Windows 10: Map Network Drive not showing up under ellipses menu in This PC in Windows 11

I realize there is another answer to this question here, but it didn't solve my problem the way I wanted it to: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/map-network-drive-button-not-showing-windows-11/e9be6835-4a13-485e-8aa2-2ab9bfefc3ccWhile in This PC, Map Network Drive still doesn't show up, so there has to be some other step or something that needs to be done first to get it to appear see below. Despite the resolution I discuss below, it will still be nice to know because this is supposed to be possible per Microsoft's support article here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-u

:)

 

Can't map network drive on windows 11

Hi Next. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

Make sure you're following the correct procedure to map network drive in Windows 11 here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/755213/how-to-map-a-n...

Try these fixes for failing to map network drive in Windows 11:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/unable-to-map-ne...

https://10scopes.com/fix-windows-cant-access-ne...

https://www.anyrecover.com/hard-drive-recovery-...

https://www.technipages.com/what-to-do-if-windo...



Please report back results for each step in each link, so I know what else to suggest. I will keep helping you until this is resolved.

_________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

 

I cannot re-map network drives that used to be mapped.

I am having difficulty re-mapping network drives that I used to be mapped to.
I have a VAIO SX14 laptop running Windows 10 pro 21H1. I used to be able to access mapped drives on a Dell 7010 PC running Window 10 Pro and a Sony VAIO laptop running Windows 7 Pro. All three machines are WiFi connected to my network.
I was out of the country recently for a few weeks and took my SX14 with me. I stayed in hotels so used their WiFi internet with my Nord VPN set to the USA.
Since I arrived back in the USA, I can no longer open the mapped drives on the Dell or the Sony laptop.

1. I have turned off my VPN and Anti-Virus software and Windows Defender Firewall. Also I have checked all the usual settings including Internet Properties, Network and Sharing Center, and Advanced Sharing. But nothing worked.
2. I uninstalled the latest Windows 10 update, but still nothing changed.
3. I compared the settings on the Dell PC to my SX14 and all were the same.
4. When I browse for a folder when trying to map a network drive, the only thing that shows is the SX14 that I am trying to map from.

I can still access the Sony laptop from the Dell PC and vice versa, so I assume the network is OK. But neither machine can access the SX14 laptop and vice versa.
When I open “This PC” the mapped network locations each shows a green check mark which changes in about one second to a red X.
I must be overlooking something.
Does anyone have any suggestions about where I should look next? I do have a recent Image of the SX14 drive created before I was out of the country but to restore it would be my LAST resort.

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I wanted to post a few more pictures showing the settings, but they would not upload.

 

Mapped drives not showing up on Explorer

Wanted to mention that I'm experiencing this same issue. Environment here is a Windows Server 2012 R2 domain with network shares and printers mapped by GPO. GPO drive mappings are not on a per-user basis and instead are global for all users.

Affected user can not access mapped drives via explorer, yet NET USE shows drives mapped as expected. Attempting to remap network drives via explorer results in a prompt stating that the connection is already mapped to that drive letter, do I want to disconnect and reconnect it?

Oddly, using applications that provide an 'open document' dialogue can see and access mapped network drives normally. For example, open Word, file -> open -> browse: Left pane shows network shares, clicking on network share shows share contents. Clicking on 'This PC' shows all mapped drives which are navigable and documents can be opened normally. Doing this does not correct the issue with Explorer. Similarly, a command prompt also operates as expected, so it's possible to change to a mapped network drive by the associated letter and to list / copy / delete files normally.

Issue appears to be limited to a single user profile on the workstation displaying the described symptoms. Logging in as another user results in the drives being mapped and accessible as usual. Symptoms persist through reboot. User account with symptoms does not have admin access locally or on the domain.