Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBefore updating DSM or a Synology package, run a Hyper Backup task that includes the package if it is supported and the shared folders its data depends on. Check that package’s Synology Help page to see what is—and is not—included, then verify the task completed. If you also want a copy of DSM system settings, export a separate .dss configuration file; it does not back up package data.
Back up package data with Hyper Backup
Hyper Backup is Synology’s tool for backing up supported packages and selected shared folders to local or remote destinations. Package availability and backup coverage vary, so selecting a package is not a guarantee that every setting or file will be captured. Synology’s Hyper Backup documentation describes the feature; consult the Help page for the specific package for its coverage and exclusions.
- In DSM, open Hyper Backup and create a data backup task, or edit an existing task.
- Choose a destination, such as a local shared folder, USB storage, another Synology NAS, or a supported cloud destination. Check the destination’s current requirements and compatibility in DSM.
- Select the shared folders and files you need to recover. In the applications or packages selection step, select the relevant package if it appears as an available backup item.
- Check the package’s own Synology Help page. Add any required shared folders that are not covered by the package selection, and note any documented exclusions.
- Run the task before starting the update. Confirm that it completes, and use Hyper Backup’s integrity-check function to check the backup data.
Do not assume all shared folders are selected automatically: review the task’s source list. Synology explains package and folder selection in its Folders and Packages Backup guidance.
What the different backup options protect
| Backup choice | What it protects | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Package selected in Hyper Backup | Settings and data for packages that support Hyper Backup, according to that package’s documented coverage. | Some packages are unsupported, and package-specific exclusions apply. See Synology’s Hyper Backup Help. |
| Shared folders selected in Hyper Backup | The selected folder contents and files, useful for data the package stores in shared folders. | Only folders included in the task are covered. Review the source list and package documentation. |
DSM configuration export (.dss) |
Supported DSM system settings, such as users, groups, shared folders, and file-service settings. | It is not a package-data backup and does not include the homes shared folder or its data. Synology directs users to Hyper Backup for that data. See Configuration Backup | DSM. |
Export DSM settings separately, if needed
A configuration export is useful alongside Hyper Backup when you also want supported system settings available for recovery. In DSM, go to Control Panel > Update & Restore > Configuration Backup and export the configuration. Synology’s DSM 7 and later migration guidance describes exporting a .dss file. Store it somewhere you can reach if the NAS needs recovery; it does not replace the Hyper Backup task for package data or the homes shared-folder contents.
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Choose a destination and backup format
Synology documents local and external storage, remote Synology NAS devices, and public-cloud destinations for Hyper Backup. The best fit depends on where you can access the backup during recovery and whether you need version history.
- USB drive or local storage: A separate external USB hard drive is one physical destination. Choose capacity based on the selected folders and packages and the number of versions you intend to retain; there is no universal capacity established for every NAS or task.
- Remote Synology NAS: A second NAS separates the backup from the device being updated, but recovery depends on access to that NAS and its credentials.
- Cloud destination: Hyper Backup supports public-cloud destinations. Synology describes whole-NAS backup to C2 Storage with an Advanced Plan; confirm current plan and destination requirements before relying on that route.
For local or USB destinations, Synology distinguishes multi-version .hbk repositories from single-version copies in original file formats. Multi-version backups are managed with Hyper Backup, Hyper Backup Explorer, or Hyper Backup Vault; do not rename an .hbk repository. Hyper Backup documentation lists a maximum capacity of 65,535 versions, but that is a product limit, not a sensible default retention target. See Synology’s Hyper Backup Help.
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Package coverage can differ: Download Station example
Synology’s Download Station backup and restoration page says Hyper Backup can restore that package’s settings and data to a previous point in time. Its documented contents include package configuration, RSS feeds, items and filters, the eMule server list, BT/HTTP/FTP/NZB and eMule tasks, and self-installed plugins.
The same page excludes search results and certain user accounts or passwords used in NZB, file-hosting, or BT searches. These details apply to Download Station, not every Synology package; check the documentation for the package you use.
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Restore after an update problem
- Open Hyper Backup and start its restore workflow. Choose the backup task and the version you need.
- Select the relevant folders, packages, and—if available—the system-configuration version to restore. Review the restore summary before confirming.
- Keep the destination’s access details and any encryption password or key available. Encrypted tasks cannot be restored without the required credential.
- After the restore, check whether any unsupported packages need manual installation and configuration.
Files restored to paths that already contain files may overwrite those files. Synology’s Hyper Backup restore instructions describe selecting settings, applications, files, and permissions.
Synology states that some packages do not support backup and restoration. In its migration guidance, Synology also warns that packages backed up on a newer DSM version cannot be restored to an earlier DSM version. A DSM downgrade is therefore not a safe assumed recovery route; see Synology’s Hyper Backup migration guidance, last updated 2024-12-23.
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