How do I connect to a Synology NAS from a Mac?
In Finder, choose Go → Connect to Server (Cmd-K), enter smb://NAS-name (or its IP), and sign in with your Synology username and password. Use SMB — modern macOS prefers it over the older AFP. Make sure SMB is enabled on the Synology under Control Panel → File Services.
Last verified July 22, 2026 · 2 official sources checked Updated
Connecting a Mac to a Synology is straightforward and uses SMB, the same protocol Windows uses. Apple has moved away from AFP, so SMB is the right choice on current macOS.
Steps
- In Finder, choose Go → Connect to Server (or press Cmd-K).
- Enter
smb://DiskStation(the NAS hostname) orsmb://192.168.x.x(its IP), then click Connect. - Choose Registered User and enter your Synology username and password.
- Pick the shared folders to mount. Tick to save the password to your Keychain if you want it to reconnect automatically.
Enable SMB on the Synology
On the NAS, make sure SMB is on: Control Panel → File Services → SMB → Enable SMB service. SMB3 is preferred. You can leave AFP off — modern macOS works well over SMB, and Apple has deprecated AFP.
Time Machine and reconnecting
- To use the NAS for Time Machine, enable it for a shared folder in DSM, then select that share in Time Machine settings.
- To auto-mount at login, add the mounted share to System Settings → General → Login Items.
Once connected, the share behaves like any mounted volume — and, as always, its safety depends on the NAS's RAID and your backups.
Fix the connection, then protect the data
Once you can reach the NAS again, make sure the storage underneath it is sound — the right drives, healthy and backed up.
Related questions
Sources
Every technical claim on this page is checked against manufacturer and standards documentation. Dates are when each source was last reviewed.
- Synology KB — Access DSM shared folders from a Mac (SMB/AFP) — checked 2026-07-22
- Microsoft Learn — Control SMB signing behavior (updated 2025-09-15) — checked 2026-07-22