Mac only
Mount an SMB network share on Mac as a drive
A NAS or shared folder over SMB as a drive in Finder, next to your cloud storages.
Make room in your Mac. A network share (SMB) keeps your files, and DriveMyMac shows them as a drive in Finder. They take no space on your Mac until you open them.
Three steps
- BuyPay once for this Mac. Your license key arrives by email.
- Paste your keyOpen the app and paste the key. Switch on the drive when macOS asks.
- Connect network shareChoose Network share, enter the server, user, password and share name, and the drive appears in Finder.
How to connect Network share (SMB)
- Add storageOpen DriveMyMac, choose Add storage and pick Network share (SMB).Add storage
Google Drive
Dropbox
OneDrive
Amazon S3
Network share
- Enter your serverEnter the server, your user and password, and the name of the shared folder.Servernas.localUserannaPassword••••••••ShareShared folder nameConnect
- It appears in FinderThe share appears as a folder in the DriveMyMac drive, next to your cloud storages.
- Applications
- Documents
- DriveMyMac
Network share (SMB)Other storage - Files stream as you open themA file downloads when you open it. If the NAS is asleep, wake it and the drive picks it up.
- Holiday.mov
- Report.pdf
- Archive.zipNot downloaded
What the app asks for
- Server
- A name or address, such as nas.local, studio.local or 192.168.1.20. No smb:// in front.
- User and password
- An account on the NAS or computer that has access to the share.
- Share
- The name of the shared folder. Finder’s smb://nas.local/photos becomes Server nas.local and Share photos.
Turn SMB on in your NAS settings first. On a Synology it is Control Panel, File Services, SMB. On a QNAP it is Control Panel, Network & File Services, Win/Mac/NFS.
Make a user on the NAS just for this Mac, with access only to the shares you need.
Good to know
- SMB ignores capital letters in names. A new name that only differs in capitals from an existing one is refused.
- These characters cannot be in a name: \ : * ? " < > |. They are stored as look-alikes.
- A name cannot end in a dot or a space.
- Away from home, connect your VPN first. The app tells you when the share cannot be reached.
Why DriveMyMac for a network share (SMB)
- Works with a NAS or any Mac or PCAny device that shares files over SMB works: a NAS, a Mac or a Windows PC.
- Next to your cloudYour NAS sits in the same drive as Google Drive or Dropbox. Each is a folder, or join them into one space.
- Straight to your serverThe Mac talks straight to your server. Your password is kept in this Mac’s Keychain.
- Away from homeOn another network, connect your VPN and the share comes back. If the NAS is asleep, wake it and the drive picks it up.
Questions
What address do I enter for an SMB share?
The server name or address, such as nas.local or 192.168.1.20, with no smb:// in front. The share name goes in its own field.
Does it work with Synology and QNAP?
Yes, if SMB is switched on in the NAS settings. Synology, QNAP and most other NAS boxes support it.
Is my password safe?
It is kept in your Mac’s Keychain. The Mac talks straight to your server.
What do I need to connect a share?
The server name or address, a user, a password and the name of the share.
Does it work with my NAS?
If your NAS shares files over SMB, yes. If it speaks WebDAV or SFTP instead, DriveMyMac supports those too.
Can I reach my NAS when I am away from home?
Only if your Mac can reach it. Connect your VPN first. The app tells you when a storage cannot be reached.
Where is my password kept?
In your Mac’s Keychain. The Mac talks straight to your server. It does not pass through our servers.
Why not use Finder’s own Connect to Server?
You can. DriveMyMac puts the share in the same drive as your cloud storages, so everything is in one place in Finder.
Do I need macFUSE?
No. DriveMyMac uses Apple’s FSKit, built into macOS. No driver to install and no security changes in Recovery. You turn on one switch in System Settings, once.
See how it compares with other apps on the compare page.
Pay once. Keep it.
$5.99 lifetime at launch, then $19.99 lifetime. One time, per Mac.