Cloud Station allows you to back up your PC data in real-time, providing better recovery in case of a disaster by replicating and storing the most recent versions of your data. This article provides steps on how to back up the data on your Mac or PC using Cloud Station (for DSM 5.2).

• Your Synology NAS is running DSM 4.0 or later.
• Cloud Station is installed on your Synology NAS. For more information on how to install packages, refer to this help article.

Resolution for PC

1. Set up Cloud Station on your Synology NAS
2. Set up Cloud Station on your Windows PC
3. Retrieve data from Cloud Station
4. Important details

Resolution for Mac

1. Set up Cloud Station on your Synology NAS
2. Set up Cloud Station on your Mac
3. Retrieve data from Cloud Station
4. Important details

Set up Cloud Station on your Synology NAS

1. Log in to DSM using an account belonging to the administrators group.
2. Open Cloud Station.
3. If you have not enabled the User Home feature, you will be prompted to do so. Click OK.
   
4. You will be redirected to the user settings page. Tick Enable user home service, and then click Apply.
   
5. Go back to Cloud Station and you will be prompted to enable it. Click Yes.¹
   
6. Go to Privileges and specify which users will be able to use Cloud Station.
   
7. Set up a shared folder on your Synology NAS for the purpose of backup. To do this, go to Control Panel > Shared Folder and click Create.
   
8. Name your folder and fill in the details accordingly. Click OK.
9. Under the permissions tab, specify which users will be able to access the folder. Click OK.
10. Go to Cloud Station > Sharing and tick the checkbox for the folder you just created to enable it.
    
11. Click Save.

Set up Cloud Station on your Windows PC

To set up Cloud Station on your PC:

1. Go to Cloud Station > Overview and click the Computers button.
   
2. Click the button to download Cloud Station for Windows PC (You can also download Cloud Station from the Synology Download Center).
3. Launch the installer on your computer and follow the instructions to install Cloud Station.
4. After installation, run Cloud Station on your computer. Click Start Now.
5. Enter your PC’s name, address for the Synology NAS running Cloud Station (or QuickConnect ID), username, and password.²
6. Select a folder on your computer to sync with the folder you created earlier on your Synology NAS.
   
7. Click Next to continue, and then click Finish to complete the setup.

To create a new task:

1. Go to Cloud Station > Sharing and enable a shared folder for this new task. Make sure that you have Read/Write privileges for this folder.
   
2. Click Create and select​ your NAS from the drop-down menu.
3. ​Select a folder on your computer to sync with the shared folder on your Synology NAS.​
   
4. Follow the wizard to complete the setup.

Retrieve data from Cloud Station

If you accidentally remove or overwrite a file, Cloud Station allows you to easily retrieve it.

To download a previous version of a synced file on PC:

1. Right-click the Cloud Station icon in your system tray and click Open Cloud Station folder.
   
2. Right-click on your selected file and choose Synology Cloud Station > Browse previous versions.
   
3. Find the version you want to download and click on the download icon.
   
4. Enter the file name and choose the destination to save the file.

To download or restore a previous version of a synced file on Cloud Station:

1. Go to Cloud Station > Version History and select the Backup folder that you previously created.
   
2. Select the file you want to retrieve and click Action > Browse previous versions.
   
3. Select the version of the file that you want to download and click Download. If you are sure you want the selected version restored, click Restore and it will overwrite your current version.
   

Important details

• Always keep historical versions in case a file is removed or overwritten by accident.
• In Global Settings, you can configure whether a file removed from your PC will be refetched from your NAS or be deleted on your NAS when relinking takes place.
• For more ways to protect and back up your data, click here to see tutorials detailing other backup services offered on DSM.

Notes:

1. QuickConnect is a relay service that allows you to easily connect to your Synology NAS from outside your local network. If you want to sync your files when away from home or the office, we recommend you set up QuickConnect by going to Control Panel > QuickConnect.
2. Make sure the account entered has permissions granted at Cloud Station > Privileges on the Synology NAS.

Set up Cloud Station on your Synology NAS

1. Log in to DSM using an account belonging to the administrators group.
2. Open Cloud Station.
3. If you have not enabled the User Home feature, you will be prompted to do so. Click OK.
   
4. You will be redirected to the user settings page. Tick Enable user home service, and then click Apply.
   
5. Go back to Cloud Station and you will be prompted to enable it. Click Yes.¹
   
6. Go to Privileges and specify which users will be able to use Cloud Station.
   
7. Set up a shared folder on your Synology NAS for the purpose of backup. To do this, go to Control Panel > Shared Folder and click Create.
   
8. Name your folder and fill in the details accordingly. Click OK.
9. Under the permissions tab, specify which users will be able to access the folder. Click OK.
10. Go to Cloud Station > Sharing and tick the checkbox for the folder you just created to enable it.
    
11. Click Save.

Set up Cloud Station on your Mac

To set up Cloud Station on your Mac:

1. Go to Cloud Station > Overview and click the Computers button.
2. Click the button to download Cloud Station for Mac. (You can also download Cloud Station from the Synology Download Center.)
3. Launch the installer on your computer and follow the instructions to install Cloud Station.
4. After installation, run Cloud Station on your Mac. Click Start Now.
5. Enter your Mac’s name, address for the Synology NAS running Cloud Station (or QuickConnect ID), username, and password.²
6. Select a folder on your computer to sync with the folder that you created earlier on your Synology NAS.
   
7. Click Next to continue, and then click Finish to complete the setup.

To create a new task:

1. Go to Cloud Station > Sharing and enable a shared folder for this new task. Make sure you have Read/Write privileges for for this folder.
   
2. Click Create and select​ your NAS from the drop-down menu.
   
3. ​Select a folder on your computer to sync with the shared folder on your Synology NAS.​
   
4. Follow the wizard to complete the setup.

Retrieve data from Cloud Station

If you accidentally remove or overwrite a file, Cloud Station allows you to easily retrieve it.

To download a previous version of a synced file on Mac:

1. Right-click the Cloud Station icon in your system tray and click Open Cloud Station folder.
   
2. Right-click on your selected file and choose Synology Cloud Station > Browse previous versions.
   
3. Find the version you want to download and click on the download icon.
   
4. Enter the file name and choose the destination to save the file.

To download or restore a previous version of a synced file on Cloud Station:

1. Go to Cloud Station > Version History and select the Backup folder that you previously created.
   
2. Select the file you want to retrieve and click Action > Browse previous versions.
   
3. Select the version of the file that you want to download and click Download. If you are sure you want the selected version restored, click Restore and it will overwrite your current version.
   

Important details

• Always keep historical versions in case a file is removed or overwritten by accident.
• In Global Settings, you can configure whether a file removed from your Mac will be refetched from your NAS or be deleted on your NAS when relinking takes place.
• For more ways to protect and back up your data, click here to see tutorials related to other backup services offered on DSM.

Notes:

1. QuickConnect is a relay service that allows you to easily connect to your Synology NAS from outside your local network. If you want to sync your files when away from home or the office, we recommend you set up QuickConnect by going to Control Panel > QuickConnect.
2. Make sure the account entered has permissions granted at Cloud Station > Privileges on your Synology NAS.