How to Access SharePoint from Windows Explorer
In today’s digital age, SharePoint has become an essential tool for organizations to manage and share documents, collaborate with team members, and streamline workflows. Windows Explorer, being a familiar and intuitive file management tool, allows users to easily access SharePoint sites and navigate through their content. This article will guide you through the steps to access SharePoint from Windows Explorer, making it easier for you to work with your organization’s documents and resources.
Step 1: Open Windows Explorer
To begin, open Windows Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard. This will open the file management window, where you can navigate through your computer’s files and folders.
Step 2: Map SharePoint as a Network Drive
To access SharePoint from Windows Explorer, you need to map it as a network drive. This will allow you to view and interact with SharePoint sites as if they were local folders on your computer. Here’s how to do it:
1. In Windows Explorer, click on the “Map network drive” option located in the toolbar or go to “File” > “Map network drive” from the menu.
2. A dialog box will appear, prompting you to choose a drive letter for the network drive. Select an available letter and click “OK.”
3. In the “Folder” field, enter the URL of the SharePoint site you want to access. It should look like this: “https://yoursharepointsite.com/sites/yoursitecollection”. Replace “yoursharepointsite.com” and “yoursitecollection” with your actual SharePoint site address and collection name.
4. Click “OK” to map the network drive.
Step 3: Accessing SharePoint from Windows Explorer
Now that you have mapped SharePoint as a network drive, you can easily access it from Windows Explorer. To do this:
1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the mapped network drive.
2. You should see the SharePoint site structure, including libraries, lists, and folders. Double-click on any item to open it, or right-click to perform actions like create, edit, or delete files and folders.
Step 4: Unmapping the Network Drive
When you’re done working with SharePoint, you can unmap the network drive to free up the drive letter. To do this:
1. In Windows Explorer, right-click on the mapped network drive and select “Eject.”
2. Confirm the action, and the network drive will be unmounted.
Conclusion
Accessing SharePoint from Windows Explorer can greatly simplify your workflow and make it easier to manage your organization’s documents and resources. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly map SharePoint as a network drive and navigate through its content with ease. Happy collaborating!
