Synology Image Assistant includes a browser extension Synology Image Assistant Extension and a desktop app Synology Image Assistant for desktop. These tools help generate image previews and compressed videos (for Synology Photos and BeePhotos only) in formats such as HEIC and HEVC when navigating Synology Photos, BeePhotos, and BeeFiles via a web browser.

Why use Synology Image Assistant?

While many devices today, including iOS and some Android devices, can capture photos and videos in HEIC/HEVC formats, their support is limited on end devices. When viewing these formats on the Synology Photos, BeePhotos, and BeeFiles web portals, they may not be displayed correctly.

Synology Image Assistant ensures a consistent viewing experience across devices. Once installed on a computer with decoding capabilities, both the extension and the desktop app can generate additional image previews or compressed videos (for Synology Photos and BeePhotos only) in more widely supported formats for HEIC/HEVC files and more, allowing you to view them across devices and platforms. This process preserves the original file and does not affect its download or sharing capabilities.

Make sure your environment meets the following requirements:

Synology's product

Computer

Web browser

If you use Safari

The following instructions are based on Safari 17. The exact wording of the user interface on your computer may vary slightly based on your system's version and your localization.

1. Download it in the App Store or search Synology Image Assistant Ext. in the App Store
2. After installation, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock. Find Synology Image Assistant Extension and open it.
3. Click Safari in the upper-right corner > Settings > the Extensions tab and select Synology Image Assistant Extension to enable it. Click Always Allow on Every Website….
4. Install and launch Synology Image Assistant for desktop.
5. Keep both the browser extension and desktop app running in the background, and they will automatically generate previews and compressed videos during browsing or uploading.

If you use Chrome or other browsers

1. Get the extension from one of the following sources according to your browser:
   • Chrome
   • Edge
   • Firefox
2. After installation, click the puzzle icon in the upper-right corner of your browser and pin the extension to the toolbar. If you have opened Synology Photos on a web tab, refresh it for proper operation.
3. Install and launch Synology Image Assistant for desktop.
4. Keep the browser extension and the desktop app running in the background, and they will automatically generate previews and compressed videos during browsing or uploading.

1. Go to Download Center > select your model > Desktop Utilities tab. Find and download Synology Image Assistant for desktop. Install the desktop app.
2. After the installation, the desktop app will automatically download codecs from the Microsoft Store for Windows computers: HEIF, HEVC¹, VP9, and MPEG2. If you install it on a Mac, the desktop app can operate directly since these codecs are equipped in most Mac models.²
3. Refresh your browser and ensure you have installed and run Synology Image Assistant Extension on your browser.
4. You can browse or upload photos as you normally would. These tools will generate previews and compressed videos for formats like HEIC photos and HEVC videos in the background.