Windows – Map network drive for Admin F & G drives

How to Map a Network Drive in Windows

You can map a network drive in Windows to give yourself quick access to shared folders on a server. Follow the steps below to set this up.

Make sure you have the correct login details

To access a shared folder on a server, you’ll need:

• A user account on the server,
• The correct username and password,
• Permission to access the shared folder.

If your account is already set up on the server, you can skip this step.
If not, ask your administrator to create or update your server login.

Map the network drive in Windows

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select This PC from the left‑hand menu.
3. At the top, click Map network drive.
4. Choose a drive letter (for example, G: or F:).
5. In the Folder box, type the network path, such as:
   • \\server\Public
   • \\server\Whole
6. Tick Reconnect at sign‑in if you want the drive to appear automatically each time you log in.
7. Click Finish.

If prompted, enter your server username and password.

Confirm the drive is available

Once mapped, the new drive will appear under This PC.
You should now be able to open it and access the folders you have permission to use.

If you can’t connect

Common causes include:

• Incorrect username or password
• No permission to access the shared folder
• The server being offline
• A typo in the network path

If you still can’t map the drive, contact your network administrator so they can check your account and the server settings.

For Peer‑to‑Peer (P2P) Networks

If you are using a P2P setup:

Step A — Create a matching account on the host computer

On the computer that hosts the shared folder:

1. Open Computer Management → Local Users and Groups.
2. Right‑click Users → New User (or copy an existing similar user).
3. Enter the same username and password used on the workstation that needs access.
4. Tick Password never expires.
5. Do not tick “User must change password at next logon”.
6. Add the user to any required local groups (e.g., Users).

Step B — Map the drive from the workstation

On the workstation:

• Follow the mapping steps in section “Map the Network Drive in Windows“.
• If prompted for credentials, enter the matching username and password you created on the host machine.

When to seek help

If mapping still fails, the issue may be related to:

• Network permissions
• Firewall settings
• The host machine being offline
• Incorrect credentials

In these cases, the network administrator or the person responsible for the shared folder will need to check the configuration

Reviewed 12/01/2026