· I'm using QNAP TSx73R as Roon Server and running normally before. After updated the Roon remote app in my iMac a few days before, the Roon remote app cannot connect to the Roon Server any more no matter how hard I try to reconnect it but it was in vain. I have search the technical support request for a long time but cannot solve my problem. It seems that the updated Roon remote app has a bug that it cannot connect to the QNAP. Please suggest any solution to this problem.
I understand how frustrating it is when a system you rely on suddenly stops communicating after an update. Thank you for reaching out so we can get this sorted out for you!
While it might seem like a bug with your recently updated iMac app, the disconnect is actually happening on the QNAP side.
What happened: Recent updates to the Roon architecture introduced new underlying system and software library requirements. Unfortunately, the native QNAP operating system environment can no longer support these modern software libraries directly. As a result, the traditional QNAP Roon app (the QPKG version you have been using) fails to launch in the background. Because the server is effectively offline, your iMac Remote is stuck endlessly searching for it.
The Solution: To get your system communicating again, you will need to transition your Roon Server to run via QNAP’s Container Station (which uses Docker). Running Roon inside a container safely isolates it from the QNAP OS limitations and provides it with the exact modern environment it needs to run flawlessly. This will also prevent future QNAP updates from breaking your Roon Server!
Next Steps: You will need to install Container Station from the QNAP App Center and set up the official Roon image. We have a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to walk you through this exact process here:
Once you have the container spun up, your iMac will find the server on your network, and you will be back in business. Please review the guide, and let us know if you hit any roadblocks during the setup process—we are here to help!
Thanks for your reply. I have tried the steps you mentioned below but it also cannot connect to QNAP server, Please see the capture screen shots for your information.
I follow your instructions unto step 5 and find the status of the roonserver is running.
I clicked the Roon remote app in my iMac and turn on the above screen and then I select “LDSFamilyNAS and connect
However, this icon was running after click the connect button afterward and no more reaction.
Thank you for the update and for detailing the steps you have taken. Unfortunately, the screenshots you mentioned did not attach to your message, so I am unable to see the exact state of your Roon Remote.
Getting stuck on a spinning icon after clicking “Connect” usually means the remote app is trying to communicate, but the handshake is being blocked or the server is waiting for an authorization command that isn’t appearing.
To help us pinpoint where the connection is dropping, could you please confirm a few details?
1. Stop the Old Native App
Did you completely stop or uninstall the old native QPKG version of Roon Server in the QNAP App Center? If the old app is still running in the background alongside the new Docker container, they will fight for the same network ports, which causes this exact freezing behavior.
2. The Unauthorize Screen
When you attempt to connect and the icon starts spinning, does it ever eventually transition to a screen asking you to “Unauthorize” your previous server license? Or does it just spin infinitely?
3. Select a Different Server
When you first open the Roon Remote app on your iMac, do you see an option or link that says “Select a different Roon Server”? If so, please try clicking that. Sometimes forcing the app to back out and refresh its server list will properly trigger the login and authorization prompt.
Please let us know the outcome of these steps. If you are able to re-upload those screenshots (you can drag and drop the image files directly into the reply box), that would be incredibly helpful as well!
The old native app had been removed from the NAS. We set up the NAS by using a container station following the instructions given in Roon official website. The issue we are now facing is that no “unauthorize” option appears on our computer app.
Thank you for uploading the screenshots! They explain exactly why you are getting stuck on the spinning logo screen.
Looking at your Container Station log screenshot, your Roon container has just started downloading the server files (Downloading from https://download.roonlabs.net…). The official Docker image is a lightweight installer wrapper; it downloads the full Roon application core on its very first launch.
Because the server was still downloading and setting up its environment in the background when you clicked ‘Connect’, your iMac remote timed out waiting for a fully initialized database. Furthermore, to ensure a successful handshake, both the server and your client machine must match on the new architecture framework.
To get everything talking again, please follow these steps:
Update your iMac Remote App: Roon 2.66 introduces a major platform migration. Your iMac must be running the matching client version to communicate with the new container. Please download and install the latest Mac update directly from the official link here: [url=https://roon.app/en/downloads]Roon Labs Downloads[/url].
Wait for the NAS Download to Complete: Keep the Container Station logs window open on your NAS and wait a few minutes. Do not attempt to connect until you see a log entry stating that RoonServer is fully installed, initialized, and running.
Verify Network Settings: Ensure your container is configured with Host Network Mode in Container Station settings. Roon relies heavily on multicast discovery protocols and needs to share the exact IP address of your QNAP (192.168.1.131) rather than being hidden behind a NAT or bridge network.
Once the iMac app is updated and the container finishes its background setup, try restarting the Roon app on your Mac, and it should connect smoothly. Let us know how it goes!
Thank you for your request to re-open this thread and we apologize that it closed before we could reach a firm resolution.
Can you please share a screenshot of the current Roon Server instance in Container Station? We’ll be able to guide you through next steps for configuring the proper network mode, etc.
Thank you for the update.
We see that Docker is up and running. Would you kindly try connecting from a different remote, like a phone or a different PC, and disable the WiFi connection on your MAC and try again
Thank you for your advice. I can connect to the roon again. However, it cannot locate my music folder. I try to reconnect to my music folder in my NAS but in vain as shown in screen shots as below .
