How to Migrate from a Synology to a QNAP NAS Without Losing Data
Moving from Synology to QNAP is more involved than copying folders from one network device to another. The two platforms use different operating systems, package ecosystems, permission models, and storage management tools. A safe migration therefore requires a staged transfer rather than a simple disk swap.
The most important principle is to treat the QNAP as a new storage system. Synology drives generally cannot be inserted into a QNAP and imported as a working pool. The destination should be prepared independently, tested, and backed up before the final changeover.
A careful plan also protects application data, user accounts, shared-folder permissions, media libraries, and backup jobs. With the right sequence, you can move files while the Synology remains available, perform a short final synchronization, and switch users with minimal disruption.
Check Compatibility Before Buying Drives
Start by listing everything stored or running on the Synology. Include shared folders, personal home directories, virtual machines, Docker or Container Manager projects, surveillance recordings, databases, photos, media libraries, and backup repositories. A file count alone is not enough because some services store important information outside ordinary shared folders.
Measure used capacity and estimate future growth. A QNAP with the same raw disk capacity may provide less usable space if you choose a different RAID level, reserve space for snapshots, or use a separate SSD pool. Leave free capacity for RAID rebuilds, system overhead, snapshots, and temporary migration files.
RAID is not a backup, regardless of whether the source uses Synology Hybrid RAID, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, or another layout. Keep the Synology intact until the QNAP data, applications, and backups have been verified. If the old NAS is the only copy of critical files, create an additional backup before beginning.
Build and Configure the QNAP First
Install the QNAP drives and create a storage pool and thick or thin volume according to your workload. For important business data, RAID 6 may provide better protection than RAID 5 when using many large disks, while RAID 1 or RAID 10 can suit smaller systems that need strong write performance. SSD storage may be useful for databases or virtual machines, but it does not replace a backup.
Update QTS or QuTS hero, apply security patches, and configure networking before transferring data. Assign a stable hostname or IP address, enable the required SMB or NFS services, and create shared folders with a clear naming structure. Avoid exposing the NAS administration interface directly to the internet.
Create user accounts and groups before the copy begins. Usernames should match where possible, but remember that internal user IDs and access-control entries may differ between platforms. Test access using an ordinary account rather than relying only on an administrator account.
Choose a Transfer Method
For many home and small-office migrations, an SMB copy from a computer is the simplest approach. Map the Synology shared folder and the QNAP destination, then copy in batches using a tool that can resume interrupted transfers. This method is easy to understand, but it may be slower and can lose some Linux ownership, extended attributes, or specialized metadata.
Rsync is better suited to large data sets and repeated synchronization. QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync can work with rsync, SMB, FTP, or other sources, while Synology can provide an rsync-compatible service. An initial transfer copies most data, and a later synchronization moves only changes made since the first pass. Confirm whether the selected settings preserve timestamps, symbolic links, permissions, and extended attributes.
Do not assume that Synology Hyper Backup archives can be restored directly into QNAP applications. Hyper Backup is designed around Synology’s own package and archive system. It remains useful as a safety copy, but ordinary files should generally be transferred through SMB, rsync, or another neutral protocol. For application-specific databases, use the application’s export and import functions.
| Migration area | Recommended approach | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Shared documents and media | SMB or rsync copy followed by verification | Missing files or changed permissions |
| Synology package data | Export from the application, then import on QNAP | Unsupported or incomplete migration |
| Docker and container projects | Save compose files, images, volumes, and configuration separately | Containers start without required data |
| Virtual machines | Export using the hypervisor, then import on QNAP Virtualization Station | Driver, network, or licensing differences |
| Photos and media indexes | Copy originals, then rebuild or migrate the database | Albums, tags, and thumbnails may need recreation |
| Backup archives | Keep the original backup set and create a new QNAP job | Proprietary archives may not be readable |
Transfer Files Without Creating Conflicts
Begin with a pilot migration involving a small shared folder. Copy it to the QNAP, compare file counts and total sizes, and open representative documents, images, videos, and compressed archives. Test filenames containing spaces, accented characters, long paths, and special symbols. This exposes protocol or permission problems before the main transfer.
