Find a File or Folder Path

Introduction

This is a guide on finding your file and folder paths for local and network drives on your computer.

Applicability

This article is for clients or analysts who require the file and/or folder paths on local or network drives in Windows and macOS.

Procedure

Please contact IST for any access requests to files and folders on network drives. When submitting a request please include both the Network Drive Information and the File/Folder Path. In addition, if there are issues or concerns with locating this informatoin or using this knowledge article please contact IST for assistance.

Glossary

Windows

Network Drives Only - Use Command Prompt to determine the Network Drive Information

Network and Local Drives - Use File Explorer to determine the file or folder path

macOS (Apple)

Glossary

The terms below are referenced throughout the knowledge article.

Network Drive: A drive stored on a server housing data for your department. Access is controlled by your account and authorized by an approver in the department.

Local Drive: A drive stored on your local computer. As an example data on your C: drive, including your Desktop and Downloads folders, are on your local drive.

Network Drive Information: The server and root folder of the network drive where your data is housed. Example: \\sts.ad.ualberta.ca\department

File/Folder Path: The full pathway from the server to the folder where a file is located. Example: \\sts.ad.ualberta.ca\department\folder\file

Windows

To find file/folder path information in Windows for network drives there is a two step process utilizing both Command Prompt and File Explorer. For local drives (i.e data on your local computer) only the File Explorer steps are required. For access requests to Network Drives or Files/Folders stored in them BOTH the Network Drive Information and File/Folder path are required.

The steps and screenshots below were taken from Windows 10, though the general process should work in other versions of Windows if required.

Network Drives Only - Use Command Prompt to determine the Network Drive Information

The net use command inside Windows Command Prompt allows you to determine the Network Drive Information of all network drives you are currently connected to on your computer.

1. Right click on the Start Button and select Run from the list of options. Alternatively, you can press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard simultaneously.

2. In the Run box that appears type CMD and press Enter or click OK to open the Command Prompt.

3. In Command Prompt type in net use and then press Enter. A list of your network drives and their corresponding drive letters will appear. Highlight the Network Drive Information you need (ex: \\sts.ad.ualberta.ca\department) and then copy the information using the CTRL+C command on your keyboard. You can then paste the information into a ticket, document, e-mail, etc.

**Please note, identifying information has been removed in the screenshot above. Your results should look similar with the full pathway listed.

Network and Local Drives - Use File Explorer to determine the file or folder path

If there is a specific file or folder inside of your drive (local or network) that you require the full path for you can use the Windows File Explorer to obtain this information. If the file or folder is stored on a network drive, you may need to follow the steps above using Command Prompt to determine the Network Drive Information first. Reminder: If you are requesting access to a file/folder on a network drive, both the Network Drive Information and File/Folder path are required when submitting your request.

1. Right Click on the Start Button and select File Explorer

2. In the left hand pane of the File Explorer window select This PC. Open the drive containing the file or folder you need and navigate to that location.

3. Right click inside the Address Bar where the file and/or folder path is located and select Copy address. You can then paste this information into a ticket, document, e-mail, etc.

macOS (Apple)

In macOS you only need to use the Finder application to help you locate both the Network Drive Information and File/Folder Path for local and network drives. This process works on all currently supported versions of macOS.

1. To open Finder, click on the Finder icon on your Dock

2. Look for your file or folder. To get your path, either Right-click or Control + left click on the file or folder, then click Get info

3. Under General: your path is in Server:

4. You can copy this path and paste it on to your email, document, etc.

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