How to Map a Network drive in Windows February 10, 2025

Mapping a network drive in Windows provides quick access to shared folders on a network, making file sharing and collaboration more efficient. This tutorial describes mapping a network drive in Windows XP, Vista, 8, and 10.

Let us follow the steps:

Mapping a Network Drive in Windows 10 or Windows 8

1. Click the Start button.
2. In the search box, type This PC, then select it from the results.
   
3. Click the Computer tab and select Map network drive.
   
4. In the window that appears:
   1. Choose an available drive letter from the Drive dropdown.
   2. In the Folder field, enter the network folder path (e.g., \\hostname\sharename, where hostname is the device name or IP address, and sharename is the shared folder name).
   3. Alternatively, click Browse to locate the shared folder.
5. Click Finish.
   

Your mapped drive will now be accessible under This PC.

Mapping a Network Drive in Windows 7 or Windows Vista

1. Click Start > Computer.
2. Click the Map network drive option.
   
3. In the window that appears:
   1. Select an existing drive letter from the Drive dropdown.
   2. Enter the shared network folder path in the Folder field (e.g., \\hostname\sharename).
   3. Click Browse if you wish to steer to the folder manually.
4. Click Finish.
   

The mapped drive will now appear under Computer.

Mapping a Network Drive in Windows XP

1. Click Start.
2. Right-click My Computer and select Map Network Drive.
3. In the window that appears:
   1. Select a drive letter from the Drive drop-down.
   2. Enter the shared network folder path in the Folder field (e.g., \\hostname\sharename).
   3. Click Browse if required to locate the folder.
4. Click Finish.

Your mapped drive will now be accessible under My Computer.

By following the steps outlined above, you can easily map a network drive and improve productivity in both personal and professional environments.

For a seamless database mapping experience, check out our guide on How to set up the database map tool from WHM