VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Map a VMware Shared Folder as a Network Drive in Windows

Learn how to configure VMware shared folders and map them as network drives in a Windows guest using VMware Workstation Player.

A VMware shared folder lets a Windows guest operating system access a folder stored on the host computer. When you enable drive mapping, VMware Tools makes that shared folder appear in Windows File Explorer as a mapped network drive or network location.

This is useful for development files, installers, documents, and other data that must be available to both the host and the virtual machine. Instead of repeatedly entering a shared-folder path, you can open the location from This PC or another familiar File Explorer view.

Prerequisites

Before mapping the folder, confirm the following:

VMware Workstation Player is installed. This is the desktop virtualization software used to run and configure virtual machines.
The target Windows virtual machine is available in VMware Workstation Player.
The virtual machine is powered off, or its virtual-machine settings can otherwise be edited.
VMware Tools is installed and running in the Windows guest. VMware Tools provides guest integration features, including shared folders.
At least one host folder has been added to the virtual machine's shared-folder configuration.
Shared folders are enabled for the virtual machine.
You can navigate basic Windows File Explorer locations in the guest.

The host operating system is the operating system on the physical computer. The guest operating system is Windows running inside the virtual machine. The host folder remains on the host; the guest receives integrated access to it.

Open the Shared Folder Settings

Open VMware Workstation Player.
Select the Windows virtual machine.
Open the virtual machine's settings.
Go to Options, then select Shared Folders.
Review the shared-folder controls. You should see an option to enable shared folders, a list of configured host folders, controls for adding or removing folders, and the Windows drive-mapping option.

The settings location is:

Virtual Machine Settings > Options > Shared Folders

Configure or Verify a Shared Folder

If the shared-folder list is empty, add a host folder before enabling the mapping.

Choose the control to add a shared folder.
Specify the full path to a folder on the host computer.
Assign a recognizable share name, such as Projects, Exchange, or Installers.
Confirm that the folder is enabled and available to the guest.
Choose whether the folder should be read-only.
Apply or save the virtual-machine settings.

The host folder path identifies the physical folder. The share name is the guest-side identifier used in the VMware shared-folder path. For example, a host folder named VM-Projects can be assigned the share name Projects.

Shared folders enabled: Turns VMware shared-folder integration on for this virtual machine. The guest cannot use configured shared folders while this feature is disabled.
Host folder path: Identifies the folder stored on the host computer that VMware exposes to the guest.
Share name: Gives the folder a recognizable name inside the guest. This name appears in the VMware shared-folder path.
Read-only option: Allows the guest to view and copy files without changing the host folder. It is useful for reference material and source files.
Map as a network drive in Windows guests: Requests that VMware Tools create a Windows network-drive mapping when the guest starts and the shared-folder service is available.

Enable Mapping as a Windows Network Drive

In Virtual Machine Settings > Options > Shared Folders, enable shared folders.
Verify that at least one host folder is listed and enabled.
Select Map as a network drive in Windows guests.
Apply or save the settings.
Start or resume the Windows guest.

VMware Tools creates the mapping when Windows starts or resumes and the VMware shared-folder service is available. The drive letter may vary between systems because Windows assigns an available letter. Do not assume that every virtual machine will use the same letter.

Find and Use the Mapped Folder in Windows

Open File Explorer in the Windows guest. File Explorer is the Windows interface for working with drives and folders.
Open This PC and inspect the drives and network locations.
Look for a VMware-provided mapped drive or location. Identify it by its VMware or shared-folder label rather than by a particular drive letter.
Open the location and confirm that the host folder's contents are visible.

Once the folder is available, normal file operations usually work according to the configured permissions. You can open files, copy files between the guest and host folder, create files, rename files, and delete files when the share is writable and the host filesystem permits those operations.

For example, if the host folder is configured with the share name Projects, a Windows development VM can use the mapped VMware location to work with the same project files without setting up a separate LAN file server.

Use the Direct VMware Shared-Folder Path

If no convenient drive letter appears, open the VMware shared-folder root directly in File Explorer's address bar:

\\vmware-host\Shared Folders

To open one configured folder directly, append its share name:

\\vmware-host\Shared Folders\<share-name>

For a share named Exchange, the path is:

\\vmware-host\Shared Folders\Exchange

The path hierarchy is the VMware host share root followed by the configured shared-folder name. This is an alternative access method, not a separate copy of the data.

Persistence and Scope

The mapping applies to the configured virtual machine and its Windows guest. It does not automatically configure other virtual machines, other Windows installations, or the host operating system.

