Map Network Drive in Windows 10  

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    Map Network Drive in Windows 10

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10

    How to Map Network Drive or Disconnect Network Drive in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Network & Sharing
    14 Aug 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Map Network Drive or Disconnect Network Drive in Windows 10

    When you map a network drive, you are creating a shortcut in This PC to a drive (ex: NAS), shared folder, or computer on your network. A mapped network drive has the following characteristics:

    • It has a drive letter assigned like any other partition in your system.
    • It points to a network shared folder on another PC.
    • It points only to resources found on your network.
    • You need the username and password credentials to connect to it.

    This tutorial will show you different ways on how to map network drives or disconnect network drives for only your account in Windows 10.

    See also:

    Mapped network drives are stored in the registry locations below:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2\<share name>

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Network\<Drive letter>

    The credentials used for your mapped network drives are stored in Credential Manager.
    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-credential_manager.png



    Contents




    EXAMPLE: Mapped network drive in This PC
    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-7.png






    OPTION ONE

    To Map Network Drive in This PC


    1 Do step 2, step 3, or step 4 below for how you would like to map a network drive in This PC.

    2 Open This PC in File Explorer, click/tap on the Computer tab, click/tap on the Map network drive button in the ribbon, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-1.png

    3 Open File Explorer, right click or press and hold on This PC in the navigation pane, click/tap on Map network drive, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-1a.png

    4 Open This PC in File Explorer, click/tap on the Computer tab, click/tap on Map network drive menu arrow in the ribbon, click/tap on Map network drive, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-2.png

    5 You will now need to fill out the Map Network Drive wizard for what you want, and click/tap on Finished when done. (see screenshots below)

    • Select an unused drive letter you want to assign to the network drive.
    • Browse to and select, or type in the path, of the shared network folder. If typing the network path, you must start with “\\” followed by the name of the computer that is sharing the folder you want to map, followed by “\” and the name of the shared network folder.
    • Check or uncheck to automatically Reconnect at sign-in to the mapped network drive.
    • Check or uncheck Connect using different credentials to the mapped network drive depending on if the credentials for the network drive are already stored in Credential Manager from previously mapping the network drive, and if the credentials in Credential Manager are correct.


    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-3.png

    6 If you checked Connect using different credentials, you will now need to enter the user name and password credentials to connect to the network drive, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    If you did not check Connect using different credentials, Windows will try to connect to the network drive using the user account details from your computer in Credential Manager.

    You can check the Remember my credentials box to not have to enter credentials each time you open the mapped network drive.


    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-5.png

    7 The mapped network drive will now automatically open. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_in_this_pc-6.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Map Network Drive in Command Prompt


    For more details about the net use command, see: Net use - Microsoft Docs


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Type the command below you wanted to use into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    (Remains connected after next logon)
    net use <drive letter>: \\ComputerName\ShareName /user:UserName Password /persistent:yes

    OR

    (Removed after next logon)
    net use <drive letter>: \\ComputerName\ShareName /user:UserName Password /persistent:no

    Substitute <drive letter>: in the command above with an unused drive letter (ex: "Z:" ) you want to assign the mapped network drive.

    If you like, you can substitute <drive letter>: in the command above with an asterisk * instead to have Windows automatically assign an unused drive letter to the mapped network drive.

    Substitute ComputerName in the command above with the actual computer name of the PC (ex: "readyshare") that the shared folder is located on.

    Substitute ShareName in the command above with the actual name of the network share folder (ex: "USB_Storage").

    Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "UserName") for the credentials of the shared folder.

    Substitute Password in the command above with the actual password (ex: "password") for the credentials of the shared folder.

    For example:

    net use Z: \\readyshare\USB_Storage /user:UserName password /persistent:yes

    OR

    net use * \\readyshare\USB_Storage /user:UserName password /persistent:yes

    3 When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_command.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Map Network Drive in PowerShell


    For more details about the New-PSDrive command, see: New-PSDrive - Microsoft Docs


    1 Open PowerShell.

    2 Type the command below you wanted to use into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4)

    (Remains connected after next logon)
    New-PSDrive -Name <drive letter> -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\ComputerName\ShareName" -Credential "UserName" -Persist

    OR

    (Removed after next logon)
    New-PSDrive -Name <drive letter> -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\ComputerName\ShareName" -Credential "UserName"

    Substitute <drive letter>: in the command above with an unused drive letter (ex: "Z:" ) you want to assign the mapped network drive.

    Substitute ComputerName in the command above with the actual computer name of the PC (ex: "readyshare") that the shared folder is located on.

    Substitute ShareName in the command above with the actual name of the network share folder (ex: "USB_Storage").

    Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "UserName") for the credentials of the shared folder.

