What’s your ‘Synology Disk Recovery’ Situation?
Choose the option that best describes your Synology NAS problem to navigate to the appropriate recovery section:
Case 1: Deleted Files on Synology NAS
Deletions often bypass the Recycle Bin if it is not enabled, and new writes can overwrite existing data. If snapshots are enabled, check them first.
1: Recovering with Btrfs Snapshots
- Open Snapshot Replication in DSM.
- Choose the folder or LUN.
- Restore from the snapshot taken before deletion.
Limitations:
- Snapshots must be enabled before deletion.
- They don’t protect against RAID failure or hardware crashes.
Copy or restore files to the live folder.
Also: If Snapshots Aren’t Available, Use a Top NAS Data Recovery Software
If snapshots aren’t available, use recovery software like Remo Recover to scan drives and recover data from Synology NAS HDD.
2: Synology File Recovery with Remo Recover
Remo Recover excels here by scanning the drives for deleted files, supporting common NAS file systems, and allowing a preview before restoration to ensure you’re recovering the right items.
Using advanced algorithms to locate and reconstruct deleted data without risking further loss.
Steps to recover Synology drive using Remo Recover
Power down your Synology NAS and carefully remove the drives, labeling them by bay number, and connect the drives to a Windows PC using a SATA/USB dock or adapter.
- Download and launch Remo Recover.
- Select the connected NAS drive or partition from the list.
- Click Start Scan to start the process: it performs a Quick Scan first, followed by a Deep Scan for the deeper recovery.
- During the scan, use the Dynamic Recovery View to preview deleted files in real-time.
- Select the files you want, preview them, and click Recover to save to a separate drive (never the original NAS drives).
3: ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery (Best for Advanced/Tech-Savvy Users)
- Provides detailed RAID parameters that you can use with other recovery tools.
- Powerful, but requires some technical knowledge to use effectively.
- Doesn’t always offer direct, beginner-friendly file recovery more of a diagnostic tool
Case 2: RAID Degraded / Crashed
Synology’s SHR or RAID complicates recovery. Degraded arrays (one failed drive) or crashes make data inaccessible.
If you see “RAID degraded” or “Volume crashed,” do not attempt to rebuild immediately. It may overwrite your data.
How Remo Recover helps:
- Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and SHR.
- Reconstructs the array virtually without writing to your disks.
- Allows safe recovery of files before any rebuild attempt.
Shut down NAS, remove/label drives > Connect to PC via SATA/USB > Open Remo Recover, select RAID, and scan > Preview and recover files to a new drive.
Case 3: NAS Won’t Boot / DSM Corrupted
When you see symptoms like DSM fails to load, NAS is stuck on boot, or storage pools are inaccessible due to firmware or software issues. Avoid rebuilding on the NAS.
Check for power issues and the power LED status, then try removing all external devices and drives to test for hardware problems like a faulty motherboard or incompatible RAM. Look for storage pool errors in the Synology Assistant
1: Check Power and Hardware Indicators
- Power LED: Observe the power LED on your NAS. If it flashes continuously for more than 20 minutes, it may indicate a faulty power supply or motherboard.
- Motherboard Battery: If your NAS has a motherboard battery, try removing it and attempting to boot the system.
- Memory Modules: Remove any non-Synology RAM modules and test with only Synology-approved memory to rule out incompatibility issues.
2: Isolate the Problem by Removing Components
- Disconnect External Devices: Power off the NAS, unplug all external devices (USB drives, etc.), then power it back on.
- Remove Internal Drives: Power off the NAS, then carefully remove all hard drives.
- Test with No Drives/Devices: If the NAS boots without drives or external devices, the problem is likely with one of those components.
- Reinstall in Pairs: Reinstall the drives one at a time to identify a potentially failing drive.
3: Advanced Troubleshooting & Support
Use Synology Assistant: If the NAS powers on but DSM isn’t accessible, use Synology Assistant on another computer on the local network to see if it can detect the NAS.
Contact Synology Support: If these steps don’t resolve the issue, contact Synology support for further assistance, as the problem could be a more complex hardware malfunction.
Case 4: Multiple Drive Failures
When multiple drives show errors or make noises, it indicates a hardware failure. Software can attempt cloning or partial recovery would be to limit, but two or more failed drives in RAID 5 often require professional labs.
NOTE: If data is critical, stop DIY attempts. Contact a professional recovery lab.
Synology Data Recovery Options
| Method | Best For | Ease | Risk |
| Btrfs Snapshots | Deleted files | Easy | Low |
| Synology Hyper Backup | Scheduled backups | Easy | Low |
| Remo Recover | Deleted data, RAID, DSM crash | Easy | Low |
| Open-source tools | Tech-savvy users | Hard | High |
| Professional Lab | Multi-drive failure | N/A | Low |
Conclusion
Recovering data from a Synology NAS may seem daunting, but with the right approach, it’s often possible. Start with built-in tools like Btrfs snapshots if available. If not, Remo Recover gives you the safest DIY option for RAID recovery, deleted files, and DSM crashes.
And remember: prevention is key. Enable snapshots, keep backups, and never rebuild RAID before recovery.
