In 2025, Synology updated its drive compatibility policy to enhance system stability and performance. However, these changes also reduce users’ flexibility in selecting hard drives and SSDs—particularly with the new DS925+ and other models in the 2025 Plus Series. If you’re considering a new NAS or planning a drive upgrade, here’s what you need to know.
📘 What’s New in Synology’s Drive Policy?
Synology has confirmed that, starting with the DS925+ and other 2025 Plus Series models, only drives listed on their 🔗 official Compatibility List are fully supported for DSM installation and core features. This requirement applies to both HDDs and SSDs. These changes do not apply to models released before 2025, or to the Value and J Series models.
✅ Third-party drives are still allowed — but with certain limitations.
Only drives included in Synology’s official Compatibility List are guaranteed to function without issues. Using unlisted drives may lead to limited functionality, warning messages, or even prevent DSM (DiskStation Manager) from being installed or updated. For HDDs, only Synology-branded or certified models are allowed—DSM installation will be blocked if unsupported units are detected. Third-party SSDs are allowed for storage volumes; however, if they are not officially listed, DSM may display warnings, and features such as drive health monitoring or hot-swapping could be restricted.
🔗 Official Synology Compatibility Policy
🔍 Comparing DS923+ vs DS925+: How Drive Policy Affects You
🟢 DS923+ – More Flexible
- Supports most third-party HDDs and SSDs.
- DSM may display compatibility warnings, but will still allow installation and use.
- Great choice for users who want to use popular brands like Seagate, Western Digital, and others.
Ideal for: Home users, small businesses, or anyone who wants freedom in selecting drives.
🔴 DS925+ – Strictly Controlled
- Only works with Synology-branded or officially certified drives.
- DSM will not install if unsupported HDDs are detected.
- Third-party SSDs are allowed but may have reduced features.
Ideal for: Business users who want fully validated hardware for long-term reliability.
💰 Cost & Flexibility Trade-Off
| Feature | DS923+ | DS925+ |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party HDD support | ✅ Yes, with warnings | ❌ No, blocked at DSM install |
| Third-party SSD support | ✅ Yes, limited features | ✅ Yes, limited features |
| Certified drive required | ❌ Optional | ✅ Required (HDD only) |
| DSM installation | ✅ Works with most drives | ❌ Blocked if unsupported HDD |
💡 Our Advice
At nasstore.eu, we recommend:
- Choose DS923+ if you want flexibility, a wider choice of drives, or if you already own compatible third-party drives.
- Choose DS925+ if you’re building a future-proof system with Synology’s ecosystem and prioritize reliability, stability, and official support—even if that means paying more for certified drives.
We stock a wide range of compatible drives for both models. You can check our listings for:
- ✅ Synology-certified HDDs and SSDs
- ✅ Popular third-party drives for Synology NAS (Seagate, Western Digital).
🔧 Need Help?
Not sure which drives are best for your NAS? Check 🔗 official Synology Compatibility List. 🛒 Browse compatible drives now at nasstore.eu.