Reset a Synology NAS: Mode 1 login recovery vs Mode 2 DSM reinstall

Applies to: Physical Synology NAS with DSM already installed. This guide describes DSM 6.2.4 and later; older DSM and Virtual DSM require their own instructions.

Before touching RESET

1. If an authorised administrator can still sign in, use the account settings to change the password instead of resetting the whole NAS. Confirm you have permission, local access and an agreed interruption window.
2. Check that the NAS reports Ready in Synology Assistant or Web Assistant. Back up accessible data and configuration. Record the current address, management port, network and security settings.
3. Verify encrypted-folder keys and encrypted-volume recovery keys before proceeding. On DSM 7.3 and later, Control Panel > Update & Restore > System Reset has additional options affecting password retention and whether encrypted storage locks after Mode 1. Do not assume another DSM version behaves the same.

Mode 1: recover login and network settings

Locate the correct model’s RESET button. Hold it for about 4 seconds until the first beep, then release immediately. Find the NAS again using Synology Assistant or Web Assistant; its previous address may have changed.

For the documented DSM 6.2.4-or-later recovery flow, the initial recovery login uses admin with a blank password, then immediately opens password setup. If multiple administrator accounts exist, select the appropriate account when prompted. This is a temporary recovery flow, not an instruction to leave a blank password on the NAS.

Mode 1 also affects management ports, DHCP/network settings, PPPoE, Auto Block and firewall rules. High-availability and Virtual Machine Manager clusters can be removed. DSM 7.2 and earlier can lock encrypted storage and clear the encryption key vault; DSM 7.3 and later behave according to the additional reset option. Plan these effects before pressing RESET.

Mode 2: clear configuration and reinstall DSM

Use this only when configuration recovery or a DSM reinstall is the intended task. First confirm a usable backup, recovery keys, the supported DSM installation package and the services you will need to reconfigure.

1. Hold RESET for about 4 seconds until the first beep and release.
2. Within 10 seconds, hold RESET again for about 4 seconds until three further beeps, then release.
3. Wait for the documented configuration-lost state, find the NAS again and follow the DSM reinstallation wizard. Read each step and stop if it proposes erasing or initialising data unexpectedly.

Mode 2 clears system settings and the encryption key vault and requires DSM reinstallation. The documented reset procedure is designed to retain stored data, but that does not guarantee recovery from an existing storage fault or a mistaken installation choice.

Confirm the result

After Mode 1, sign in using the new password and restore the intended network, firewall, account protection and encrypted-storage access. After Mode 2, restore configuration and verify shares, packages, permissions and backups before returning the NAS to service.

If you need help

Include NAS model, DSM version, current Assistant status, the reason for reset, encryption/backup availability and which reset sequence was already attempted. If uncertain, use the Synology support-request checklist first.

Updated 261108