Synology Enable Home Directories

Synology Jan 28, 2023

Synology can provide a home folder for each user. This is called the user home service. Several other services require this service. Installing Synology packages which depend on home directories, will get it to activate automatically. Subsequently, installing these packages like Synology Drive Station will ask which volume to enable to user home service.

In this post, we will activate the user home service so we can provide each user with their own home directory. It is essential because we need this for several reasons. For example, when you want to use SSH Key-Based authentication. SSH login keys must be stored within a user’s home directory. Until you have a home directory, it will work.

Enable home directories

Configuring the user home service on Synology is actually very simple.

Login in to DSM as an administrator
Open Control Panel
Open User & Group
Go to the tab Advanced
Scroll down or expand the last section User home
Enable the checkbox Enable user home service
Select the volume for the home directories
Click Apply to save the changes and enable the user home service

IMPORTANT:

When enabling the user to access home service, a warning states that the Recycle bin status is set to Disabled. Let’s fix this.

Enable recycle bin for home directories

Go to Shared Folder
Select shared folder homes
Click Edit
Enable Hide this shared folder in "My Network Places"
Click Enable Recycle Bin
Enable Restrict access to administrators only
Go to tab Permissions
Set No Access for guest user.
Click Save to apply the changes to the homes shared folder

Finally, you have successfully set up Synology home directories by enabling the user home service. Every user on your DiskStation will have its home folder. I hope you enjoyed this one.

Please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email with suggestions. I hope you liked this one.