How to Map a Network Drive

This article explains how to map a network drive in Windows 10. If you're looking to do that in Windows 7 or 8, the instructions are a bit different.

How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 10

A mapped drive enables users to take advantage of the storage on other devices in the network. Instead of downloading or copying the same data to all your devices, you can save this data in a single folder, then share this folder and make it available for other devices.

Once you've shared the location of this data via a UNC path, you can then map the network drive to all your devices with a few simple steps.

1. Launch File Explorer.

2. Select This PC.

3. In the windows that opens, select Computer > Map network drive.

4. Select the drive letter for the network drive you would like to map, enter the UNC path in the Folder text field, then select Finish.

   The UNC path is the location of the shared folders you want to connect to. For example: "\\testserver\share\test" tells the computer that's the shared folder you want to connect to on the network drive you specified in the Drive letter drop-down menu.

5. If you're prompted for credentials, enter the credentials for an account that has the required permissions to access the file/folder and select OK.

   Accounts that don't have these permissions will fail to create a connection to the network drive.