Can I move the drives from a failed Synology NAS into a replacement model?

Applies to: Synology-to-Synology HDD migration; separate from changing drive bays within one NAS.

Work through these checks

1. List the source and replacement models, DSM versions, drive count, RAID layout, SSD cache and expansion units. Record the original bay order before removing anything. Preserve any current backup and encryption recovery keys.
2. Check the current Synology migration comparison and the exact pair’s restrictions. Single-bay/multi-bay moves, incompatible drives, unsupported architectures or encryption can require Migration Assistant or backup-and-restore instead.
3. If the source still works, export its configuration and back up required data and packages before the move. Schedule downtime and follow the exact model-pair procedure with both units shut down when transferring drives.
4. At discovery and installation, stop immediately if the wizard says data on the original drives will be deleted. Photograph the prompt and request assessment; do not create a new pool to make the drives appear.

Confirm the result

After an approved migration, verify shares, users, packages, encrypted data, backup tasks and sample file contents before retiring the old system or recovery copy.

If you need help

Include these details in your ticket: Both models, DSM versions, bay/RAID layout, encryption status and a redacted screenshot of the migration prompt.

Updated 261107