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Synology Knowledge Center
kb.synology.com › en-my › DSM › tutorial › How_to_back_up_files_from_Mac_to_Synology_NAS_with_Time_Machine
How do I back up files from my Mac to Synology system using Time Machine? - Synology Knowledge Center
June 4, 2026 - Synology Knowledge Center offers comprehensive support, providing answers to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting steps, software tutorials, and all the technical documentation you may need.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/synology › macos time machine experience with synology
r/synology on Reddit: macOS Time Machine experience with Synology
May 25, 2023 -

Anyone have any experience (good or bad) they can share about using a Synology for Time Machine backups over wifi? I am considering buying a Synology DS223 or maybe DS220+. I have no plans to stream media from it. I'm mostly interested in running Time Machine backups from a couple MacBooks that are not on wired ethernet. Maybe tinker with some of the other capabilities of the NAS.

Curious about how long Time Machine backups might take (when run regularly; i'm fine with the first backup taking a long time)... How well macOS works with Synology NAS. Basically just overall experiences.

EDIT: Thanks for the replies. Sounds like overall people have had good experiences with Synology and Time Machine.

Discussions

Setup NAS storage for Time Machine - Apple Community
To install Synology in your (usually wired) network, follow the a Synology installation instructions, and then follow the Synology instructions for enabling Time Machine server. Other NAS vendors also have Time Machine server support. More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
June 15, 2024
How to migrate from Synology NAS Time Machine Backup
Hi! Come and join us at Synology Community. A place to answer all your Synology questions. Ask a question or start a discussion now. More on community.synology.com
🌐 community.synology.com
December 15, 2019
Making a Time Machine back up + adding external HD on Nas - Synology - SPACEREX
Hello, I’m a newbie with NAS but as I p[lan to buy one I have a question. I need my NAS as a back-up system for my iMac an Macbook pro and I also want to copy my Photo library from Lightroom which at the moment runs on a separate external hard drive. I opt for a NAS with 8TB harddrives Question ... More on forums.spacerex.co
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December 31, 2025
Synology recommendation for Time Machine? - Hardware - MPU Talk
I’m looking for a recommendation for a Synology that we could use as a Time Machine that would back up two MacBooks to (possibly three in the future) so we don’t have to attach drives physically. Ideally, the NAS would easily wake up when backups run and be seamless – kinda like those A... More on talk.macpowerusers.com
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January 2, 2023
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Jordan Crawford
jc.kiwi › synology-time-machine
My rules for using Time Machine on Synology – Jordan Crawford
September 16, 2023 - I use Time Machine on my Mac to back it up to my Synology NAS. I've found using a separate volume, not using snapshots and not adding an additional layer of encryption has worked well so far.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255647692
Setup NAS storage for Time Machine - Apple Community
June 15, 2024 - To install Synology in your (usually wired) network, follow the a Synology installation instructions, and then follow the Synology instructions for enabling Time Machine server. Other NAS vendors also have Time Machine server support.
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Synology Community
community.synology.com › enu › forum › 1 › post › 130565
How to migrate from Synology NAS Time Machine Backup
December 15, 2019 - Hi! Come and join us at Synology Community. A place to answer all your Synology questions. Ask a question or start a discussion now.
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SPACEREX
forums.spacerex.co › synology
Making a Time Machine back up + adding external HD on Nas - Synology - SPACEREX
December 31, 2025 - Hello, I’m a newbie with NAS but as I p[lan to buy one I have a question. I need my NAS as a back-up system for my iMac an Macbook pro and I also want to copy my Photo library from Lightroom which at the moment runs on …
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MacPowerUsers
talk.macpowerusers.com › hardware
Synology recommendation for Time Machine? - Hardware - MPU Talk
January 2, 2023 - Hi all, We’re a laptop-only family and our machines get moved around quit a bit/ We’re considering a Synology for Time Machine instead of replacing a cheap, portable drive that’s no longer working with Ventura. I’m loo…
Find elsewhere
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Synology Community
community.synology.com › enu › forum › 1 › post › 144170
DSM Setup for Time Machine
June 14, 2021 - Hi! Come and join us at Synology Community. A place to answer all your Synology questions. Ask a question or start a discussion now.
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Synology Community
community.synology.com › enu › forum › 1 › post › 137288
Best setup for multiple Time Machine devices?
September 24, 2020 - Hi! Come and join us at Synology Community. A place to answer all your Synology questions. Ask a question or start a discussion now.
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MacPowerUsers
talk.macpowerusers.com › hardware
Synology NAS or iMac with Time Machine - Hardware - MPU Talk
November 14, 2019 - Here are the some issues I have and I am unsure which way to resolve this. My family members all have external drives to connect to and back up using time machine. This satisfies one backup but doesn’t get anything of…
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SynoForum
synoforum.com › forums › synology disk station manager topics › backup solutions
Time Machine Backup To Synology NAS | SynoForum.com - The Unofficial Synology Forum
February 25, 2022 - Making a Time Machine backup from your Mac to a Synology NAS is very convenient and easy to setup. Find a step-by-step guidance in this post.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254014341
Time Machine Back Up to Synology NAS - Apple Community
July 4, 2022 - The NAS manufacturer would have to update their firmware to include a version of Netatalk that has corrected the problems. ... The only network protocol Apple supports with TM is SMB: Backup disks you can use with Time Machine - Apple Support. As you and countless others have determined, it will be unreliable with Synology NAS devices.
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Backblaze
backblaze.com › docs › cloud-storage-back-up-time-machine-to-synology-and-backblaze-b2
Back Up Time Machine to Synology and Backblaze B2
You can store your Time Machine backup on your Synology NAS device and have that backup automatically sync to Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.
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SysTools Group
systoolsgroup.com › home › updates › mac software › synology time machine backup – complete guide
Synology Time Machine Backup to Protect Mac Devices
2 weeks ago - Create a new user account in Time Machine which make it differentiate to other backup data. Also, in NAS, create a separate shared folder. Make sure you apply storage quotas in your NAS to prevent from using all the space of the drives. The Synology NAS must be broadcast, so that it is easily available on network, and it will be easy for Mac to discover it.
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Admin Intelligence
blog.admin-intelligence.de › home › time machine backup on the synology nas
Time Machine Backup on the Synology NAS - blog.admin-intelligence.de
April 22, 2025 - Go to “System Preferences” on your Mac and select “Time Machine”. Click on “Add Backup Volume..” and select your Synology NAS and choose configure volume…
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/macos › time machine with synology nas
r/MacOS on Reddit: Time Machine with Synology NAS
May 10, 2024 -

