If you own a Synology NAS, you probably know the pain: the DSM web admin interface is rough with VoiceOver. I got tired of fighting it, so I started building a native Mac alternative — and before I go further, I'd genuinely love to know whether others would find it useful and which features you'd want first.
What it is
DSM Access is a free, open-source macOS app that talks directly to your Synology NAS through Synology's official Web API. It's built VoiceOver-first by someone who actually uses VoiceOver every day (me). The goal is simple: the things you currently struggle with in the DSM web UI, done in a clean, native, fully accessible Mac app.
What works today
- Sign in to your NAS — password login, with two-factor / one-time-code support and "remember this device."
- System information — model, DSM version, memory, uptime, temperature, and more.
- Browse File Station — your shared folders and their contents (read-only for now).
The file browser is where I put the most accessibility care. It uses a native table, like the Finder list view, so:
- Arrow keys move through the list (nothing opens just because your cursor lands on it).
- Command + Down or Return enters a folder.
- Command + Up goes back to the parent folder.
- VO-Space activates a row.
- Loading and errors are spoken — nothing happens silently.
Under the hood
- A native Mac app (SwiftUI, dropping down to AppKit where it makes accessibility genuinely better — the file list is one such place).
- Uses only Synology's documented API — no private or hidden endpoints, so it should stay reliable across DSM updates.
- Bilingual: English and French.
Being honest about the status
This is early. The code is public on GitHub: https://github.com/math65/dsmaccess (MIT license). There is no ready-to-install signed build yet — I want to gauge interest and priorities before investing more time, and a proper downloadable release will follow. If you're comfortable with Xcode, you can already build it from source.
Where you come in
- Would you actually use a native, accessible Mac app to manage your Synology NAS?
- File Station is next. Which of these would you want first?
- Download files to your Mac
- Upload files to the NAS
- Manage files: create folders, rename, move/copy, delete
- Create shareable links
- Search within a shared folder
- Would managing Download Station tasks (add / pause / remove downloads) be useful to you?
- Open question: what else about your NAS would you most want to do from an accessible Mac app? Some areas depend on what Synology's API actually exposes, so your answers genuinely help me figure out where it's realistic to dig.
Thanks for reading — any feedback, even a simple "yes, I'd use this," helps me decide where to take it. 🙏
Comments
I'd love it.
Particularly if you get write access going. I have no idea if I just haven't used it in ages or if there's an issue with the web on Mac, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to create a new directory at the top level. And I keep meaning to, so I can look into setting up a Time Machine backup.
I should add though I'm on an older device, running, 6.something I want to say, it's the latest version it will run. So it's possible mine is too old for this to matter.
hmm
I thought this was mostly accessible according to Jonathan Mosen. Been thinking about getting one of these and I use both mac and windows.
It is, more or less.
It's just that the web interface does a lot with panels and stuff, so things will appear at the bottom of the page sometimes, stuff like that. You can do stuff with it, but it's not necessarily an intuitive interface. To be fair, I haven't dug into every single thing, so I don't know if there's something that's literally not accessible. Also I use Firefox on Mac, so no idea what the Safari experience is like. Also as I've mentioned I'm running an older version, I should really try and find out how easy it would be to buy a newer device and move the drives into it.
DSM Access 1.0 is out — now with write access
Quick update — and thank you both, this is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for.
Since I posted this I kept going, and there's now a real, downloadable build: DSM Access 1.0, free and open-source.
For Khomus, who asked about write access: the read-only limitation is gone. Inside your shared folders you can now:
One honest caveat on your Time Machine goal: DSM Access writes inside your existing shared folders. Creating a brand-new top-level shared folder is a separate piece — shared-folder management — and that's the next thing on my list. So it's coming, just not in 1.0.
The build is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens with no Gatekeeper warning and updates itself from then on:
Requirements: macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, and a Synology NAS on DSM 7. Khomus, that DSM 7 part is the catch for you — I built and tested against DSM 7, so I can't promise a DSM 6 device will behave. If you ever move the drives into a newer unit, I'd genuinely love to hear how it goes.
On the "isn't the web already accessible?" question, Jonathan — Khomus put it well: it's usable, but not exactly intuitive (panels, things showing up at the bottom of the page, and so on). That's the gap I'm going after: not "possible," but native, quick and predictable with VoiceOver.
Still very much listening — what else about your NAS would you most want to do from an accessible Mac app?
DSM access wishlist...
This is a great start. But, for file operations, i already use the Finder. What does this add? The problem areas are the Control Panel which can be devilishsh to access many menus and I have problems with Package Center and updating packages that need manual updating
I have no idea whether these can be accessed via the Synology API but it would sure help a lot.
I like the Storage Manager view but adding new pools or volumes??
Thanks for listening! And thanks for starting this!
Re : DSM access wishlist...
Thanks David, this is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for.
On file operations: you're right that the Finder is hard to beat when you're on the same network as the NAS. Where DSM Access helps is remote access — moving files when you're away from home, without having to open an FTP or SMB port on your router or connect a VPN. Everything goes through DSM's own secure connection (the same API File Station uses), so it works over the internet with the security you already have in place. It also lets you generate share links for a file or folder — with an optional password and expiry date — so you can send someone a download link without giving them an account on the NAS. If you only ever reach your NAS from the local network, though, the Finder is honestly the better tool.
Your other points are spot on, and they're really why I started this:
Thanks again for taking the time — this genuinely helps me prioritize.
DSM Access and some questions.
First, though I haven't tried manipulating files, it seems to work for mine, except for randomly saying it can't reach the NAS and then doing stuff anyway, e.g. highlighting storage in the sidebar will say it can't reach the NAS, cancelled, but then it seems to have the storage info in the scroll area anyway. Not a problem I don't think, I just mention what I'm seeing in case it's at all useful.
Here's a question not really about your program, but since you're doing this stuff, maybe you'll have an idea. In Finder I've tried moving folders. It seems to fail if there are smaller files, particularly images. Any idea what's up with that? I'll try one and see if your program does any better, maybe using Synology's own API will give better results.
So say I have a folder books, and in it a folder scans, which is a bunch of images. I want to move from /foo/books/scans to foo/scans. Moving scans, or maybe subfolders in scans, it's been a bit since I tried, will fail because it can't move some of the image files.
Really dig the info BTW, e.g. temperature and such, I'm not even sure where to find that in their web interface. Great stuff! If there's anything in particular you want me to test against since I'm running older software on the NAS, let me know.
Some more thoughts
I think your point about a shareable file link, especially with the password and an expiration date is fabulous. I never considered using that because it is difficult to access and this makes it very accessible.
A couple of comments I’m not sure exactly what to do to move files? I realize I can copy them, but I didn’t see a menu for a move unless it’s just command option as on the Mac
Also you say return will enter the folder but when I press return, I get a rename option not sure if this is a bug or what also, the program gets a little confused if you proceed down into an empty folder, it’s difficult to get back up.
This is wonderful. I’m really glad I found it. I’m very very interested in using this even if I’m on the local network, but using it on a remote basis is fabulous thanks again,
David.
If you’re interested in buying a new NAS
If you’re on an old DSM version, I’m not sure what would happen if you bought a brand new NAS although the version lives on your drives when I had to replace a failed Synology NAS, I plugged all the drives in the same order into the new box and a wizard popped up, asking if I wanted to migrate them to the new NAS or reformat them.
Obviously migrating was the key and then after they’re in the new NAS and all mounted in constituted as a volume you can then update the DSM version.
You can always call Synology and they’ll walk you through that and confirmSynology