Bringing the Synology DS218play Back to Life – Setup & Smart Uses for Home Backup

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Where’s that old NAS you bought years ago? Many of us have a Synology NAS collecting dust somewhere, forgotten over time. That was my case, too. I purchased the DS218play about six years ago, used it for a while, then tucked it away in storage. But recently, with increasing needs for data backup and home media access, I decided to bring it back out.

NAS DS218PLAY Photo

To my surprise, the DS218play still works like a charm. It has more than enough power to serve as a home backup device and media hub. In this post, I’ll show you how to bring your DS218play back online—without formatting the hard drive—and how to turn it into an efficient home server once again.

 

 

 

1. Getting Started – Check the DS218play

  • Ensure the power adapter and LAN cable are ready and working.
  • Connect the NAS to your router via Ethernet (wired connection is strongly recommended).
  • Power on the device and listen for the hard drive spinning up.

The DS218play is a media-friendly NAS with 4K video transcoding support. If your hard drive is already installed, there’s a great chance your previous data is still intact and recoverable.

2. Access the NAS – Logging into DSM

On your browser, go to find.synology.com or use Synology Assistant to locate the NAS on your network. Once detected, click on the device to launch the DSM interface.

  • If it shows the login screen, your system is still intact—log in with your old credentials.
  • If you've forgotten your password, press the RESET button for 4 seconds on the back of the DS218play. This will soft-reset the login and network settings, but preserve your files.

 

 

3. Backup First – Protect Your Data

Once you’re logged into DSM, your top priority should be backing up important data to your PC or an external drive.

Option A: Manual download via File Station

Open the File Station app within DSM and download the necessary folders or files manually.

Option B: Connect via Windows Explorer

Open Windows File Explorer and type \\DS218play_IP_address in the address bar to access shared folders directly.

Option C: Auto-sync with Synology Drive Client

Install Synology Drive Client on your PC, log in with your NAS account, and set up folders for real-time auto backup.

4. Key Features – What You Can Do Again

4-1. Auto backup from your smartphone

Install the “Synology Photos” app on your phone to automatically upload photos and videos directly to your NAS.

4-2. Home media streaming

Install “Video Station” or “Plex” to stream your NAS-stored videos to your TV, smartphone, or tablet. The DS218play handles 4K content well.

4-3. Central storage for documents

Create user accounts for each family member, assign folders, and transform your NAS into a private household cloud with secure sharing and collaboration.

 

 

5. Maintenance Tips – Keep It Running Smoothly

  • Enable auto-updates for DSM and installed packages.
  • Run SMART tests regularly to monitor hard drive health.
  • Set up 2-step authentication for better security.
  • Consider using a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to prevent damage from sudden power outages.

6. DS218play – Still a Solid Home NAS

Even six years after release, the Synology DS218play proves to be an excellent home server. From backups to media streaming and file organization, it handles it all. You don’t need to reformat or discard your existing drive—just refresh your setup and continue where you left off.

If you’ve got one of these devices stored away, now’s the time to power it up again. A revived NAS might just be the smartest digital upgrade you didn’t know you already owned.