How to Map Network Drives in Windows 11

This post shows students and new users steps to map network shares as a drive in Windows 11.

In a work environment, there might be shared network resources that most people frequently access. If you are in the same situation, mapping the shared network resource should be considered.

When you map a shared network resource, it is assigned a drive letter on your local computer. You can access the shared location by going to your computer folder and clicking the assigned drive letter to access the network location.

For users who have worked in previous versions of Windows, mapping a network folder should be much different. Windows 11, with all the new features, mapping is still the same process as in previous versions.

To get started with mapping network drives in Windows 11, follow the steps below:

How to map a network location in Windows 11

As mentioned above, if you find yourself accessing a network location frequently, you can map that location to your local computer for quick and easy access.

In Windows, network resources are typically accessed via File Explorer. You open File Explorer and type the resource network path in the browser box, similar to the image below:

\\SERVERNAME\SharedResourceName

Some users will create shortcuts by copying and pasting the network folder on their desktops. This is not the way to do it.

A better way would be to create a network drive for the shared resource. To do that, open File Explorer, then click on the ellipsis (three-dot) in the toolbar menu and click Map network drive as highlighted below:

When the pop window opens, pick a drive letter from the list of available letters. By default, the letter Z is automatically assigned if it has not been taken.

If you don’t want the letter Z, you might want to consider using something high-up so that the mapped network drive won’t interfere with any removable storage you add to your PC.

In the Folder field, type the network resource path there. You can also use the browse button to browse to the network location and select it.

If you need a separate password to access the network location, check the box to Connect using different credentials. Only check this box if your username and password won’t allow you to access the network location.

When you’re all done, click Finish.

When you’re done, a new network drive will be mapped to your local computer. Next time you want to access the Accounting folder, simply go to your local computer and click on the Z drive.

That should do it.

If you run into issues where you can’t access a shared folder, you might want to read the post below to enable Network Discovery and sharing in Windows 11.

Enable Network Discovery and Sharing in Windows 11 – Website for Students

Conclusion:

• Mapping network drives in Windows 11 is a straightforward process that enhances user efficiency.
• It allows for quick access to frequently used shared resources by assigning a drive letter.
• Using the mapped drive method is preferable to creating shortcuts on your desktop.
• Ensuring you select an appropriate drive letter helps prevent conflicts with removable storage.
• If issues arise, enabling Network Discovery and sharing is a useful troubleshooting step.
• Following these steps can streamline your workflow in a networked environment.