How to Add or Remove Network Locations in Windows 11

What Is a Network Location?

A network location is a shortcut to files on another computer or a server. It opens shared folders or websites from File Explorer without using a drive letter, so File Explorer stays tidier than it would with several mapped network drives.

A mapped network drive takes a drive letter, such as Z: or Y:. A network location does not. In both cases, remote files appear in File Explorer as if they were on your PC, so you open and copy them the usual way.

Prerequisites: Preparing Your Network

1. Open Settings › Network & internet › Advanced network settings › Advanced sharing settings. A list of network profiles appears, such as Private networks and Public networks.
2. Expand the profile that matches your current connection. For a home or office network, this is usually Private networks.
3. Turn on Network discovery. The switch moves to On.
4. Turn on File and printer sharing. Both switches now show On for that profile.

No restart is needed. To undo this later, turn the same two switches off. Leave them off on public networks, such as cafe or hotel Wi-Fi, where strangers share the connection.

Mapped Drives vs. Network Locations

Both options connect you to network resources, but they work differently. A mapped drive gets its own drive letter, like Z:. A network location is a quick-access shortcut with no letter, so the number of free letters on your PC does not limit you.

How to Add a Network Location in 🪟 Windows 11

The steps below take you from opening the wizard to entering your sign-in details.

Step 1Open File Explorer

1. Click the folder icon on your taskbar🖥️. A File Explorer📁 window opens.
2. Select This PC in the left sidebar. Skip this if it is already selected.

Step 2Access the Network Location Menu

1. Right-click This PC in the left sidebar. A short context menu🖱️ appears.
2. Click Show more options. The full classic menu opens. Windows 11 keeps the network options in this older menu.

3. Select Add a network location. The Add Network Location wizard opens.

If you do not see this option, check that you right-clicked This PC and not a folder or drive.

Step 3Start the Setup Wizard

1. Click Next on the welcome screen. The wizard moves to the choice of where to create the location.

Step 4Choose a Custom Network Location

1. Select Choose a custom network location. Use this choice for your own server or share.
2. Click Next. The wizard asks for the address of the location.

Step 5Type the Network Address

1. Enter the network address in the address box. Windows uses this path to connect to FTP sites, websites, or local file shares.
2. Use the format that matches the resource. Type ftp://example.com for FTP, http://example.com for websites, or \\server\share for Windows file shares.
3. Click Next. The wizard moves to the next screen.

Check the address for typos before you continue. A wrong server name or share name is the most common reason the connection fails. A website address works as a folder only if the server supports this kind of access (WebDAV, a web standard for browsing server files like folders). An ordinary web page does not open as a folder.

Step 6Log In Information

This screen applies mainly to FTP sites, where the wizard asks how you want to log on. Follow whichever of the first two steps below matches your server, and skip the other.

1. Clear the Log on anonymously check box if the server needs a login. Then enter your user name in the box that becomes available.
2. Leave Log on anonymously selected if the server allows public access. This gives access without any login details.
3. Click Next. The wizard asks for a name.

Step 7Name Your Location

1. Type a name for the location in the name box. Pick something you will recognize later, such as the server’s purpose or the department that owns it.
2. Click Next. The wizard shows its final screen.

The name changes only how the shortcut appears on your PC. You can rename it later without affecting the server.

Step 8Finish Setup

1. Click Finish. Windows tries to connect to the address you entered.

Step 9Log In to the Server

1. Enter your username and password when Windows asks for them. The sign-in box appears only if the server needs credentials.
2. Select the option to remember your credentials if you want Windows to sign in for you next time.
3. Click OK. The folder opens if the sign-in works.

Windows stores saved logins in Credential Manager (the Windows vault for saved sign-in details), which speeds up future access. If your password changes and the location stops opening, update or remove the saved entry there. If the sign-in keeps failing, check that the account has permission to use that share.

Your new folder appears under Network Location in File Explorer, in the This PC view. Windows 11 keeps your network shortcuts here, and there is no separate network places folder to look for.

Double-click the shortcut to open the remote files. If it is missing, press F5 to refresh File Explorer.

How to Remove a Network Location

Deleting a network location removes only the shortcut, not the files on the remote server. Other devices on the network can still reach the original files.

1. Open File Explorer📁 and select This PC. Your network shortcuts are listed in this view.
2. Find the shortcut under Network Location. Check the name so you remove the right one.
3. Right-click the shortcut. If the short menu does not list Delete, click Show more options.
4. Click Delete. The shortcut disappears from the list.

To undo the removal, run the Add a network location wizard again with the same address.

Summary

If a new network location will not open, recheck the address for typos and confirm that Network discovery is on for your private network. If it worked before and now asks for a password, update the saved entry in Credential Manager. For more help with sharing, visit the official Microsoft file sharing guide.