The Easier Way to Use Network Drives on Mac

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• Open Finder> Go> Connect to Serveror enter Command+K> drive path.

• Auto-mount network drives by adding them to the Login Items in System Settings.

If you regularly access shared folders, learning how to set up a mapped drive on a Mac makes that easy. This article explains that process and how to reconnect to shared folders automatically after a reboot.

How to Map a Network Drive on Mac

Instead of downloading or copying the same data to all your devices, save the files in a single folder and share the folder with your other devices. With the shared folder ready, follow these steps to map the network drive:

Open Finder .

Select Go> Connect to Server. If you prefer using the keyboard, press Command+ K.

Enter the network drive path and select Connect.  In most cases, it should start with:

Once the network drive is mapped, it will appear under the Locationsmenu in any Finder window and on your desktop (if not, go to  Finder> Settingsand turn on Connected servers).

Expert Tip: Tip

Since mapped drives appear as mounted drives on your macOS device, you can disconnect from them by ejecting the drive.

How to Auto-Mount a Network Drive on macOS

To automatically connect to your favorite network drives after a reboot, add them to the Open at Login section of System Settings.

Open System Settingsand select Login Items & Extensionsfrom the Generalmenu.

Drag the shares from the desktop into the Open at Loginscreen.

Alternatively, click the +( plus sign)> select the item > Open.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Freeing Up 'Other' Storage Space on Your Mac

Frequently asked Questions

Can I map a Windows network drive to my Mac?

Yes, sharing files between a Windows machine and your Mac is possible by using OneDrive , or with a properly formatted external or USB flash drive. Setting up file sharing will also work.

How do I map a network drive to my Mac using Apple Filing Protocol (AFP)?

From the Finder menu bar, select Go> Connect to Server> then enter "afp://" followed by the IP address of the drive and select Connect. Choose a username and password for the drive when prompted.

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