Lost map network drive in Windows 11? This is the solution

A mapped network drive in Windows is a virtual representation of a remote folder. It is a key feature for users as it enables them to access their files and folders from different computers without having to physically connect to the target computer.

Troubleshooting network drive issues in Windows can be tricky because you may encounter a variety of errors.

Mapped network drives are not always reliable and may sometimes stop working properly for some reason. There is no single reason why it stops working, but there are a few common reasons why this problem occurs.

When mapping a network drive is unsuccessful, it may not be displayed in File Explorer. This can be very frustrating, especially when you need to share files. Even if two PCs are running on the same operating system and are on the same network, folder sharing may not work when you cannot find them.

We'll discuss these reasons in detail below so you can try to get it to happen again.

Why is my map network drive missing?

If you try to map a network drive in Windows and cannot, it may be because the option is missing. This isn't necessarily a big problem, but it's annoying.

This problem may be caused by several factors that can be easily solved. Here are some of them:

• A mismapped drive can also be the reason for its loss. You can quickly fix this problem by deleting it and starting over. Delete:
  1. Click the Windows key, enter cmd on the search bar, and open the command prompt.
  2. Type the following command based on your assigned drive: <strong>net use Z: /delete</strong>
• Typo in drive map path. Double check and make sure the full path is correct, including the share name and everything else. Make sure there are no spaces before or after the "//" symbol.
• The folder is hidden or located in the system directory. Make sure it is not in a hidden folder, for example: <strong>C:\Program Files\</strong> or <strong> C:\Windows\</strong> in File Explorer In the browser, you can navigate to the View tab to show hidden items and see if you can find them there.
• Your network drive may be offline. This sounds obvious, but it's easy to fix when a problem arises, so we'll start there. If you don't see your drive in Windows Explorer or File Explorer, it means your user account doesn't have permission to access the drive, or it's not actually connected to your network.

If you are sure you know the location of the drive and can see it in File Explorer or Windows Explorer, but you still can't access it from your computer, try pinging the computer that has the drive computer.

The ping test will confirm that the computer is online and help you determine if there is a problem with your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

What should I do if my Windows 11 Maps network drive is lost?

1. Run a series of commands

1. and simultaneously press the Windows R key to open the run window.
2. Type regedit and hit Enter.
3. Navigate to the following location: <strong>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System</strong>
4. Under system, select new and click Lost map network drive in Windows 11? This is the solution (32-bit) Value .
5. Name the new value EnableLinkedConnections and press Enter.
6. Enter 1 under the Value Data field and press OK.
7. Exit and restart your computer.

2. Show hidden items in File Explorer

1. Press Windows I## at the same time # key opens the start menu.
Search
2. File Explorer and click Open.
Click on the
3. View tab.
In the drop-down menu, click Show and select
4. Hidden items.

If you find this step troublesome, you can continue to use third-party software tools such as AnyRecover, which can easily find lost network drives.

3. Manually update your drivers

Click the
1. Windows I key to open the Start menu.
Search and open
2. Device Manager.
Find the driver you are looking for and right-click
3. Update Driver Software.
Click to automatically search for updated driver software.
4. 
After finding the missing drive, restart the device.

Do I need to enable network discovery to map network drives?

If you try to map a network drive on Windows 11 and it is working, it may be because network discovery is not enabled.

One of the most common problems with home networks is that they don't work the way you want them to. This can happen if you upgraded from a previous version of Windows, or because you have a lot of devices connected and things get cluttered.

To enable network drives:

1. Press the Search button on the taskbar.
2. Type and select Control Panel.
3. Click the View by menu and selectNetwork & Internet.
4. Select Network and Sharing Center.
5. Next, click Change advanced sharing settings.
6. Select the Turn on network discovery option.
7. Scroll down and select the Open File and Printer Sharing button.
8. Click the Save Changes button to apply the new settings.

If you receive the error that the mapped network drive is missing, you are not alone. Many people have encountered this error, but it is not difficult to fix. Hopefully, if you encounter something similar to what we mentioned above, this article will come in handy to help you resolve it.

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