Troubleshooting Media Apps like DS Video on Synology NAS

How to Fix Media Apps Like DS Video on a Synology NAS

Media apps like DS Video, Synology Video Station, and other DSM services are meant to make streaming easy. But when they stop working right, it’s usually not just the media app that’s the problem. Usually, playback problems, missing libraries, buffering, or connection errors are caused by problems with the configuration, network, or compatibility.

Learn What DS Video Needs

DS Video is not a separate service; it is a client interface for Synology Video Station. Even if the app is installed, DS Video will not work if Video Station is not working properly.

The NAS must have the following for DS Video to work properly:

Video Station is set up and working
DSM has indexed and recognized media
Enough memory and CPU power
Good network connection

The mobile or TV app is not usually the cause of the problems; they are usually caused by one of these dependencies.

Check the status of the video station and package

First, log into DSM and make sure that Video Station is installed, turned on, and up to date. DS Video will not connect if the package didn’t update or is stuck in a stopped state.

Restarting Video Station will often fix temporary problems with the service. Check the DSM notifications and logs for errors related to database corruption or permission problems if the package won’t start.

Check the permissions for the media folder

Incorrect folder permissions are a common reason why libraries are missing or empty. Video Station can only get to media folders if the DSM user and group permissions are set up correctly.

Make sure that:

You can find media folders by going to Control Panel → Indexing Service.
The Video Station system user can read it
The account that is used in DS Video can see the content.

Changes to permissions after migrations or DSM updates can make media invisible without warning.

Check that the media format is compatible

Not all codecs and container formats work with DS Video. If the NAS can’t transcode files or the client device can’t play them directly, files that play locally might not stream.

If playback doesn’t work:

Try opening the same file on a different device.
Check to see if transcoding is needed.
Check to see if the NAS model can do hardware or software transcoding.

Check the system resources and transcoding

When DS Video tries to transcode media, the CPU usage can go up a lot. If the NAS CPU stays at a high level of use for a long time, streams may stop working or take a long time to load.

In DSM, you can check:

How much CPU and memory are used during playback
Disk activity and I/O wait
Tasks that happen at the same time, like backups or indexing

Problems with the network and the client side

Media apps are affected by how the network is working. Even if the NAS is working fine, a bad connection between the NAS and the client can stop playback.

To fix the problem, try:

Testing playback from the local network
Where possible, switch from Wi-Fi to wired connections.
Checking the rules on your router or firewall that might block streaming ports

When it comes to DS Video, VPN connections are more reliable than direct port exposure for remote access.

Mismatches between DSM and Package Versions

Some media packages may not work with DSM upgrades right away. There may be problems with stability if DS Video or Video Station wasn’t updated after a DSM upgrade.

Look:

Notes on compatibility with DSM versions
Package Center for updates that are still pending
Synology’s release notes for known media problems

Reinstalling Video Station can fix corruption that happens when you change versions without losing any of your media.

Problems with metadata and databases

If the metadata databases are messed up, libraries can disappear or act in strange ways. Rebuilding the Video Station database may help if media files are there but don’t show up right.

When DS Video Is Not the Best Choice Anymore

Synology has slowly stopped working on some media apps, and some client platforms don’t get as many updates. When DS Video stops working or is no longer supported, other options like Plex or third-party media servers may be more stable and work with more devices in the long run.

How to Keep Media Apps from Having Problems in the Future

To keep problems from happening in the future:

Update DSM and packages regularly.
Use media formats that are supported.
Don’t do heavy work while streaming.
Keep an eye on the health of the system and the integrity of the storage.
Use the right power and network protections to keep the NAS safe.

Stable infrastructure means that media services are stable.

About the Epis Technology

Epis Technology offers businesses IT infrastructure, data protection, and Synology consulting services to help them get the most out of their NAS environments beyond just storage. The company is an expert in Synology support, performance tuning, secure networking, and backup architecture. Epis Technology helps figure out if the problem with media apps like DS Video is with the storage configuration, system resources, or network design. This keeps Synology systems reliable, safe, and ready for long-term use.