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Boost Your Synology NAS: Fix Slow File Transfers Over SMB

Slow file transfers over SMB on your Synology NAS can be frustrating, especially when working with large files. But don’t worry—you don’t have to settle for sluggish speeds! With a few tweaks, you can turbocharge your network and maximize performance. Let’s dive into the best fixes to speed things up!

Step 1: Is Your Network Holding You Back?

  • Make sure your NAS and PC are using Gigabit Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi.
  • Swap out old cables for Cat5e or higher to support faster speeds.
  • Run a quick test: Transfer files between two computers on the same network. If it’s slow, your network might be the issue!

Step 2: Supercharge SMB Settings

  1. Log in to DSM (DiskStation Manager).
  2. Go to Control Panel > File Services and ensure SMB is enabled.
  3. Click Advanced Settings and tweak these options:
    • SMB Protocol: Set it to SMB3 for the best performance.
    • Enable Opportunistic Locking – This reduces file lock delays.
    • Turn on SMB Multichannel – If your devices support it, you’ll get faster speeds.
  4. Click Apply, then restart your NAS to activate changes.

Step 3: Kill SMB Signing (For Windows Users)

  1. Open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
  2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation.
  3. Set Enable insecure guest logons to Enabled.
  4. Restart your PC and test file transfer speeds again.

Step 4: Tweak Windows TCP Settings

Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run this command to turn off SMB auto-tuning:

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

Test file transfers. If things improve, great! If not, reset it with:

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal

Step 5: Check Your NAS Hard Drive & RAID Setup

  1. Open Storage Manager in DSM.
  2. Check your Disk Health Status.
  3. If using RAID, ensure no drives are degraded.
  4. Run a S.M.A.R.T. test to check for failing disks.

Step 6: Get Rid of Network Bottlenecks

  • If possible, use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.
  • Shut down background processes that hog bandwidth (cloud sync, downloads, etc.).
  • Pause indexing or media conversions in DSM – they can slow transfers.
  • Restart your NAS and try again!

Step 7: Test with Different Clients & File Sizes

  • Try sending files using another PC to see if it’s a device-specific issue.
  • Test small vs. large file transfers. If big files struggle, adjust your MTU settings (Jumbo Frames) on the NAS and network adapter.

Conclusion: Enjoy Faster File Transfers!

With these simple tweaks, your Synology NAS should now transfer files over SMB much faster. If you’re still experiencing slow speeds, consider updating your NAS firmware and double-checking your network settings.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep your NAS and networking devices firmware up to date for best performance!
💡 Pro Tip: Always buy Synology NAS at nasstore.eu for the best deals and reliability!