How to fix it
Work through these in order, the most common causes come first.
Problem: NAS Not Visible on Network
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").
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).
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.
Our picks
Products we recommend
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner reports.
Best OverallSynology
2-bay NAS with Intel Celeron J4025 processor, 2GB RAM, and Synology DSM operating system.
- 2-bay drive enclosure
- Intel Celeron J4025 dual-core
- 2GB DDR4 ECC RAM (expandable to 6GB)
- Synology DSM 7 operating system
✓ Pros
- DSM software is the most polished NAS interface available, Plex, photo backup, and file sync apps are well-integrated
- Transcoding support handles 4K video playback without client-side processing
- Drive compatibility list is extensive, most major NAS-optimized hard drives are verified
✕ Cons
- Diskless, drives sold separately (add the cost of two WD Red or Seagate IronWolf drives)
UGREEN
Intel N100 handles Plex hardware transcoding
✓ Pros
- Intel N100 handles Plex hardware transcoding
- 2.5GbE port
- Two M.2 NVMe slots plus two drive bays
- Docker and VM support
✕ Cons
- Drives sold separately
- Software ecosystem younger than Synology's
- Only two drive bays
FAQ
Common questions
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.
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