If you frequently use a networked drive (or "share") with Windows 11, you can rapidly access it in the future by assigning it a drive letter in File Explorer to make it seem more local. This is the procedure.
Open File Explorer first. If your taskbar doesn't already include a shortcut to File Explorer, click "File Explorer" from the context menu when you right-click the Start button.
Select "Map Network Drive" from the menu that appears by clicking the ellipses button (three dots) in the toolbar of a File Explorer window.
Select a drive letter to assign to the network drive by clicking the "Drive" drop-down menu in the "Map Network Drive" window. You can choose any letter from the list, based on your preferences.
Enter the network device and share name in the "Folder" column. Click "Browse" to view the available devices on your local network if you can't remember it.
Check the box next to "Reconnect at sign-in" if you want Windows to always reconnect to this drive when you sign in. Additionally, select "Login Using Different Credentials" if you want to connect using credentials (username and password) different than those associated with your current Windows account.
Click "Finish" once you're finished.
Windows 11 will try to connect to the network disk once you click "Finish." You will see a "Windows Security" window where you may input the user name and password necessary to access the drive if your default credentials are unsuccessful or if you ticked "Connect Using Different Credentials" in the previous step.
Check "Remember My Credentials" if you want Windows to always remember this user name and password for the drive (so you don't have to enter them again). To finish, simply click "OK."
Windows 11 will establish a connection with the drive and map it to the chosen drive letter. The mapped disk is displayed under "Network Locations" in File Explorer under "This PC."
An illustration of a network drive that is mapped in Windows 11's File Explorer.
Additionally, the mapped disk will show up in the File Explorer sidebar's "Network" section.
You can use the mapped drive almost identically like a local drive attached to your computer whenever you open it (if you have read and write access). However, keep in mind that if data is being transported to and from a network rather than a local connection like USB or SATA, it will likely be slower than your local disks.
Getting Rid of a Mapped Network Drive
Open File Explorer before disconnecting a network drive that has been mapped. Select "Disconnect Network Drive" by clicking the ellipses button (three dots) in the toolbar of any File Explorer window.
Select the drive you want to disconnect in the "Disconnect Network Drives" window that displays, then click "OK."
You can also right-click the mapped drive after finding it in File Explorer. In the first menu that displays, choose "Show More Options," and in the second menu, choose "Disconnect."
The drive will then be unplugged and no longer be mapped. Additionally, the mapped drive's previously reserved drive letter will become available. Cheers to networking!