Synology Photos provides photo and video browsing, management, sharing, search, album grouping, upload, and preview workflows in DSM.
Synology Photos
Compatibility and Migration
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Package dependency | Node.js v12 and Synology Application Service |
| Synology Moments migration | Synology Moments 1.3.0-0691 or above on DSM 6.2.1-23824 or above |
| Photo Station migration | Photo Station 6.8.0-3456 or above |
| Recommended web browsers | Chrome and Safari |
Browsing and Management
- Photos and videos can be displayed in chronological order or by folder structure.
- Thumbnail size can be changed in Folder view.
- Move, copy, and download actions are available.
- Dates, times, descriptions, tags, and ratings can be edited for photos and videos.
- Photos can be added to multiple albums without creating duplicate files.
- Conditional albums can automatically add matching photos.
- Specified file extensions can be excluded from upload and display.
- Item previews can be generated manually when they do not display properly.
- Photos can be converted to JPEG on download when needed; EXIF information is not included in the converted download.
Similar Item Stacking
Similar items can be stacked and viewed in Timeline and Album pages.
Not supported
- GIF files cannot be stacked as similar items.
- WebP files cannot be stacked as similar items.
Manual Face Tagging
Faces can be tagged manually in supported photos.
Not supported
- GIF files.
- WebP files.
- 360-degree photos.
Sharing and Collaboration
- Albums can be shared with customizable permissions.
- Users can view and manage albums shared with or by others.
- Shared Space can be opened to selected users for collaboration.
- Public folder links can share portfolios with others.
- Sharing ability can be limited for non-admin users.
Photo Request Links
Public Photo Request links allow photo and video uploads via public.
Limitation
- On iOS, HEIC files uploaded through Photo Request links are automatically converted to JPEG due to iOS system limitations.
Search
Quick Filters
- File type
- Date taken
- People
- Geolocation
- Tag
- Rating
- Camera
- Lens
- Focal length
- Exposure time
- Aperture
- ISO
Keyword search can use file names, dates, and special formats such as 360-degree photos/videos or Live Photos.
Note
- Refer to this article for a detailed supported metadata standard.
Auto-created Albums
Synology Photos automatically groups photos into People, Subjects, Places, Tags, Videos, and Recently Added albums.
- Face recognition lets users name, hide, or merge detected faces in People albums.
- Object recognition lets users remove recognized photos and hide subject categories in Subjects albums.
Limitation
- Face and object recognition are supported only on certain Synology NAS models to ensure system performance. Refer to this article for more information.
Drag-and-drop Upload
Photos, videos, and folders can be uploaded by drag-and-drop.
Requirements and Limitations
- Folder drag-and-drop upload is available only in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
- Each drag-and-drop upload supports up to 5,000 files.
- Folders uploaded by drag-and-drop do not keep their original tree structure.
- Browser thumbnail generation can reduce server load and improve display speed.
File Formats and Preview Generation
Supported Formats
| Media type | Formats |
|---|---|
| Images | BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, PNG, RAW variants, TIF, TIFF, WebP |
| RAW variants | arw, srf, sr2, dcr, k25, kdc, cr2, cr3, crw, nef, mrw, ptx, pef, raf, raw, 3fr, erf, mef, mos, orf, rw2, dng, X3F |
| Videos | MOV, MP4 |
| Download for playback | FLV |
| Special media | 360-degree photos and videos |
Synology Image Assistant
Synology Image Assistant is required to generate additional previews or compressed videos for:
| Media type | Formats |
|---|---|
| Images | HEIF, HEIC, HIF |
| Videos | 3G2, 3GP, ASF, AVI, DivX, M4V, MOV (HEVC) including Live Photos, MPEG, MPG, MP4 (HEVC), MTS, M2T, M2TS, QT, WMV, XviD |
HEVC Playback
Synology Image Assistant can generate lower-resolution compressed videos for HEVC formats. For original-quality playback, Chrome 107 or later, Safari 13 or later, or Edge 79 or later (on macOS only) is recommended. Videos can also be downloaded for playback.
Affiliated Utility
Synology Photos Mobile
Synology Photos Mobile provides mobile photo browsing, backup, sharing, management, conversion, and casting on iOS and Android.
System Requirements
| Platform | Requirement |
|---|---|
| iOS | 16.0 or above |
| Android | 11 or above |
Backup
- Backup destinations can be customized.
- Once backup is enabled, phone photos can be viewed in the mobile app whether or not they have already been backed up to Synology Photos.
Limitations
- To improve iOS backup efficiency, enable Synology Photos notifications and connect the device to a charger.
- When multiple iOS devices share iCloud storage and photo synchronization between devices is delayed, Synology Photos might not back up all photos taken during the delayed period.
Mobile Browsing and Management
- Photos can be browsed and managed in Timeline mode.
- Photos can be moved and copied in folders.
- Date and time, rating, tags, and descriptions can be edited.
- Places albums can show photos in map view.
- Photos can be added to multiple albums without creating duplicate files.
- Photos can be viewed in slideshow mode.
- Previously viewed photos can be browsed offline.
- Photo widgets can shuffle throwbacks or selected albums on the phone home screen.
Similar Item Stacking
Similar items can be stacked and viewed in Timeline and Album pages.
Not supported
- GIF files cannot be stacked as similar items.
- WebP files cannot be stacked as similar items.
Mobile Sharing and Casting
- Mobile photos can be selected and shared through links with password protection and expiration date options.
- Photos can be cast to TVs through Chromecast.
- AirPlay casting is available on iOS devices.
People Album
- Detected faces in People albums can be named, hidden, and merged.
Mobile Conversion and Playback
- Mobile devices can convert files to speed up thumbnail generation and improve video compatibility.
- Video playback quality can switch between speed first and quality first.
- Image Assistant can generate previews for HEIC photos and HEVC videos. Learn more
Phone Storage Management
- Local copies can be deleted to free phone storage.
- Filters include time range and file size.
- Folder filter is available on Android.
- Favorites filter is available on iOS.
- When deleting items in the app, users can delete them from both the Synology NAS and phone or choose to delete them only from the NAS.
Synology Photos TV App
Synology Photos TV App provides photo and video browsing on Apple TV and Android TV.
System Requirements
| Platform | Requirement |
|---|---|
| iOS | 14.0 or above |
| Android | 8.0 or above |
TV Browsing
- Photos and videos can be browsed in Folder and Timeline views.
- Albums and conditional albums can be browsed.
- People, Places, Tags, Videos, and Recently Added albums can be browsed.
- Albums shared with the user can be browsed.
- Detailed photo and video information can be displayed.
- Slideshow mode includes playback speed adjustment.