How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 11

This article explains how to map a community drive in Windows 11, so you possibly can simply entry shared recordsdata from one other pc in your community. We’ll additionally have a look at what the opposite pc should do to allow the share and what to look ahead to when you’re having points mapping a community drive.

How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 11

It takes simply a few steps to map a community drive by way of the This PC window.

1. Open This PC by launching File Explorer (WIN+E) and choosing This PC from the navigation pane.

2. Use the See extra menu button (the three dots) on the prime of the window to choose Map community drive.

   
   

3. Pick a letter from the menu you need the community drive to be recognized as. This might be any letter in the listing.

4. Browse for, or sort the trail to, the shared folder the community drive must be mapped to.

   If the share requires a particular password, you must select Connect utilizing completely different credentials. You’ll be prompted to present a username (and password) that has permission to entry the opposite pc.

   
   

5. Select Finish.

   You might need to wait a few seconds for Windows to set up the connection, after which you’ll entry the share such as you would a flash drive or native exhausting drive and rename the way it seems in This PC.

How to Automatically Map a Network Drive in Windows 11

The major approach to arrange an computerized community drive is to comply with the steps above and select Reconnect at sign-in throughout setup. This will make the identical community drive resume the following time you signal on.

If you are managing a number of computer systems directly, and even one pc with a number of customers, and also you want to map the community drive on all of them, mechanically, there’s a script you possibly can construct to get the job finished. The similar methodology works for creating the community drive for different customers on a native pc; see the steps under for directions.

How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 11 for All Users

Mapping a community drive for all customers directly is way simpler than following the above steps individually beneath every account. Follow these steps whether or not you are a community admin that wants to carry out this trick throughout your total community of computer systems, otherwise you need the native accounts in your PC to have the ability to attain the identical shared recordsdata with ease.

1. Use the web use command to create a script that can auto-connect the mapped community drive.

   Here’s an instance, the place the driving force letter will likely be assigned mechanically, and the connection to the share (serverfiles, in this instance) will persist (/p:sure) every time the consumer logs in:

   internet use * "serverfiles" /p:sure
   

   The script wants to be saved as a BAT file so Windows will execute it when the consumer logs in.

   Visit the web use command link above for examples of embedding credentials in the command. It’s mandatory if the pc sharing the recordsdata requires a password.

2. Open the All Users Startup folder. One straightforward approach to discover it’s to run this command in the Run dialog field (WIN+R):

   shell:frequent startup
   

3. Copy the BAT file from step 1 into the folder you uncovered in step 2.

   
   

Now, when any consumer logs in on that pc, the community drive you arrange in the script will mechanically join.

Troubleshooting Mapped Network Drives

Just a few issues have to be in place earlier than community sharing is allowed in Windows 11.

If you are positive your pc is on the identical community because the one sharing the recordsdata (that is a necessity), preserve this stuff in thoughts when you’re having hassle mapping a community drive or utilizing it as soon as you have mapped it:

Network Discovery

Network discovery enables you to see community computer systems and their shares. Make positive it is turned on in Control Panel.

1. Open Control Panel, and navigate to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change superior sharing settings.

2. Expand the part that claims present profile, and choose Turn on community discovery.

   
   

   The pc doing the sharing (i.e., the one you are making an attempt to join to) wants to have chosen Turn on file and printer sharing from this similar display screen earlier than they will share with you over the community.

3. Select Save modifications, after which strive once more to map the community drive.

Password-Protected Sharing

You should both have the login credentials for the consumer sharing the recordsdata with you, or their pc wants to be arrange to enable sharing even when a password is not supplied.

In the All Networks part, they will arrange the latter by choosing Turn off password protected sharing by way of the identical display screen as above.

Share Permissions

You can configure the share to enable a sure variety of customers concurrently. It may even be restricted to viewing the recordsdata solely, which means you possibly can’t edit or add something to the community drive. To be given these permissions, the individual managing the community share should make modifications from their aspect.

If they entry the Sharing tab of the folder’s properties, the Advanced Sharing button is an choice to restrict what number of customers might be using the share directly. On that very same display screen, in the Permissions space, the supervisor of the recordsdata may give you full management or edit entry.

Full Share Path

Make positive you are accessing the true path to the share. Typing the trail manually when establishing the community drive may result in a mistake. You can get hold of the share path from the pc sharing the assets.

Open File Explorer and navigate to Network from the navigation pane on that pc. Open the pc identify you see there, after which discover the folder you need to entry. That’s the trail you want to enter into your pc to full the mapped drive.

The similar path is accessible from the folder itself. Right-click it, go into the Sharing tab and replica the textual content from the Network Path space.