Synology NAS Setup Guide — Connect Smart TVs & Devices via SMB

Synology NAS Setup Guide — Connect Smart TVs, Cars & Mobile Devices

Synology DiskStation Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliances—powered by DiskStation Manager (DSM 7.x & 6.x)—are the gold standard for personal cloud storage, automated multi-drive data redundancy, and centralized home theater media management.

Whether you operate a 2-bay home NAS (such as DS224+ or DS220+) or a multi-drive powerhouse (such as DS923+, DS1522+, or DS1821+), connecting your Synology server directly to your Samsung Smart TV (Tizen OS), LG Smart TV (webOS), Android TV / Google TV, Tesla center display, or Smart Glasses provides immediate access to terabytes of 4K movies, lossless music, and photo collections without consuming local device storage.

This comprehensive guide details the exact procedure for configuring Synology DSM file services, optimizing SMBv2/SMBv3 protocols, adjusting security permissions, and connecting seamlessly with AnExplorer.

Synology DSM File Service Protocol Matrix

Step 1: Enable & Configure SMB File Services in DSM

Synology DSM allows you to fine-tune SMB protocol ranges to ensure maximum compatibility with modern smart TVs and mobile operating systems:

1. Log into your Synology NAS web interface as an Administrator.
2. Open Control Panel → navigate to File Services.
3. Under the SMB tab, check the box labeled Enable SMB service.
4. Set the Workgroup name (default is WORKGROUP).
5. Click the Advanced Settings button:
   • Minimum SMB protocol: Set to SMB2 (or SMB2 and Large MTU).
   • Maximum SMB protocol: Set to SMB3.
   • Transport encryption mode: Set to Auto (or "Client defined").
   • Enable Opportunistic Locking (Oplocks): Checked.
   • Enable SMB2 lease: Checked.
6. Click Apply to save your SMB protocol configuration.

Recommended Protocol Range: SMB2 (Minimum) ────► SMB3 (Maximum)

Step 2: Configure Shared Folder & User Permissions

Ensure that your media storage folders (such as video, music, or photos) are accessible by your designated user account:

1. In DSM Control Panel, click on Shared Folder.
2. Select your media folder (e.g. video) and click Edit.
3. Switch to the Permissions tab:
   • Select Local Users from the drop-down menu.
   • Locate your user account (or create a dedicated user named tv_user).
   • Check the Read/Write or Read only checkbox.
4. Switch to the Advanced Permissions tab:
   • Ensure "Disable directory browsing" is unchecked.
5. Click Save.

Step 3: Find Your Synology NAS Static Local IPv4 Address

To prevent connection drops when your router reassigns DHCP leases, ensure your Synology NAS uses a static local IP address:

1. In DSM Control Panel, navigate to Network → Network Interface tab.
2. Select your connected LAN interface (e.g. LAN 1) and click Edit.
3. Note your IP address (for example, 192.168.1.100).
4. (Recommended) Select Use manual configuration to lock this static IP address permanently.

Step 4: Mount Synology SMB Share in AnExplorer

Synology DiskStation (DSM 7.x) ──[ 5GHz Home Wi-Fi / LAN ]──► AnExplorer (Smart TV, Phone, Car)

1. Launch AnExplorer on your Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, Tesla browser, or smartphone.
2. Navigate to the Network card on the Home screen.
3. Tap + (Add) in the top action bar and select SMB (Windows Share / NAS).
4. Enter your Synology server connection details:
   • Server / Host: Your Synology local IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.100).
   • Port: 445 (default).
   • Username: Your Synology DSM user account name.
   • Password: Your Synology DSM account password.
   • Share / Path: (Optional) Enter the shared folder name (e.g. video) or leave blank to view all accessible shares.
5. Click Connect.
6. Your Synology NAS will mount permanently under the Network section on the Home screen.

Configuring Synology WebDAV Server for Remote Access

While SMB is ideal for local home networks, Synology's official WebDAV package provides secure remote file management across the internet:

1. In DSM, open Package Center and search for WebDAV Server.
2. Click Install, then open the WebDAV Server application.
3. Check Enable HTTPS and note the default HTTPS port (5006).
4. In AnExplorer on your mobile phone or laptop:
   • Go to Network → tap + → select WebDAV.
   • Enter your Synology QuickConnect domain or DDNS address (e.g. yourname.synology.me), port 5006, and check Use HTTPS.
   • You can now browse your Synology files securely from hotels, airports, or remote offices without setting up a full VPN.

Tuning DSM Media Indexing Service for Lightning-Fast TV Browsing

If your Synology NAS stores tens of thousands of video and music files, DSM's background indexing service ensures instant folder parsing:

• Open DSM Control Panel → Indexing Service.
• Under Indexed Folder, click Create and add your /video, /music, and /photo shared directories.
• Select file types (Music, Video, Photos) to generate background metadata caches.
• When you browse your Synology shares in AnExplorer on Samsung or LG Smart TVs, directory listings load instantly without waiting for disk spindle spin-up delays.

Optimizing DSM Security & Preventing IP Auto-Blocks

Synology DSM includes an aggressive Auto Block security feature that blocks IP addresses after multiple failed login attempts. To prevent your Smart TV or vehicle from being accidentally blocked:

1. In DSM Control Panel, open Security → Protection tab.
2. Click the Allow/Block List button.
3. Under the Allow List tab, click Create → Add IP address.
4. Enter the local IP address of your Smart TV or your home local subnet range (e.g. 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254).
5. Click OK. Your home devices will now be exempt from brute-force lockout rules.

Performance Benchmark: 4K HDR Streaming from Synology NAS

Troubleshooting Synology SMB Connections

• "Connection Failed / Host Unreachable":
  • Verify that the Synology NAS and your Smart TV are connected to the same home router subnet.
  • In DSM Control Panel → Security → Firewall, ensure that the firewall rule allows ports 445 and 139 for your local network range.
• "Invalid Username or Password":
  • Verify that 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) is not enforced on the dedicated TV user account, as standard SMB protocols do not support interactive 2FA prompts.
• Video Stutters During 4K Blu-ray Playback:
  • Connect your Synology NAS and Smart TV via wired Gigabit Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi to eliminate local wireless packet drops.

Related Network & Device Guides

• QNAP NAS Setup Guide
• Windows SMB Setup Guide
• SMB File Manager for Samsung Smart TV
• SMB File Manager for LG Smart TV
• SMB & Home NAS Access for Tesla
• SMB for Meta Display Glasses