Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal or PowerShell .
Mapping a network drive in Windows 11 is a fundamental skill that allows you to assign a local drive letter (like X: or Z:) to a shared folder on another computer or a network-attached storage (NAS) device. Once mapped, the remote storage behaves like an internal hard drive, appearing in File Explorer and being accessible to all your applications.
The syntax is:
net use Z: /delete PowerShell offers even more control and is ideal for advanced automation.
Open This PC . Under “Network locations,” you will see your new drive with the assigned letter. Double-click it to browse files as if they were local. Method 2: Using the Command Prompt (net use) For IT professionals or those who prefer keyboards over mice, the net use command is fast and scriptable. win11 map network drive
net use Y: \\PRINTSERVER\Drivers * /USER:DOMAIN\TechUser /PERSISTENT:Yes The * will prompt you to enter the password securely (it won’t be displayed on screen). Type net use alone and press Enter. You’ll see a list of all current network connections.
Remember that a mapped drive is only as reliable as the network connection and the host computer. Once set up, you’ll enjoy seamless access to your files, whether they’re on a NAS, another Windows PC, or a Linux Samba server. Last updated: Windows 11 22H2 & 23H2. Microsoft occasionally changes menu locations, but the core concepts (net use, New-PSDrive, File Explorer right-click) have remained stable for over a decade. Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal or PowerShell
You can do this by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar, pressing Win + E on your keyboard, or double-clicking any folder on your desktop.