Backing up your iCloud Drive to a Synology NAS can give you an extra layer of security for your important files. If you've invested in a Synology NAS system and want to make sure your iCloud data is safely stored on your personal network storage, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through four simple methods to backup your iCloud Drive to your Synology NAS, helping you keep your data safe and accessible.

Why Backup iCloud Drive to Synology NAS?

Before diving into the how-to, let's quickly look at why you might want to backup your iCloud Drive to a Synology NAS:

• Local control over your data
• Protection against iCloud service disruptions
• No monthly subscription fees for extra storage
• Faster access to files on your local network
• Additional backup layer for critical files
• Protection against accidental deletions from iCloud

Method 1: Using Cloud Sync on Synology NAS

Synology's Cloud Sync is perhaps the easiest and most direct way to backup your iCloud Drive to your NAS. This built-in app allows your Synology device to connect directly to various cloud services, including iCloud.

What You'll Need

• A Synology NAS with DSM 6.0 or later
• Your Apple ID and password
• Cloud Sync package installed on your Synology

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Install Cloud Sync on Your Synology NAS

If you don't already have Cloud Sync installed:

• Open the Package Center on your Synology DSM
• Search for "Cloud Sync"
• Click "Install"
• Wait for the installation to complete

2. Set Up iCloud Connection

• Open Cloud Sync from your Synology main menu
• Click the "+" button to add a new cloud service
• Select "iCloud Drive" from the list of providers
• Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted
• You may need to enter a verification code if you have two-factor authentication enabled

3. Configure Sync Settings

• Choose a local folder on your NAS where you want to store the iCloud backup
• Select which iCloud Drive folders you want to sync (or select all)
• Choose the sync direction as "Download remote changes only" if you only want to backup
• Set up a sync schedule if you don't want continuous syncing
• Click "Next" to proceed

4. Complete Setup and Start Backup

• Review your settings
• Click "Apply" to save your configuration
• The initial backup will begin automatically

Depending on the size of your iCloud Drive, the initial backup might take some time. After that, Cloud Sync will keep your NAS updated with changes from your iCloud Drive based on your schedule settings.

Method 2: Using Synology Drive with iCloud on Your Computer

If you prefer having more control over the backup process, you can use Synology Drive in combination with iCloud on your computer.

What You'll Need

• A computer (Mac or Windows) with iCloud Drive installed and synced
• Synology Drive Client installed on your computer
• Synology Drive Server installed on your NAS

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Install Synology Drive Server on Your NAS

• Open Package Center on your Synology DSM
• Search for "Synology Drive Server"
• Click "Install" and follow the prompts
• Once installed, open Synology Drive Server and make sure it's running

2. Install Synology Drive Client on Your Computer

• Visit the Synology download center on your computer
• Download Synology Drive Client for your operating system (Windows/Mac)
• Install the application following the on-screen instructions

3. Set Up Synology Drive Client

• Launch Synology Drive Client
• Enter your NAS server address (e.g., your-nas-name.synology.me or local IP)
• Sign in with your Synology NAS username and password
• Select "Sync Task" and click "Next"
• Choose "Create sync task"

4. Configure the Backup Task

• Give your sync task a name (e.g., "iCloud Backup")
• For the local folder, browse to your iCloud Drive folder location:
  • On Mac: ~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/
  • On Windows: C:Users[username]iCloudDrive
• For the remote folder, select or create a folder on your Synology NAS
• Choose sync direction as "Upload local changes only" for a one-way backup
• Click "Next" and then "Apply"

Your computer will now sync your iCloud Drive contents to your Synology NAS. Keep in mind that your computer needs to be running for this sync to happen.

Method 3: Using Synology Hyper Backup for Scheduled Backups

If you want to create regular, scheduled backups of your iCloud Drive with version control, Hyper Backup is an excellent option.

