Synology walks back controversial compatibility policy for 2025 NAS units — third-party HDD and SSD support returns with DiskStation Manager 7.3 update

Synology has reversed its decision on limiting NAS units to only Synology-branded drives, allowing users to once again use third-party HDDs and SSDs with the latest DiskStation Manager 7.3 update. The company faced backlash earlier for restricting core functionalities to only Synology drives, claiming better performance and reliability. The change now enables users to utilize drives from brands like Western Digital and Seagate without losing key features. The update also brings enhancements in performance, security, and flexibility, along with AI integration through the Synology AI Console. The company is working with major drive manufacturers to expand officially certified storage options, excluding M.2 drives from the update.