QNAP NAS Error Code 13: How to Fix It

Q: What does QNAP Error Code 13 mean exactly?

QNAP Error Code 13 is a disk SMART error. SMART stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology — it is a built-in health monitoring system inside every hard drive and SSD. When QNAP reports Error Code 13, it means one or more drives in your NAS has crossed a warning threshold in its internal health metrics, indicating the drive is at elevated risk of failing. This is not a software glitch — it is a real hardware warning that requires immediate attention.

Q: Can I ignore QNAP Error Code 13 if my NAS still seems to work fine?

No. You should never ignore a SMART error, even if the NAS appears to be functioning normally. SMART errors are early warning signs — the drive may continue working for days, weeks, or occasionally months, but it can also fail completely within hours. There is no way to predict exactly when. The safest course of action is to treat every SMART error as urgent: back up your data immediately and plan to replace the affected drive.

Q: Will I lose my data when replacing the failing drive on a QNAP RAID system?

If your QNAP NAS is set up with a RAID configuration (such as RAID 1, 5, or 6) and only one drive has failed or is flagged, you should be able to hot-swap the drive and rebuild the RAID array without losing data. However, data loss CAN occur if: you remove the wrong drive, the RAID volume is already in a failed state, a second drive fails during the rebuild process, or the NAS loses power during rebuilding. Always back up your data before starting any drive replacement, even with RAID.

Q: What type of replacement hard drive should I use for my QNAP NAS?

QNAP recommends using NAS-rated hard drives rather than standard desktop drives. NAS-rated drives (such as those marketed for 24/7 operation and vibration resistance) are designed to handle the always-on workloads and multi-drive vibration environments inside a NAS enclosure. Always check QNAP's official compatibility list for your specific NAS model before purchasing a replacement drive. Use a drive with equal or greater capacity than the one being replaced.

Q: How do I prevent QNAP Error Code 13 from happening in the future?

You cannot guarantee a drive will never fail, but you can manage the risk effectively. Best practices include: enabling scheduled SMART tests in QTS (weekly quick tests and monthly extended tests), setting up email or app notification alerts so you get instant warnings, using NAS-rated hard drives that are rated for 24/7 operation, following the 3-2-1 backup rule (3 copies of data, 2 different media types, 1 offsite or cloud copy), and replacing drives that are more than 4–5 years old even if they are still reporting healthy SMART status.

Abstract

QNAP Error Code 13 is a disk SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) error, which means one or more of the hard drives in your NAS has detected internal warning signs of potential failure. This is a high-severity alert that should never be ignored — your drive may still be working, but it is signaling that it is at serious risk of imminent failure. Acting quickly to back up your data and assess the failing drive can be the difference between recovering your files safely and losing them permanently.