Synology Data Recovery: Guide to Retrieving Lost Files from a Synology NAS Device

User Case: How Can I Retrieve Data from my Synology NAS Using a PC

"I accidentally deleted a crucial folder on my Synology NAS (DS 414) with RAID5 setup. Unfortunately, the Recycle Bin feature was not enabled, and hence I cannot restore the folder from there. How can I recover files from my Synology NAS?" - A user inquiry from a support platform

NAS, or Network Attached Storage, is a specialized dedicated data storage server that incorporates memory components and embedded system software for cross-platform file sharing.

Synology NAS drives are highly favored by numerous NAS users. They enable automatic file synchronization across multiple devices, facilitate multi-user collaborative cloud offices, and seamlessly bridge the gap between home and corporate workplaces. Furthermore, Synology NAS excels in photo management, offering all the necessary tools to efficiently categorize, filter, organize, and share images while ensuring the safety and security of your cherished memories.

Synology NAS Data Loss/Failure

Synology RAID-based NAS devices may experience data loss due to the following reasons:

• Intentional or unintentional file deletion without recovery
• Disk initialization or formatting for using NAS RAID disks
• BTRFS or EXT4 file system corruption
• Improper configuration due to sudden power loss or incomplete RAID array repair
• Data loss from virus attacks or malware infections
• Other user or system errors

Once you encounter Synology data loss due to any of the above reasons, you can take the following two methods to recover deleted or lost files from Synology NAS drives.

Method 1: Super-Easy Synology NAS Recovery Without Removing the Disk

If you experience data loss on your Synology NAS, you can attempt to restore files using NAS data recovery software. This comprehensive recovery program allows you to retrieve data from both ext4 or btrfs file systems on your Synology NAS device with just a few clicks, eliminating the need to remove the individual disks.

Tools File Recovery Software Highlights:

• Efficiently recover deleted or formatted files from NAS hard drives
• Support NAS recovery with just a few clicks, without removing the disks
• Support all major NAS disk brands, including Synology, QNAP, Buffalo, Western Digital, NETGEAR, etc.
• Restore data on NAS devices using a Windows PC running Windows 11/10/8/7

Step 1. Choose a NAS server and begin recovery.

Download and install the tool "Data Recovery Wizard" on your Windows 11/10 64-bit computer. Upon launching the software, select "NAS Recovery". The program will automatically list all connected NAS servers; choose the target NAS device and click "Scan".

Step 2. Enable the SSH service on the NAS server.

Navigate to "Control Panel > Terminal & SNMP." Check the box for "Enable SSH service." Next, note the port for remote access. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard and click "Next."

Step 3. Connect to the NAS server remotely. Connect to the Network Attached Storage (NAS) server from a remote location.

This software will automatically detect your IP address and Port. All you need to do is enter the username and password. If the IP address or Port is incorrect, you can manually correct it. Afterwards, click "Connect Now."

Step 4. Recover Lost/Deleted NAS Data

Next, the data recovery tool will connect to your NAS and initiate a scan of the NAS device. Following the scan, you will be able to view all the deleted, lost, or existing files on your NAS server.

You can utilize the "Filter" function or opt for the "Search files or folders" option to locate the missing files on the hard drive. Select the desired NAS files that you lost on the server and click "Recover" to save them to another location.

Click the "Recover" button to retrieve deleted NAS files.

Method 2: Recover Data from Synology NAS by Removing Disks and Reconstructing RAID (Complex)

Unlike other NAS recovery tools available on the market, most NAS data recovery software currently offers a rather intricate method of retrieving data, making it challenging for average users.

The traditional procedures for Synology NAS data recovery are as follows: 1. **Backup Verification**: Before attempting any recovery, ensure that you have a recent and reliable backup of your data. Regularly scheduled backups are crucial in case of data loss. 2. **System Crash or Hardware Failure**: If your Synology NAS system crashes or experiences hardware failure, first power off the device immediately to prevent further damage. Contact Synology support for assistance with hardware issues. 3. **Data Recovery Software**: Download and install a reputable data recovery software specifically designed for NAS devices, such as Synology's own DSM (DiskStation Manager) or third-party tools like Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. 4. **Connect the NAS Drive**: Connect the Synology NAS drive to a computer using an appropriate cable (e.g., eSATA, USB). Ensure that the drive is recognized by the computer. 5. **Scan the Drive**: Launch the data recovery software and initiate a scan on the connected drive. This may take some time depending on the size of the data. 6. **Preview and Select Files**: Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files to ensure their integrity. Select the files you wish to recover. 7. **Recover Data**: Choose a safe location on your computer or an external hard drive to save the recovered data. Avoid saving the data back onto the original NAS drive to prevent overwriting any remaining lost data. 8. **Restore to NAS**: After the recovery process, reassemble the NAS if necessary, and copy the recovered data back to the Synology NAS device. Make sure to configure proper backups to prevent future data loss. 9. **Regular Maintenance**: Practice regular maintenance on your Synology NAS, including firmware updates, disk health checks, and monitoring system logs for potential issues. Remember, prevention is always better than cure, so maintain a robust backup strategy to minimize the need for data recovery.

Step 1. Power off the NAS service. Remove the RAID drive disks one by one.

Step 2. Connect the drives to your computer. You can use SATA cables to attach the disks directly to your PC's motherboard or use USB-to-SATA adapters along with power. Do not initialize or format the drives when prompted.

Step 3. Prepare enough external/internal hard drives or another network storage space (equal to or greater than the volume of the recovered data from the failed NAS drives) to store the restored data from the NAS.

Step 4. Acquire and use one of the best NAS recovery software tools to retrieve your data.

Method 3: Recover Synology NAS Data with the Assistance of Experts

You might require additional assistance for challenging data loss scenarios such as reformatting Synology drives, RAW disks, partition loss, system boot errors, or virtual disk corruption. Consider utilizing Data Recovery Services for an affordable, personalized manual recovery solution. After a FREE diagnosis, they can provide the following services:

RAID Data Recovery Services

Contact our experts for a free evaluation now

Consult with our experienced data recovery specialists for personalized manual recovery services. Following a FREE diagnosis, we provide the following services. Our skilled engineers, with decades of experience, can repair compromised RAID configurations and recover data from all RAID levels.

• Data restoration from all RAID levels, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, etc.
• Data recovery from enterprise RAID systems like QNAP, Synology, WD, Buffalo, etc.
• Recovering lost RAID data due to any issue
• Fixing disks with GPT-protected partitions
• Remote data recovery - no need to ship the device

Perform Synology Data Recovery with Just a Few Clicks

Upon completing this tutorial, we trust that you have grasped the two methods for recovering data from your Synology NAS drive. The NAS Data Recovery software provides a unique and straightforward approach to restore deleted or lost files from a NAS device configured as a single drive, RAID 0, RAID 1, or any other RAID setup. There's no need to remove the disks or rebuild the RAID; just a few clicks enable you to perform efficient NAS data recovery.