Libraries - Include a Network Folder

How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

By default, Windows 7 and Windows 8 does not allow you to include network drives or folders in a library. This is because folders must be indexed first in order to be added to a library, and network drives cannot be indexed unless they are synchronized.

This tutorial will show you how to include network drives or folders in a library in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

   Tip

The full path to the hidden Libraries folder is below.

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

OR

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

OPTION ONE

Synchronize the Network Folder or Drive

:warn:WARNING: The disadvantage of this method is that it actually copies (syncs) all network files locally so that they are available offline. It actually makes networking useless since you have to bring everything on your PC. For those not interested for this approach, please use method 2. 1. Right click on the network folder or network drive you wish to include to a library (or create a new one for it) and select "Always Available Offline". A synching process will start, synchronizing your network folder.


2. Now you can add it to a library in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

OPTION TWO

Using mklink Command

NOTE: This open is good if you don't want to make the folder available offline using OPTION ONE above because you don't want to keep the folder contents on your PC. Using this option will make searching, sorting, and filtering in the whole library slow. For best results, it's recommended to create a new library for the network folder alone. 1. Create a new folder (ex: c:\shares) on your hard drive.

2. Create a new subfolder (ex: c:\shares\pictures) in the above folder.

3. Include this folder (ex: c:\shares\pictures) to a library.

4. Delete the folder (ex: c:\shares\pictures), but do not remove it from the library.

5. Use mklink in an elevated command prompt to make a symbolic link. Name the link the same as the folder you created above. i.e - mklink /d "LINK" "TARGET"

mklink /d "c:\shares\pictures" \\Server\Network Folder

6. Done. Now you have a non-indexed network path as a library.
Limneos

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7
• How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 7
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 8
• How to Include a Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Add a Folder to a Library in Windows 8
• How to Remove a Folder from a Library in Windows 8
• How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Included Folder from a Library in Windows 7
• How to Set the Default Save Folder for a Library in Windows 7
• User Folders in Windows 7 Libraries
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Include in library" in Windows 7 Context Menu
• How to Arrange Folders Included in a Library in Any Order in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[Ryechz]

Search Indexing

I am pretty sure that Microsoft removed the feature to drive it's customers to installing Windows 7 Enterprise. They are trying to push Enterprise Search instead. Check out this link: http://www.microsoft.com/enterprisesearch/en/us/business-productivity.aspx

Actually, it is a pretty cool technology, that paired with Brache Cache and Direct Access makes a pretty awesome combination.

 

[Bottazzoli]

I use Win7LibraryTool_v1.05 on 5 PC's, not any problem. It's easy and I can save the basic settings and individual settings with adequate icons. The NAS folders are included but the warning message is displayed the first time use of the folder.

JPB

 

[Golden]

Hi Limneos,

Can you edit your tutorial to make it clear that the user just needs to delete the \Music folder, not the \Share\Music folders? At the moment the steps imply deleting both, which cause the symbolic link not to work.

Regards,
Golden

 

[travist]

I was looking for an answer to this the other day. I kept reading that this is possible in the x86 version, but not in the x64. I have one x64 machine that I have network drives listed in the libraries, but couldn't figure out how to do it on my new machine.

I just thought to try and add it in WMP to see if it would carry over, and low and behold it did. Came to post on here, and realized that a couple people had already done so.

Anyway, if you are trying to add network shares to the default Pictures, Music, and Videos libraries, if you configure these through WMP you will be able to access the folders through the library links even if they are on an un-indexed network share.

 

[PeterM42]

Libraries - What is the point?

Amazing isn't it? - the only workaround for a totally unbelievable piece of Operating System vandalism is to utilise Windows Media Player. Come on Microsoft - GET A GRIP!!!!!

 

[Golden]

Amazing isn't it? - the only workaround for a totally unbelievable piece of Operating System vandalism is to utilise Windows Media Player. Come on Microsoft - GET A GRIP!!!!!

