How to map network drives over VPN on Windows 10 & 11
Although you would be tempted to disconnect from the VPN after mapping the network drive, it’s a good idea to leave it turned on at all times while staying connected to the Internet.
This ensures that you’ll always be protected from hackers and other possible attacks.
Why use Private Internet Access?
Created by Kape Technologies, Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the fastest and most secure VPNs for your Windows 10 PC. It’s also the best VPN for Plex since you can use it to mount network resources and safely share content on the Plex Media Server.
In addition to an impressive network of VPN servers, PIA can connect you to the nearest server automatically to ensure the best speed. It supports OpenVPN and WireGuard, SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks proxy servers, port forwarding, together with static and dynamic IP addresses.
Furthermore, you can use PIA to reduce your ping during gameplay. It comes bundled with split-tunneling mode, a kill switch, and exclusive DNS servers. It’s also possible to install PIA’s OpenVPN manual configuration mode on your router to share VPN access with all connected devices.
More about PIA:
- +3,300 VPN servers in 48 countries
- 10 simultaneous connections
- No identifying logs, no leaks
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access
Connect to PIA’ before mapping network drives to reduce vulnerabilities and protect your PC from hackers.
How do I map network drives over VPN on Windows 11?
Although the new OS is clearly more advanced and it has a lot of new interesting features, its core is still very similar to the one of Windows 10.
Therefore, you will see that all the solutions presented here, including using the PIA VPN, will work like a charm on Windows 11 as well.
File Explorer has a slightly different design in Windows 11 so, as you can see from our screenshot above, to access the Map network drive option, you will find it by clicking on the three-dot button from the top.
Read more about this topicBut that’s where the differences end because all the other steps presented in our solutions are still the same.
In conclusion, it’s an excellent idea and a wise move to connect to a VPN server before mapping network drives in Windows 10 and 11.
This way, you can reduce the risks of getting hacked and compromising your sensitive data.
We hope that our guide helped you map a network drive while using a VPN and now, your shared location is safe and secure.
You might also be interested in our list including the best file-sharing tools & software for Windows 10/11 because it’s another way of sending your files safely.
For any questions or suggestions, feel free to use the comments section below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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