Overview
You may be asked at some point to "add a network drive" or "map a network drive". What does this mean? Simply: mapping a network drive is like creating a shortcut from your computer to another computer or server, making it easy to access files stored there as if they were on your own computer. It simplifies sharing and accessing files across different devices.
Detail
Note: for all of the below instructions, if not on campus you'll want to first connect to Pitt's VPN service first so you can reach the shared drives.
Windows OS Instructions
Microsoft has put together instructions for mapping a network drive on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Please see this site for up-to-date instructions: Map a network drive in Windows
MacOS Instructions
- Launch Finder
- In Finder select the Go menu then click Connect to Server.
- In the Connect to Server box, type the path to the server starting with smb:, for example smb://servername.c/foldername or smb://exampleserver.pitt.edu/e$.
Note: smb stands for Server Message Block, the protocol used for sharing access to files, printers, serial ports and other resources on a network. It does not stand for Super Mario Brothers.
- Once the network drive has been mapped, it will appear under your desktop as a mounted drive or under your Locations menu in any Finder window.
