Map Drive From Command Line -

net use Z: \\server\share This maps the share \\server\share to drive letter Z: . If the share requires authentication, net use will prompt you for a username and password. But you can supply them inline for automation:

| Task | Command | |------|---------| | Map persistent drive | net use Z: \\server\share /persistent:yes | | Map with specific credentials | net use Z: \\server\share /user:DOMAIN\user * | | Delete mapping | net use Z: /delete | | Delete all mappings | net use * /delete | | PowerShell persistent drive | New-PSDrive -Name Z -PSProvider FileSystem -Root \\server\share -Persist | | View all connections | net use |

This feature dives deep into the art and science of mapping drives from the command line, from basic syntax to advanced scripting techniques. The net use command is a relic of the MS-DOS and OS/2 era, yet it remains one of the most reliable networking tools in modern Windows. It connects, disconnects, and displays information about shared resources. Basic Mapping Syntax The simplest form is almost poetic in its brevity: map drive from command line

net use Z: \\server\share /user:DOMAIN\username MyPassword123 By default, a drive mapped via net use lasts only for the current user session. Log off, and it’s gone. To make a mapping persistent across reboots, add the /persistent:yes flag:

For decades, the average Windows user has mapped network drives the same way: open File Explorer, right-click "This PC," select "Map network drive," pick a letter, type a path, and click "Finish." It’s visual, intuitive, and serviceable for the occasional connection. net use Z: \\server\share This maps the share

New-PSDrive -Name "Z" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\server\share" -Persist This creates a drive visible in File Explorer and across all applications—identical to net use Z: \\server\share . PowerShell handles credentials more securely using PSCredential objects:

net use Z: /delete To delete all mapped drives at once (common in logoff scripts): The net use command is a relic of

net use Z: \\server\share /user:OtherDomain\jsmith /savecred You will be prompted for the password once. After that, any script or command using that same mapping will reuse the stored credential—useful for scheduled tasks, but a security consideration. Network paths with spaces require quotation marks. Drive letters do not: