HOW-TO: Map a Network Drive

Mapping a network drive allows you to create a shortcut to a shared folder on a network. Here’s how to do it on Windows and macOS:

On Windows:

1. Open File Explorer:

   • You can do this by pressing Win + E on your keyboard.

2. Access the ‘Map Network Drive’ Option:

   • Click on the ‘This PC’ or ‘Computer’ in the left-hand pane.

   • At the top of the window, click on the ‘Computer’ tab (or ‘This PC’ tab), then click on ‘Map network drive’.

3. Configure the Network Drive:

   • In the ‘Map Network Drive’ window, choose a drive letter from the dropdown menu (e.g., Z:).

   • In the ‘Folder’ field, enter the path to the network share. This will typically be in the format \\ServerName\ShareName.

   • If you want to reconnect to the drive every time you log in, check the ‘Reconnect at sign-in’ box.

   • If you need to use different credentials to access the share, click on ‘Connect using different credentials’.

4. Finish:

   • Click ‘Finish’.

   • If prompted, enter the username and password for the network share.

On macOS:

1. Open Finder:

   • Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.

2. Access the ‘Connect to Server’ Option:

   • In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on ‘Go’ and then select ‘Connect to Server…’.

3. Enter the Network Address:

   • In the ‘Connect to Server’ window, enter the network address of the shared folder. This will typically be in the format smb://ServerName/ShareName or afp://ServerName/ShareName.

   • Click ‘Connect’.

4. Authenticate:

   • If prompted, enter the username and password for the network share.

5. Add to Favorites (Optional):

   • If you want to easily access this network drive in the future, you can click the ‘+’ button to add it to your list of favorite servers.

6. Mount the Drive:

   • Once connected, the network drive will appear on your desktop and in the Finder sidebar under ‘Shared’ or ‘Locations’.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Ensure Network Connectivity: Make sure your computer is connected to the same network as the network drive.

• Correct Permissions: Verify that you have the necessary permissions to access the network share.

• Firewall and Security Settings: Check that any firewalls or security software are not blocking access to the network drive.

If you need more specific instructions or encounter any issues, feel free to ask!