Two names for one resource
A mapped drive gives a network share a local drive letter such as Z:. A UNC path names the host and share directly, such as \\fileserver\finance. On your computer, both may open the same location.
| PROPERTY | UNC PATH | MAPPED DRIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Example | \\server\share | Z:\ |
| Scope | Network address | User and session |
| Good for scripts | Yes | Usually no |
| Easy for people | Explicit | Short and familiar |
Why mapped drives disappear
Drive mappings are created inside a particular user’s sign-in session. A scheduled task, Windows service, elevated process, or another user may not inherit them. That is why a script can report that Z: does not exist even while File Explorer opens it normally.
Practical rule
Mapped drives are convenient shortcuts for interactive work. Use UNC paths in automation, configuration, documentation, and anything another machine or account must run.
# Prefer this in a script Copy-Item '\\fileserver\finance\report.xlsx' 'C:\Reports'