How to Fix the "Could Not Reconnect All Network Drives" Error on Windows

The Windows OS automatically recognizes connected external devices and map them accordingly. This saves you from the hassle of mapping external network drives manually. However, at times due to issues with the User Account Control, you may encounter the could not reconnect all network drives error.

A simple disconnect and reconnect of network drives can help you resolve this error. However, if that does not work, you can configure the Logon policy using the Group Policy Editor to resolve the error. Here we will discuss this and more solutions to fix the could not reconnect all network driver error in Windows.

1. Install the Latest Windows Updates

Microsoft recommends installing the latest update to fix the problem on an older version of a Windows computer. Check if you have a new feature update available in the update center and install them to see if that helps fix the error.

To install Windows 11 updates:

2. Disconnect the Network Drives

If you know which drive is causing the error, a simple disconnect and reconnect can help you resolve the error.

To disconnect the drive:

3. Force Windows to Wait for the Network on Computer Startup

As discussed previously, the could not reconnect all network drives error often occurs due to automatic mapping of network drives. To resolve this, you can make Windows wait for the network at the computer startup and log on using Group Policy Editor.

Note that Group Policy Editor is only available on Windows Pro, Edu, and Enterprise editions of the OS. Read our guide on how to enable GPEdit on Windows Home if you are using the Home edition of the OS, and then proceed with the steps below.

To change the Logon policy using GPEdit:

Type gpedit.msc and click OK to open Group Polict Editor.

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon

In the right pane, locate and double-click on Always for the network at computer startup and logon policy.

4. Map Drives Using a Batch Script

If tweaking the logon policy in Group Policy Editor did not help, you can use a batch script to fix this error. This method involves creating a new batch script for Command Prompt and PowerShell that will run at startup and map the necessary drives.

To create a batch script to map drives in Windows:

Open a new Notepad file. To do this, press Win + R to open Run, type notepad, and click OK.

PowerShell -Command "Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser Unrestricted" >> "%TEMP%\StartupLog.txt" 2>&1
PowerShell -File "%SystemDrive%\Scripts\MapDrives.ps1" >> "%TEMP%\StartupLog.txt" 2>&1

Next, press Ctrl + S to open the Save dialog.

Next, we will create a powershell script. To do this, open a new Notepad file.

$i=3
while($True){
$error.clear()
$MappedDrives = Get-SmbMapping |where -property Status -Value Unavailable -EQ | select LocalPath,RemotePath
foreach( $MappedDrive in $MappedDrives)
{
try {
New-SmbMapping -LocalPath $MappedDrive.LocalPath -RemotePath $MappedDrive.RemotePath -Persistent $True
} catch {
Write-Host "There was an error mapping $MappedDrive.RemotePath to $MappedDrive.LocalPath"
}
}
$i = $i - 1
if($error.Count -eq 0 -Or $i -eq 0) {break}
Start-Sleep -Seconds 30
}

Next, click the drop-down for Save as type and select All Files.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

Once done, restart your PC. Windows will run the MapDrives script automatically when the PC restarts and resolve the error could not reconnect all network drives.

5. Use Task Scheduler to Run the Script

If, for some reason, Windows fails to run the MapDrives.ps1 script during startup, you can use the Task Scheduler to perform this task. All you have to do is create a new task to start a program and set it to run the MapDrives script created earlier. Here’s how to do it.

Next, click on Action and then click on Create Task.

In the Name field, type a name for the task.

Once done, click OK.

Next, open the Actions tab and click the New button.

Next, click on the Browse button.

-windowsstyle hidden -command .\MapDrives.ps1 >> %TEMP%\StartupLog.txt 2>&1

%SystemDrive%\Scripts\

Next, open the Conditions tab.

Finally, restart your PC to apply the changes. Task Scheduler will work similarly to the Command Prompt script added to the Startup folder and run the script to map drives during logon.

6. Disable The Network Drive Notification Using Registry Editor

If you want to stop the could not reconnect all network drives notification, you can do it by tweaking a registry entry. Here’s how to do it.

Note that incorrect modification to registry entries can cause system malfunction. We recommend you create a system restore point before proceeding with the steps below.

Alternatively, you can also enable automatic registry backups in Windows 11 to be on the safer side.

Once done, proceed with the steps below to disable could not reconnect all network drives notifications in Windows.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider

To create a new value, right-click on the NetworkProvider key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Right-click on RestoreConnection and select Modify.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC. While this will not resolve the error, it will likely prevent the annoying error notification popup each time you log in.

Resolve the "Could Not Reconnect All Network Drives" Error in Windows

While the troubleshooting tips in the article are useful, you can also use a third-party network drive manager for the correct management of network drives. These tools ensure network drives get properly connected after logon and minimize the chances of network drive-related errors.

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