How to map network drive on Windows 11

COMBOFRE March 27, 2024

Windows 11 offers several ways to map a network drive to your computer, including using File Explorer or through commands with PowerShell and Command Prompt. In this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this configuration, including disconnecting a mapped drive.

The action of mapping simply means connecting a shared folder available on the network. When you proceed to map a network drive, the system (technically) only creates a “shortcut” or “pointer” that allows Windows 11 to locate the shared folder and access its contents as if the path were a drive physically attached to the computer. After the configuration, the storage will appear on “This PC” under the “Network locations” section on File Explorer.

If you no longer need access to the network resources, Windows 11 also provides quick ways to disconnect the network drive using the same tools.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to map a drive on Windows 11.

How to map network drive on Windows 11
How to disconnect mapped network drive on Windows 11

How to map network drive on Windows 11

On Windows 11 Pro and Home, you have multiple ways to connect a shared folder to your computer, and here’s how.

From File Explorer

To map a network drive with File Explorer on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open File Explorer on Windows 11.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Click the See more (three-dotted) button in the command bar and select the “Map network drive” option.
Use the “Drive” drop-down menu and choose a letter to assign the drive.
In the “Folder” field, enter the network path to the shared folder. (Or click the Browse button to browse the folder to map as a network drive, and click the OK button.)
Check the “Reconnect at sign-in” option to make the connection permanent.
Check the “Connect using different credentials” option if the credentials differ from the account you already use.
Click the Finish button.
Confirm the network account credentials (if applicable).
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the network drive will become available on File Explorer.

If you cannot connect to the shared folder, use the IP address instead of the computer name. However, if the remote device uses a dynamic IP address configuration, it may change in the future, and you may need to reconnect again.

Also, if the device providing the resources uses a Microsoft account with the passwordless option, you will need to create a local account to connect. Otherwise, the mapping won’t work.

From Command Prompt

To map a network drive through Command Prompt on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the console.

Quick tip: You don’t have to run the command console as an administrator. If you do, the map network will not show on File Explorer.
Type the following command to map a drive assigning drive letter manually and press Enter:
```
net use Z: \\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER
```
In the command, replace “Z” with the drive letter that has not already been used. Then, replace “DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP” and “SHARED-FOLDER” with the computer name or IP address of the device hosting the shared folder and the name of the share. For example, this command maps the ShareFiles folder to the computer with the “Z” drive letter:
```
net use Z: \\vm-10v21h2\ShareFiles
```
Type the following command to map a drive assigning drive letter automatically and press Enter:
```
net use * \\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER
```
In the command, the (*) option automatically assigns a randomly available drive letter. Then, replace “DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP” and “SHARED-FOLDER” with the computer name or IP address of the device hosting the shared folder and the name of the share. For example, this command maps the ShareOne folder to the computer:
```
net use * \\vm-10v21h2\ShareFiles
```
Type the following command to map a drive providing authentication details and press Enter:
```
net use Z: \\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER PASSWORD /user:USERNAME /persistent:yes
```
In the command, replace “Z” with the drive letter that has not already been used. Then, change “DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP” and “SHARED-FOLDER” for the computer name or IP address of the device hosting the shared folder and the name of the share. The “PASSWORD” and “USERNAME” must be replaced with the credentials to authenticate with the remote machine. The “persistent” option allows the folder to stay mapped after reboot. For example, this command maps the ShareFiles folder, providing the user credentials and making the mapping persistent:
```
net use Z: \\vm-10v21h2\ShareFiles password /user:admin /persistent:yes
```

After you complete the steps, the network shared folder will map on the device, appearing in File Explorer.

From PowerShell

To map a network drive with PowerShell commands, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.

Quick tip: You don’t have to run the command console as an administrator. If you do, the map network will not show on File Explorer.
Type the following command to map the network drive assigning letter manually and press Enter:
```
New-PSDrive -Name "DRIVER-LETTER" -PSProvider "FileSystem" -Root "\\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER" -Persist
```
In the command, replace “DRIVER-LETTER” with a drive letter that has not already been used. Then, change “DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP” and “SHARED-FOLDER” for the computer name or IP address of the computer hosting the shared folder and the name of the share. For example, this command maps the ShareFiles folder to the computer with the “Z” drive letter:
```
New-PSDrive -Name "Z" -PSProvider "FileSystem" -Root "\\vm-10v21h2\ShareFiles" -Persist
```

Once you complete the steps, the shared folder will mount as a network drive on the computer and appear in File Explorer.

From PowerShell with password

To map a network drive providing the account name and password, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
Type the following command to create a variable to store the account information and press Enter:
```
$cred = Get-Credential -Credential USERNAME
```
Quick tip: If you are mapping a drive in Active Directory, specify the user name like this: network\admin.
Confirm the account password.
Click the OK button.
Type the following command to map a drive assigning drive letter manually and press Enter:
```
New-PSDrive -Name "E" -Root "\\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER" -Persist -PSProvider "FileSystem" -Credential $cred
```
In the command, replace “DRIVER-LETTER” with the drive letter that has not already been used. Then, change “DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP” and “SHARED-FOLDER” for the computer name or IP address of the device hosting the shared folder and the name of the share. For example, this command maps the ShareFiles folder to the computer with the “X” drive letter:
```
New-PSDrive -Name "X" -Root "\\vm-10v21h2\ShareFiles" -Persist -PSProvider "FileSystem" -Credential $cred
```

Once you complete the steps, the command will map the shared folder with your specified credentials.

When you try to connect using credentials, you will always get prompted to provide a password manually. To avoid this step, you could store the password in an encrypted file on the computer and query that file using PowerShell. Or you can speed up the process by holding the remote host account name and password in Credential Manager and then using the same command without the -Crendtial option like this: New-PSDrive -Name "E" -Root "\\vm-beta\ShareOne" -Persist -PSProvider "FileSystem"

You can create a new entry in Credential Manager using this command: cmdkey /add:pcname /user:network\username /pass:password

How to disconnect mapped network drive on Windows 11

Depending on how you made the connection, you also have different methods to disconnect, and here’s how:

From File Explorer

To disconnect a network drive on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Under the “Network Locations” section, right-click the network drive (select See more options) and choose the Disconnect option.

After you complete the steps, the network drive will no longer be available on the computer.

From Command Prompt

To disconnect a network drive on Windows 11 with commands, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the console.
Type the following command to disconnect a mapped network drive and press Enter:
```
net use z: /Delete
```
In the command, replace “Z” for the drive letter of the map you want to remove.
(Optional) Type the following command to disconnect all the mapped network drives and press Enter:
```
net use * /Delete
```

Once you complete the steps, the mapped drives will be disconnected and no longer accessible from File Explorer.

From PowerShell

To disconnect and remove a mapped network drive with PowerShell on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
Type the following command to view all the mapped drives and press Enter:
```
Get-PSDrive -PSProvider "FileSystem"
```
Type the following command to disconnect the mapped network drive and press Enter:
```
Remove-PSDrive -Name DRIVE-LETTER
```
In the command, replace DRIVE-LETTER for the drive letter of the mapping. For example, this command disconnects the “X” drive:
```
Remove-PSDrive -Name X
```
(Optional) Type the following command to disconnect multiple mappings and press Enter:
```
Get-PSDrive DRIVER-LETTER-1, DRIVE-LETTER-2 | Remove-PSDrive
```
In the command, replace DRIVER-LETTER-1 and DRIVE-LETTER-2 with the drive letters you want to disconnect. For example, this command disconnects the “E” and “F” drives:
```
Get-PSDrive E, F | Remove-PSDrive
```