Hi,

I use Time Machine - I have Sonoma - with a Synology NAS.

Unfortunately it work unreliable. Sometimes it works for two weeks without a problem then suddenly I get the red exclamation mark. - When I start a backup manually, it takes a long time at the "Preparing backup" stage. To get it working again, I delete the Time Machine Folder on the Synology NAS and the backup target in Time Machine - Then it works again.

But I don't want to do that every month or so.

Bonjour broadcast is on for SMB only.

Any setting to change on the Synology NAS?

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Martinbjeldbak
martinbjeldbak.com › time-machine-synology-nas
Time Machine backups to Synology NAS
This guide covers how to set up backups with MacOS Time Machine to a Synology NAS running DSM 7.2, using folder quotas.
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macsynology
macsynology.wordpress.com › 2012 › 04 › 15 › setting-up-time-machine-support-on-synology
Setting up Time Machine Support on Synology | macsynology
August 1, 2012 - This is the only way I know of to auto encrypt your Time Machine backups to your NAS (and anything else placed in this shared folder). Click ok and go back to the Shared Folder and verify you see your newly created shared folder. With the Time_Machine volume now created choose Privileges Setup to grant read/write access. Select the user logins you’ll be using on your Mac and check read/write access. This allows Time Machine to manage its backups on your Synology NAS.
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NAS Compares
nascompares.com › answer › how-to-set-up-time-machine-backup-on-synology-nas
How to set up Time machine backup on Synology NAS - NAS Compares
January 23, 2023 - The new user will now be able to use Time Machine to back up their data to the NAS, but will not have access to any other parts of the DSM system. To create a separate shared folder for use with Time Machine on DSM 7 (Synology DiskStation Manager 7), follow these steps:
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/synology › time machine backup on synology nas
r/synology on Reddit: Time machine backup on Synology NAS
February 24, 2022 -

Hi guys, I am trying to chase down some proven instructions on how to correctly set up time machine on a Synology NAS. I have tried a few times now however I must be doing something incorrectly as time machine seems to back up but when it is complete it says last backed up: never. And then I cannot see previous back ups? Considering that initial backup takes quite a while it’s pretty frustrating having to start again each time when it is not working. Thanks.