Synology Drive Reviews

I’ve used the DS cloud and DS files apps for years. I use DS cloud like Dropbox to keep files in sync between multiple platforms and devices. In order to manage storage requirements on my mobile devices I have one synchronized directory for mobile devices and another for laptops etc. When I need to get to files on the DiskStation that are not in my mobile DS cloud directory, I use DS files.

When I first learned about Synology Drive I hoped it would serve both needs. It allows me to access both mobile and laptop directories or any other directory I setup for synchronization. Drive does not try to sync files between the mobile device and the disk station. It only provides access. This means I can access any file as long as I have a network connection.

I think Synology Drive falls short of a great app because of two missing features though.
There is no way to cache or store any files for offline use. Would like to have the ability to select folders and individual files for offline use. Not the entire sync folder like DS cloud does though.
Synology Drive does not fully support the iOS Files app the way Google Drive and Dropbox do.

If the above features were added, I think I would not have much need for any other cloud sync/storage app.

Just made the switch away from Dropbox when I saw Synology Drive look more grown up. Love it on my NASs and computers. Really functions well and isn’t the resource hog like DB.

I don’t know why more developers don’t include content indexing of files! Even Apple doesn’t include it within Files. The only easy solution is Documents by Readdle where I have to connect other services. Hopefully via an SMB connection I can get Documents to see the Synology Drive folder and index items. It’s not an edge case to search contents.

Otherwise there doesn’t seem to be much to explore in this sparse app. Seems like a good beginning, quickconnect is so useful! Connected to NAS at my shop from home. Thanks Synology.

Please add search within the PDF when you open the document!

Echoing others, SynologyDrive has a series of issues that speak to developer neglect. Of primary concern to me is the non-functional Files app integration. It simply doesn’t work, and the “Content Unavailable” message is the most reliable thing one can expect when attempting to access Synology Drive from the native Files app. Frustratingly, this isn’t a new issue - it’s just gotten worse.

Using the “Labels” feature results in a consistent app crash upon tapping a labeled item, and the inability to save an entire folder of items for offline access makes the entire “Offline Access” function more of burden than a feature.

Feels like SynologyDrive should simply be removed from the store until the issues are fixed, especially given that a core, fairly mature iOS and iPadOS integration such as Files provides such a subpar experience in comparison to both iOS and Synology’s own DSM.

Need drive to have shortcuts so you aren’t always starting at the beginning of the file directories three for every interaction.

Every interaction quires authentication in the lays and lays between movement of each directories. There’s so many repetitive tabs that shortcuts are really needed. On the wishlist it would be very helpful if the application would let us move photos from the photo album to the NAS and then automatically move those same photos from the photo album to the trash. Instead after making a copy you return to the album and then you must re-select all the same images over again and then move them to the trash. Other applications have auto move (with a confirmation) and it is a HUGE time saver.

At least throw us a bone with shortcuts, please.

I was dreaming to get SynologyDrive before so if I could get rid of the resource-murdering Resilio Sync, but when I first downloaded a beta version of DSM that had it I felt it was exactly the same issues DS Cloud had/has with a plastic-ier look.

It still keeps pushing to connect instead using QuickConnectID even using a certificate-validated-FQDN in the local network. If you do this so it stops bugging then it’d complain of the cert not matching the SLDN or whatever QuickConnnectID represents in the unit.

My biggest issue overall though, is that it constantly disconnects and you had to relink as if it was synced for the first time; this could very easily cause corrupt data somewhere. You could use as an alternative some other thing self-hosted, like Nextcloud and leverage the excellent storage backplane your unit does have and, leverage the second-to-none customer support Synology has. I think it has surpassed Apple’s own now.

 if you’re listening, doubt it, get your *stuff* together already. Your OSes have more #UAC that Vista now, something you made fun of, they aren’t fluid anymore.

If you are looking to finally leave Apple’s iCloud behind, Look no further than Synology and TailScale.

I used to have a lot of problems, but Sunology has worked hard to update the Apps, especially Drive. It works very well. By employing TailScale, I do not have to set up port forwarding or use quickconnect. Everything just works and I can even run it over http because everything goes through the WireGuard tunnel that TailScale sets-up.

Synology and TailScale should form a partnership. They would completely control the third-party self hosted cloud business.

Drive has replaced iCloud Drive for me and my whole family. Everything stays in sync. It is absolutely wonderful and since most of our work is done at home, it is crazy fast…way faster than iCloud Drive.

Thank you Synology and thank you TailScale!

Request: please support dark mode.

Update: discovered that files can be opened in other apps using 'send copy' in the file menu. In any case, integrating with the ios file system would be appreciated.

This is another almost there almost awesome app from Synology. For me the biggest drawback is the lack of any option to pass or copy a file on to another app on my device. For example, I would love to open PDF files in PDF expert instead of having to use the barebones stock viewer.

Since you can no longer use DS Cloud on DSM 7.0+ this poor attempt at a prettier but less functional file sync app is our only choice.
You can no longer sync folders , which is a vital part of the whole system, with thousands of small files in folders I use for work, not having a folder sync function makes SynologyDrive completely useless.
Have not even look beyond this missing feature TBH, cause it is a killer for my needs.
Thinking about using better supported online file system instead.

I LOVE the concept here - but how come I can’t *download* my files (like a mkv movie?) to my iPhone?! Three stars because it works beautifully for some files like pictures, but minus one star for no downloads and another star lost because some directories it will claim have no files even though they definitely do (cache/database/Timeout issue??). I also have a “certificate is invalid issue” when trying to play music - even though I am using the Synology quick connect. How do I get a valid cert configured?