    For example:

    New-PSDrive -Name Z -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\readyshare\MyBook2" -Credential "admin" -Persist

    OR

    New-PSDrive -Name Z -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\readyshare\MyBook2" -Credential "admin"

    3 Enter the password of the shared folder's credentials, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_powershell-2.png

    4 When finished, you can close PowerShell if you like.

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-map_network_drive_powershell-1.png






    OPTION FOUR

    To Disconnect Network Drive in This PC


    1 Do step 2, step 3, step 4, or step 5 below for how you would like to disconnect a network drive in This PC.

    2 Open This PC in File Explorer, right click or press and hold on the mapped network drive (ex: Z: ), click/tap on Disconnect, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_in_this_pc-1.png

    3 Open This PC in File Explorer, select the mapped network drive (ex: Z: ), click/tap on the Computer tab, click/tap on Map network drive menu arrow in the ribbon, click/tap on Disconnect network drive, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_in_this_pc-2.png

    4 Open File Explorer, right click or press and hold on This PC in the navigation pane, click/tap on Disconnect network drive, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_in_this_pc-1a.png

    5 Open This PC in File Explorer, click/tap on the Computer tab, click/tap on Map network drive menu arrow in the ribbon, click/tap on Disconnect network drive, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_in_this_pc-3.png

    6 Select the mapped network drive(s) (ex: Z: ) you want to disconnect, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_in_this_pc-3b.png

    7 The mapped network drive(s) have now been disconnected.






    OPTION FIVE

    To Disconnect Network Drive in Command Prompt


    For more details about the net use command, see: Net use - Microsoft Docs


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Type net use into the command prompt, and press Enter to see a list of all your mapped network drives. (see screenshot below)

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_command-1.png

    3 Type the command you want to use below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    (Disconnect a single specific mapped network drive)
    net use <drive letter>: /Delete

    OR

    (Disconnect all mapped network drives at once)
    net use * /Delete

    Substitute <drive letter>: in the command above with the actual drive letter (ex: "Z:" ) of the mapped network drive you want to disconnect.

    For example: net use Z: /Delete

    4 When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.

    Map Network Drive in Windows 10-disconnect_network_drive_command-2.png


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 420
    Windows 10 1803
       #1

    thank you for doing this tutorial.
    An issue that plagued us in earlier Windows still remains in 10 and I do not yet understand some of the solutions given in the superuser forum thread pasted below.
    The issue is simple:
    - "drives" are mapped correctly, and work well WHEN they are manually accessed.
    - Windows 10 automatically disconnects the resource when not used.
    - Waking or restarting/booting the mapped drive remains disconnected: no request has been made, therefore the shared resource is offline [Red X]

    the solution would be something to cause the mapping to be ready/available/connected at all times except for sleep [I guess... that would be permissible to most] or 'off'. In the thread below a couple of people propose 'solutions' [despite a couple of boneheaded ideas] but these either over-reach or are limited only to solving the 'connect at startup' need.

    Not solving this defeats automated routine backups [pushed from the client station in question, in this example], which can be deadly. users should not be expected to have great memories or great technical skills :)

    what is the RIGHT step to take to make the Mapped resource "always available", with exceptions noted above?

    On login, how do I get Windows to mount/connect a mapped network drive automatically? - Super User
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello cognus, :)

    I find the best way to keep a mapped drive always available is to use OPTION ONE and select Reconnect at sign-in at step 5.

    The (Remains connected after next logon) command in the other options should work for you as well though.

    It's normal for the mapped drive to have a red X on it after not being used for a while, but clicking on the drive should have it be automatically connected again after a short wait sorta like waiting for a HDD to spin back up after being turned off when idle.

    I'm not aware of a way to keep a mapped drive to always stay active.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 420
    Windows 10 1803
       #3

    rats.... I figured if anyone knew, you would :)
    'tis ugly, but one of my smart friends said that a script could be written that would periodically tap the drive [request a non-existent file or such] to keep it awake but that feels clumsy. maybe i should just try it and see.
    I have not seen the 'disconnect interval' detailed anywhere - is there a set time/cycle for the dropping of the idle resource or does it vary by the config?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I haven't seen it detailed anywhere either. The script to bump the drive sounds like it could be a good workaround though.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    Brink said:
    I haven't seen it detailed anywhere either...
    Good News: I've found the details.

    Bad News: This is a setting is on the server, not the client.

    This behavior occurs because the systems can drop idle connections after a specified time-out period (by default, 15 minutes) to prevent wasting server resources on unused sessions.
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/297684
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thank you Bree. :)
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 420
    Windows 10 1803
       #8

    one of those situations where "there's an app for that!" no worky..
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 47
    Windows Ten!
       #9

    6. If you checked Connect using different credentials, you will now need to enter the user name and password credentials to connect to the network drive, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    This part is driving me nuts! I'm trying to access a mapped drive that was set up ages ago on a Windows 7 PC. I go through all of the steps and when I go to input the username and password of the main PC (which is just the username and password of the admin account on that computer, correct?) all I get is "The Username Or Password Is Incorrect" What am I doing wrong?
      My Computer


 

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