Disconnect a Mapped Network Drive

Decide you don't need to be mapped to a network folder anymore? There are several ways you can disconnect from a mapped network drive--all it takes is a computer and a little patience.

Steps

Linux, OS X, BSD

  1. umount /mnt/wikihownetwork

Windows Explorer

  1. Open "My Computer."
  2. Right-click the network drive you want to disconnect. Select Disconnect. Windows Disconnects the Mapped Network Drive.

Windows Folder Options

  1. Open any folder.
  2. On the menu bar, select Tools. Then select Disconnect Network Drive.
  3. Select the drive you want to disconnect. Then click OK. Windows Disconnects the mapped network drive.

Windows Command Line

  1. You have a volume called \\nas1\volume_1 and you want to map it as drive K:
    • Connect it with: net use K: \\nas1\volume_1
    • Disconnect it with: net use K: /delete

Windows Registry

  1. Start Regedit. Click Start -> Run, or use the search feature. type in "regedit" and click OK or press enter
  2. Allow Admin Rights. Click Yes if you are prompted for admin privileges
  3. Find the Registry Key. Once in the Registry Editor, use the folder tree on the left hand side to browse to: "Computer\HKey_Current_User\Network\" In this key you will find all of the settings for your mapped network drives
  4. Delete Drive Letter. Right-click the key for the drive you no longer want and click Delete.
  5. Log Out to Apply Settings. Log out of station and back in. The drive should no longer be shown under Computer.

This method is generally not suggested, but it can be the only way to disconnect and reconnect a drive if errors occur with the other solutions.

Windows Registry Alternative

On My Windows 7 computer, none of the above methods worked. Regedit found that there was NOTHING in HKCU\Network. The offending link was actually in

  1. HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\LanManServer\Shares

I deleted it from there (using the procedure from number 5 above), restarted the PC, and the phantom was gone.

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