Introduction
Welcome to our in-depth guide on connecting to your Synology NAS from macOS using AFP and SMB. Synology NAS devices are renowned for their robust storage solutions and versatile features, making them a popular choice for both personal and business use. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up AFP and SMB protocols on your macOS system to establish a seamless connection with your Synology NAS.
Understanding Synology NAS and its Benefits
Before diving into the connectivity setup, let’s briefly explore the key benefits of Synology NAS:
- Centralized Storage: Synology NAS provides a centralized location to store and access your files, ensuring data security and easy management.
- Multi-Platform Support: Synology NAS is compatible with various operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and Linux, offering seamless cross-platform file sharing.
- Data Protection: With built-in RAID configurations and backup solutions, Synology NAS safeguards your data against loss and corruption.
Setting up AFP on macOS
To connect to your Synology NAS using AFP on macOS, follow these steps:
- Open ‘Finder’ on your macOS system.
- Click on ‘Go’ in the top menu and select ‘Connect to Server’.
- Enter ‘afp://
‘ in the ‘Server Address’ field, replacing ‘ ‘ with the actual IP address of your Synology NAS. - Click ‘Connect’ and enter your NAS credentials when prompted.
- Once connected, you can access your Synology NAS files through the Finder window.
Configuring SMB on macOS
If you prefer to use SMB for connecting to your Synology NAS, here’s how you can set it up:
- Open ‘System Preferences’ on your macOS system.
- Go to ‘Sharing’ and ensure ‘File Sharing’ is enabled.
- Add your Synology NAS shared folder by clicking the ‘+’ icon.
- Select ‘SMB’ as the protocol and enter the server address.
- Authenticate with your NAS credentials and click ‘Connect’ to access the shared folder.
Troubleshooting Common Connectivity Issues
Encountering connectivity issues is not uncommon when setting up NAS connections. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
- Unable to Connect: Check the network connection and ensure the NAS IP address is correct.
- Authentication Failure: Verify the username and password entered for the NAS connection.
- Slow Transfer Speed: Check network bandwidth and consider optimizing your network settings.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of connecting to your Synology NAS from macOS using AFP and SMB opens up a world of convenient file access and storage management. By following the steps outlined in this guide and troubleshooting any connectivity issues, you can harness the full potential of your Synology NAS. Stay connected, stay productive!
DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing
High Performance Multi-WAN Router - The Vigor 2962 makes full use of FTTP Fibre Broadband at up to 2.2Gbps throughput for single or multi-WAN configurations. With Quality of Service, Firewall and Content Filtering.
Buy Now on Amazon
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up
WiFI mesh coverage of up to 6,000 sq ft and up to 75 devices, With each satellite (sold separately) you can extend the range by up to 2,000 sq ft
Buy Now on Amazon
DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL
VDSL and Ethernet Load Balancer - Connect the Vigor 2865 to Superfast Fibre with the integrated VDSL modem. Use the Ethernet WAN with Cable and Ultrafast FTTP. Load Balance multiple connections to boost performance.
Buy Now on Amazon
TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh
Wi-Fi 7 Routers: With powerful Wi-Fi 7 performance, lightning-fast wired connections, and brand-new design
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)
NAS and iSCSI-SAN unified storage solution for server virtualization
Buy Now on Amazon
WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives
Centralised network storage: Organise your entire media collection, photos and files in one central, network location
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black
Online volume expansion
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM
The short depth design is suitable for installing in smaller racks or space-constrained locations
Buy Now on Amazon
Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)
Model Number: ST10000VN0008
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion
8GB DDR4 RAM (2 x SODIMM slots, max. 64GB, optional ECC RAM support)
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives
Accelerated Performance: 174% higher 4K random read IOPS and 76% faster sequential write speeds compared to its predecessor
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution
Powerful Performance - Over 3,100/2,600 MB/s sequential read/write throughput and over 173,100/80,800 random read/write IOPS2 support heavier applications
Buy Now on Amazon