Map a Network Drive in Windows 11

There are a quite a few ways to map network drives in Windows 11. This KB document shows how to map a network drive via the "This PC" object in the Windows File Explorer application.

Note: If you are connecting from a campus wireless or home network, you must first connect to WiscVPN before following the steps below:

  1. Press <Windows Logo><E> to bring up the Windows File Explorer application.
    This screenshot shows the Windows File Explorer application. The object called "This PC" is highlighted in yellow.



  2. Right click the "This PC" object in the Navigation Pane on the left to bring up its Application Menu.
    The Application Menu for the "My PC" object is shown. The choices on this menu are:Collapse Open in new tab Open in new window Add a network location Map network drive... Disconnect network drive... Pin to Quick access Pin to Start Properties Show more options

  3. Click the "Map network drive" option as shown in the picture above.

  4. Select the drive letter you want to use for the network folder and enter the UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path to the shared folder you would like to map.
    This is a picture of a dialog called "Map Network Drive." It has the following text on it: Map Network Drive What network folder would you like to map? Specify the drive letter for the connection and the folder that you want to connect to: Drive: Folder: Z: \\ServerName\Path\ShareName Browse... Example: \\server\share Reconnect at sign-in Connect using different credentials Connect to a Web site that you can use to store vcur documents and pictures.

  5. Optionally, click to select "Reconnect at sign-in" to ensure that this drive mapping is always available.

  6. Optionally, click to select "Connect using different credentials" if you need to authenticate for this mapping via a different user account, as shown in the picture above.

  7. Click Finish.

When you're done, you should see the new drive letter under "This PC" and you should be able to access its contents like you would any other folder.

If you want to disconnect from this or any other drive mapping, just right-click it and select "Disconnect."


Keywords:
shared drive windows network drive mapping 
Doc ID:
63431
Owned by:
Kit P. in DoIT Departmental Support
Created:
2016-05-16
Updated:
2025-04-10
Sites:
DoIT Contract Partner Support Help Desk, DoIT Departmental Support, DoIT Help Desk, DoIT Staff