What You'll Need

• A computer with iCloud Drive installed
• Hyper Backup package installed on your Synology NAS
• Network file sharing set up between your computer and NAS

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create a Shared Folder on Your NAS

• Open DSM Control Panel
• Go to "Shared Folder" and click "Create"
• Name the folder (e.g., "iCloud-Temp")
• Configure permissions to allow your user account full access
• Click "Apply"

2. Copy iCloud Drive Files to the Shared Folder

• On your computer, map or mount the shared folder you just created
• Copy your iCloud Drive contents to this shared folder
• You can do this manually or set up an automated script/task

3. Set Up Hyper Backup

• Install Hyper Backup from Package Center if not already installed
• Open Hyper Backup
• Click the "+" button and select "Data backup task"
• Choose "Local folder & USB" as the backup destination
• Select a different folder on your NAS for the backup destination

4. Configure the Backup Task

• Select the shared folder containing your iCloud files ("iCloud-Temp")
• Configure backup schedule (daily, weekly, etc.)
• Set up rotation settings for version control
• Enable backup encryption if desired
• Click "Next" and "Apply" to start the backup

This method requires a manual or scripted copy step, but it gives you the advantage of version history and the ability to restore to previous backup points.

Method 4: Using rclone for Advanced Users

For more technical users who want complete control over the backup process, rclone provides a powerful command-line solution.

What You'll Need

• SSH access to your Synology NAS
• Basic command-line knowledge
• Apple ID and app-specific password

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enable SSH on Your Synology NAS

• Open Control Panel on DSM
• Go to "Terminal & SNMP"
• Check "Enable SSH service"
• Click "Apply"

2. Install rclone on Your NAS

• Connect to your NAS via SSH (using Terminal on Mac/Linux or PuTTY on Windows)
• Download and install rclone:
  • curl -O https://downloads.rclone.org/rclone-current-linux-arm.zip
  • unzip rclone-current-linux-arm.zip
  • cd rclone-*-linux-arm
  • sudo cp rclone /usr/local/bin/
  • sudo chown root:root /usr/local/bin/rclone
  • sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/rclone

3. Configure rclone for iCloud

• Run: rclone config
• Choose "n" for new remote
• Name it "icloud"
• Select "WebDAV" as the storage type
• For the URL, enter "https://dav.icloud.com"
• Enter your Apple ID as the username
• For password, use an app-specific password from your Apple ID account
• Accept the default options for the remaining prompts

4. Create a Backup Script

• Create a new file with a text editor: nano backup_icloud.sh
• Add the following content:
  • #!/bin/bash
  • rclone sync icloud:/ /volume1/icloud_backup/ --progress
• Save the file and make it executable: chmod +x backup_icloud.sh

5. Schedule the Backup

• Create a scheduled task in DSM:
  • Open Control Panel > Task Scheduler
  • Click "Create" > "Scheduled Task" > "User-defined script"
  • Set a schedule for the backup
  • In the "Run command" field, enter the path to your script
  • Click "OK" to save

This method gives you the most flexibility and control but requires more technical knowledge. The advantage is that you can customize exactly how and when the backup runs.

Comparing the Four Backup Methods

Method	Ease of Use	Automation	Version Control	Best For
Cloud Sync	Very Easy	Full	No	Beginners who want simple setup
Synology Drive	Easy	Requires computer to be on	Limited	Users who regularly use their computer
Hyper Backup	Moderate	Partial (needs manual copy)	Yes	Users who need versioning and restore points
rclone	Complex	Full (with scripting)	No (unless configured)	Technical users who want complete control

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Authentication Problems

If you're having trouble connecting to iCloud:

• Make sure you're using the correct Apple ID and password
• For methods requiring app-specific passwords, generate a new one from your Apple ID account page
• Check if two-factor authentication is causing issues and follow the prompts to complete verification

Sync Not Working

If your files aren't syncing properly:

• Check your internet connection
• Verify that you have enough storage space on your NAS
• Look for any error messages in the sync application logs
• Restart the sync service or application

