Shared network drive missing or "network path not found"
What to check when a mapped drive such as S: is missing or cannot be opened.
Reviewed 06 Nov 2026
Try these steps
- 1 Make sure you are in the office or connected to the VPN — network drives only work on the company network.
- 2 Open File Explorer → This PC and check whether the drive shows with a red X. Double-click it to reconnect.
- 3 Sign out of Windows and sign in again; drives are usually connected at sign-in.
- 4 Ask a colleague whether they can open the same drive. If nobody can, the file server may be unavailable.
- 5 Restart the computer.
- 6 Note the drive letter, the folder you need and the exact error message.
Before you start
Work through the steps in order and stop as soon as the problem is fixed. Never share passwords or verification codes with anyone.
When to contact support
If the drive is still missing, or you get "access denied" for a folder you need for your work, open a ticket with the drive letter and folder path.
Still not working?
Never share passwords or codes with anyone. Our team can take it from here.