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Map a Home NAS as a Windows Drive: SMB, WebDAV, and ScsDriver

Windows can map NAS shares with SMB without extra software. For WebDAV, enable Synology’s separate WebDAV Server package and secure remote access with HTTPS, a matching certificate, and correct forwarding.
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You can map a Synology NAS in Windows with SMB without installing a separate mount client. For access over WebDAV, install Synology’s WebDAV Server package, enable HTTPS, and connect with a WebDAV-capable Windows client. ScsDriver is presented as the author’s preferred mount client, but its current features, compatibility, price, and reliability are not independently established here, so treat it as an option to verify—not a required part of a 2026 NAS build.

Choose SMB or WebDAV for the access you need

Synology supports both protocols, but they serve different connection patterns. SMB is the ordinary choice for accessing shared NAS folders from Windows on a local network. Synology describes SMB as a way for Windows, Mac, and Linux clients with SMB/CIFS support to access NAS data: Synology SMB specifications.

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WebDAV is an alternative for remote file access from Windows, macOS, and Linux over HTTP or HTTPS. Synology documents that support in its WebDAV Server specifications. It requires the WebDAV Server package on the NAS and a compatible client on the computer; it is not a setting inside the SMB tab.

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  • Use SMB when you want Windows to connect to NAS shares through standard network-drive mapping, especially on your home network.
  • Consider WebDAV when you specifically need WebDAV access, including a remote-access workflow configured for HTTPS.
  • Use a third-party mount client only if needed. ScsDriver is not necessary for ordinary SMB network-drive mapping.

Map a Synology shared folder in Windows with SMB

First make sure SMB file service is enabled on the NAS and that the account you will use has permission to the shared folder. Synology documents SMB as its file-sharing service for compatible clients. In Windows, map the share using the NAS name or local IP address and the shared-folder name.

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  1. In File Explorer, select This PC, then choose Map network drive.
  2. Choose a drive letter and enter the network path in the form \NAS-nameshared-folder, replacing the example names with your NAS and share.
  3. If Windows asks, connect using an account authorized for that shared folder. Select the reconnect option if you want Windows to try to restore the mapping when you sign in.

Use the NAS’s local hostname or IP address for a connection on your home network. A mapped SMB drive does not itself make the NAS safely accessible from the public internet; remote access requires a separately configured and secured method.

Set up WebDAV over HTTPS on Synology

Synology’s default WebDAV ports are 5005 for HTTP and 5006 for HTTPS. The port is configurable, so use the value shown in the NAS’s WebDAV Server settings if it has been changed. Synology’s setup and port guidance is available in its WebDAV Server guide and network ports reference.

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  1. In DSM, open Package Center and install WebDAV Server if it is not already installed.
  2. Open WebDAV Server and enable its HTTPS service. Confirm the configured HTTPS port; 5006 is the default.
  3. Use a certificate valid for the hostname you will enter in the client. A certificate for a different name can cause certificate warnings or prevent a secure connection.
  4. In a WebDAV-capable Windows client, enter the NAS hostname, HTTPS port, and the account credentials authorized for the files you need.

For access from outside your home, also configure DNS and the router’s port forwarding correctly. Synology’s troubleshooting guidance specifically calls for correct external port forwarding and an HTTPS certificate that matches the DDNS or fully qualified domain name (FQDN) used to connect: Synology WebDAV connection troubleshooting. Forward only the service you intend to use, and grant the connecting account only the permissions it needs.

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Where ScsDriver fits—and what to verify

The author of the proposed build describes ScsDriver as a Windows client that mounts WebDAV as a drive letter and can reconnect after disruptions, and reports a price of $9.99 per year. Those are author-reported claims, not independently verified product specifications. Current official documentation establishing ScsDriver’s feature set, supported Windows versions, price, reliability, or comparative performance is not available here.

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Before choosing it, check the vendor’s current documentation for Windows compatibility, supported WebDAV configurations, reconnection behavior, renewal terms, and troubleshooting options. If Windows’ built-in SMB mapping meets your needs, you do not need ScsDriver for that task. If you require WebDAV drive-letter mounting, compare the client’s verified capabilities with your NAS configuration rather than assuming a third-party client is necessary or more reliable.

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Plan the NAS hardware separately from the Windows mount

The proposed build is a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 7050 Micro with two 4 TB SSDs and DSM 7.2 running in a virtual machine; a Synology DS220+ is named as an appliance alternative. These are the author’s proposed components, not independently tested recommendations. Confirm current availability, compatibility, storage configuration, and the support status of the specific software and hardware before buying or building around them.

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Two drives do not automatically provide a backup. If configured as a mirror, they can help keep data available after one drive fails, but that arrangement does not protect against accidental deletion, malware, theft, or damage to the whole system. Keep a separate backup for data you cannot afford to lose. The mount protocol and Windows client determine how you reach files; they do not determine whether the underlying NAS design is suitable for your needs.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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