Map Drive From Command Line __link__ -
net use Z: \\server\share /user:DOMAIN\username * The asterisk ( * ) tells Windows to prompt for a password without echoing it to the screen. For fully automated scripts (use with caution), you can include the password directly:
net use Z: \\server\share This maps the share \\server\share to drive letter Z: . If the share requires authentication, net use will prompt you for a username and password. But you can supply them inline for automation:
But for IT professionals, power users, and automation enthusiasts, the graphical approach is a bottleneck. It’s slow, inconsistent across remote sessions, and impossible to script. The command line—specifically net use and, more recently, PowerShell’s New-PSDrive —offers speed, precision, and repeatability. map drive from command line
For decades, the average Windows user has mapped network drives the same way: open File Explorer, right-click "This PC," select "Map network drive," pick a letter, type a path, and click "Finish." It’s visual, intuitive, and serviceable for the occasional connection.
net use Z: \\server\share /user:DOMAIN\username MyPassword123 By default, a drive mapped via net use lasts only for the current user session. Log off, and it’s gone. To make a mapping persistent across reboots, add the /persistent:yes flag: But you can supply them inline for automation:
net use Z: \\server\share /persistent:yes Once you set /persistent:yes , subsequent net use commands (without specifying persistence) will also be persistent until you turn it off with /persistent:no . Sometimes you need to access a share with alternate credentials while logged into Windows with your standard account. The /savecred flag stores the password for future sessions:
Next time you need to map a drive, don’t open File Explorer. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell—and feel the difference. For decades, the average Windows user has mapped
net use * /delete While net use works everywhere, PowerShell offers richer control and better integration with modern authentication, including Azure AD and certificate-based logins. New-PSDrive for Persistent Mappings PowerShell’s drive cmdlets are primarily for creating session-scoped PSDrives (like HKLM:\ for the registry). However, with the -Persist flag, you can create a standard Windows mapped drive: