If you want to map network drive Windows 10 or 11 to stop retyping a shared folder’s address, this guide is for you. Whether the files live on another computer, a file server or a NAS (network attached storage) box on your home or office network, mapping assigns the shared folder its own drive letter — like Z: — so it appears under This PC in File Explorer and behaves just like a local hard drive. Here is how to map network drive Windows 10 and Windows 11, step by step. For more practical how-tos, browse our Windows tips and tutorials.
Before You Start: What You Need
Before you map network drive Windows 10 or 11, gather these essentials:
- The network path of the shared folder, in UNC format: \\ServerName\ShareName or \\192.168.1.10\ShareName. Ask your network administrator, or find a NAS address in its admin page or your router’s device list.
- The shared folder must actually be shared on the host device, and you need permission to access it — usually a username and password.
- Both computers must be on the same local network, and the host device must be switched on.
Method 1: How to Map Network Drive Windows 11 (File Explorer)
To map network drive Windows 11 with File Explorer, follow Microsoft’s official steps:
- Open File Explorer — from the taskbar, the Start menu, or press Windows key + E.
- Select This PC in the left pane.
- In the command bar at the top, select the three dots (More) and choose Map network drive. (Tip: if you don’t see it there, right-click the This PC node in the left pane — the command appears in that menu too.)
- In the Drive list, pick an available drive letter. Any unused letter works; Z: is a common choice because it rarely clashes with real hardware.
- In the Folder box, type the network path — for example \\MyNAS\Documents or \\192.168.1.10\Documents — or select Browse to find the folder on the network.
- Tick Reconnect at sign-in if you want the drive remapped automatically every time you log in to Windows.
- If the share needs different credentials than your Windows login, tick Connect using different credentials.
- Select Finish. If Windows prompts for a username and password, enter the account that has access to the shared folder.
The new drive letter now appears under This PC. Open it, and you can copy, move, rename and delete files exactly as if the folder were on your own PC.
Method 1b: Map Network Drive Windows 10 (Same Steps)
To map network drive Windows 10, the process is identical — only the button’s location differs:
- Open File Explorer (Windows key + E) and select This PC.
- At the top, click the Computer tab in the ribbon menu, then select Map network drive.
- Choose a drive letter, type or browse to the folder path, tick Reconnect at sign-in as needed, and click Finish.
Method 2: Map Network Drive Windows 10 with Command Prompt (net use)
To map network drive Windows 10 from Command Prompt — the fastest route for repeatable commands, login scripts or batch setup across several PCs:
net use Z: \\ServerName\ShareName /persistent:yes
Replace Z: with your chosen drive letter and the UNC path with your share. The /persistent:yes switch makes Windows restore the mapping at each sign-in; use /persistent:no for a temporary mapping that is dropped at sign-out.
If the share requires specific credentials, add them:
net use Z: \\ServerName\ShareName /user:DOMAIN\Username /persistent:yes
Leaving the password off the end makes Windows prompt for it securely — which is the safer habit, since a password typed into a command line can be seen by anyone looking at the screen or the command history. Type net use on its own any time to list all currently mapped drives and their status.
Method 3: Map Network Drive Windows 10 with PowerShell
To map network drive Windows 10 with PowerShell, use the New-PSDrive cmdlet — useful in environments already standardised on PowerShell scripting:
New-PSDrive -Name "Z" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\ServerName\ShareName" -Persist
The -Persist flag makes the drive visible in File Explorer and keeps it across reboots. To remove it later:
Remove-PSDrive -Name "Z"
How to Disconnect a Mapped Drive
In File Explorer: right-click the mapped drive under This PC and select Disconnect.
In Command Prompt:
net use Z: /delete
Replace Z: with the actual drive letter. This removes the mapping only — nothing in the shared folder is deleted. If you need to map network drive Windows 10 again later, just repeat the File Explorer steps from Method 1.
Troubleshooting: When the Drive Won’t Map
If you hit an error when you map network drive Windows 10, work through these fixes in order — they cover the most common causes.
Fix “Windows Cannot Access” Errors When You Map Network Drive Windows 10
Check the basics first: is the host PC or NAS switched on? Is the path spelled correctly? Can you reach the host at all — try opening \\ServerName alone in File Explorer’s address bar.
Turn on network discovery. If Windows can’t see network devices at all, discovery may be off. Set your network profile to Private (Settings → Network & Internet → your network), then go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Advanced sharing settings and turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing for Private networks.
“The specified network password is not correct.” This is usually a credential problem, not a typo. When entering the username, use the full form: ComputerName\Username for a workgroup or home network, or Domain\Username on a work network. If Windows has stored an old or wrong password, clear it: press Windows key + R, type Credential Manager, open Windows Credentials, find the entry for the share or server, select Remove, restart, and map again.
Drive vanishes after every reboot. You mapped without persistence. Remap with Reconnect at sign-in ticked (GUI), /persistent:yes (net use), or -Persist (PowerShell).
Old NAS won’t connect at all. Modern Windows versions block insecure guest access to network shares by default, which can shut out very old NAS devices. The fix belongs on the NAS side — updating its firmware or enabling proper authenticated shares — so check the device’s documentation or its manufacturer’s support page. See our technology guides for more Windows networking help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the drive letter I want is already taken?
Pick any free letter. Avoid C: (your system drive) and letters assigned to USB drives or optical drives – using a letter late in the alphabet, like Z:, X: or S:, avoids most collisions.
Do other users on this PC see my mapped drive?
No. A mapped drive belongs to the user account that created it; other Windows users on the same machine won't see it unless they map it themselves.
Is it safe to put my password in a net use command?
Not really – anyone with access to the screen or command history can read it. Omit the password so Windows prompts you, then tick Remember my credentials at the prompt to store it securely in Credential Manager instead.
Can I map a subfolder instead of the whole share?
Yes. The UNC path can point to any folder inside the share, for example \\ServerName\ShareName\Projects\2026 – the drive letter then opens straight into that folder.
The Bottom Line
To map network drive Windows 10 or 11 takes about a minute: open File Explorer, choose Map network drive, pick a letter, enter the \\server\share path, and tick Reconnect at sign-in — or do it in one line with net use Z: \\server\share /persistent:yes. Once mapped, the network folder lives under This PC alongside your local drives, ready whenever the host device is on. Keep your network set to Private, your credentials current, and the drive will simply be there every time you log in. Explore more Windows how-tos on Mixarena.
