6 Methods | How to Backup iPhone to Synology NAS

Can I Backup my iPhone to NAS Instead of iCloud?

Many iPhone users eventually reach a point where iCloud storage becomes limited, expensive, or simply not flexible enough for long-term data management. In these cases, it's common to look for a more controllable local solution. Many users prefer backing up their iPhone to a Synology NAS instead of iCloud for practical and cost-related reasons:

• One-time investment vs. recurring fees: NAS storage is a one-time purchase, while iCloud requires ongoing subscription costs as storage needs grow.
• More storage flexibility: Easily expand storage by adding new drives to Synology NAS.
• Full data ownership: Data stays physically at home or office, not on third-party cloud servers.
• Faster local transfers: Backups over LAN are often significantly faster than cloud uploads.
• Multi-device backup hub: One NAS can serve iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows devices simultaneously.

You can back up your iPhone to a Synology NAS instead of iCloud. In many cases, it can even provide more storage freedom and better control. In general, a Synology NAS handles common user data like photos, videos, and files quite well. However, not everything on an iPhone can be transferred to a NAS in a single direct backup, including app data, system settings, and messages. In this guide, you'll discover reliable ways to back up everything stored on your iPhone to your Synology NAS.

How to Manually Backup iPhone to Synology NAS

This is the most direct way to store iPhone backup file on your NAS, especially when you want full control over where your data is saved. You can plug your iPhone directly into your computer with a correct able, then upload the files you want to back up to your Synology NAS.

Step 1. Log into your Synology NAS device from web browser and open File Station.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to a computer (Windows or Mac) with a correct cable and trust the device on your iPhone.

Step 3. Navigate to File Explorer or Finder and access your iPhone, then open the DCIM folder. Drag the files you want to backup and drop them into the Synology NAS folder.

★Tips:

Since only limited iPhone data can be accessed when connecting the phone to a computer, this method only lets you back up a restricted set of iPhone content to your Synology NAS, usually just photos and videos.

How to Automatically Backup My iPhone to Synology NAS

While manual transfer methods work well for selective backups, most users prefer a more automated solution to continuously protect their iPhone data. Synology NAS provides several built-in apps that can automatically sync photos, documents, and files without requiring repeated manual actions.

Automatically Backup Photos and Videos via Synology Photos

Synology Photos is the most common way to automatically back up iPhone media. It continuously uploads photos and videos from your iPhone to the NAS once enabled, making it ideal for users who mainly want to protect their camera roll without manual transfers, as well as one of the top alternatives to iCloud photos.

Step 1. Install Synology Photos from the App Store and sign in using your NAS credentials.

Step 2. Enable "Photo Backup" and grant access to your iPhone photo library.

Step 3. Select backup preferences such as Wi-Fi only, include mobile data or the backup destination, then click "Enable" to start the process.

Step 4. Allow background upload so new photos and videos are automatically synced to your NAS.

Sync Photos and Documents Using Synology Drive

For users who store important documents, PDFs, and working files on their iPhone, Synology Drive provides a more structured backup approach. It works like a private cloud sync tool, automatically keeping selected folders synchronized between iPhone and NAS.

Step 1. Install Synology Drive on your iPhone and log in to your NAS account.

Step 2. Choose folders from the Files app or Synology Drive directory to sync.

Step 3. Enable automatic sync or scheduled backup depending on your usage needs.

Step 4. Verify that newly added or modified files appear in the NAS Drive folder.

★Tips:

Similar to the manually backup, restrictions of Synology Drive on iPhone prevent full iPhone device backups. You can only back up photos, videos, and specific files stored in the Files app.

Backup Files and Media via DS File App

DS File provides a more flexible file-level backup option, allowing you to manually or semi-automatically upload different types of iPhone data to your NAS. It is often used when users want a lightweight alternative to full sync services.

Step 1. Install DS file from the App Store and connect it to your Synology NAS.

Step 2. Tap the "More" button on the top of screen and select "Photo Backup" if you want to back up iPhone photos.

Step 3. Choose the destination folder and set up other backup options, then click "Upload" to begin the process.

Back Up Entire iPhone to Synology NAS Using PC

For users who need a complete iPhone backup including system data, the most reliable approach is still to create a full encrypted backup on a computer and store it on the NAS. This method combines Apple's native backup system with NAS storage, ensuring that even app data, messages, and system settings are preserved in Synology NAS.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a PC or Mac and open iTunes or Finder. Here, we take iTunes as an example.

Step 2. Open iTunes and click the device button near the top left of the window.

Step 3. Enable "Encrypted Backup" and click "Back Up Now" to create a full device backup.

