How do I make a network folder reconnect after I sign in?
Quick answer
In Windows, map the authorized network folder to a drive letter in File Explorer and select “Reconnect at sign-in.” This asks Windows to reconnect when you sign in, but it cannot guarantee the folder will be available: the network or host may not be ready, or your account may lack permission. Test after signing out and back in. On a Mac, Finder favorites or the sidebar can make a server easier to reach, but they are not a documented automatic sign-in mount.
The question, the details, the next step.
I use a shared folder at work and want it to appear again whenever I sign in. What should I set up?
If you use Windows and have permission to access the folder, map it to a drive letter in File Explorer and select “Reconnect at sign-in.” Microsoft documents this option for reconnecting each time you sign in. [S1]
Before setting it up, make sure you have the folder’s approved network location and that your account is allowed to use it. If you do not know the correct location or access requirements, ask your network administrator rather than guessing. The setting requests a reconnection; it does not make an unavailable computer or network available.
What should I check before I try it, and what if I’m on a Mac?
For Windows, gather the approved folder location and confirm which account should have access. Then use File Explorer’s network-drive mapping option, choose a drive letter, and turn on “Reconnect at sign-in.” If your workplace manages these settings, ask its administrator for the approved path and steps.
On a Mac, Apple documents adding a shared computer or server to Finder’s sidebar or favorites, or choosing a recent server. Those options make a server easier to find again, but do not establish that it will mount automatically at sign-in. Access still depends on server availability and permission. [S2]
How can I tell whether the Windows setting actually worked?
Do a simple sign-in test: first confirm that the folder opens now, then sign out and sign back in while connected to the network you normally use. Check whether the mapped drive appears in File Explorer and whether you can open the folder. This tests the sign-in behavior in your situation; it does not prove the folder will connect under every network condition.
Example test note: “Folder: [approved folder name or location] Drive letter: [letter] Reconnect at sign-in: selected After signing back in: [appeared / did not appear] Could open it: [yes / no] Network available at test: [yes / no / unsure]”
Use placeholders in your notes if you are sharing them; do not include passwords.
It still doesn’t reconnect. What should I do next?
Check the basics without changing access controls: is the computer or server hosting the folder on, and is your device connected to the expected network? Microsoft notes that reconnection can fail if the target computer is off or you lack permission, and advises contacting the network administrator in those cases. [S1]
If those checks do not explain it, give the administrator your test note and describe what happened. Avoid repeatedly trying different paths or credentials; an administrator can confirm the right location and access. A sign-in reconnection option cannot guarantee a connection before the network or host is available.
A practical checklist
Confirm the folder location is approved and your account has permission.
On Windows, map the folder to a drive letter in File Explorer.
Select “Reconnect at sign-in” when mapping the folder.
Sign out and back in on your usual network; check whether the drive appears and opens.
If reconnection fails, note network and host availability and contact the network administrator.
A few more useful answers
Will the folder always be ready immediately after I sign in?
No. The setting requests a connection at sign-in, but the host or network may not yet be available, and permissions may prevent access. The cited guidance does not promise a connection in every situation. [S1]
Does adding a server to Mac Finder favorites make it mount automatically?
Apple describes favorites and the sidebar as convenient ways to find a server again, not as a guarantee that it mounts automatically at sign-in. [S2]
Who should I ask if I do not know the folder location or cannot access it?
Ask your network administrator to confirm the approved location and your permissions. Do not guess the path or try someone else’s credentials.
Sources
References used for this guide.
- [S1] File sharing over a network in Windows support.microsoft.com · Checked
- [S2] Connect your Mac to shared computers and servers support.apple.com · Checked