storageDRIVE is deliberately kept simple: one plan belongs to exactly one user account with a fixed quota — from Solo (1 TB) to Archive (20 TB), up to 100 TB per account if needed. Here’s what that means day to day.
One account, a fixed quota
You get one DSM account with the storage of your plan (current sizes on the storageDRIVE product page). Once your quota is reached, you can’t upload anything until you free up space or order an upgrade — the quota is hard, no shadow areas.
What is explicitly not limited: your devices. Mac, Windows PC, phone and tablet sync in parallel with the same account.
Why no shared pool for multiple users?
The short answer: Synology DSM doesn’t map shared storage pools cleanly in a multi-tenant environment — and what we can’t run reliably, we don’t sell. In 95% of cases where someone asks for “family storage”, one of these two options is the right one:
- Each person orders their own plan. Clear separation, clear quota, no arguments about who filled up the space.
- Nextcloud Hosting — unlimited users there, the storage is shared, and permissions can be controlled in fine detail. The better choice for families and teams.
Sharing files with others still works, of course: via sharing link with password and expiry date — the recipient doesn’t need an account.
Checking your quota usage
In the DSM desktop, top right, click the avatar → Personal → Quota. There you see your current usage against your plan’s quota.
What counts toward the quota
- Your files (all apps: Drive, Photos, Notes)
- Version snapshots (default: 30 days, optionally extendable)
- Cloud Sync cache (if you connect external clouds)
Everything counts — the quota is hard.
What doesn’t count
- DSM system components (they live outside your user quota)
- App caches on your phone (local, not in the cloud)
Upgrade and downgrade
When space gets tight: open a ticket, we adjust the quota — upgrade the same day, no data loss. The tiers: Solo (1 TB) → Plus (2.5 TB) → Pro (5 TB) → Warehouse (10 TB) → Archive (20 TB), beyond that up to 100 TB on request. Downgrades work too, as long as your data fits into the smaller quota.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when my quota is full? Uploads fail, existing data stays untouched. Fixes: delete files, empty the recycle bin, reduce old snapshots — or upgrade your plan via ticket.
What happens to snapshots when I delete files? Snapshots are kept for 30 days — you can restore even deleted files from them. Snapshots count toward the quota; if you delete and rewrite a lot, factor that in.
Can several people use my account? Technically, nobody shares a DSM account cleanly — separate 2FA, separate photo streams and separate recycle bins only exist with separate accounts. For multi-person scenarios: one plan per person, or Nextcloud Hosting.
What if I lose 2FA (phone gone)? Open a ticket with us. We reset 2FA for your account, you log in with your password and set up 2FA again.
Can two people use the same Mac? Yes — two macOS user accounts, each person with their own storageDRIVE plan and their own Drive Client login. The client runs separately per Mac user.
What’s next
First login to DSM
What you receive after ordering and how to log in to your storageDRIVE account for the first time.
File Station — the file manager in your browser
The classic file manager in DSM. Upload, download, creating folders, ZIP creation, previews, sharing links.
Mounting storageDRIVE as a drive (SMB)
How to connect your storageDRIVE via SMB as a drive — in the Mac Finder, Windows Explorer and as a mount on Linux. Step by step, including auto-mount and Time Machine.
Using Synology Drive in the browser
Synology Drive is the modern sync hub in DSM. Browser view with version history, Office editing, sharing — and the link to all Drive clients.