer setup process.
Under “User Groups:” When you allocate a group to your new user, you will set all of the permissions and policies of the group as your default. For now, you do not need to worry about any of the other tabs.
Step five A: Connect to your Synology NAS on your WIndows computer using Synology Assistant.
Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer
Once the software or Synology Assistant is running, you can click on “search” to refresh. This process will show you the latest IP of your SYNOLOGY disk drives. Once your disk drives appear, click on the first one you see and then click on "Map Network Drive." You should input the username and password that you created for your user earlier under the right group policy.
Now, you should see a list that includes a mapped network drive, named Folder A. Click on Folder A and then click on Map. Also, remember to select “Reconnect at logon." Setting your program to reconnect at login will ensure your computer is always reconnected to the shared drive each time it restarts. You do not want to leave this box unticked because it will save you a considerable amount of time and headache in the future. There is no need to reconnect every time your shared drive starts up.
The same is true for the next page where there is a tick box that says "Open The Mapped Drive." You should make sure that you select this box as well. Choosing to open the mapped drive will allow you to create a shortcut to the desktop quickly. In any case, you will find the mapped network drive here in Windows Explorer:
Navigate to My Computer.
You can click on the folder icon in your taskbar to open up this window.
As a little bonus, we have added another section below for those who wish to attach or map your Synology NAS folders in Windows without the use of Synology Assistant. If you prefer not to use third-party software and installers, this manual method is your best bet. The process is not difficult, but it may be best left for more seasoned users.
Step five B: Connect to Synology NAS Folders directly from Windows Explorer
Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer
The Synology assistant is great and easy to use. However, in our experience, there are glitches from time to time. These glitches may be caused by network settings or firewalls, but we are not completely sure of the cause for the issues. It is also possible that glitches could be the result of a bad internet connection. Whatever the reason may be, we have provided some very easy steps to follow to get around these issues.
Start the process by navigating to your Windows Explorer and right-click on Network, located on the left-hand side of the bar. Once you click on “Map network drive...,” you will see the screen shown below. Before you proceed to the next step, you must find out a few things.
First, find the IP of your Synology NAS within your LAN, or local area network. An easy way to do this is to expand the “Network” on your Windows Explorer and then right-click on your Synology NAS. From here, click on Properties. This should show the IP of your Synology at the bottom of the screen.
The second thing you will need to know is the specific name of the folder you wish to map to or connect to with your Windows computer. In doing so, you will create an easy to use a shortcut to simplify the process of accessing the specific folder in the future.
Now that you have both the server IP address and the name of your folder, input them using the following format in the Folder box: \\192.168.X.X\FolderXYZ.
Connect using the appropriate user and credentials you made with the rights to access this specific folder. And voila! You have successfully mapped a shared folder in Synology to your Windows File Explorer using a manual process. Feel free to pin or create a shortcut to that folder on your desktop for your convenience.
Thank you for reading 'Easy way to connect your Synology NAS to Windows computer' and IT Block wishes you a beautiful day. IT Block is an IT support services provider based in Singapore, and we love to share what we learn with the world.
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