The mapping remains available while all of these conditions are true:

Shared folders remain enabled for the virtual machine.
VMware Tools is installed, functioning, and providing its shared-folder service.
The configured host folder still exists at the specified path.
The host folder is accessible to the host user running VMware.
The guest is running a supported configuration for VMware shared folders.

To disable drive mapping, return to Virtual Machine Settings > Options > Shared Folders and clear Map as a network drive in Windows guests. To stop all shared-folder access, disable shared folders. To remove one folder while keeping others, select that folder in the shared-folder list and remove it.

Limitations and Safety Considerations

A shared folder is not a backup. If the guest deletes or overwrites a host file, the change can affect the host immediately.
A shared folder is not version control. Use an appropriate backup and source-control system for important data.
Guest write operations are writes to the host folder. Treat a writable share as direct access to host data.
Host filesystem permissions can prevent writing even when the VMware share is not marked read-only.
A read-only share allows viewing and copying but prevents the guest from modifying the shared host folder.
Files may be temporarily unavailable when locked or protected by a host-side application.
Behavior can vary with the VMware Workstation Player version, VMware Tools version, Windows guest version, and guest configuration.

Troubleshooting

Symptom: No shared-folder drive appears. Likely cause: VMware Tools is missing or not running, shared folders are disabled, no folder is configured, or the guest has not restarted after the change. Check: Verify VMware Tools, the shared-folder list, the enabled setting, and the guest restart. Resolution: Repair or update VMware Tools if needed, enable shared folders, configure a folder, apply the settings, restart the guest, and try the direct VMware path.
Symptom: The VMware shared-folder path cannot be opened. Likely cause: VMware Tools shared-folder components are not functioning, or the feature is disabled. Check: Confirm VMware Tools status and the Shared Folders settings. Resolution: Re-enable shared folders, repair or reinstall VMware Tools, restart the virtual machine, and retry \\vmware-host\Shared Folders.
Symptom: A folder appears but cannot be modified. Likely cause: The folder is read-only, host permissions deny writing, or a file is locked. Check: Review the read-only setting, host permissions, file attributes, and host applications. Resolution: Clear read-only only when appropriate, adjust host permissions, or close the application holding the file.
Symptom: The mapped folder is empty or lacks expected files. Likely cause: The configured host path is wrong, a different share was opened, or the host folder was moved, renamed, disconnected, or made inaccessible. Check: Compare the configured path and share name with the actual host folder. Resolution: Correct the host path or restore host access, then restart the guest if necessary.
Symptom: The mapping disappears after a configuration change. Likely cause: Shared folders or drive mapping were disabled, the folder was removed, or VMware Tools was unavailable during startup. Check: Review the Shared Folders settings and VMware Tools status. Resolution: Re-enable the feature, restore the folder entry, apply the settings, and restart or resume the guest.
Symptom: The drive letter differs from another screenshot or virtual machine. Likely cause: Windows assigns available drive letters dynamically, and another drive may already use the expected letter. Check: Inspect the VMware label and the File Explorer network locations. Resolution: Use the VMware/shared-folder label or the direct network path instead of relying on one fixed letter.

Practical Examples

Access a Host Project Folder

Configure the host folder VM-Projects with the share name Projects. Enable Map as a network drive in Windows guests, start the Windows guest, and open the VMware drive in File Explorer. The guest can work with the same files stored in the host project folder, subject to permissions.

Transfer an Installer

Share a dedicated host transfer folder or the host Downloads folder. After the guest starts, open the mapped VMware location and launch or copy the installer. This avoids configuring a separate Windows network share for a simple host-to-guest transfer.

Provide Read-Only Reference Material

Share a host folder containing source materials and enable read-only access. The guest can browse and copy the materials, but attempts to create, rename, delete, or save changes directly in that mapped folder should be blocked.

Open a Share Without a Drive Letter

If the share name is Exchange but no drive letter is visible, enter \\vmware-host\Shared Folders\Exchange in File Explorer's address bar. This opens the same VMware shared folder through its direct guest-side path.

Exam-Relevant Notes

VMware Tools is the guest integration component required for VMware shared-folder access and automatic Windows mapping.
The setting to remember is Map as a network drive in Windows guests, found under Virtual Machine Settings > Options > Shared Folders.
The share name is not necessarily the host folder's actual directory name; it is the identifier assigned in VMware settings.
\\vmware-host\Shared Folders is the common root path, and the configured share name follows it.
A VMware shared folder is host-to-guest integration, not a conventional LAN file share.
Drive letters can vary, so identify the resource by its label or use the direct VMware path.

For a focused walkthrough, see mapping the shared folder as a network drive.