Peter, send your complaint directly to Microsoft - it won't help complaining about it here.

Regards,
Golden

 

[PeterM42]

Windows 7 Libraries

"Peter, send your complaint directly to Microsoft - it won't help complaining about it here.
Regards,
Golden"

Yeah - like they are going to take notice!

 

[kado897]

Or you just download this little peace of software makes it possible to add a network location to your library too.

Win7 Library Tool Zorn Software

Thank's a very useful little program.

 

[dognose]

Jesus Christ!

I signed up for this post, because what you are doing there with simlinks and apps and stuff ist just ...

Step 1.)
Visit the computer, running the desired Folder you've shared and want to add in your library on another computer.

Step 2.)
Activate Indexing for the folder on THAT Computer (let's call it Server)

Step 3.)
Include your folder on EVERY Client Computer Library you like... Without doing any dirty workarrounds.

Picture-Line:
1.) Fail! http://dog.kraffner.de/easyshare/pictures/20110817172754.jpg
2.) Add Index on SERVER: http://dog.kraffner.de/easyshare/pictures/20110817173100.jpg
3.) Win! http://dog.kraffner.de/easyshare/pictures/20110817173126.jpg

best regards,
dognose

 

[kado897]

Hello dognose and welcome to Seven Forums.

Interesting suggestion, may work with a networked computer but I don't see how that could work with a NAS some of the other suggestions do.

 

[dognose]

Hello dognose and welcome to Seven Forums.

Interesting suggestion, may work with a networked computer but I don't see how that could work with a NAS some of the other suggestions do.

In this situation you are right. Since a NAS isnt windows based most the time, THERE you need another way.

IIRC, it will work (without any tools), if you map the destination folder as a network drive, and then include the network drive to the library.

(Well this ofc. is similar to using simlinks then.)

dognose

 

[RSargeant]

Hi all,

There is an official "Microsoft" way of making Libraries behave better with non-indexed network locations. Here's how.

Log in using an administrative account.
Run "gpedit.msc". This will open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Drill down to User Configuration, Windows Components, Windows Explorer
Look in the right-hand pane and find the Line "Turn off Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed file data"
Double-click on that line, read the explanation, then set it to "Enabled".
Restart

Now you should be able to add NAS and other non-indexed locations without Windows complaining!
To set things back the way they were, just repeat the above, setting the same policy to "Not configured".

Here's the description of this policy setting from MS:


Requirements:
At least Windows 7 or Windows Server2008 R2
Description:
This policy setting allows you to turn off Windows Libraries features that need indexed file metadata to Function properly. If you enable this policy, some Windows Libraries Features will be turned off to better handle included folders that have been redirected to non-indexed network locations.
Setting this policy will:
* Disable all Arrangement views except for “By Folder”
* Disable all Search filter suggestions other than “Date Modified” and “Size”
* Disable view of file content snippets in Content mode when search results are returned
* Disable ability to stack in the Context menu and Column headers
* Exclude Libraries from the scope of Start search
This policy will not enable users to add unsupported locations to Libraries.
If you enable this policy, Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed File data will be disabled.
If you disable or do not configure this policy, all default Windows Libraries Features will be enabled.

Hope this helps.

Richard

 

[RSargeant]

Network files can be indexed without synchronisation

"By default, Windows 7 does not allow you to include network drives or folders in a library. This is because folders must be indexed first in order to be added to a library, and network drives cannot be indexed unless they are synchronized. This will show you how to do that and add them to a library."

This is somewhat less than a complete statement. If the network location has an acceptable indexing service running locally, Windows 7 will in fact allow you to add the network drive to the library. So in a typical MS shop where the server is running a recent version of Windows Server and the indexing is enabled on the drive concerned, it will work.

