Do You Need Synology-Certified Drives? The 2025+ Policy, Plainly
Compatibility data on this site last refreshed 2026-10-29 · reading time ~3 min
Short answer: today, no — third-party NAS drives work fine in Synology units and thousands of them appear on Synology's own compatibility list. The nuance is direction of travel: Synology has been nudging the ecosystem toward certified (Synology-branded and select partner) drives on newer hardware.
What changed
For plus-series models released from 2025 onward, Synology announced that full official support applies to Synology-branded drives and select certified third-party drives; other drives may still function but can carry system warnings and are excluded from official support. Older units — the vast majority in homes today — keep the classic behavior: any drive on the compatibility list is fully supported.
What this means when you buy
- Existing/older Synology unit: buy any NAS-class CMR drive on your model's list — no reason to pay Synology-brand premiums
- New 2025+ plus-series unit: if you want zero warnings and full support, weigh certified drives; third-party still generally works
- Always verify the exact part number against your model's HCL page — series names alone aren't enough
Why the compatibility list still matters
A drive being 'compatible' means Synology has tested that firmware combination — it's the difference between 'works' and 'works and is supported when you call for help.' That's the entire reason this site exists: the list, per machine, kept current.
Quick answers
Will Synology block third-party drives?
Current and past models don't block them. The 2025+ policy change is about official support scope and system notifications, not blocking.
What happens if I use a non-listed drive?
Usually it works, but you lose official support for related issues and may see persistence warnings. Listed drives avoid the ambiguity.
Check your exact model
Compatibility is per machine and per part number. Pick your model for its full official drive list: