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Use Synology’s USB Copy package to export files from a NAS to an attached USB drive. Create a Data Export task, select the NAS folders and a copy mode, then run it manually, when the drive is connected, or on a schedule. The right file system depends on your NAS model and DSM version; safely eject the drive in DSM before unplugging it.
Before you connect or format a USB drive
Check the specifications for your exact Synology NAS model, the installed DSM version, the drive’s connector, and the file systems the NAS supports. An attached drive appears in DSM as a system-created shared folder named usbshare[number]. Synology lists FAT32, NTFS, ext3, ext4, and exFAT among the formats USB Copy recognizes, but support varies by model; some models support HFS+ only as read-only. See Synology’s USB Copy documentation and file-system compatibility guidance.
- Choose an external USB hard drive or USB external SSD with enough usable capacity for the files you intend to copy, and verify that its connector works with your NAS.
- If you also need to open the drive directly on a Windows PC or Mac, check that the chosen format works for those devices as well as the NAS. Synology notes that an ext4-formatted external drive is recognized only by Synology NAS devices.
- Do not format a drive casually: formatting deletes its existing data. If DSM prompts you to format an unrecognized drive, first confirm the files are backed up and that the format is appropriate for every device that must read it.
Check exFAT support against your DSM version
Synology’s exFAT instructions, last updated November 4, 2025, distinguish DSM releases: DSM 7.3 and later includes exFAT support by default; DSM 7.0 through 7.2.2 requires the exFAT Access package; DSM 6.2.4 and earlier follows a separate licensing path. Check Synology’s exFAT guidance for your exact release before choosing or troubleshooting an exFAT drive.
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Copy files with USB Copy
USB Copy is the purpose-built DSM workflow for exporting NAS files to an attached USB or SD device. Only an administrator or a user in the administrators group can access it.
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- Connect the USB drive to the NAS and sign in to DSM as an administrator or a member of the administrators group.
- Open USB Copy, select Create, then choose Data Export.
- Select the NAS source folders and the destination on the connected device. Choose a copy mode that matches how you want repeat runs to behave.
- Set the file-conflict policy and, if needed, filters. USB Copy can filter by full filename or extension. Check Synology’s listed naming restrictions if you are copying unusual metadata or system folders.
- Choose whether to run the task manually, when a matching device is plugged in, or on a schedule. Start the task and check its status or summary in USB Copy.
- Open a few representative files on the destination to confirm they copied as expected, then eject the drive in DSM before disconnecting it.
Synology documents USB Copy’s task setup, status, filtering, and ejection options in its USB Copy help. Checking sample files is a practical way to confirm a transfer, particularly before relying on it as your only copy.
Choose a USB Copy mode
| Mode | What it does | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-versioned | Creates a folder named for each run and copies all source files into it. Rotation settings can remove older versions. | Keeping dated export snapshots from separate runs. |
| Mirroring | Applies source changes so the destination folder is a complete mirror of the source. | Maintaining a destination intended to track the current source, rather than preserving separate dated copies. |
| Incremental | Copies newly added and modified source files. | Carrying changes forward on repeat runs without copying every source file each time. |
For exact behavior and configuration options, see Synology’s USB Copy documentation. Do not confuse Photo/Video Import with an export: that task imports media onto the NAS, runs only in incremental mode, and organizes imported items by modification date.
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Keep scheduled exports and ejection in mind
If a task is scheduled to run again, leave the drive connected and mounted until those runs are finished. Do not enable eject-after-completion if a later scheduled run still needs the device. For a one-time task—or after the final scheduled run—use DSM’s eject action before physically unplugging the drive. Synology documents these options in its USB Copy help and external-device guidance.
Troubleshoot common transfer problems
The drive does not appear in DSM or USB Copy
Confirm the drive is connected and check its format against your NAS model’s supported file systems. If DSM asks to format it, remember that formatting erases the drive. For exFAT, check the DSM-version-specific instructions above. Synology’s compatibility guidance describes supported formats and model variation.
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USB Copy is unavailable
Sign in as an administrator or use an account that belongs to the administrators group; Synology says other users cannot access USB Copy. The requirement is listed in its USB Copy help.
Some files are missing or have unexpected names
Review the task’s filters and Synology’s naming restrictions. USB Copy lists filenames and folders that must not be present, including certain metadata, recycle-bin, and system entries. On FAT32 or exFAT destinations, automatic renaming may replace characters those formats do not allow. Distinct source names can then normalize to the same destination name and overwrite one another. Check the USB Copy documentation before copying folders with unusual names.
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Mac metadata or filenames change
When copying or moving files to a FAT directory, DSM File Station documentation says some characters are replaced and Mac file metadata is deleted. Consider the consequences for your files and destination format before using a FAT-formatted drive. See Synology’s File Station copy and move help.
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Keep the drive mounted for any pending scheduled runs and avoid eject-after-completion if the task must run again. When you are ready to disconnect it, use DSM’s eject action first; Synology explains the procedure in its external-device guidance.
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USB Copy or Hyper Backup?
Use USB Copy when the goal is to put ordinary, readable files from selected NAS folders onto an attached USB drive. Synology describes Hyper Backup as the option for broader backup needs, including applications and system configuration. A Hyper Backup destination is not described as directly readable in the same way as USB Copy’s exported files; choose the workflow that matches what you need to restore. See Synology’s backup guidance and Hyper Backup overview.
File Station can manage and copy files in DSM, but its documented copy/move workflow is not the primary USB export method. Large browser-based transfers also have browser-specific limits: Synology gives Safari’s limit as 1 GB and recommends supported file protocols for large amounts or large files. This is a separate workflow from USB Copy. See File Station help.
What about the NAS Copy button?
Some Synology models have a hardware Copy button associated with the front USB port. It supports only multi-versioned copying and does not work with USB or SD devices that contain multiple disk partitions. Do not assume your NAS has the button; check the specifications for your model. Synology lists these limitations in its USB Copy documentation.
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