DSM 7.3: Synology Finally Reintroduces Support for Third-Party Hard Drives

With the release of DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7.3), Synology has delivered a long-awaited change for many NAS users. The update not only brings improvements in performance, reliability, and data protection, but also restores something users have been missing for nearly a year — the ability to use non-Synology hard drives.

A Step Back Toward Flexibility

Last year, Synology limited several Plus series NAS models to work only with official Synology drives or a handful of certified third-party models. In practice, however, no external manufacturers were ever certified, leaving users restricted to Synology’s own branded HDDs.

DSM 7.3 marks a significant policy reversal. Devices in the Plus, Value, and J series (2025) once again support all drives, including third-party models, for creating and managing storage pools. This change will be welcomed by both home and professional users who prefer flexibility in choosing drives from brands like Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba, and others.

Warnings for Third-Party Drives

DSM 7.3 may display warning messages when you create a storage pool using third-party hard drives. Despite these alerts, the system can be installed, configured, and used without restrictions.
The warnings are purely informational, meant to remind users about potential compatibility differences — they do not block or limit the use of non-Synology drives.

SSD Cache Still Restricted

There is one key limitation: SSD M.2 cache drives can still only be created using Synology-branded or officially certified SSDs. Synology explains that this restriction helps maintain system stability and consistent performance, particularly under heavy workloads.

A Win for NAS Enthusiasts

For many Synology owners, this update feels like a return to the brand’s more open and user-friendly approach. Being able to choose from a wide range of drives not only reduces costs but also gives users more control over their storage configurations.

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💡 Pro Tip:
You can buy Synology NAS systems, Synology HDDs, and third-party hard drives — all fully compatible with DSM 7.3 — directly from nasstore.eu.