{"id":"mac-storage-basics.can-i-use-a-nas-for-mac-storage","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-use-a-nas-for-mac-storage","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"external-storage","title":"External storage and adding space"},"question":"Can I use a network drive (NAS) to free up space on my Mac?","alt_questions":["nas for mac storage","network storage mac","store files on nas mac","smb share mac storage","nas vs external ssd mac"],"short_answer":"Yes, for archives and shared media; connect with Finder's Go → Connect to Server. It's slower than a direct SSD, and apps like Photos don't support libraries on network shares.","answer_markdown":"Yes, for files you don't need constantly: a NAS is good for archives, media libraries you stream, and shared family files. Connect from Finder with **Go → Connect to Server** (Command-K).\n\nIt's slower than a directly connected SSD and depends on your network, and some apps (for example Photos libraries) aren't supported on network shares. Keep libraries and working projects on a local drive.","answer_html":"

Yes, for files you don't need constantly: a NAS is good for archives, media libraries you stream, and shared family files. Connect from Finder with Go → Connect to Server (Command-K).

\n

It's slower than a directly connected SSD and depends on your network, and some apps (for example Photos libraries) aren't supported on network shares. Keep libraries and working projects on a local drive.

","answer_text":"Yes, for files you don't need constantly: a NAS is good for archives, media libraries you stream, and shared family files. Connect from Finder with Go → Connect to Server (Command-K).\n\nIt's slower than a directly connected SSD and depends on your network, and some apps (for example Photos libraries) aren't supported on network shares. Keep libraries and working projects on a local drive.","tags":["nas","network","storage"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.is-an-external-ssd-a-good-way-to-add-storage","question":"Is an external SSD a good way to get more storage on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-an-external-ssd-a-good-way-to-add-storage"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I use a network drive (NAS) to free up space on my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes, for archives and shared media; connect with Finder's Go → Connect to Server. It's slower than a direct SSD, and apps like Photos don't support libraries on network shares.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Can I use a network drive (NAS) to free up space on my Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-use-a-nas-for-mac-storage"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-use-a-nas-for-mac-storage","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I use a network drive (NAS) to free up space on my Mac?","alternateName":["nas for mac storage","network storage mac","store files on nas mac","smb share mac storage","nas vs external ssd mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, for files you don't need constantly: a NAS is good for archives, media libraries you stream, and shared family files. Connect from Finder with Go → Connect to Server (Command-K).\n\nIt's slower than a directly connected SSD and depends on your network, and some apps (for example Photos libraries) aren't supported on network shares. Keep libraries and working projects on a local drive.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-use-a-nas-for-mac-storage"}}]},"fragment":"
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Mac storage basics · External storage and adding space

\n

Can I use a network drive (NAS) to free up space on my Mac?

\n

Short answer: Yes, for archives and shared media; connect with Finder's Go → Connect to Server. It's slower than a direct SSD, and apps like Photos don't support libraries on network shares.

\n

Yes, for files you don't need constantly: a NAS is good for archives, media libraries you stream, and shared family files. Connect from Finder with Go → Connect to Server (Command-K).

\n

It's slower than a directly connected SSD and depends on your network, and some apps (for example Photos libraries) aren't supported on network shares. Keep libraries and working projects on a local drive.

\n\n

Last reviewed

\n\n

Related questions

\n

Also available as Markdown and JSON.

\n
"}