How to Install RetroAssembly on Your Synology NAS

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How to Install RetroAssembly on Your Synology NAS

RetroAssembly is a browser-based retro game collection cabinet that lets you relive classic gaming moments from consoles like NES, SNES, Genesis, GameBoy, and Arcade. Accessible via Docker image, it offers a sleek, intuitive interface with spatial navigation for easy browsing using a keyboard or gamepad. Users can upload their own ROMs to create a personal game library, with auto-detected box art, save state synchronization, and gameplay rewind features on supported emulators. The app enhances the experience with retro-style shaders, a virtual on-screen controller for mobile play, and a dark/light theme toggle. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install RetroAssemblyĀ on yourĀ Synology NAS using Docker & Portainer.

šŸ’”Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest RetroAssembly v1Ā release.

  • STEP 1

Please Support My work by Making a Donation.

  • STEP 2

InstallĀ Portainer using my step by step guide. If you already have Portainer installed on your Synology NAS, skip this STEP. Attention: Make sure you have installed the latest Portainer version.

  • STEP 3

Go toĀ File Station and open the docker folder. Inside the docker folder, create one new folder and name itĀ retroassembly. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 1

  • STEP 4

Log into Portainer using your username and password. On the left sidebar in Portainer, click on StacksĀ thenĀ + Add stack. Follow the instructions in the image below.

1 Synology Portainer Add Stack

  • STEP 5

In the Name field type in retroassembly. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Note: Copy Paste the code below in the Portainer Stacks Web editor.

services:
  retroassembly:
    image: arianrhodsandlot/retroassembly:latest
    container_name: RetroAssembly
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "nc -z 127.0.0.1 8000 || exit 1"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 90s  
    ports: 
     - 4235:8000
    volumes: 
     - /volume1/docker/retroassembly:/app/data:rw
    restart: on-failure:5

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 2

  • STEP 6

Scroll down on the page until you see a button namedĀ Deploy the stack. Click on it. Follow the instructions in the image below. The installation process can take up to a few minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 3

  • STEP 7

If everything goes right, you will see the following message at the top right of your screen: ā€œSuccess Stack successfully deployedā€œ.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 4

  • STEP 8

Please Support My work by Making a Donation. Almost 99,9% of the people that install something using my guidesĀ forget to support my work, or justĀ ignoreĀ STEP 1. Iā€™ve been very honest about this aspect of my work since the beginning: I donā€™t run any ADS, I donā€™t require subscriptions, paid or otherwise, I donā€™t collect IPs, emails, and I donā€™t have any referral links from Amazon or other merchants. I also donā€™t have any POP-UPs or COOKIES. I have repeatedly been told over the years how much I have contributed to the community. Itā€™s something I love doing and have been honest about my passion since the beginning. But I also Need The Community to Support me Back to be able to continue doing this work.

  • STEP 9

The installation process can take up to a few seconds/minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection. Now open your browser and type in http://Synology-ip-address:4235 At the top right of the page, click Log in. Follow the instructions in the image below.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 5

  • STEP 10

Create your Administrator account. Type in your own Username and Password. Click Create your account. Follow the instructions in the image below.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 6

  • STEP 11

Click Add to upload your ROMs files. Follow the instructions in the image below.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 7

  • STEP 12

Your library at a glance! Click on your Game! Follow the instructions in the image below.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 8

  • STEP 13

Click Start. Follow the instructions in the image below.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 9

  • STEP 14

Enjoy your game!

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 10

  • STEP 15

At the bottom left of the page, click on the little settings icon. Switch the theme to Dark. Access your personalized Settings. Follow the instructions in the image below.

RetroAssembly Synology NAS Set up 11

Enjoy RetroAssembly!

šŸ†˜TROUBLESHOOTING

If you encounter issues by using this container, make sure to check out the Common Docker issuesĀ article.

Note: If you want to run the RetroAssembly container over HTTPS, check How to Run Docker Containers Over HTTPS. In order to make RetroAssembly work via HTTPS, it’s mandatory to activate WebSocket.

Note: Can I run Docker on my Synology NAS?Ā See the supported models.
Note: How to Back Up Docker Containers on your Synology NAS.
Note: Find outĀ how to update the RetroAssembly container with the latest image.
Note: How to Free Disk Space on Your NAS if You Run Docker.
Note: How to Schedule Start & Stop For Docker Containers.
Note: How to Activate Email Notifications.
Note: How to Add Access Control Profile on Your NAS.
Note: How to Change Docker Containers Restart Policy.
Note: How to Use Docker Containers With VPN.
Note: Convert Docker Run Into Docker Compose.
Note: How to Clean Docker.
Note: How to Clean Docker Automatically.
Note: Best Practices When Using Docker and DDNS.
Note: Some Docker Containers Need WebSocket.
Note: Find out the Best NAS Models For Docker.
Note: Activate Gmail SMTP For Docker Containers.

This post was updated on Friday / August 8th, 2025 at 11:50 PM

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