# Change directory without Explorer **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [March 11, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023 "2018-03-11T14:55:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/1 "2018-03-11T14:55:24Z")
I've been using Mp3tag for a while. I recently bought a Synology DS218 and installed all my music on it. This NAS does not appear in Windows Explorer. I've spent hours in communication with both Synology and Windows trying to get this fixed, to no avail, though Synology says their next software version MIGHT contain a fix. I can play music using the Synology Audio Station and rip CDs using dBpoweramp, but I can't reach the music files using Mp3tag because the only way to do so appears to be via Explorer. I tried searching in Mp3tag for SynologyDS218 (that's the name I gave the NAS), but no luck. Is there a way I can load files onto Mp3tag without going through Explorer? CT ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/2 "2018-03-11T15:01:20Z")
Can you assign a drive letter to the folder on the NAS? ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/3 "2018-03-11T15:37:09Z")
Thanks for your quick response. I've tried to assign a drive letter using Map Network Drive in Explorer but as the NAS doesn't appear on my home network in Explorer I can't do that. ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/4 "2018-03-11T15:45:14Z")
AFAIK a NAS runs fairly often some kind of Linux SW. And AFAIK, you have to start a service called Samba on the NAS that introduces the NAS to a windows network. As you said > [@charlest33](#): > > without going through Explorer I thought that you have some kind of access. So what do you mean by that? ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/5 "2018-03-11T17:08:34Z")
I'm not aware of Linux or Samba being involved. I can access the NAS by typing the IP address into Google. And I can rip CDs to it via dBpoweramp by typing in \SynologyDS218\music. But this doesn't work with Mp3tag for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/6 "2018-03-11T18:07:23Z")
the proper syntax for a network device would be `\\SynologyDS218\music` but this usually only works if that server is visible in the network. So if access to your music files is the main application and that does not work, then I would return that NAS. I have to stop now because I cannot give you any reasonable advice. ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/7 "2018-03-11T18:39:32Z")
There's nothing wrong with the NAS. I tried it on a different PC and it was recognised. What I need is a workaround for Mp3tag so I can type in the file address rather than going through Explorer. But maybe that option doesn't exist? ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/8 "2018-03-11T19:39:18Z")
> [@charlest33](#): > > I tried it on a different PC and it was recognised. > [@charlest33](#): > > rather than going through Explorer What is different on the other PC? I would setup the blind PC (the one not seeing the NAS) in the same way as the clairvoyant one. Mp3tag uses the functions of the OS to address files. If the OS cannot access the device, so can't MP3tag. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/9 "2018-03-11T19:42:50Z")
Yes, this option doesn't exist. Mp3tag is capable of handling files on normal drives that start with a drive letter, e.g., `C:\` or network shares that usually start with a double backslash followed by the server name, e.g., `\\Server\Share` It's kind of strange that your system doesn't pick up the device, but from looking at the respective category on the Synology forums, you're not the only one: [https://forum.synology.com/enu/viewforum.php?f=49](https://forum.synology.com/enu/viewforum.php?f=49) ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/10 "2018-03-11T22:57:31Z")
@charlest33 You should check this Synology article, especially the "SMB Advanced Settings" part: english: [SMB | DSM - Synology Knowledge Center](https://www.synology.com/en-global/knowledgebase/DSM/help/DSM/AdminCenter/file_winmacnfs_win) german: [SMB | DSM - Synology Knowledge Center](https://www.synology.com/de-de/knowledgebase/DSM/help/DSM/AdminCenter/file_winmacnfs_win) Windows 10 has introduced a new "security feature" with one of the latests updates and prevents to access network devices using the old (and unsecure) SMB1 protocol. More information: > **[SMBv1 is not installed by default in Windows 10 version 1709, Windows Server...](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-server/storage/file-server/troubleshoot/smbv1-not-installed-by-default-in-windows)** > > Discusses the behavior of the SMBv1 protocol in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and Windows Server, version 1709 and later versions. and > **[How to detect, enable and disable SMBv1, SMBv2, and SMBv3 in Windows](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-server/storage/file-server/troubleshoot/detect-enable-and-disable-smbv1-v2-v3)** > > Describes how to enable and disable the Server Message Block protocol (SMBv1, SMBv2, and SMBv3) in Windows client and server environments. Therefore you should change your settings on the synology accordingly. You can also try to adjust your SSDP settings: > The SSDP service allows users to find the Synology NAS via Windows network discovery. BTW: If you can access the same Synology from another PC, I assume, this other PC has not the most actual Windows 10 with latest patches installed? ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2018, 9:27am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/11 "2018-03-12T09:27:29Z")
Many thanks for your suggestions. I've tried pretty much everything on the Synology site but nothing seems to help. I think I'll just wait and hope they provide a fix in the next update. Fortunately I can access the new NAS using Mp3tag on my old laptop so I can still edit my tags. Thanks again, CT ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 10:32am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/12 "2018-09-02T10:32:10Z")
I have exactly the same problem on my PC, also with Synology DS218. I have not allowed Windows to update my laptop to Windows 10, specifically for the purpose of using mp3tag. Pretty ridiculous! Hoping for a fix in the not too distant future. ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/13 "2018-09-02T11:58:08Z")
Do you have adjusted the settings on your DS218? I use several Windows 10 machines with several Synology Models. They all work great with Mp3tag if you do the listed changes. ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/14 "2018-09-02T13:53:20Z")
In Synology I went Control Panel \> File Sharing \> File Services \> Advanced and enabled SSDP and WS-Discovery, which didn't help. Is there something else I should do? ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/15 "2018-09-02T13:58:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Windows 10 has introduced a new "security feature" with one of the latests updates and prevents to access network devices using the old (and unsecure) SMB1 protocol. Yes: Try to set the SMB minimum protocol to SMB1 or some level which works for you. You can do that on the Synology or - as last resort - on your windows machine. ---
**Author:** ![charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@charlest33](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/charlest33)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 10:32am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/16 "2018-09-05T10:32:13Z")
Many thanks, that really helped! I changed the SMB minimum protocol from SMB2 to SMB1 (left the top limit at SMB3). I can now use mp3 on the PC most of the time. Synology appears in File Explorer about 90% of the time, which is a definite improvement. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-directory-without-explorer/41023/17 "2026-02-09T12:27:17Z")