Cannot map networ drive in Win 11

Question

When I try to browse from the Map Network Drive (ND) window by clicking on Browse and then on Network, only the laptop that I'm working on shows up under Network. So there's no way to map the drive. A piece of software in the NAS (MinimServer) drive shows up under Media Devices in File Explorer, but it can't be seen when trying to create the ND and even if it could be, it doesn't contain the music folders. I have also tried to reach the NAS using its fixed IP address, but that takes me to the Synology software that runs the NAS, which also does not contain the music folders. I need to reach the music folders in the NAS, whose correct name is BKDISKSTATION.

Answer 1

Hi BERNIE KEPKE,

Thank you for reaching out.

Your NAS and music files are working correctly, as confirmed by successful playback through Sonos, Lumin, and JRiver. These applications access music using media streaming protocols (DLNA/UPnP), which are different from Windows file sharing (SMB). Because of this difference, media playback can work even when Windows does not automatically show the NAS in the Network browsing view.

In Windows 11, the Network browse list is not required to access or map a network drive and may not always display all available devices.

To clarify Q&A Assist's answer, here are some recommended steps that you can try:

1, Use a direct network path instead of Network browsing

• Open File Explorer
• Click in the address bar and type: \\BKDISKSTATION\Music (replace Music with the exact shared folder name shown in Synology)
• If prompted, sign in with a Synology user account that has permission to the folder

2, Map the folder as a network drive

• In File Explorer, right‑click This PC
• Select Map network drive
• Choose a drive letter
• In Folder, enter: \\BKDISKSTATION\Music
• Select Reconnect at sign‑in
• Click Finish

If access is still blocked, try these optional quick checks:

• Remove any saved NAS entries in Credential Manager and retry the connection
• Confirm the music folder is defined as a Shared Folder in Synology (not only indexed for media)

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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Answer 2

Use the NAS’s UNC path directly instead of relying on Network browsing, and make sure SMB file sharing is enabled on the NAS.

1. In Windows 11, open File Explorer.
2. In the address bar, manually type the UNC path to the NAS share where the music is stored, for example:

      \\BKDISKSTATION\Sharename
   

   Replace Sharename with the actual shared folder name on the Synology that contains the music. If this opens correctly, proceed to map it.
3. To map it as a drive:
   1. In File Explorer, select This PC.
   2. On the ribbon, select More > Map network drive (or right‑click This PC and choose Map network drive).
   3. Choose a drive letter.
   4. In Folder, enter the same UNC path, for example:

            \\BKDISKSTATION\Sharename
      

   5. Select Reconnect at sign‑in if the drive should persist.
   6. Select Finish.

If the UNC path doesn’t work, verify on the Synology that:

• SMB file services are enabled (not just media/DLNA services like MinimServer).
• The music folder is configured as a shared folder and has a share name.
• The Windows 11 user has permissions to that share.

If you still can’t connect, try using the NAS IP with the share name:

\\<NAS-IP>\Sharename

If connection fails, it may be a permissions or SMB configuration issue on the NAS rather than Windows.

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References:

• File sharing over a network in Windows