Network drive is a storage device that easily shares files and folders among the computers connected in the local area network(LAN). Or you can say that it’s just like a common pen drive between a group of friends, with the advantage that it’s already connected to all your computers simultaneously.
A network drive allows various computers in a LAN to access and upload various files and folders in a very simplified and accessible manner. They just need to save the file or folder that they want to share with others. And the other computers can map the network drive, and access it.
Before moving on to the process of mapping the network drive in your computer, let’s take a look at the processes that we are going to cover;
- Mapping a network drive in Windows 7, and 8
- Mapping a network drive on Windows 10 computers
- Mapping the Network Drive on Mac computers
- Automount the Network drive on Mac
So let’s get to know about the process of mapping a network drive in your computer here.
Mapping a network drive in Windows 7, and 8
The process of mapping a network drive in a computer varies from different operating systems, as they have different features and methods of performing a task.
Microsoft allows you to map the network drive, accessible on your LAN by using Universal Naming Convention(UNC) path, a naming system in Microsoft that allows you to access various shared files and folders in a LAN.
You can easily access shared files and folders in a LAN by following some simple steps on your Windows 7,or 8 computers;
- First of all go to the desktop on your computer, and click on the File Explorer icon, bottom right side of the desktop.
- Click on the Computer option, inside the File Explorer.
- Select the Map Network Drive folder, on the down side of the Computer folder.
Thereafter, a Map Network Drive window appears on your Computer screen. There you need to select the Drive Letter for the network drive that you want to map.
- Click on the respective box, in front
of the Drive option. And select the Drive Letter for the required network drive.
After that you need to enter the UNC path for the Network drive that you want to access on your computer.
A UNC path signifies the location of the Network drive, and helps your computer to map that Network drive.
- Enter the UNC path, associated with that Network drive, in front of the Folder option.
- Click on the Finish button, at the last of the mso Network Drive window appears on your screen.
Here, you have successfully accessed the Network drive on your Computer.
You may need to enter the password for accessing the required network drive on your computer. After that you will find the Network drive available in your LAN connection.
These were the steps for mapping a required network drive on your Windows 7, 8 computers.
If you have a Windows 10 operating system installed in your computer, then follow the process given below for mapping a network drive on your computer.
Mapping a network drive on Windows 10 computers
Windows 10 offers a simpler way of mapping the network drive connected with your computer on a LAN.
You can easily map the network drive in your computer by following some simple steps given below;
- First of all, go to the desktop screen on your computer, and Click on the File explorer icon on the bottom of the desktop.
Or,
You can press the keys “Windows + E” on your keyboard, to open the File Explorer on your computer.
- Click on the “This PC” option, from the left panel on the File Explorer window.
- Go to the Computer option, on the top of the window. And select the Map Network Drive option from the Computer tab.
Thereafter, you need to enter the UNC path of that network drive, to locate the address of the network drive.
- Enter the UNC path, inside the box in front of the Folder option.
- Click on the browser button at the last if the Map Network Drive Window.
If you wish to directly access the network drive on your computer without following the above process. Then allow the window to directly open the network drive when you login your computer.
- Click on the box in front of the “Reconnect at sign in” option, to automatically open the network drive whenever you login to your computer.
Here, you have successfully accessed the required Network Drive on your computer.
After that you may need to enter the password to open the network drive on your Windows 10 PC.
These were the steps for mapping the Network drive on your Windows 10 computers.
Now, let’s onto the process of mapping the Network Drive on Mac computers.
Mapping the Network Drive on Mac computers
Just like Windows computers, you can easily access and share folders and files between the computers connected in a LAN through Network Drive. This network drive can be located by following the UNC path, a naming system that helps in locating files and folders on Network drive.
Follow the steps given below for mapping the the Network drive in your Mac computers;
- First of all, go to the desktop on your Mac computers.
- Click on the Finder icon present on the bottom left side of your desktop screen.
Thereafter the finder window opens up on your Mac computer’s screen.
- Click on the Go tab, on the top of the Finder window.
- Select the Connect to Server option, from the options given below.
Hereby, the Connect to server window opens up on your screen. You need to enter the UNC path of that network drive that you want to access.
- Enter the UNC path of the Network drive inside the text box on the top of the window.
- Click on the Connect button on the bottom of the window.
Here you have successfully mapped the required network drive on your Mac
.
Thereafter, you may need to enter the password for accessing the network drive.
If you are unable to access the network data on your computer by following the above process, then either you have been removed from accessing the network drive or you don’t have the permission to do so.
Once you have opened the Network drive on your Mac computer, it will appear on your computer as a mounted drive until you reboot your device. You can also find it afterwards in the Finder of your Mac computer as in the previous location.
Automount the Network drive on Mac
If you want the network drive to remain as a Mounted Drive in your Mac computer even after you reboot your computer, then follow the steps given below;
- First of all, Go to the home screen on your Mac computer.
- Click on the Apple Logo, on the top left corner of your home screen.
- Select the System Preference option from other options.
- Select the Users and Groups option from the other options inside the System Preference.
Thereby you need to select the username with which you want to login to the drive.
- Click on the username from which you want to access the Network drive on your computer.
- Click on the Items tab on the top of the Users and Groups window.
- Click on the plus sign present on the bottom of the window.
- Select the Network drive from the other options by scrolling the list of the options.
- Click on the Add button, on the bottom of the Window.
Thereafter you will head back to the previous Users and Group window.
- Tick mark the box in front of the Network drive option, in the Users and Groups window.
Here you have successfully automounted the network drive on your Mac computer.
Now whenever you login to your computer, the network file will always be present inside your Mac computer. You no longer need to search for it by using the UNC path.
These were the steps for mapping the network drive on your Mac computers.
Network drive is a storage device that easily shares files and folders among the computers connected in the local area network(LAN). Or you can say that it’s just like a common pen drive between a group of friends, with the advantage that it’s already connected to all your computers simultaneously.
FAQ
Q: What is a network drive?
A: A network drive is a storage device that is connected to a network and can be accessed by multiple users.
Q: Why would I want to map a network drive?
A: You may want to map a network drive to easily access files on the drive and to save files to the drive.
Q: How do I map a network drive in Windows?
A: To map a network drive in Windows, follow these steps:
Open File Explorer.
Click on “This PC” in the left sidebar.
Click on “Map network drive” in the toolbar at the top.
Choose a drive letter to assign to the network drive.
Enter the path to the network drive in the “Folder” field.
Check the box next to “Reconnect at sign-in” if you want the drive to be mapped every time you sign in to your computer.
Click “Finish” to map the network drive.
Q: How do I map a network drive in Mac?
A: To map a network drive in Mac, follow these steps:
Open Finder.
Click on “Go” in the menu bar at the top.
Click on “Connect to Server”.
Enter the path to the network drive in the “Server Address” field.
Click on the “+” button to add the network drive to your favorites.
Click “Connect” to map the network drive.
Q: How do I disconnect a network drive in Windows?
A: To disconnect a network drive in Windows, follow these steps:
Open File Explorer.
Click on “This PC” in the left sidebar.
Right-click on the network drive you want to disconnect.
Click on “Disconnect”.
Q: How do I disconnect a network drive in Mac?
A: To disconnect a network drive in Mac, follow these steps:
Open Finder.
Click on “Go” in the menu bar at the top.
Click on “Connect to Server”.
Click on the network drive you want to disconnect in the “Favorites” section.
Click on the “-” button to remove the network drive from your favorites.
Click “Disconnect” to disconnect the network drive.
