Best Way to Backup QNAP/Synology NAS to PC

This tutorial will show you how to backup from Network-attached storage (NAS) like QNAP NAS and Synology NAS to PC step by step with the help of free backup software.

By @Delia Last Updated October 24, 2024

NAS devices are quite popular among personal and home users around the world in recent years, you can create your cloud with NAS to store music, movies, documents, and data. However, as a storage device, NAS would fail due to various reasons. For instance, NAS units use regular RAID, and then it is likely to crash. Therefore, some ask if they can backup QNAP NAS to PC. Of course, let's dive in now!

The Best Way to backup NAS to local drive on PC

To backup NAS, using professional backup software is undoubtedly the best way. However, some software claims they support backup NAS, but the truth is they CLONE files on NAS to PC. This operation achieves your aim of protecting data but wastes your disk space at the same time, fortunately backup image takes less space than its original form, so backup is more recommended.

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free backup software that will help you, for example, backup Synology NAS to PC in simple steps. Features File Backup and File Sync allow you to randomly backup from NAS to PC, including individual files and folders. In addition to backing up NAS to local PC, you can also backup NAS to the external hard drive. You are able to compress and encrypt backup images if the data is quite sensitive and personal.

Download and install the free AOMEI Backupper Standard first. It is important that you know the IP address or path of your NAS device because you’ll need that later. The following details how to protect NAS files in two different methods.

AOMEI Backupper
Professional NAS to PC Backup Software

  • Regular Backup: Schedule backup and sync in Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Event-trigger modes.

  • Diverse Backup: Incremental and differential backups also are supported by this software.

  • Easy-to-Use: It has a user-friendly interface so that you don’t need to worry about losing data by mistake.

Download Freeware Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7
100% Secure

Simple Steps to backup NAS to PC in Windows

Backup NAS files to local hard drive

1. Start AOMEI Backupper and click on File Backup under Backup tab.

2. Click Add File or Add Folders to add files on NAS. Your account and password may be required to access the data during this process. Just follow the wizard.

3. Click to select another place from local disk to store NAS backup image.

4. You can compress and encrypt backup image, or set schedule backup by clicking Options and checking Schedule Backup box (Optional). Then click Start Backup.

Sync NAS files to PC with freeware

The difference between file synchronization and file backup is that you don’t have to restore backup images before you can use it. In other words, file sync saves time and effort when you need those files. However, file sync requires more disk space on PC. Thus, make sure you have sufficient storage on your PC for files on NAS.

1. Open AOMEI Backupper, go to Sync and then Basic Sync.

2. Click Add Folder > Browse > Share/NAS to select folders on your NAS device.

3. Choose a folder on local PC as the destination path.

4. As covered, you can do some customized settings if you want to. Then click Start Sync to sync files on NAS to PC for the first time.

 

Tips: If check the Schedule box, you have two options available. One is “Add the schedule and start sync now”, and the other is “Only add the schedule” and the sync task will run at the next time you set up.

Why backup NAS to PC

However, some readers may wonder: in what situations should we backup NAS to PC? Here, we have summed up several Maybe Occasions:

  • Data Redundancy

Backing up to a PC creates an additional copy of your important files, ensuring that you have access to your data even if the NAS experiences hardware failure or data corruption.

  • Faster Recovery Times

In the event of data loss, restoring files from a local PC is generally quicker than downloading them from a cloud service or restoring them from the NAS, minimizing downtime and disruption.

  • Cost-Effective Storage

Using a PC for backups can save on cloud storage costs. By utilizing existing hardware, you can avoid monthly fees associated with cloud backup services.

  • Control and Accessibility

Having a local backup allows for greater control over your data management. You can easily access and organize your files without relying on internet connectivity or third-party services.

  • Enhanced Security

A local backup can be more secure from online threats like ransomware, as it reduces exposure to the internet. You can implement your own security measures, such as encryption and firewall protections, for added safety.

Anyway, to protect data, it's good for you to backup NAS to NAS or backup NAS to a computer.

Further Reading: About the NAS you’re using

NAS is the abbreviation of Network-attached storage which is a file-level computer data storage server connected to a computer network providing data access to a heterogeneous group of clients. It is specialized for serving files either by its hardware/software or configuration. NAS systems are networked appliances that contain one or more storage drives.

There are many NAS manufacturers around the world. You may know their products like Synology DS1515+ NAS, QNAP TS-251+-2G-US NAS, Netgear RN31400-100 NAS and so on. Most people backup files to NAS for extra data security.

FAQs about backup NAS to PC

1. What are the advantages of backing up my NAS to a local PC? 
Backing up to a local PC provides quick access to your data, reduces reliance on internet speeds for restoration, and offers more control over your backups.
2. How do I ensure my NAS backup is secure when transferring to my PC?
 
To ensure security, use encrypted connections (like SFTP) during transfer, enable encryption for your backup files, and ensure your PC has up-to-date antivirus software. Or you can use AOMEI Backupper which will protect your PC and files all the time.
3. How does AOMEI Backupper differ from other backup solutions?
 
Unlike some software that merely clones files from NAS to PC, AOMEI Backupper creates compressed backup images, which take up less space. It allows for selective backups of individual files and folders and supports encryption and incremental backups for added security and efficiency.
4. Can I schedule backups with AOMEI Backupper?
 
Yes! AOMEI Backupper allows you to schedule backups in various modes, including Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Event-triggered. This feature is especially helpful for automating regular backup tasks without manual intervention.
5. What should I do if my backup from NAS to PC fails?
 
If your backup fails, check for network connectivity issues, verify that the NAS is accessible from your PC, and ensure that there is sufficient storage space on the PC. You'd better try a professional backup software like AOMEI Backupper to avoid backup fails to save your time.

Conclusion

With free AOMEI Backupper Standard, you can backup NAS to PC in different ways. This software supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista and XP so use it with worry free. You can backup PC to NAS on the contrary with this utility. 

It also has many other helpful features that could help you solve practical issues, such as clone hard drive with bad sectors, create bootable media, backup hard drive without booting Windows, backup system/disk/partition, system clone etc.