Why can't my computer find the NAS on the network?

The most common cause is the NAS being assigned a new IP address by the router's DHCP server after a reboot. The computer's saved network path points to the old IP. Fix by assigning the NAS a static IP address in either the NAS settings or the router's DHCP reservation settings, so it always receives the same IP.

Why did my Synology NAS disappear from Windows File Explorer?

Windows removed SMB1 support in recent updates (SMB1 was the protocol that made network devices discoverable in File Explorer automatically). To access a NAS from Windows 10/11: use the direct path (\\192.168.1.x\ShareName) instead of browsing through Network. Or map the NAS share as a network drive so it appears permanently in File Explorer.

My NAS shows as online but I can't access files — what's wrong?

Access failures when the NAS is online are usually a permission issue. Check that the share is configured to allow access from your user account, and that Windows is connecting with the correct credentials. In Windows, the Credential Manager (Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials) sometimes stores old or incorrect NAS credentials — remove them and reconnect.

NAS Not Accessible on Network: How to Fix Connection Problems

Fix a NAS that is not showing up on the network. Covers IP address assignment, firewall settings, SMB protocol versions, and how to find a NAS that has been assigned a new IP by the router.

Your NAS was working yesterday. Today it's vanished from Network in File Explorer, and nothing you click brings it back.

This is one of the most common NAS complaints, and it's rarely a hardware failure.

Connection problems fall into just a few categories: an IP address that changed after a reboot, Windows no longer browsing devices the way it used to, or a permissions mismatch on the share itself.

This guide walks through each cause and the fix, starting with the most common one.

Problem: NAS Not Visible on Network

Cause 1: New IP address. DHCP assigns a new IP to the NAS after a router or NAS reboot. The fix is permanent: assign a static IP.

Fix (in NAS settings): Go to Control Panel > Network > Network Interface > Manage > Edit. Set the IP address to a static address outside the router's DHCP range (e.g., 192.168.1.200 if the router assigns 192.168.1.100-192.168.1.199 via DHCP).

Fix (in router): Find the router's DHCP reservation settings (sometimes called "IP binding" or "static DHCP"). Reserve the NAS's MAC address to always receive the same IP.

Cause 2: NAS is off or restarting. Synology NAS devices have a startup time of 2-3 minutes after power-on. Wait for the status LED to indicate ready state.

Problem: Windows Can't Browse the NAS in File Explorer

Windows 10 and 11 removed automatic SMB1 network browsing. NAS devices appear in Network but require either:

Direct path access: Open File Explorer, type \\192.168.1.x in the address bar (use the NAS's actual IP). Press Enter. Navigate to shares.
Mapped network drive: Right-click "This PC" > Map network drive. Enter the NAS path as the folder (e.g., \\192.168.1.200\Photos). Check "Reconnect at sign-in" to make it permanent.

Problem: Access Denied When Connecting to Shares

Check 1: NAS user permissions. In DSM/QTS, verify that the user account you are logging in with has read/write permission on the shared folder.

Check 2: Windows Credential Manager. Open Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials. Look for any saved credentials for the NAS IP address. Remove them and reconnect — Windows will prompt for the correct credentials.

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Problem: NAS Not Visible on Network

Problem: Windows Can't Browse the NAS in File Explorer

Problem: Access Denied When Connecting to Shares

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