Quick answer
When a network drive is not accessible, the problem is most often a network connection, an expired password or cached credentials on the computer. First check whether the computer can see the server, then re-enter the password and remove saved credentials. If the drive still does not open, check sharing on the server and the account's access rights.
How to recognize the problem
- Windows reports that the network drive is not accessible or that the path does not exist
- The drive appears in Explorer but does not open, asking for a password repeatedly
- The network drive has a red X or a disconnected icon
- The drive works on one computer but not on another in the same network
- After changing the password on the server, the drive stops opening
Most common causes
Lost network connection
The computer is on a different WiFi, on a VPN, or the LAN cable has come out, so it cannot reach the server where the shared folder is located.
Expired or changed password
If the account password has been changed on the server, Windows still tries with the old one and reports that the drive is not accessible.
Cached credentials
Windows remembers old credentials for the network location and tries to connect with them instead of asking for a new password.
Sharing or access rights
The folder on the server is no longer shared or the account does not have permission for that folder, so access is denied.
Changed server IP address
If the drive connects via an IP address and the server has received a new address, the path no longer leads anywhere.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Check the basic connection
Make sure you are on the same network as the server and that the internet works. Open
\\serveror\\server-IP-addressin Explorer and see whether the shared folders appear at all. If they do not appear, the problem is in the network, not in the drive. - 2
Open the drive again
In Explorer, right-click the network drive and select
Disconnect, then reconnect it viaMap network drive. If the drive is not there, openThis PCand check the list of network locations. - 3
Remove saved credentials
Open
Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager > Windows Credentialsand find the entry for the server or its IP address. ClickRemove, then try opening the drive again and enter the current password. - 4
Re-enter the password
When the login window appears, enter the username in the form
domain\userorserver\user, depending on how the server is set up. Tick the option to remember the details only after access works. - 5
Check the drive path
Open the command line (Command Prompt) and run
net useto see which path the drive is connected to. If the path contains an IP address, check whether the server is still on it. On home networks, it is more reliable to use the computer name than the IP address. - 6
Check sharing on the server
On the computer where the folder is located, right-click the folder and open
Properties > Sharing. Make sure sharing is enabled and that the account has permission to read or change. Check the same on theSecuritytab. - 7
Restart the computer and the server
Restart the computer from which you access the drive, and if necessary the computer or NAS where the folder is located. This refreshes the network session and often resolves a recurring error. If it is a shared server in a company, restart it only in agreement with the administrator.
- 8
Check VPN and network profile
If you use a VPN, check whether it is required to access the server; turn it off only if the server should be available over the local network, because a VPN can redirect traffic so that the local server is not available. In
Settings > Network & internet, check whether the network is marked asPrivate, because Windows on a public network profile often blocks discovery.
If nothing helped
When the drive is still not accessible, write down the exact error message and the time it occurs, as this helps most with diagnostics. Check whether other computers on the network see the same drive: if they do not see it either, the problem is on the server or in the network, not on your computer. For home NAS devices, check in their web interface whether sharing is active and whether the device has received a new IP address. In companies, access or password policies often change, so check with the administrator whether the account is blocked or expired. As a temporary solution, you can access the folder via the full path \\server\folder, but do not constantly delete and remap the drive before you determine the cause.
How to prevent it
- Use the server name instead of the IP address when mapping the drive
- Update the password on time and enter it immediately on all computers
- Do not save credentials on shared or other people's computers
- Check whether the network in Windows is marked as Private
When to call a professional
If the drive is not visible from other computers either, if it is a company server or a NAS with multiple users, or if you suspect a blocked account and access rights, it is better to contact IT support than to change settings on the server.
IT infrastructure maintenance · Servers, networks, backup, security and helpdeskFAQ
Why does the network drive appear but cannot be opened?
Most often it is old saved credentials or a changed account password. Remove the entry in `Credential Manager` and enter the current password when the drive opens again.
Is it safe to delete the network drive and map it again?
Yes, deleting the mapping does not delete files on the server, it only removes the shortcut on your computer. The files remain in the shared folder and are available again when you map the drive.
Why does the drive work on one computer but not on another?
The difference is most often in the account, saved credentials or the network profile of that computer. Check whether that computer is on the same network and whether its network is marked as Private.