Running net use from an elevated Command Prompt (admin) maps drives in the admin session only—you won’t see them in your normal user’s File Explorer. To map drives for your current logged-on user , run cmd as that user (not elevated).
net use Z: /DELETE /Y net use Z: \\server\share
Using the Command Prompt (CMD) provides a faster, more reliable, and automatable alternative. This guide covers how to use the standard net use command, introduces the superior New-PSDrive PowerShell alternative, and explains how to automate your network connections. The Standard Method: Using net use
New-PSDrive -Name "X" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\Server\Share" -Persist Use code with caution. 3. The Performance Choice: WMI and CIM Cmdlets cmd map network drive better
Mapping a network drive in Windows is the standard way to access shared server folders directly from File Explorer. While the graphical user interface (GUI) works well for a single folder, it is slow and inefficient for managing multiple connections.
net use X: \\nas\backup * /user:admin /persistent:yes
To , start with a clean slate:
Example prompting:
Sometimes you don't need a letter—you just need access via UNC path. This is "better" because it keeps "This PC" clean.
Why You Need a Better Way to Map Network Drives via CMD For many IT professionals and power users, mapping a network drive is a daily necessity. While the standard net use command has been the go-to for decades, it often falls short in modern, complex environments. If you are looking for a approach, you likely Running net use from an elevated Command Prompt
Here is how to map network drives using the net use command.
This is incredibly useful in corporate environments. It automatically resolves \\server\users\%username% .
Scripts run in the background without disrupting the end-user. Master the Standard Command (The Right Way) This guide covers how to use the standard