While I use Drive because I’ve already committed to the ecosystem with my purchase of my NAS, it is nowhere near as seamless as the subscription based competitors. I need to be able to download a document to my phone and keep it synced as well as be able to edit it in the phone! I have Synology Drive and the Microsoft Excel app. Why can’t I natively load my document to Excel, make changes, and save it to Drive? I can do it with competitors without issue.

I use this on my iPhone and it’s barebones but it does the job. I can save files from anywhere directly to my nas and likewise load files from anywhere. It is extremely nice not needing google, et. al! Would be nice to see a folder sync option like on the PC drive client though. That works phenomenal on my PC. I do love the integration with iOS files app. That works great.

I love how SynologyDrive and a few other recent Synology apps drop the “DS” from the names and are better optimized for retina displays. The chunky look to existing apps always looked jarring. It would be nice to see a slightly smaller point size on the icons, but I’m nitpicking. I hope this is a trend that will be applied to all past and future Synology apps.

There is an “Offline access” setting, which disables itself if you select a folder. If you want to go through every folder and individually select files, and then Offline Access to have a copy on your device, you have more time than I do.
Dropbox lets you sync folders and such easily to the device. My iPad Pro has more storage than my laptop and my cellphone is tied for storage. Let me sync my files by Shared Folder or My Drive at a top level like competitor apps.

Cloud Station has met my needs well for years.

My NAS is not accessible from the Internet for security reasons, which is why Cloud Station has worked so well for me.

It synchronizes 200+ folders and almost 2,000 files to my mobile devices.

Feature Request 1: Add the ability to flag ENTIRE directory trees (entire CloudStation directory tree) for offline access. I do not want to have to do this for EACH of my 2,000 files, which is how the Drive app is currently.

Feature Request 2: Add the ability to search PDF files for text like the second to last Cloud Station app. The current Cloud Station app removed the search function, so now I am severely handicapped.

Give me those two features and I will rate Drive with FIVE stars.

Thank you.

Just got several synology nas for on-site and offsite use. There is no way to have multiple accounts on the DS Drive app. Like for drive for home and drive for work where you can switch between accounts.

Photos I was hoping that there was support for HEIF and didn’t convert the file in to jpegs

After experimenting with all of Synology’s packages available on the DSM, I can say without a doubt that this is the only essential package everyone should have. It works really well and the desktop sync clients are very solid too. I sincerely think this is the only package Synology should spend time on!!

SynologyDrive functions alright, but I find that it doesn’t work well with other apps (it prefers to show you the document) but it also doesn’t support split screen on the iPad Pro . This pretty much makes it useless for doing any kind of multitasking. For me this is a huge inconvenience and I’m being kind giving it 3 stars. Underwhelming. Synology, please spend more time developing your utility apps.

Originally I thought it didn’t support iOS Files integration. Not sure why but I missed the toggle in the Files app. It’s working great for me and fits my use case as a replacement for Box/Dropbox with my own local storage.

Desktop version is great, mobile (iOS/padOS) is too minimal to replace iCloud, Dropbox, etc

Works well:
- Browse folders/files from mobile
- Sync individual files for offline / cached access

Unusable as is: Syncing folders isn’t an option, which destroys at least 2 stars of value. If I add a file to a folder with my laptop I’d like it to be available offline on my iPad and/or iPhone. I’d even be ok having to open SynologyDrive for the sync to happen.

Works but needs improvement: UX driven by type of share (My Drive / Team Folders / Shared Items) in SynologyDrive and the Apple Files app. Show me a list of all shares instead of picking the type of share first, especially since My Drive only has one share in it.

Promising App to replace Dropbox, but it’s missing a key feature which is saving a file on your mobile for offline use.
At the moment, you can only share files via a link and there is no way to save files on your phone.

First of all, there is NO select all button when choosing items to upload! How stupid is that? Imagine when need to upload thousands of photos! And then, after selecting thousand of photos to upload, they are put into background tasks, showing thousand of items being uploaded. Ok. Then guess what? YOU HAVE TO KEEP SynologyDrive ON ALL THE TIME FOR "BACKGROUND" TASK!! ONCE YOUR PHONE ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED, BOOOOM! ALL THE BACKGROUND TASKS ARE GONE!!! YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!! JUST BRILLIANT!!!

Figured I'd buy & setup one of these instead of purchasing a Dropbox subscription. While we have options to sync files -- that's really it. There's no option to sync folders, there's no option to save to device or even open a file to edit in Excel.

Frankly, the feature set of SynologyDrive is lackluster. Probably won't be useful unless sync to your phone is the only thing you're looking for.

I was under the impression that this would replace DS Cloud. But it can't because it doesn't support offline access, so really it's just like DS File except worse because at least DS File can manage local files while offline. I figured this would be a great replacement for both DS Cloud and DS File, just like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc. but it isn't. A real wasted opportunity in my view.

Provides a nice interface to access my files and allows file downloading to iPhone. I have simple needs and this does the trick.

Great start. The main focus seems to be on teams rather than individual users. Fine. Can we please have an app pin or id lock. Also, scan function similar to what Dropbox offers would be great.

After migrating to a new Diskstation and enabling Synology Drive during the setup, the free space on my NAS quickly started heading for 0.0TB.

After some googling, I found out that it was Synology Drive Server that was eating up all of my free space due to its historical redundancy of files.

I uninstalled Synology Drive and got 2.8TB of storage back. I’ll never use this Disktstation package ever again.