How to Mount a Network Drive: The 2025 Guide for Windows 11, Linux, and macOS

That shared department drive. The project archive on the NAS. The client documents on the file server.

In any business, data lives on the network. Manually navigating to a shared folder every time is slow and inefficient. The professional move is to mount the network drive, making it appear as a permanent, local disk on your machine.

Whether you’re an IT admin deploying drives across a company or an employee trying to access your team’s files, the method depends on your OS.

This guide cuts through the confusion, providing the definitive method for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Let’s get that drive mounted.

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The Universal Prerequisites

Before you start, you need two things from your network administrator:

1. The Network Path: The address of the share.
   • Format: \\SERVER_NAME\ShareName or \\192.168.1.100\Data
2. Your Credentials: A username and password with permission to access that share.

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The Cheat Sheet: How to Connect

OS	Primary Method	Command Line Method
Windows 11	File Explorer GUI	net use
Linux	mount command / fstab	mount -t cifs
macOS	Finder “Connect to Server”	mount_smbfs

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Windows 11: The GUI Standard & net use

Windows is built for this. The GUI method is seamless.

Method 1: File Explorer (Easy)

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click on This PC and select “Map network drive…”
3. In the dialog box:
   • Drive: Choose a drive letter (e.g., Z:).
   • Folder: Enter the network path (e.g., \\fileserver\accounting).
   • ✓ Reconnect at sign-in: Check this to make the mapping permanent.
4. Click Finish. Enter your network credentials when prompted.

Method 2: Command Line/PowerShell (For Admins)

For scripting or quick access, use the net use command.

cmd

net use Z: \\fileserver\accounting /persistent:yes /user:DOMAIN\username

• Replace Z:, the path, and your credentials.
• /persistent:yes ensures it reconnects after reboot.
• To delete a mapping: net use Z: /delete

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Linux: The mount.cifs Power User

Linux requires a few more steps but offers powerful, persistent options.

1. Install Necessary Tools

First, install the CIFS (SMB) utilities.

bash

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update && sudo apt install cifs-utils

# RHEL/CentOS/Rocky Linux
sudo dnf install cifs-utils

2. Create a Mount Point

Create a directory that will act as the access point for the share.

bash

sudo mkdir /mnt/accounting

3. Mount the Share (Temporary)

Use the mount command to connect now. (Replace placeholders with your details).

bash

sudo mount -t cifs -o username=your_username //fileserver/accounting /mnt/accounting

• You will be prompted for your password.
• To specify credentials in the command (less secure): add ,password=your_password after the username.

4. Mount the Share Permanently (/etc/fstab)

For a mount that survives reboot, edit the filesystem table.

1. Create a credentials file to securely store your password:bashsudo nano /etc/smb.credsAdd these lines:textusername=your_username password=your_passwordSave the file and restrict its permissions: sudo chmod 600 /etc/smb.creds
2. Edit the fstab file:bashsudo nano /etc/fstabAdd this line at the end:text//fileserver/accounting /mnt/accounting cifs credentials=/etc/smb.creds,iocharset=utf8,file_mode=0777,dir_mode=0777 0 0
3. Test it: sudo mount -a. If no errors appear, your fstab entry is correct.

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macOS: Finder Simplicity

Apple makes this incredibly straightforward.

Method 1: Finder (The Easy Way)

1. Open Finder.
2. From the top menu, click Go > Connect to Server (or press Cmd + K).
3. In the “Server Address” field, enter the SMB path: smb://fileserver/accounting
   • Pro Tip: You can also use the IP address: smb://192.168.1.100/data
4. Click Connect.
5. Enter your username and password when prompted. The drive will appear on your desktop and in Finder sidebar.

Method 2: Terminal (For Scripting)

You can mount shares from the command line using mount_smbfs.

bash

mkdir ~/Desktop/Accounting-Share
mount_smbfs //username@fileserver/accounting ~/Desktop/Accounting-Share

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Troubleshooting: The Common Fixes

• “Access is Denied”: Double-check your username and password. Is your account a member of the required security group on the server?
• “Network Path Not Found”: Verify the server name or IP address is correct. Can you ping the server?
• “Protocol Negotiation Failed” (Linux): The server may require a specific SMB version. Add ,vers=3.0 (or 2.0) to your mount options in the -o flag or in /etc/fstab.

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Conclusion: Access Granted

Mounting network drives is a non-negotiable skill in a corporate environment. It streamlines workflow, ensures data consistency, and is the first step toward working with centralized storage.

Now you can provide access, no matter what OS your team uses.

Need to set up the share itself? Our guide on [creating and securing SMB shares on Windows Server] will show you the server-side configuration.

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FAQ Section

Q: What is the difference between SMB and CIFS?
A: CIFS (Common Internet File System) is a specific, older dialect of the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. In modern contexts, the terms are often used interchangeably, but “SMB” is the preferred term for the current, more efficient versions (SMB 2, SMB 3). Linux uses the cifs-utils package and mount.cifs for historical reasons, but it connects to modern SMB shares without issue.

Q: How do I unmount a network drive?
A: The method varies by OS.

• Windows: In File Explorer, right-click on the mapped drive and select “Disconnect.”
• Linux: Use the umount command (note the spelling: u-m-o-u-n-t) followed by the mount point: sudo umount /mnt/accounting.
• macOS: In Finder, drag the drive icon on your desktop to the Trash (which becomes an Eject icon), or click the Eject button (⎋) next to the drive in a Finder sidebar.

Q: Can I map a network drive for all users on a computer?
A: Yes, but it requires administrative tools and the method differs by OS. On Windows, this is typically done via Group Policy (GPO) pushed from a domain controller, which is the standard enterprise method. On Linux, a permanent entry in the system-wide /etc/fstab file will make the drive available to all users. On macOS, achieving this for all users is more complex and often requires third-party software or scripted solutions, as macOS is primarily designed for single-user mounting.**

Q: Why would I use the command line to map a drive instead of the GUI?
A: The command line is essential for automation, scripting, and remote administration. An IT administrator can write a script to map dozens of drives consistently across a fleet of machines. It’s also crucial for troubleshooting—if the GUI isn’t working, the command line often provides more detailed error messages that can help diagnose network, permission, or protocol issues.**