To mount a drive in Windows 11, open Disk Management (right-click Start > Disk Management), right-click the drive’s volume, choose Change Drive Letter and Paths, click Add and either assign a drive letter or mount it in an empty NTFS folder. A brand-new disk must first be initialised and given a volume with New Simple Volume. To mount an ISO or virtual disk, double-click it or right-click and choose Mount.
Quick Answer
Disk Management > right-click the volume > Change Drive Letter and Paths > Add > assign a letter or empty NTFS folder > OK.
Steps to Mount a Drive
- Connect the drive and right-click Start > Disk Management.
- If Windows asks to initialise a new disk, choose GPT and click OK.
- For unallocated space, right-click it and choose New Simple Volume, following the wizard to format it.
- For an existing volume without a letter, right-click it and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths > Add.
- Pick a drive letter, or choose Mount in the following empty NTFS folder and browse to an empty folder. Click OK.
Mounting Options
| What | How |
|---|---|
| New internal or external disk | Initialise > New Simple Volume |
| Existing volume with no letter | Change Drive Letter and Paths > Add |
| Drive as a folder | Mount in an empty NTFS folder |
| ISO or VHD file | Double-click or right-click > Mount |
| Unmount | Remove the letter/path, or Eject for ISO files |
Troubleshooting
- Drive not listed: Check cables and power, try another port, and look in Device Manager.
- Initialising or formatting erases data: Only do it on a new or empty disk.
- Change the letter later: See changing a drive letter in Windows 11.
- ISO files: See mounting an ISO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mount a drive with a command?
Yes. In an administrator terminal, diskpart’s select volume and assign letter commands do the same thing.
Why use a folder instead of a letter?
It adds storage inside an existing path, such as a large Data folder, without adding another drive letter.
Does mounting format the drive?
No. Assigning a letter or path keeps the data. Only New Simple Volume formats.
Summary
- Open Disk Management.
- Initialise and create a volume if the disk is new.
- Add a letter or folder path.
- Mount ISO files with a double-click.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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