How to map network drive on Windows 10

To map a network drive on Windows 10, open File Explorer > This PC and click “Map network drive.”
Then select the drive letter, confirm the network path for the shared folder, and click Finish.
On Command Prompt (CMD), use the “net use \\SERVER\FOLDERPATH” command to map a network drive.
On PowerShell, use the “New-PSDrive -Name “LETTER” -PSProvider “FileSystem” -Root “\\SERVER\FOLDERPATH” -Persist” command to map a drive.

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.

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. In addition, we look at instructions to disconnect it using the options available in File Explorer, Command Prompt, and PowerShell.

Map network drive on Windows 10
Disconnect mapped drive on Windows 10

Map network drive on Windows 10

On Windows 11, you can map a network drive in at least three ways using the File Explorer wizard and commands with Command Prompt and PowerShell.

1. Map network drive 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.
Use the “Drive” drop-down menu and select an unused letter to assign the drive. (Or you can use the default selection.)

In the “Folder” field, enter the network path to the shared folder. (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 if you want 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.

2. Map network drive from Command Prompt

To use the net command to map a shared folder as a drive, 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 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.

3. Map network drive 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 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, you need to follow these instructions.

Disconnect mapped drive on Windows 10

When you no longer need access to the network drive, you can disconnect using the same methods, including File Explorer, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

1. File Explorer disconnect drive

To disconnect a network drive on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Under the “Network Locations” section, right-click the network drive, and select the Disconnect option.

Quick tip: Alternatively, you can select the network drive, and on the “Computer” tab, click the Map network driver sub-button and select the Disconnect network drive option.

After you complete the steps, the network drive will no longer be available on Windows 10.

2. Command Prompt disconnect drive

To disconnect 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.
Type the following command to disconnect a mapped network drive and press Enter:
```
net use z: /Delete
```
In the command, replace “Z” with the drive letter of the map you want to remove.
Type the following command to disconnect all the mapped network drives and press Enter:
```
net use * /Delete
```

After you complete the steps, the mapped drives will be disconnected and no longer accessible from File Explorer.

3. PowerShell disconnect drive

To disconnect and remove a mapped network drive with PowerShell, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
Type the following command to view all the mapped drives and press Enter:
```
Get-PSDrive -PSProvider "FileSystem"
```
Type the following command to disconnect the mapped network drive and press Enter:
```
Remove-PSDrive -Name DRIVE-LETTER
```
In the command, replace DRIVE-LETTER with the drive letter of the mapping. For example, this command disconnects the “E” drive:
```
Remove-PSDrive -Name E
```
(Optional) Type the following command to disconnect multiple mappings and press Enter:
```
Get-PSDrive DRIVER-LETTER-1, DRIVE-LETTER-2 | Remove-PSDrive
```
In the command, replace DRIVER-LETTER-1 and DRIVE-LETTER-2 with the drive letters you want to disconnect. For example, this command disconnects the “E” and “F” drives:
```
Get-PSDrive E, F | Remove-PSDrive
```

Once you complete the steps, the drive mapping will be removed from Windows 10.