Mapping a file share in Windows
In Windows, you can map a folder shared from another Windows machine so that it is available on your computer as an additional storage device in applications such as Windows File Explorer. This is often referred to as "drive mapping" or "mapping a file share".
Before starting this process, make sure you know the computer name of the Windows computer which hosts the file share as well as the name given to the file share itself. Note that you can only map to file shares to which you have been granted permissions.
1. Click on the File Explorer icon or click on the magnifying glass to search for File Explorer. From the navigation pane on the left, find and click on This PC. Then, click on the ellipsis (…) to open a menu.
2. Click on Map Network Drive.
3. Click on the dropdown arrow at the end of the Drive: field. Choose a drive that is not currently in use. Avoid using A-F as those are commonly best used by the system for external file storage devices such as USB drives.
Step 3
4. This is where you must know the computer name and share name. In the Folder: field, enter the path to the file share in the format \\computername\sharename. (For example: \\DeptShare\HelpDesk$) Please make sure you are using the back slashes instead of forward slashes. Click Finish. Your drive will be mapped.
5.To view the mapped drive. Click on This PC and scroll to see the newly mapped drive.
