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QNAP: Volume Is Read-Only – Common Causes and How to Fix It

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Introduction

You’re trying to save or edit a file on your QNAP NAS, but the system tells you the volume is in read-only mode? This means your NAS has detected a risk and has switched the volume to read-only to prevent further damage or data loss.

In this guide, we’ll go over the most common causes for a read-only volume on a QNAP system and show you how to safely troubleshoot and resolve the issue step by step.

What Does “Read-Only” Mean on a NAS?

When a volume becomes read-only, it means QNAP is preventing write access to that storage area. This is typically done automatically for data protection, usually due to a hardware issue or file system corruption.

Typical Causes of a Read-Only Volume

1. RAID Degraded or Inconsistent

A degraded RAID array, caused by a failing or disconnected disk, can trigger the read-only mode.

Symptoms:

• Volume status shows “Degraded” or “Uninitialized”

• Storage Pool displays disk as “Error” or “Missing”

Fix:

• Go to Storage & Snapshots → Storage/Snapshot

• Check RAID group status

• Replace any failed drive

• Start RAID rebuild (only after verifying backups if multiple drives are affected)

2. File System Errors

Improper shutdowns, crashes, or I/O errors can corrupt the file system.

Symptoms:

• Logs show: Filesystem not clean or mounted as read-only

Fix:

• Go to Storage & Snapshots → Volume

• Click Actions → Check File System

• QNAP will run a file system scan (fsck)

• If successful, the volume will remount as read/write

3. SMART Warnings or Disk Failure

When a disk shows bad sectors or health warnings, QNAP may lock the volume to prevent further damage.

Symptoms:

• SMART info shows “Warning” or “Failure”

• Logs show I/O errors for specific disk(s)

Fix:

• Go to Storage & Snapshots → Disks

• Review SMART status (look for Reallocated/Pending sectors)

• Replace failing drive immediately

Other Possible Causes

What NOT to Do

• ❌ Don’t force remount without checking logs and root cause

• ❌ Don’t rebuild RAID without verifying drive health and having a backup

• ❌ Don’t format the volume unless absolutely necessary and fully backed up

Prevention Tips

• ✅ Enable regular SMART scans

• ✅ Use a UPS to avoid power loss

• ✅ Monitor system logs for early warnings

• ✅ Keep snapshots under control

• ✅ Schedule routine file system checks via QTS

Conclusion

A read-only volume on your QNAP NAS isn’t the end of the world – but it’s a red flag that should not be ignored. Most issues can be traced to RAID degradation, file system errors, or failing drives. With a methodical approach and proper backup strategy, you can restore full access without risking your data.