How Swads connects to a Synology NAS
Learn how Swads connects to your NAS and handles QuickConnect, iCloud sync, Keychain storage, and data boundaries.
Swads is a native client for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It connects to the Synology NAS you select and manages Download Station there. Swads does not run a separate download engine.
Connection path
Swads supports two ways to locate a NAS:
- Direct address: you provide a host, port, and HTTP or HTTPS protocol. Swads uses them to connect to DSM.
- QuickConnect ID: Swads asks Synology's QuickConnect service for candidate addresses, tests them, and uses the resolved address to reach the NAS. The result is stored temporarily on the current device.
In both cases, the download task remains on Download Station. Closing Swads does not move the task to the iPhone or Mac.
What is stored where
| Data | Storage | Syncs to another Apple device? |
|---|---|---|
| QuickConnect ID or direct address, username | Swads app data in your private iCloud account | Yes, when iCloud is available |
| Password, when Stay signed in is enabled | Apple Keychain | Yes, through synchronizable Keychain |
| Password, when Stay signed in is disabled | Not persisted | No |
| DSM session ID and device ID | Device-only Apple Keychain item | No |
| QuickConnect resolved address and refresh interval | Local device storage | No |
| Download tasks and Download Station settings | Your Synology NAS | Not copied into the documentation website |
Here, iCloud means Apple's private app data sync between your devices. No Swads account is required.
Swads also contacts Swads-operated services to check purchase status and available app versions. Those requests are separate from the DSM connection used to manage NAS downloads.
Sign-in and two-factor authentication
Swads signs in through Synology DSM using a password and, when required, a one-time password (OTP). After sign-in, the DSM session and device identifier are kept in the current device's Keychain so another Apple device establishes its own session.
What you need on the NAS
The Synology Download Station package must be installed and enabled, and the DSM account must have permission to use it. Swads cannot display or control tasks when that package is unavailable.
Learn more
Read How Swads protects your data for the privacy summary, or check the Release Notes for product changes.