Synology reversed its 2025 drive lock-in in DSM 7.3 (late 2025), restoring support for Seagate and WD drives after reported sales declines. DSM remains the most polished NAS OS and the reversal removed the main objection that pushed buyers toward competing brands.
For most of 2025, the standard advice on buying a new Synology was a wince and a caveat. The company had locked its 2025 Plus-series boxes to a short list of certified drives, and slotting in a WD Red or Seagate IronWolf triggered nag warnings and disabled features. Then sales fell and Synology blinked. Synology reversed the policy in DSM 7.3, released on 8 October 2025, and the central reason to avoid the brand disappeared with it.
Yes, Synology is worth it again. The DSM 7.3 update on 8 October 2025 reversed the drive lock-in, restoring full support for third-party 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives like WD Red and Seagate IronWolf, with no nag screens and full health monitoring back in the interface. DSM remains the most polished NAS operating system, and the reversal removed the one objection that had been pushing buyers elsewhere.
Synology applied a restrictive compatibility policy to its 2025 Plus-series units, models such as the DS925+, DS1825+ and DS425+. On those boxes, drives that were not on Synology's own certified list were treated as second-class. Installing a popular NAS drive like a WD Red or Seagate IronWolf produced constant unverified warnings and switched off key software features, effectively steering buyers toward Synology-branded drives at a premium.
The backlash was loud and, more tellingly, it showed up in the numbers. Reports pointed to a sharp drop in NAS sales, with some sources describing sales as a fraction of the previous year's figures, and that commercial pressure, rather than any change of heart Synology has publicly admitted to, appears to have driven the reversal. If you are weighing a diskless enclosure to pair with your own drives, the diskless NAS storage range at Evetech is where the current options sit.
The 8 October 2025 release re-enabled full support for non-Synology hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. That means no warning screens, no feature lockouts and the return of SMART and health monitoring in the user interface for third-party drives. In practice you can now build a Synology NAS around standard WD Red or Seagate IronWolf drives exactly as you would have before the policy, choosing capacity and price on the open market.
The leniency is not total. M.2 SSD storage pools still require drives from the official compatibility list, so if you intend to build a flash pool on the M.2 slots, you remain tied to approved models. For the far more common case of populating the 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch bays, you now have a free hand.
The restriction originally applied to the entire 2025 Plus series, which includes the DS225+, DS425+, DS725+, DS925+, DS1525+, and DS1825+. These are Synology's mainstream home and small-business lineup, so the policy hit the overwhelming majority of likely buyers rather than a niche corner of the range. All of these units are now cleared for third-party drives under DSM 7.3.
If you already own a 2025 Plus-series unit that had been showing drive warnings, the fix is straightforward. Open the DSM web interface, go to Control Panel, then Update and Restore, and check for updates. DSM 7.3 appears as a regular software update. After installing it and rebooting, any previously flagged third-party drives in the 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch bays should show as fully supported with health monitoring re-enabled. No drive replacement or storage pool recreation is required, the change is entirely a software-level unlock.
Drive policy aside, the reason people reach for Synology in the first place has not changed: DiskStation Manager is widely regarded as the most refined NAS operating system available. The interface is clean, the first-party apps for backup, photos, surveillance and remote access are mature, and the whole system is approachable for someone setting up their first network store. That software polish is what kept loyal users frustrated rather than walking away during the lock-in period, and with the hardware restriction lifted, the value proposition is whole again.
Trust takes longer to rebuild than a policy takes to reverse. Synology has not publicly conceded that the lock-in was a mistake, and some long-time users worry it could return in a future generation. That is a fair reason to buy with eyes open rather than to stay away. For now, on the current DSM 7.3, the practical buying experience is back to what it was. Drives to fill those bays, including fast SSDs, are easy to compare among the best-selling SSDs at Evetech.
Yes. DSM 7.3, released on 8 October 2025, restored full support for third-party 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives, removing the warning screens and feature lockouts that the 2025 policy had imposed. Health monitoring for those drives also returned to the interface.
Yes. After DSM 7.3 you can populate the 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch bays with standard third-party NAS drives like WD Red and Seagate IronWolf, with no nag warnings and full feature support.
Yes, one case. M.2 SSD storage pools still require drives from Synology's official compatibility list. The relaxation applies to the main 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch bays, not to M.2 flash pools.
The reversal followed strong customer backlash and a reported sharp drop in NAS sales. The commercial pressure appears to have driven the U-turn, though Synology has not publicly admitted the original policy was a mistake.
For many buyers, yes, because DSM is still considered the most polished NAS operating system with mature first-party apps. With the drive lock-in gone, the main objection is removed, though some users remain cautious that the policy could reappear in future.
With DSM 7.3 restoring third-party drive support, a Synology NAS is back on the shortlist for home storage. Browse the diskless NAS storage range at Evetech and pair it with the drives that fit your capacity and budget.
Yes. DSM 7.3, released on 8 October 2025, restored full support for third-party 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives, removing the warning screens and feature lockouts that the 2025 policy had imposed. Health monitoring for those drives also returned to the interface.
Yes. After DSM 7.3 you can populate the 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch bays with standard third-party NAS drives like WD Red and Seagate IronWolf, with no nag warnings and full feature support.
Yes, one case. M.2 SSD storage pools still require drives from Synology's official compatibility list. The relaxation applies to the main 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch bays, not to M.2 flash pools.
The reversal followed strong customer backlash and a reported sharp drop in NAS sales. The commercial pressure appears to have driven the U-turn, though Synology has not publicly admitted the original policy was a mistake.
For many buyers, yes, because DSM is still considered the most polished NAS operating system with mature first-party apps. With the drive lock-in gone, the main objection is removed, though some users remain cautious that the policy could reappear in future.
The real world difference between PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 for MMO and live-service games is usually about loading, patches, and headroom. SA players should weigh NVMe speed, GPU lanes, CPU limits, and platform cost.
Read more
B850 vs B650 depends on Competitive esports needs, platform limits, and budget fit. Compare compatibility, latency, upgrade path, and real setup constraints before choosing for an SA build.
Read more
B850 vs B650 for Streaming on Twitch and YouTube comes down to CPU path, motherboard features, memory support, I/O needs, and upgrade timing. SA buyers should match the choice to their setup instead of assuming one option always wins.
Read more
Strategy and sim games make OLED and Mini-LED differences about readability, brightness, and static UI care. Use the real world difference between oled and mini led for strategy setups to plan an SA desk that stays clear for long sessions.
Read more
DisplayPort 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 differ most in bandwidth, compatibility, and upgrade value for mmo and live-service games. SA buyers should match the choice to their actual hardware and games.
Read more
Displayport 2.1 vs Displayport 1.4 for video editing in 4k is mainly about fit, features, compatibility, cost, and upgrade path, not one automatic winner. SA buyers should match the choice to the setup.
Read more
Black Friday Gaming PC Wait can help if your PC need is flexible. On a R20,000 SA budget, compare deal risk, component balance, warranty, and timing before waiting.
Pre-Black Friday webcam is a cautious guide for seasonal tech deal planning. Compare spec priorities, timing, warranty support, and realistic SA price checks for SA buyers without assuming live prices, availability, or exact benchmark results.
Choosing the best car phone holder mounting type is crucial for safety. Compare windshield, dashboard, and air vent mounts to find the perfect fit for your driving style and vehicle interior. 🚗📱
Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6e for cinematic story games comes down to router support, latency goals, device compatibility, and coverage. SA buyers should match the choice to the real network setup.
Top camera drones for video shoot 4K/60 in 10-bit colour profiles like D-Log M, capturing the dynamic range needed for professional-grade grading across SA landscapes, coastlines and travel content. The right choice depends on your sensor size priority, weight limit
For threadripper vs ryzen 9 for 3d artists, the Threadripper 9980X is the fastest tested CPU in Blender Cycles by a wide margin. For most 3D artists though, a Ryzen 9 remains the smarter investment before scaling into dedicated render nodes.
A UPS conditions mains power and gives battery runtime for a clean shutdown during an outage - protecting in-flight writes and ZFS pools that must never lose power mid-write. For any 24/7 server with data you value, it is a cost-effective reliability upgrade. 🔋
The best Linux gaming distro in 2026 depends on hardware - SteamOS Holo powers about 26% of Linux Steam installs but targets AMD, while Bazzite, Arch, and Mint lead for broader hardware. Bazzite gives the closest console-like experience for custom desktops.
How to fix low FPS after a USB DAC upgrade starts with audio drivers, USB bandwidth, and sample-rate checks. Re-test games with other ports, exclusive mode off, and background audio tools closed before blaming graphics hardware.
The real world difference between PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 for MMO and live-service games is usually about loading, patches, and headroom. SA players should weigh NVMe speed, GPU lanes, CPU limits, and platform cost.
8000Hz polling is overrated for most SA gamers because it can add system load without a clear feel upgrade. Check FPS consistency, mouse sensor quality, USB stability, and the games you play before chasing the highest rate.
B850 vs B650 depends on Competitive esports needs, platform limits, and budget fit. Compare compatibility, latency, upgrade path, and real setup constraints before choosing for an SA build.
