Can I upgrade QTS to QuTS Hero directly on my NAS?
Last modified date:
2026-05-04
Applicable Products
- All QNAP NAS currently running QTS system
Scenario
- User wants to upgrade or convert an existing QTS (ext4-based) NAS directly to QuTS hero.
- Expects an in-place switch from QTS to QuTS hero via firmware update or system option.
Short Answer
- Not possible. QTS and QuTS hero use fundamentally different file system backends (ext4 vs. ZFS). In-place upgrade or firmware-level conversion is not supported.
- This limitation has existed since QuTS hero was first released.
Risk Warning
- Attempting to force-flash incompatible firmware may render the NAS unbootable, requiring DOM recovery or USB reinstallation.
- Reinitializing without backup will result in irreversible data loss.
References
