Synology BeeStation | Install BeeStation for Desktop on macOS

• First download the macOS version of BeeStation for Desktop app – Synology download centre.

Notes: Apple Macintosh computers have two versions of the BeeStation for desktop app. One for Apple Silicon and one for Intel hardware. Make sure you download the correct version for your hardware.

• Run the installation file that you downloaded.
• After moving past the Introduction screen, you will need to agreeing to the license.
• You will now need to decide how you want to install the software.

Note: There are three options when deciding how to install the software. However, the default option “Install for all users of this computer” is the one we recommend you use.

• Next you will be prompted to enter your Administrators credentials in order to install BeeStation for Desktop on your computer.
• The BeeStation application will now install on your computer.
• You now will need to allow BeeStation to access data from other apps.
• When prompted, sign in using the same Synology account credentials you used to configure your BeeStation.
• When asked to Select a BeeStation. Select your BeeStation and click on Next.
• On the Access and open BeeStation directly from your computer screen, we recommend that you leave the folder location on its default.
• Click OK.
• The app will open the link to your BeeStation through Finder, and run the BeeStation for Desktop application.

By default the BeeStation app will create a direct link to your BeeStation. This link is a bit like a network mapped drive, but unlike a network drive, will sync files and folders between your BeeStation and multiple devices.

• Open Finder.
• In the side bar you will see BeeStation (BeeStation name).
• Select it to open a direct link between your computer and your BeeStation.

Notes: Any files and folders saved to this link, will be saved to your computer and synced to your BeeStation. Then by installing BeeStation for Desktop on another computer, you can either access the files from your BeeStation or sync specific files to that computer.

• Open the BeeStation for Desktop app.
• Select the Settings icon, and from the menu choose Settings.
• From within Settings use the sidebar to choose My Computer.
• Click on Select Folder.
• A Sync folders on your computer with BeeStation panel will appear.
• Choose BeeFiles (Sync folder with BeeFiles).
• Two options will appear.

Note: Sync with BeeFiles and Backup to BeeFiles, offer two different functions. With Sync with BeeFiles, you will simply be transfering a copy of a file to your BeeStation. Which will delete the previous version of that file. So you would use Sync to keep a copy of a file in the cloud should you not have access to your Windows computer.

Backup to BeeFiles, is a backup of sorts, in that it will keep versions of amended files on your BeeStation. However as the BeeStation is not very sophisticated at the moment, it is not able to automatically restore a file back to your computer. 

• Highlight Sync with BeeFiles and click Next.
• Now choose the folder location that you want to have sync with your BeeStation.
• More than likely this will be a folder in your user profile so choose Users – [account name] to see a list of the folders you can sync.
• After selecting a folder ie Documents click Apply.

Note: The BeeStation for Desktop app will now sync the contents of the folder to your BeeStation. This may take a while if you have a lot of files and a slow internet connection. 

• Open the BeeStation for Desktop app.
• Select the Settings icon, and from the menu choose Settings.
• From within Settings use the sidebar to choose My Computer.
• Click on Select Folder.
• A Sync folders on your computer with BeeStation panel will appear.

We are going to choose BeePhotos (Back up photos and video to BeeFiles), as we want to back up our Pictures folder rather than sync it. 

Note: If you are looking to backup files. You would use BeeFiles rather than BeePhotos. Then follow the same process to set up your backup as you would a Sync.

• Click Next.
• Now choose the folder location that you want backed up to your BeeStation.
• More than likely this will be a folder in your user profile so choose Users – [account name] to see a list of the folders you can backup.
• After selecting Pictures click Apply.

Note: The photos and videos in your Pictures folder will now get uploaded to BeePhotos on your BeeStation. Then if you edit any photos or videos, BeeStation for Desktop will automatically upload that file to your BeeStation as a new version.

• Sign into your BeeStation from the BeeStation web portal.
• Select BeePhotos (or BeeFiles if you are looking to restore from a documents folder).
• In the main area of BeePhotos you will need to search for the photo or video you wish to restore.
• Highlight the file and choose Download.
• The restored file is saved to the Downloads folder in your user profile.
• Cut the file from your Downloads folder and paste the file back into your Pictures folder.