# Connecting to a Windows file share

## Off-Campus Access Pre-Requisite

File shares require VPN for off-campus access: https://notes.its.uri.edu/books/public/page/get-vpn

## If you are on a Windows machine:

### Connect (for most people)

From an Explorer window, right click on This PC and select “Map network drive…”

![](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/vjuqvlL6PBo5WPFl-embedded-image-du8a6bkx.png)

***Drive***: choose a drive letter (usually decided by your local department).  "U:" in this example.

***Folder***: enter the address to the share, usually given by ITS, and is usually the same for everyone in the same unit/dept.

*Optionally*, check “Reconnect at sign-in” if the machine you are using is personal to you, and you want this to be persistent through reboots.

![](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/gzPO1BnjlKAj4XJj-embedded-image-woqtzr3t.png)

### Connect using command line:

\* Usually this is used by IT/technical staff as an alternative way to connect.

\* If you are unfamiliar with using a command line please use the method above

Disconnect a drive U:

net use U: /d

Connect to a drive U:

net use U: "\\uri.ds.uri.edu\DFS\WINFS\provost-aec" /user:URI\<your\_user\_id> \* /PERSISTENT:Y

The asterisk in the above command will prompt you to enter the password.

### Disconnecting a drive

This PC --> right-click --> Disconnect

![](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/f6L686zQVSZNqUxV-embedded-image-lcsgw10x.png)

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## If you are on a Mac machine:

1. Finder --> Connect to Server...

[![image-1749827168587.png](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/scaled-1680-/SC5YQs0xoTiUvKem-image-1749827168587.png)](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/SC5YQs0xoTiUvKem-image-1749827168587.png)

2. Enter the address given to you:

[![image-1749827322470.png](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/scaled-1680-/mudjiHeyCvjYdYnW-image-1749827322470.png)](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/mudjiHeyCvjYdYnW-image-1749827322470.png)

3. Enter your SSO username (not the full email address, just the username) and SSO password.

[![image-1749827199366.png](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/scaled-1680-/6cL8OrjvKnj6oI1g-image-1749827199366.png)](https://notes.its.uri.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/6cL8OrjvKnj6oI1g-image-1749827199366.png)