★Tips:

Only when encryption is enabled will health data, Wi-Fi passwords, website login sessions, and account passwords on your phone be backed up together. Otherwise, these private data will be omitted from the backup.

Step 3. Locate the generated backup folder on your computer.

Step 4. Copy the entire backup folder to your Synology NAS shared directory for long-term storage. Then, you can delete the local backup to free up space.

This method will take up a large amount of storage space on your computer's C drive (equal to the total space consumed on your iPhone). If your PC lacks sufficient free space, follow the steps below to redirect the backup storage path to your Synology NAS.

Step 1. Make sure your Synology NAS is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi or local network as your computer. Log in to Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) using a browser to confirm that the NAS is fully initialized and accessible.

Step 2. Open File Explorer and right click on "This PC", select "Map network drive".

Step 3. Assign a drive letter and enter the Synology NAS server (IP address) plus shared folder, like \\192.168.1.100\share, then click "Finish".

Step 4. Input your DSM username and password, then you can see the mapped NAS drive in File Explorer.

Step 5. Turn off iTunes completely and run Command Prompt as administrator, then enter the following command:

mklink /J "C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "Z:\iPhone_Backups".

★Tips:

C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup: the backup path.

Z:\iPhone_Backups: the destination path in Synology NAS. Replace the source and destination backup paths with your actual paths.

Backup iPhone iCloud or iCloud Photos to Synology NAS via MultCloud

While direct backup methods through Synology apps or a computer can already cover most iPhone data, many users still rely on iCloud Photos or iCloud drive as their primary media storage. In this case, instead of manually downloading photos to a device first, you can use a multiple cloud management service like MultCloud to directly migrate or sync iCloud Photos to your Synology NAS.

It can connect your iCloud account and NAS within one platform, then automate the transfer process so that photos stored in iCloud are continuously or periodically backed up to your NAS without manual downloads. Follow these steps to back up your iPhone to Synology NAS.

Step 1. Go to the MultCloud website and sign up for an account, then log in to access the cloud management dashboard.

Step 2. Click "Add Clouds and Emails" and select iCloud Photos (or iCloud), then sign in with your Apple ID to grant access permissions. And add Synology NAS with the same step.

Step 3. Open "Cloud Backup", choose iCloud Photos as the source and your NAS folder as the destination, then click "Backup Now" to begin transferring iCloud photos to your Synology NAS, and monitor progress through the Task List.

Click the "Options" and "Schedule" buttons to configure backup mode like email notifications, filter file extensions, or daily/weekly/monthly scheduled backups.

The End

Backing up an iPhone to a Synology NAS instead of iCloud is not only possible, but also a more flexible and cost-efficient long-term strategy for many users. As shown in the methods above, you can back up iPhone photos, videos, files, and even your entire device to a Synology NAS.

For those relying heavily on iCloud Photos, tools like MultCloud also make it easier to migrate or sync data directly from the cloud to a NAS without complex manual downloads. MutlCloud also provides Website backup feature, allowing you to protect your files and database always security.

FAQs

Q1: How to backup mobile phone to Synology NAS?

You can back up a mobile phone to Synology NAS using either manual transfer or Synology apps. Connect the NAS to the same network, then use tools like Synology Photos, Synology Drive, or DS File to sync data. For full backups, use a computer to transfer files or device backups to the NAS storage.

Q2: How to backup an iPhone into NAS?

iPhone can be backed up to NAS by syncing photos and files directly via Synology apps or by creating a full local backup on a PC/Mac using iTunes or Finder, then copying the backup folder to the NAS. This ensures both partial and full device data can be stored securely.

Q3: How to automatically backup iPhone photos to Synology NAS?

Use Synology Photos to enable automatic photo backup. Install the app on iPhone, log in with NAS credentials, and enable "Photo Backup". Once activated, photos and videos are automatically uploaded to NAS in the background over Wi-Fi or mobile data based on settings.

Q4: What are the disadvantages of NAS storage?

NAS storage requires initial setup, hardware cost, and basic network knowledge. It also depends on local network stability and lacks the seamless integration of cloud services like iCloud. Remote access may require additional configuration, and full system backups often need a computer as a bridge.

Q5: How to backup iPhone photos automatically to NAS?

The simplest way is using Synology Photos or Synology Drive. After installing the app, grant photo permissions and enable automatic sync. The app will continuously upload new photos and videos to the NAS, ensuring real-time or scheduled backup without manual operation.

Q6: Can I use NAS instead of iCloud?

Yes, NAS can replace iCloud for photos, files, and partial backups, offering more storage control and no subscription fees. However, iCloud still provides better system-level integration. Many users prefer a hybrid approach, using NAS for storage and iCloud for seamless device syncing.