Cannot Access WD Drive on my Network

Jeffrey Wagner 20 Reputation points
2026-03-18T20:44:25.65+00:00

I just updated to Windows 11 Pro and now I cannot access the WD drive on my network. It gives me the error code: 0x80070035 Network Path not Found.

I am able to access the WD Drive on the same network using my other computer.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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Answer accepted by question author
Hendrix-V 20,565 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-03-21T06:48:03.05+00:00

Hi Jeffrey Wagner,

Thank you for reaching out.

The behavior you're seeing can occur when a Windows 11 system connects to a WD My Cloud / NAS device. Newer Windows versions apply stricter network security defaults, which may prevent connections to some network storage devices even though they are online and accessible from other computers.

The WD device itself is working as expected, and access can typically be restored by adjusting how Windows establishes the network connection. Please try the following steps, in order:

1, Access the WD My Cloud by IP address - This bypasses network discovery and is the most reliable way to connect.

  • Open File Explorer
  • In the address bar, type: \\<NAS-IP-address> (example: \192.168.1.50)

2, Relax the SMB signing requirement - This allows Windows to communicate with network devices that do not require signed SMB connections.

  • Open PowerShell as Administrator
  • Run: Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Confirm:$false
  • Restart the PC

3, Allow guest access (if used by the NAS) - Some WD My Cloud configurations rely on guest authentication, which is restricted by default.

  • In PowerShell (Administrator)
  • Run: Set-SmbClientConfiguration -EnableInsecureGuestLogons $true -Force
  • Restart the PC

Once access is restored, you may map the network drive again for easier access.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-03-18T20:44:49.28+00:00

    Error 0x80070035 indicates that the network path to the WD drive cannot be found from the updated Windows 11 Pro PC, even though it works from another computer. Use these steps on the Windows 11 Pro machine:

    1. Verify basic network connectivity
      • Make sure the Windows 11 PC is connected to the same network (same router/Wi‑Fi) as the WD drive.
      • In File Explorer, try accessing the WD by name or IP, for example: \\<WD-name> or \\<WD-IP> in the address bar.
      • If name access fails but IP works (or vice versa), note which one succeeds; this matches the behavior described where different naming conventions can still work.
    2. Check that the WD drive is online and reachable
      • Confirm the WD device is powered on and its network cable is firmly connected.
      • If it is a USB drive attached to another PC, ensure that host PC is on and connected.
    3. Turn on network discovery and file sharing on Windows 11
      • Open File Explorer and select Network.
      • If a banner appears saying Network discovery is turned off…, select it, then choose Turn on network discovery and file sharing.
      • After enabling, wait a few seconds and check if the WD drive appears under Network.
    4. Confirm the drive/share is accessible from Windows Explorer
      • In File Explorer, type \\localhost to verify that file sharing is working locally.
      • If local shares work but the WD drive still does not, the issue is likely name resolution or SMB connectivity to that device.
    5. If the problem started after upgrading to Windows 11
      • Use Network reset as a last resort if other steps do not help:
        1. Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
        2. On Windows 11, select Advanced network settings > Network reset.
        3. Select Reset now > Yes and let the PC restart.
      • After restart, reconnect to the network and try accessing the WD drive again.
      • Be aware that network reset removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets their settings; VPN clients or virtual switches might need to be reconfigured afterward.

    If access by one naming method (short name, FQDN, or IP) works but another does not, continue using the working naming convention when mapping or accessing the WD share.

    References:

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