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Before installing a community package, verify its source URL, confirm it supports your DSM version and NAS model, and understand the trust warning DSM displays. A package appearing in Package Center does not mean Synology has verified it.
Check DSM and package compatibility first
Package availability can vary by DSM version and NAS model. Check the package developer’s compatibility information and use instructions that match your DSM release; Synology’s trust-level choices described below are specifically for DSM 6, not a universal setting for current DSM versions. See Synology’s Package Center installation help for its version and model considerations.
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- Identify the DSM version running on your NAS.
- Confirm the package supports that DSM version and your model.
- Check whether the package is a stable release or beta, and whether it supports automatic updates.
Add a package source in DSM 7
Synology’s DSM 7 instructions place repository setup in Package Center settings. Obtain the repository URL from the developer’s own site and verify that it belongs to the publisher you intend to use before entering it. Do not rely on a URL copied from an unrelated post or assume Package Center has vetted the source.
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- Open Package Center.
- Go to Settings > Package Sources, then select Add.
- Enter a name for the source and its URL, then save.
- Open the Community section to see packages supplied by the added source. The first load may take time.
Synology’s instructions note that developers may publish their repository URL on their own websites. A source being listed in Community is not a Synology endorsement or verification of its packages.
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Understand trust settings and warnings by DSM version
DSM 6 trust-level choices
Synology’s DSM 6 Package Center configuration help lists three trust levels: Synology Inc., Synology Inc. and trusted publishers, and Any publisher. In that documentation, trusted publishers are those trusted through a community package source or by importing the publisher’s certificate.
Synology describes the broadest option this way: “Any publisher: Allow installation of any package regardless of publisher and integrity.” That wording is a reason to understand the setting rather than select it casually. DSM 6 instructions and labels should not be treated as instructions for DSM 7.
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DSM 7 and the SynoCommunity warning
SynoCommunity’s installation guidance says DSM 6.x may require changing the trust level to Synology Inc. and trusted publishers. For DSM 7.x, SynoCommunity says users cannot trust publishers other than Synology and will see this warning: “The package is provided by third-party developers and not verified by Synology”. This is SynoCommunity’s description of the warning, not a Synology verification statement. Read the warning as an indication of third-party origin; do not treat a repository entry as proof of safety or try to bypass the warning as a routine step.
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Where the DSM version and package configuration offer certificate controls, verify the publisher certificate belongs to the developer you intend to trust. Synology’s DSM 6 help describes importing a trusted publisher certificate and says Synology’s certificate can be updated automatically during installation when the NAS is connected to the internet.
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Update support is package-specific. Synology’s DSM 7 configuration help documents automatic update options and notes that a grayed-out package checkbox means that package does not support automatic updating. If you want package-update emails, configure DSM notification settings; desktop notifications are also available in the documented settings. Check the package’s own update guidance rather than assuming every community package updates automatically.
Decide whether a beta package is appropriate
Beta is a separate decision from whether a source is trusted. Synology says beta packages are not recommended for commercial use. SynoCommunity says its beta packages are supported only on DSM 6.x and are not recognized by DSM 7.x. These statements concern beta packages and SynoCommunity’s guidance; check the specific developer’s current compatibility notes before installing any beta.
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Manual installation is a separate option
Synology also supports installing a local .spk file through Package Center > Manual Install. Its help describes this route for installing a particular version or installing when the NAS has no internet access. Synology directs users to its Download Center for official packages matched to a NAS model; its Package Center help also covers third-party .spk files.
Manual installation does not remove the need to verify provenance and compatibility. Before uploading a file, confirm who published it, that it is intended for your DSM version and model, and that you understand its update support. A local installer is a different delivery route, not a reason to ignore source or trust concerns.
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