Map Network Drives with Group Policy in windows server 2022

Hello everyone
It is my pleasure to create my first post in Dev.to.
Recently, I tried to map network drives with group policy in windows server 2022, but failed.
In this article, I am going to explain how to map network drives with group policy and what my fault was.
If you’re still using login scripts then it’s time to switch to Group Policy.

HOW TO - Map a Department Network Drive Using Group Policy

Step 1: Create & Link a new GPO

1.Open the Group Policy Management Console

2.In the Group Policy Management Console, Right Click and Select “Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here”

TIP: This will be a user based GPO so make sure you link the GPO to a location that will target the users. I have all of my users separated into an OU called ADPRO Users, I’ll create and link the GPO there.

3.Name the new GPO

You can name the new GPO whatever you like, I’ve named mine "Users – Mapped Drives"

I can later add additional drive mappings to this GPO.
The new GPO is now created and linked, now it’s time to configure the settings.

Step 2: Configure GPO Settings

1.On the GPO right click and select edit

2.Navigate to User Configuration -> Preferences -> Windows Settings -> Drive Mappings

3.Right Click Drive Mappings, Select New – > Mapped Drive

4.Configure Drive Mapping Properties

General Tab Settings

• In location put the path to the share/folder you want to map a drive to.
• Select a drive letter
• Choose Update for action
• Label as: This is optional but may be beneficial for users.

• Common Tab Settings
• Select “Run in logged on users’s security context
• Select Item-level Targeting
• Click the Targeting Button

Select New Item

Select Organization Unit then select the OU you want to target

Click OK, Click OK again to close the new drive properties
This completes the GPO settings

Step 3: Reboot Computers to Process GPO

For the GPO to run I will need to reboot the users PC or run gpupdate /force. The next time a user from the HR department logs in they should see a mapped drive.

I’ve rebooted the computer, now I’ll log in with an account that is in the HR organizational unit.

Once logged I will go to file explorer and check for the mapped drive.

It works.

Now, any user I put in the HR folder will get this mapped drive. If you don’t want to use an OU you can also target a group of users by using a Security group.

What was my fault?

I tried to create GPO for ADPRO Groups, not ADPRO Users.
This was my fault

What I find:

The drive mapping is a user configuration only.