Since most NAS run some version of Linux for obvious reasons of economy, such NAS devices cannot unfortunately be added to libraries. No reason why the Linux guys could not write something that would meet the specs, but getting the NAS manufacturers to include that would be quite a step.

This is one small advantage of using a NAS based on the OEM version of Windows Server, Windows Storage Server. The licensing costs for that OS version are much lower, but it's not free like Linux, so these are premium devices, but they do exist! Windows Home Server also has the service.

If this facility is vitally important to you, you could do worse than deploy a cheap Atom-based PC running Windows 7 as a network server. Still not as cheap as most NAS though.

Richard

 

[kado897]

Hi all,

There is an official "Microsoft" way of making Libraries behave better with non-indexed network locations. Here's how.

Log in using an administrative account.
Run "gpedit.msc". This will open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Drill down to User Configuration, Windows Components, Windows Explorer
Look in the right-hand pane and find the Line "Turn off Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed file data"
Double-click on that line, read the explanation, then set it to "Enabled".
Restart

Now you should be able to add NAS and other non-indexed locations without Windows complaining!
To set things back the way they were, just repeat the above, setting the same policy to "Not configured".

Here's the description of this policy setting from MS:


Requirements:
At least Windows 7 or Windows Server2008 R2
Description:
This policy setting allows you to turn off Windows Libraries features that need indexed file metadata to Function properly. If you enable this policy, some Windows Libraries Features will be turned off to better handle included folders that have been redirected to non-indexed network locations.
Setting this policy will:
* Disable all Arrangement views except for “By Folder”
* Disable all Search filter suggestions other than “Date Modified” and “Size”
* Disable view of file content snippets in Content mode when search results are returned
* Disable ability to stack in the Context menu and Column headers
* Exclude Libraries from the scope of Start search
This policy will not enable users to add unsupported locations to Libraries.
If you enable this policy, Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed File data will be disabled.
If you disable or do not configure this policy, all default Windows Libraries Features will be enabled.

Hope this helps.

Richard

Unfortunately for those of us using Home Premium we don't have gpedit.msc

 

[WraithLunati]

Simplest solution

I've read through this forum and I've got a much simpler solution.

I myself have a Server (running R2 2008) with 16TB of storage space (8x2TB).

One of these 2TB drives has my Music/Pictures/Video on it. The drive is shared via Group Policy automatically between all machines joined to the domain. This is not necessary, just sayin' this is my setup. All you really need is to map the network share to a drive on your computer.

Caveat, I use this method because the server is my central storage location.

Step by step:

1. Right-click the "My Music" folder in your Music Library.
2. Under location, select the folder on the mapped drive or if you are using an entire mapped drive, just the drive itself.
3. It will ask you if you want to move the files, the local library was empty so I say yes.
4. Hit OK, and you're done.

Easy right?

Hope you enjoy this solution.

 

[RSargeant]

I've read through this forum and I've got a much simpler solution.

...

Easy right?

Hope you enjoy this solution.

Thanks for your contribution WraithLunati. However you've totally missed the fact that the problem being discussed here deals with connecting to a share via DFS (Distributed File System) rather than directly to a share as you are describing.

What we are attempting is a connection to \\AD_domain_name\Mount_name.
What you describe is a connection to \\Server_name\Share_name.

Thanks anyway!

RS

 

[TekBoi]

SUCCESS!

I was not planning on having a duplicate of my 450GB+ video library on my server.

Option #2 worked like a charm!

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I ran the command from Option 2 (Step 5) what happened ? I want to reverse it.
I still can't add a Network Drive / Folder to the Library, even after following each step, thoroughly.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jerome,

I've just updated OPTION TWO to help make it more clear and easier to use. You might see if that may help.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Hello Jerome,

I've just updated OPTION TWO to help make it more clear and easier to use. You might see if that may help.

When I try to access a Library that I created that was suppose to link to a Network drive, everything works except I get an error. The symbolic link works, when I go to access the Library folder, "The Network cannot be found" ?