Configuring a mapped network drive to connect to SharePoint Online is a quick and easy way to use Windows Explorer to drag files into libraries, create folders, move and copy files, and delete multiple files at the same time. There are a few steps youâll need to go through to get SharePoint set up, and maintain the connection afterward. A quick note before we get started; SharePoint is only supported when configured through Internet Explorer.
To begin mapping a network drive, youâll need to sign in to the SharePoint Online site using your Office 365 account credentials. Be sure to select the âkeep me signed inâ option to avoid causing connection issues later on. Open a document library from your teamâs Shared Documents in Explorer View.
Two common error messages you might encounter at this point in the process of mapping a network drive are âPath is not accessibleâ and âAccess deniedâ. The first error message can be addressed by reaching out to your network administrator to find out if you have permission to access that particular network resource. The second can be fixed by adding the site to your Trusted Site list, and selecting the âlogin automaticallyâ option.
Make sure that all of your SharePoint Online URLs are added to your Trusted Sites list in Internet Explorer. You can find the Trusted Sites option under the Security tab in your Internet Options. Paste the URL in to the âadd this website to the zoneâ box and click âaddâ. Repeat this for as many URLs as is needed.
Once youâve mapped a network drive to SharePoint Online, youâll need to periodically go back and connect to the SharePoint site using Internet Explorer and select the âkeep me signed inâ option. This keeps the session thatâs being used by the mapped drive from expiring. If youâre already logged in and browse over to a SharePoint site or the Office 365 portal, youâll need to sign out and sign back in, selecting the âkeep me signed inâ option.
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