Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11

This can be done by mapping a network drive, which of course is a bit more complicated than accessing files from the local hard drive.

Location mapping can simply mean that you create a shortcut to another shared drive or folder on your network. After the mapping is successful, the mapped network drive will show up under This PC in File Explorer on your system. Below is the simplest process of mapping network drives in Windows 11.

How to map a network drive in Windows 11

First, open File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC by clicking on the File Explorer shortcut on the taskbar, or you can right-click the Start button and select ' File Explorer ' in the menu that appears.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 1

In the File Explorer window, click the options button (three dots) in the toolbar, then select ' Map Network Drive ' in the menu that appears.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 2

In the ' Map Network Drive ' window , click the ' Drive ' drop -down menu and select the drive letter that you will assign to the network drive. It can be any letter from the list, depending on your personal preference.

In the " Folder " field, enter the network device and share name. If you don't remember, you can click ' Browse ' to see the available devices on your local network.

If you want Windows to stay connected to this drive every time you log in, check the box next to the ' Reconnect at sign-in ' option. And if you want to connect using a different login (username and password) than those associated with your current Windows account, check ' Connect Using Different Credentials '.

When you're done with the setup, click ' Finish '.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 3

After you click ' Finish ', Windows 11 will try to connect to the network drive. In case your default credentials are incorrect, or if you have selected ' Connect Using Different Credentials ' in the last step, you will see the ' Windows Security ' window appear. The username and password needed to access the drive can be entered here.

If you want Windows to always remember this username and password for the drive (so you don't have to sign in again later), select ' Remember My Credentials '. When you're done, click ' OK '.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 4

Windows 11 will connect to the drive and map it to the drive letter you selected. If you open File Explorer and look under ' This PC ', you'll see the mapped drive listed under ' Network Locations '.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 5

The mapped drive will also appear in the sidebar menu on the left side of the File Explorer window, under the ' Network ' section.

Whenever you open the mapped drive (if you have read and write permissions), you can use it almost like a regular local drive on the system. But be aware that performance experience may be slower than with a local drive, simply because data is being transferred to and from the network rather than through a local connection like USB or SATA.

How to disconnect a mapped network drive

To unmount a mapped network drive, first open File Explorer. In the toolbar of any File Explorer window, click the three-dot button and select ' Disconnect Network Drive '.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 6

In the ' Disconnect Network Drives ' window that appears, select the drive you want to disconnect, then click ' OK '.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 7

Alternatively, you can locate the mapped drive in File Explorer, and then right-click it. Click ' Show More Options ' in the first menu that appears, then select ' Disconnect ' in the second menu.

Instructions on how to map network drives in Windows 11 Picture 8

The drive will be disconnected and no longer mapped. This will also release the previous host drive letter used by the mapped drive.

Hope you are succesful.

Jessica Tanner

Update 20 June 2022

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