Network Drive Disconnected or Not Mapping

Network Drive Disconnected or Not Mapping

Mapped network drives (e.g., the H: drive or S: drive) sometimes disconnect or show a red "X" in File Explorer. This usually happens when the connection to the file server was interrupted during startup, credentials have changed, or the server is temporarily unavailable.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Double-click the disconnected drive. Sometimes the drive reconnects on demand when you try to access it. Wait a moment for it to load.
  2. Check your network connection. If you are remote, make sure VPN is connected. If you are in the office, verify your Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection is active.
  3. Disconnect and remap the drive. Right-click the disconnected drive in File Explorer and select Disconnect. Then remap it: right-click This PC, select Map network drive, choose the same drive letter, enter the path (e.g., \\server\share), and check Reconnect at sign-in.
  4. Clear saved credentials. If you recently changed your password, the old credentials may be cached. Open Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials, find entries related to the file server, and remove them. Then try accessing the drive again.
  5. Restart your computer. A restart re-establishes network connections and applies group policy settings that manage drive mappings.

If the Problem Persists

Submit a ticket with the drive letter, the server path, and any error messages.

Still disconnected? Submit a ticket and a CMO IT Services technician will assist you.

    • Related Articles

    • I Can't Connect to the Internet

      An internet connection failure can be caused by issues at several levels: your device, the local network, or the internet service itself. These steps walk through the most common causes from simplest to most complex. Troubleshooting Steps Check if ...

    • How to Connect to the Office VPN

      A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, encrypted connection between your computer and your office network. This allows you to access internal resources such as file shares and applications as if you were in the office. CMO IT Services ...

    • Wi-Fi Is Connected but Internet Is Slow

      A slow internet connection over Wi-Fi is usually caused by distance from the access point, interference from other devices, network congestion, or your device connecting to a slower Wi-Fi band. These steps help identify and resolve the most common ...

    • How to Connect Remotely and Troubleshoot Remote Access

      Remote access lets you work from outside the office by connecting to your organisation's applications, files, and systems over the internet. Your organisation uses a specific remote access method chosen and configured by CMO IT Services. The exact ...

    • VPN Connected but Can't Access Internal Resources

      If your VPN shows as connected but you cannot reach file shares, intranet sites, or internal applications, the issue is usually related to DNS resolution, split-tunnel routing, or a firewall rule. The VPN tunnel is working, but traffic is not ...