For a large migration, copy static or infrequently changed folders first. Keep a written record of source paths, destination paths, excluded folders, and transfer dates. Avoid copying temporary directories, recycle bins, package caches, and incomplete download folders unless they have a specific purpose.
When permissions matter, map Synology groups to equivalent QNAP groups and review access manually. A file that appears to have copied correctly may still be inaccessible because its ACL references a user that does not exist on the destination. Check both Windows ACL behavior over SMB and Unix permissions if Linux or macOS clients use NFS or SSH.
If the NAS contains project records, maintenance documents, or other operational material, validate external references after the move as well. For example, a business that stores installation paperwork alongside vendor contacts might review a regional service resource while checking that links and supporting records remain usable.
Handle Applications Separately
Files are usually portable; services are not. Synology Photos, Synology Drive, Surveillance Station, Notes, Active Backup, and package databases may use proprietary structures. On QNAP, install the equivalent application, configure its storage location, and follow its documented migration or import process. In some cases, only the original files can be moved and the index must be rebuilt.
Container workloads need special care. Save Docker Compose files, environment variables, bind-mount paths, secrets, databases, and persistent volumes. Reinstalling an image without restoring its volume can produce an apparently functional application with empty or missing data. Export databases cleanly rather than copying live database files while they are being modified.
Virtual machines should be shut down and exported through the virtualization platform when possible. Record virtual network settings, CPU and memory allocations, attached disks, and license requirements. Test each imported machine on an isolated network before allowing it to connect to production services.
Media servers may require a fresh scan of the QNAP library. Preserve the original media files first, then recreate user permissions, metadata agents, transcoding settings, and remote-access configuration. A rebuilt index is inconvenient, but it is safer than treating application folders as ordinary documents.
Perform the Final Sync and Cutover
When the initial copy is complete, announce a short maintenance window. Stop applications that write data to the Synology, pause synchronization clients, disable downloads, and ask users to close open files. Record the exact time so the final synchronization has a clear boundary.
Run a final rsync or file-copy pass with deletion disabled until the results are confirmed. Compare source and destination file counts, review error logs, and inspect recently modified files. Use hashes for critical folders or a representative sample when a complete hash comparison would take too long. Never enable automatic deletion on the destination until you are certain that the source and destination paths are correct.
Switch clients by updating mapped drives, DNS records, application paths, or login scripts. Keep the Synology powered on but restrict write access so it remains a fallback copy. Monitor QNAP storage health, RAID status, system logs, and application behavior for several days before retiring or repurposing the old system.
Verify Backups and Recovery
Create new backup jobs for the QNAP rather than assuming Synology backup tasks will continue to protect the new storage. Follow the 3-2-1 principle: keep at least three copies, use two different storage types or locations, and maintain one copy offline or off-site. A USB backup, another NAS, cloud object storage, or a remote office can provide the additional destination.
Test restoration, not just backup completion. Restore several ordinary files, a large media file, a folder with permissions, and any important database or virtual machine. Confirm that version history and retention settings work as expected. If QNAP snapshots are enabled, test both individual-file recovery and full-volume recovery.
- Keep the Synology unchanged until the migration and restore tests pass.
- Use a pilot folder to validate permissions, filenames, and metadata.
- Export application databases, containers, and virtual machines separately.
- Run a final synchronized copy after all users stop making changes.
- Document the new QNAP shares, accounts, backup jobs, and recovery steps.
A Synology-to-QNAP migration succeeds when the destination is treated as a planned replacement rather than a disk transplant. Prepare the storage pool, transfer ordinary files with a resumable method, rebuild applications deliberately, and verify backups before decommissioning the source. Begin with an inventory and a small test folder, then schedule the full cutover only after the process has produced a verified copy.