How to map network drive on Windows 10

To map network drive on Windows 10, open File Explorer > This PC > Map network drive, select the drive letter, confirm the network path, and click “Finish.”
Alternatively, on Command Prompt (non-admin), use the “net use \\SERVER\FOLDERPATH” command to map a drive.
Another way is to open PowerShell (non-admin) and use the “New-PSDrive -Name “LETTER” -PSProvider “FileSystem” -Root “\\SERVER\FOLDERPATH” -Persist” command to mount a network drive on Windows 10.

On Windows 10, you can map a network drive to quickly access files stored in a shared folder on another computer (or server) connected to the network using File Explorer, Command Prompt, and PowerShell, and in this guide, you will learn how.

When you connect to a drive using the “Map Network Drive” option on Windows 10, the system essentially creates a “shortcut” that points to the network shared folder with a drive letter and access credentials. The mapped drive then appears on “This PC,” under the “Network locations” section, to give you quick access to those files stored on the remote computer.

This guide will teach you how to map a network drive on Windows 10.

Map network drive on Windows 10 from File Explorer
Map network drive on Windows 10 from Command Prompt
Map network drive on Windows 10 from PowerShell

Map network drive on Windows 10 from File Explorer

To map a network drive on Windows 10 from File Explorer, use these steps:

Open File Explorer on Windows 10.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Click the “Map network drive” option from the “Computer” tab.
Select a letter to assign the drive in the “Drive” setting.
Confirm the path to the shared folder to map on Windows 10 as a drive in the “Folder” setting. (Or click the Browse button to browse to the folder to map as a network drive, and click the OK button.)
Check the “Reconnect at sign-in” option to connect to the network location permanently.
Check the “Connect using different credentials” option if the credentials are different from the account you are already using to sign in to Windows 10.
Click the Finish button.
Confirm the network account credentials (if applicable).
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the drive will map and become available in File Explorer.

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

Map network drive on Windows 10 from Command Prompt

To map a network drive from Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:

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

Quick note: If you run the command as an administrator, the drive may not mount correctly and won’t appear in File Explorer. As a result, run the command as a standard user.
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 not already in use you want to use. Then replace 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 shared. For example, this command maps the ShareOne folder to the computer with the “Z” drive letter:
```
net use Z: \\vm-beta\ShareOne
```
Type the following command to map a drive on Windows 10, assigning drive letter automatically, and press Enter:
```
net use * \\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER
```
In the command, the (*) is the option that allows the system to assign any drive letter that is not already in use. Then replace 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 shared. For example, this command maps the ShareOne folder to the computer:
```
net use * \\vm-beta\ShareOne
```
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 not already in use you want to use. 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 shared. The PASSWORD and USERNAME have to 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 ShareOne folder providing the user credentials and making the mapping persistent:
```
net use Z: \\vm-beta\ShareOne password /user:admin /persistent:yes
```

Once you complete the steps, the network-shared folder will map on the device and appear in File Explorer.

Map network drive on Windows 10 from PowerShell

To map a network drive from PowerShell on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
Type the following command to map a drive assigning drive letter manually on Windows 10 and press Enter:
```
New-PSDrive -Name "DRIVE-LETTER" -PSProvider "FileSystem" -Root "\\DEVICE-NAME-OR-IP\SHARED-FOLDER" -Persist
```
In the command, replace DRIVE-LETTER with the drive letter not already in use you want to use. 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 shared. For example, this command maps the ShareOne folder to the computer with the “E” drive letter:
```
New-PSDrive -Name "E" -PSProvider "FileSystem" -Root "\\vm-beta\ShareOne" -Persist
```

Once you complete the steps, the network shared folder will map on the computer and appear in File Explorer.

If you need to map a drive using credentials, follow these instructions.