Slow Backup Speeds

If your backup is taking too long:

• Check your internet upload/download speeds
• Try scheduling backups during off-peak hours
• Consider backing up only essential folders first
• Make sure no other bandwidth-intensive tasks are running

Files Not Appearing in Backup

If some files aren't showing up in your backup:

• Verify that the files are actually in your iCloud Drive (not just in iCloud Photos or other services)
• Check if there are file type restrictions in your backup method
• Look for any sync exclusion rules that might be filtering out certain files

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Tips for Maintaining Your iCloud Backup

Regular Verification

Don't just set and forget your backup. Make it a habit to check that your backup is working correctly:

• Periodically browse through your backed-up files on the NAS
• Try restoring a few random files to make sure the backup is usable
• Check sync logs for any errors or warnings

Managing Storage Space

Keep an eye on your storage usage:

• Regularly clean up unnecessary files from your iCloud Drive
• Monitor available space on your Synology NAS
• Consider setting up storage quotas on your NAS to prevent one backup from filling the entire drive

Security Considerations

Protect your backed-up data:

• Enable encryption for sensitive backups
• Keep your Synology DSM and packages updated
• Use strong passwords for your NAS accounts
• Consider enabling two-factor authentication for your Synology account

Backup Redundancy

For truly important data:

• Consider backing up your NAS to another location (Hyper Backup can back up to cloud services)
• Keep multiple versions of critical files
• Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, 2 different media types, 1 offsite

Conclusion

Backing up your iCloud Drive to a Synology NAS gives you an extra layer of protection for your important files and more control over your data. Whether you choose the simplicity of Cloud Sync, the integration of Synology Drive, the versioning capabilities of Hyper Backup, or the flexibility of rclone, you now have the knowledge to keep your iCloud data safely stored on your personal NAS.

Each method has its strengths and ideal use cases, so choose the one that best fits your technical comfort level and specific needs. Remember that the best backup is the one you actually maintain, so pick a solution you're comfortable with and can stick to over time.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you've taken an important step toward securing your digital life and ensuring that your files remain accessible even if something happens to your iCloud account or service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will backing up iCloud to my Synology NAS use up my internet bandwidth?

Yes, the initial backup will use your internet bandwidth as files are downloaded from iCloud and uploaded to your NAS. After the initial backup, only changed or new files will need to be transferred, using less bandwidth. If you're concerned about bandwidth usage, you can schedule backups during off-peak hours or set bandwidth limits in some of the backup applications.

2. Can I access my backed-up iCloud files when I'm away from home?

Yes, if you've set up remote access to your Synology NAS through QuickConnect or a VPN, you can access your backed-up files from anywhere with an internet connection. You can use Synology's mobile apps or web interface to browse and download files as needed.

3. What happens if I delete a file from iCloud Drive - will it also be deleted from my NAS backup?

It depends on your backup method and settings. With Cloud Sync in two-way sync mode, deletions would propagate to your NAS. However, if you set up one-way sync (download only) or use Hyper Backup with versioning, the files will remain in your backup even after deletion from iCloud. This is one of the key benefits of having a separate backup.

4. How much storage space do I need on my Synology NAS for my iCloud backup?

You'll need at least as much free space as the total size of your iCloud Drive contents. To check your current iCloud Drive usage, go to Apple ID settings > iCloud > Manage Storage. For future-proofing, it's good practice to have 1.5-2 times that amount available on your NAS, especially if you're using a backup method with versioning that keeps multiple copies of files.

5. Can I backup multiple iCloud accounts to my Synology NAS?

Yes, you can back up multiple iCloud accounts to your Synology NAS. With Cloud Sync, you can create separate tasks for each iCloud account. With the other methods, you can set up separate backup jobs or folders for each account. Just make sure to keep the backups organized in different folders to avoid confusion and potential file conflicts.