After setting up a Synology NAS and creating a storage pool, you land on the DSM 7.1 desktop where most of your management tasks take place.
DSM 7.1 has a minimal, browser-based desktop layout designed around quick access to apps, notifications, and system settings from any web browser.
Quick Answer
The DSM 7.1 desktop has four default app icons on the left, a top bar with quick access shortcuts on the right, and the main menu button on the left of the top bar.
Desktop Icons
After a fresh DSM install, four application icons appear on the left side of the desktop. Clicking any icon once opens that application directly in DSM.
The four default icons are Package Center, File Station, Control Panel, and DSM Help. These cover app installation, file management, settings, and documentation.
You can add more icons to the desktop by right-clicking any application in the main menu and selecting the option to add it as a desktop shortcut.
Top Bar Quick Access Icons
The top-right corner of the DSM 7.1 desktop contains four quick access icons that open dropdown panels or overlays without leaving your current page.
From left to right, the icons represent Notifications, User Accounts, Widgets, and Search. Each opens a dropdown or panel relevant to its label and function.
Notifications shows recent system alerts. User Accounts gives access to personal settings and logout. Widgets toggles the widget panel on the desktop.
Main Menu
The main menu button sits on the left side of the same top bar row. Clicking it opens a full-screen launcher showing all installed DSM applications.
The main menu displays packages and built-in apps in a grid layout, similar to an application launcher found in a typical Linux desktop environment.
You can search for any app by name, drag icons to rearrange them, or pin frequently used apps to the desktop directly from this main menu screen.
What You Can Do From the Desktop
Before creating a storage pool, DSM restricts navigation. Once the pool and volume are set up, the full desktop becomes available to explore freely.
From the desktop you can launch File Station to browse shared folders, open Control Panel to manage users and network settings, or install packages via Package Center.