How to Connect a Synology NAS Directly to Your PC

A Synology NAS normally connects to a router or network switch so multiple users and devices can access centralized storage. However, there are situations where connecting the NAS directly to a computer can be useful. You might need to configure a new NAS without network infrastructure, troubleshoot connectivity, transfer large files, or temporarily access stored information from a workstation.

A direct Synology NAS connection to a PC can usually be established with an Ethernet cable and properly configured network settings. Once communication is established, you can open DSM and access shared folders without routing the connection through your normal office network.

The process is relatively straightforward, but understanding IP addressing and file-sharing permissions helps avoid common connection problems.

Why Connect a Synology NAS Directly to a Computer?

Direct Ethernet connectivity can be useful for several scenarios.

For example:

• Initial NAS configuration
• Network troubleshooting
• Temporary file access
• Large data migrations
• Isolated storage administration
• Testing network interfaces
• Working without a router or switch

A direct connection can also help determine whether a connectivity problem originates with the NAS or the wider network infrastructure.

What You Need

Before beginning, make sure you have:

• A Synology NAS
• A Windows PC or compatible computer
• An Ethernet cable
• An available Ethernet port on both devices
• DSM administrator credentials

Modern Ethernet interfaces generally support automatic crossover functionality, so a standard Ethernet cable is normally sufficient.

If your laptop does not include Ethernet, you may need a compatible USB-to-Ethernet adapter.

Step 1: Connect the Ethernet Cable

Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to an available LAN port on the Synology NAS.

Connect the other end directly to the Ethernet port on your computer.

Power on the NAS and allow it to finish booting.

Check the network indicators on both devices. Link lights can help confirm that a physical Ethernet connection has been established.

If no link appears, check the cable and try another Ethernet port where available.

Step 2: Understand the IP Address Problem

When a NAS and PC normally connect through a router, a DHCP server typically assigns IP addresses automatically.

With a direct connection, there may be no DHCP server.

As a result, the NAS and computer may not immediately receive addresses that allow them to communicate reliably.

One solution is to manually configure both devices with IP addresses on the same subnet.

Step 3: Configure a Static IP on the PC

Open the Ethernet adapter’s network settings on the computer and configure an IPv4 address.

For example, you could create an isolated network using:

PC IP Address: 192.168.10.10
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

For a simple isolated connection, a default gateway may not be required.

The important point is that the NAS must receive a different address within the same subnet.

Do not reuse addresses that conflict with another active network if the computer remains connected to additional networks.

Step 4: Configure the Synology NAS IP Address

The NAS could then use an address such as:

NAS IP Address: 192.168.10.20
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Both devices now belong to the 192.168.10.x network and can communicate directly.

Never assign identical IP addresses to the PC and NAS.

If the NAS already has a known static address, you can instead configure the computer with a compatible address on the NAS’s existing subnet.

Step 5: Find the Synology NAS

If you do not know the NAS’s existing address, Synology discovery tools can help identify it.

Synology Assistant can search for Synology devices reachable from the computer.

Once the NAS appears, note its network information.

If discovery does not work, check whether the PC firewall, network profile, or existing NAS network configuration is preventing communication.

Step 6: Open DSM

Once both devices can communicate, open a browser and enter the NAS IP address using the appropriate DSM connection method configured for your system.

After DSM loads, sign in using an authorized account.

You can then review:

• Network configuration
• Shared folders
• User permissions
• Storage pools
• Backup status
• System health

Direct connectivity does not bypass DSM authentication. You still need valid credentials.

Step 7: Access Shared Folders from Windows

For ordinary file access, you do not need to work through DSM every time.

If SMB file sharing is enabled, Windows can connect to an authorized shared folder over the direct network connection.

Open File Explorer and enter the NAS address in the address bar in this format:

\\192.168.10.20

Replace the example address with the actual IP address of your NAS.

Windows should display the shared folders your account is permitted to access.

Map the NAS as a Network Drive

Frequently used folders can also be mapped as network drives.

In Windows File Explorer:

1. Open This PC.
2. Select Map network drive.
3. Choose an available drive letter.
4. Enter the NAS shared-folder path.
5. Provide authorized credentials when requested.

The shared folder can then appear alongside other drives in File Explorer.

This makes a directly connected NAS easier to use during extended transfers.

Improve File Transfer Performance

Direct connections can be particularly useful when transferring large amounts of information.

However, performance depends on the network interfaces at both ends.

A standard 1GbE connection can become a bottleneck when moving large datasets. Compatible Synology systems and workstations may support:

• 2.5GbE
• 5GbE
• 10GbE
• Faster enterprise networking

To benefit from higher speeds, both endpoints and the connecting hardware must support the required network standard.

Storage performance also matters. Slow HDD arrays can limit throughput even when the network connection is considerably faster.

Can Wi-Fi Stay Connected?

A PC can generally remain connected to Wi-Fi for internet access while using Ethernet for the isolated NAS connection.

However, multiple active network adapters can occasionally create routing complications.

If the computer attempts to send NAS traffic through the wrong interface, check:

• IP addressing
• Subnet configuration
• Routing
• Adapter settings
• Existing network ranges

Using a unique subnet for the direct NAS connection can help prevent conflicts.

What If the NAS Does Not Appear?

Start with the physical connection.

Confirm that:

• Both devices are powered on
• Ethernet is connected correctly
• Network link indicators are active
• Both IP addresses use the same subnet
• The addresses are unique
• The subnet masks match

Next, check software settings.

Firewalls, disabled network discovery, incorrect NAS interfaces, and previous static configurations can prevent successful communication.

Direct Connection Does Not Replace Normal Networking

A direct NAS-to-PC connection is useful, but it is not always the best permanent configuration for a business.

Connecting the NAS through properly designed network infrastructure allows multiple authorized devices to access storage and makes it easier to support:

• Centralized backups
• Multiple employees
• VLANs
• Directory services
• Remote access
• Monitoring
• Redundant networking

Direct Ethernet is often most useful for setup, troubleshooting, isolated administration, and high-volume transfers.

Protect Your Data During Direct Access

A direct cable does not eliminate the need for security.

Continue using:

• Strong user credentials
• Least-privilege permissions
• Multi-factor authentication for appropriate services
• Updated DSM software
• Independent backups
• Btrfs snapshots where appropriate

Avoid changing storage pools, RAID configurations, or network settings simply to solve a file-access problem unless you understand the effect of those changes.

When Professional Synology Support Helps

If the NAS remains inaccessible after verifying Ethernet connectivity and IP addressing, the problem may involve DSM network configuration, VLANs, multiple LAN interfaces, SMB settings, permissions, firewall rules, or storage health.

Professional troubleshooting is particularly important when critical business files are involved. Avoid resetting or reconfiguring storage unnecessarily when the objective is simply to restore access. Troubleshoot direct NAS connections with expert Synology support.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology helps organizations configure, troubleshoot, secure, and optimize Synology NAS environments. Services include Synology NAS setup, network configuration, direct-connect troubleshooting, high-speed networking, shared-folder configuration, storage architecture, backup implementation, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity assessments. Epis Technology’s Synology expertise helps businesses restore reliable access to their data while building secure, scalable storage environments for long-term operations.