In this tutorial, we’re going to look at how to find a Synology NAS on a network.
Quick Answer: The fastest way to find a Synology NAS on your network is to use Synology’s Web Assistant. Open a browser on a device on the same subnet and visit https://finds.synology.com; it will automatically scan your LAN and list any Synology devices it finds.
How to Find a Synology NAS on a Network
There are three different ways of finding a Synology NAS on a network. Depending on the scenario you’re currently in, only one of the options below may work.
Using a Web Browser to Find the NAS
The easiest way to find a Synology NAS on a network is by using a web browser. However, if your NAS is already configured, you may have trouble finding it because you may have blocked this feature from working.
For new Synology devices, it should find the NAS right away.
1. Navigate to https://finds.synology.com, and it will automatically start searching your network.
2. If any devices are found, they will show in the web browser, and you can select Connect to access them!
Using the Synology Assistant Application
1. Navigate to Synology’s Download Center, then download the Synology Assistant.
2. Download and install it for the operating system that you’re currently using.
3. After installing it, launch the Synology Assistant application. It will automatically search your network and should return any Synology NAS devices that it finds.
4. Synology Assistant uses specific ports to operate, so if you’re using Synology’s Firewall, there’s a good chance that you blocked it.
Using an IP Scanner for Local Network Discovery
If the two options above don’t display the NAS, perform a network scan to find all the devices on your network. This doesn’t use Synology-specific tools, so if the device isn’t listed here, it’s either not receiving a network connection or not on the current subnet.
1. Download Angry IP Scanner and install it (there are Windows/Mac/Linux versions available).
2. After installing it and opening it, select Tools, then Fetchers, and add MAC Vendor.
3. Your current network range should be prefilled. Select the Start button to search your network.
4. In the list of results, find the IP address of your NAS. If you can’t find it, look in the MAC Vendor field, and you should see a Synology device listed. If the device is not in this list, check its network connection and ensure it’s on the same network or VLAN as the device running this scan.
Synology Still Not Showing Up?
At this point, if you’re still having trouble finding the NAS, there could be many reasons why. Here are a few of the most common reasons:
- The NAS is offline.
- The NAS has an IP address (possibly set statically) on another subnet.
- There is some sort of hardware issue with the NAS.
If you have physical access to the NAS, consider doing a Mode 1 reset to set the network settings back to their defaults.
