How do I migrate data to a larger disk in my single-bay NAS?
Last modified date:
2025-10-22
Applicable Products
- QNAP single-bay NAS (for example: TS-130)
Overview
If you have a single-bay NAS (such as the TS-130) with a 1TB hard drive and want to upgrade to a larger drive (e.g., 6TB), you must use an external method to transfer your data. Because single-bay NAS devices can only hold one hard drive at a time, you cannot directly migrate data between the old and new drives inside the NAS.
Solution
Using an external USB storage device
- Back up your data from the 1TB HDD:
- Connect an external USB drive to the NAS.
- Use File Station to copy all data from the 1TB HDD to the external USB drive.
- Tip: Double-check that your backup contains all important files before continuing.
- Shut down the NAS and replace the hard drive:
- Power off the NAS.
- Remove the 1TB HDD and install the new 6TB HDD.
- Set up (initialize) the new 6TB HDD:
- Power on the NAS.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new storage pool or volume with the new disk.
- Restore your data:
- Connect the external USB drive to the NAS.
- Use File Station to copy your data from the USB drive to the new HDD.
Note: This method backs up your data before replacing the drive, helping you avoid data loss.
