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You can mount a WebDAV share in Windows without RaiDrive using the built-in WebDAV redirector. In File Explorer, open This PC, choose Map network drive, select a drive letter, and enter the WebDAV URL supplied by your provider. Windows may then prompt for credentials. If you need a repeatable command-line setup, use NET USE instead.
Choose File Explorer or the command line
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| File Explorer: Map network drive | Interactive setup and entering credentials when prompted | Requires the WebClient service and a correctly formed URL from your provider. |
NET USE |
Repeatable setup or scripting | Requires correct URL syntax and is subject to the same service, server, and authentication issues. |
Map the WebDAV share in File Explorer
- Get the exact WebDAV URL and supported authentication method from your provider or administrator. The address may include a path; do not assume a sample URL will work for your service.
- Open File Explorer, select This PC, then choose Map network drive.
- Choose an available drive letter. Enter the provider’s WebDAV URL in the folder field.
- Complete the wizard. If Windows prompts, enter the credentials for the WebDAV account.
- Open the mapped drive in File Explorer to check that you can browse the share and access the files your account is permitted to use.
Windows performs this through its WebDAV redirector, which uses the WebClient service. The wizard’s exact options can vary with the Windows version.
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Map it with NET USE
Microsoft documents this general command-line example:
NET USE * https://webdav.example.com/path
Replace the example address with the exact endpoint supplied by your provider. The * asks Windows to assign the next available drive letter. This command does not bypass WebClient, server, or authentication problems; it is an alternative way to initiate the mapping.
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Microsoft’s redirector documentation discusses Basic Authentication in connection with SSL. Use HTTPS when credentials are sent using Basic Authentication; do not treat enabling Basic Authentication over plain HTTP as a routine workaround. See Microsoft’s WebDAV Redirector documentation and its authentication guidance.
Troubleshoot a drive that will not connect
System error 67 or an unavailable share
Error 67 can occur if the WebClient service is stopped or the WebDAV redirector is unavailable. Confirm that the server is reachable, WebDAV is enabled on it, and the URL is the WebDAV endpoint rather than a regular web page. Microsoft documents the redirector and related troubleshooting in its WebDAV Redirector guidance.
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System error 5 or access denied
Error 5 can point to invalid credentials, insufficient permissions, a nonexistent account, or an authentication configuration problem. On an IIS WebDAV site, error 1920 can mean the account has no authoring rule. Ask the provider or administrator to verify the account, permissions, and server authentication settings rather than repeatedly changing Windows settings.
Certificate prompt or HTTPS failure
If Windows prompts you to select a certificate, Microsoft identifies a mismatch between the hostname in the URL and the name on the SSL certificate as a possible cause. Use the provider’s correct hostname and a valid certificate; do not work around a certificate mismatch by switching to an unencrypted connection.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
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Credentials are not sent to a fully qualified domain name
In certain configurations, the WebDAV redirector may not automatically forward credentials to a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), or may fail to restore them after sign-in. Microsoft’s AuthForwardServerList registry remedy is for specific scenarios, not a normal first-time setup step. It permits credential forwarding to matching servers, so Microsoft advises keeping the list restrictive; the WebClient service must be restarted after a change. Consult an administrator and follow Microsoft’s credential-forwarding guidance before making registry changes.
A large transfer fails or a directory listing is incomplete
Microsoft’s 2022 redirector documentation lists defaults of 50,000,000 bytes (50 MB) for file transfers and 1,000,000 bytes (1 MB) for collection attributes. These are documented defaults for the Windows redirector, not universal limits for every WebDAV client or server. If failures consistently occur around a size threshold or large directories list incompletely, first identify the server and error. Registry-level changes require restarting WebClient; avoid changing these values without diagnosing the cause. See Microsoft’s redirector reference.
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Linux-hosted share has names that differ only by letter case
Windows treats file names as case-insensitive, while Linux is case-sensitive. Microsoft warns that names differing only by case can cause overwritten data or file-not-found errors when accessed through the Windows redirector. If the share contains such names, ask its administrator about a naming approach that avoids case-only differences.
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Reconnect after signing in
If the drive works until you sign out or restart, check the mapping wizard’s reconnect option, if available, and confirm that credentials are being restored correctly. If a fully qualified hostname is involved and credentials are not restored, use the FQDN troubleshooting guidance above with an administrator rather than broadly allowing credential forwarding.
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