New-PSDrive -Name "Z" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\server\share" -Persist This creates a drive visible in File Explorer and across all applications—identical to net use Z: \\server\share . PowerShell handles credentials more securely using PSCredential objects:
$cred = Get-Credential New-PSDrive -Name "Z" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\server\share" -Credential $cred -Persist The Get-Credential dialog is secure, but for automation you can build a credential object (though storing passwords in scripts is still discouraged). PowerShell uniquely allows mapping a network share to a local folder path instead of a drive letter—something net use cannot do directly: map drive from command line
This feature dives deep into the art and science of mapping drives from the command line, from basic syntax to advanced scripting techniques. The net use command is a relic of the MS-DOS and OS/2 era, yet it remains one of the most reliable networking tools in modern Windows. It connects, disconnects, and displays information about shared resources. Basic Mapping Syntax The simplest form is almost poetic in its brevity: The net use command is a relic of
net use Z: \\server\share /user:OtherDomain\jsmith /savecred You will be prompted for the password once. After that, any script or command using that same mapping will reuse the stored credential—useful for scheduled tasks, but a security consideration. Network paths with spaces require quotation marks. Drive letters do not: After that, any script or command using that
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 \\server\share That’s right—you can net use a UNC path with no drive letter. It won’t appear as a drive, but it will be an authenticated, persistent connection that applications can still access via the full UNC path. Mastering net use and New-PSDrive turns drive mapping from a point-and-click chore into a scriptable, repeatable, and automatable operation. Whether you are deploying 200 workstations, maintaining a headless server, or simply tired of typing passwords into a dialog box, the command line offers speed, control, and depth that the GUI never will.