You can connect to a shared folder or NAS (network-attached storage) on a Mac through Finder. Open Finder, select Go > Connect to Server, enter the server’s address—usually in the format smb://server-name/share-name—and select Connect. After you enter the required credentials, the shared folder appears in Finder under Locations and on the Mac desktop if external disks are configured to appear there.
Quick Answer
- Connect your Mac and the NAS or other computer to the same network, usually through Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Open Finder.
- Choose Go > Connect to Server.
- Enter the SMB address, such as
smb://192.168.1.50/Shared. - Select Connect.
- Choose Registered User or Guest, then enter your credentials if prompted.
- Select the shared folder you want to mount.
The share remains available until you disconnect it, restart the Mac, or lose the network connection. You can set it to reconnect automatically through Login Items.
What You Need Before Connecting
Before trying to connect to a shared folder or NAS, make sure you know:
- The NAS or host computer’s name or IP address
- The name of the shared folder
- A username and password, if the share is protected
- Whether the account has permission to access that folder
- Whether the Mac and the NAS are connected to the same local network
A NAS usually provides its server name, IP address, and shared-folder list in its administration app or web interface. If someone else manages the NAS, ask that person for the complete SMB address and the correct account credentials.
What SMB Means
SMB, short for Server Message Block, is a network file-sharing protocol. It is the standard choice for connecting a Mac to many NAS devices and Windows computers.
An SMB address generally follows this pattern:
smb://server-name/share-name
For example:
smb://MyNAS/FamilyPhotos
You can also use the NAS’s local IP address:
smb://192.168.1.50/FamilyPhotos
Use a forward slash / in the address. Do not use backslashes, which are common in some Windows paths.
Connect to a Shared Folder in Finder
Finder is the simplest way to connect to a network drive on macOS.
- Open Finder.
- In the menu bar, choose Go > Connect to Server.
- Enter the server address in the Server Address field.
- Select Connect.
- If macOS asks you to confirm the connection, select Connect again.
- Choose how you want to authenticate:
– Select Guest if the server allows guest access.
– Select Registered User for a named account. - Enter the username and password.
- If available, select Remember this password in my keychain to save the credentials securely.
- Select Connect.
- If the server contains multiple shared folders, select the one you want to mount, then select OK.
The shared folder should now appear in the Finder sidebar under Locations. Open it like any other folder.
Connect Using Only the Server Address
If you do not know the name of a particular share, enter only the server portion of the address:
smb://MyNAS
After you select Connect, macOS may display a list of available shared folders. Select one or more shares and choose OK.
If you already know the share name, entering the complete address is usually faster:
smb://MyNAS/Documents
Use an IP Address When the Server Name Does Not Work
Network names do not always resolve correctly. If smb://MyNAS fails, try the NAS’s local IP address:
smb://192.168.1.50/Documents
The IP address may be shown in the NAS’s administration interface or your router’s connected-device list. Local IP addresses can change unless the router or NAS is configured to reserve one, so an address that works today may not always remain the same.
Choose the Correct Login Option
When macOS asks for credentials, choose the option that matches the server’s configuration.
Guest
Choose Guest only when the shared folder is intentionally configured for guest access. Guest connections do not use a personal username and password, but they may have limited permissions.
Avoid enabling guest access on a NAS merely to solve a login problem. A password-protected account is generally safer, especially for folders containing personal or work files.
Registered User
Choose Registered User when the NAS or computer requires an account. Enter the username and password assigned by the server administrator.
The username may need a specific format depending on the server. If a simple username does not work, ask the administrator whether the account requires a server or domain prefix.
Remember This Password in My Keychain
If you select Remember this password in my keychain, macOS stores the login information in Keychain Access, its built-in credential manager. This avoids repeatedly typing the password without placing it in a plain-text file.
Only save credentials on a Mac that you trust and protect with a secure login password. Do not save a shared administrator account’s password if other people use the Mac.
Find and Use the Mounted Share
After connecting, open Finder and look in the sidebar under Locations. Select the server or shared folder to browse its contents.
Depending on your Finder settings, the share may also appear on the desktop. To control what appears there:
- Open Finder.
- Choose Finder > Settings.
- Select General.
- Under Show these items on the desktop, select or clear Connected servers.
To control the Finder sidebar:
- Open Finder.
- Choose Finder > Settings.
- Select Sidebar.
- Under Locations, enable Connected servers if necessary.
You can open files directly from the network share, but performance depends on the network and the NAS. Large files may take longer to open or save than files stored on the Mac’s internal drive.
Disconnect From a Network Drive
Disconnecting a share removes its current connection from Finder. It does not delete the shared folder or files stored on the NAS.
Before disconnecting, close files that are open from the share and wait for any copies or saves to finish. Disconnecting during a file transfer can interrupt the operation and may leave an incomplete copy.
To disconnect:
- In Finder, locate the share under Locations.
- Select the Eject button next to it, or Control-click the share and choose Eject.
- Alternatively, drag the mounted share to the Trash. The Trash icon changes to an eject symbol for mounted volumes.
If an application is still using a file on the share, macOS may not disconnect it immediately. Close the file or application and try again.
Automatically Mount a NAS or Shared Folder at Login
If you use the same network share regularly, add it to your login items. macOS can then try to reconnect to it when you sign in.
First, connect to the share normally through Finder. Then:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select General.
- Select Login Items.
- Under Open at Login, select the Add (+) button.
- Select the mounted shared folder or server in the file browser.
- Select Open.
The exact behavior can vary. Your Mac must be connected to the network, and the NAS must be available when you sign in. If the server is asleep, offline, or connected through a different network, the automatic connection may fail.
To stop automatic mounting:
- Open System Settings.
- Select General > Login Items.
- Select the shared folder or server under Open at Login.
- Select the Remove (-) button.
Removing the item from Login Items does not delete files or disable the NAS. It only stops macOS from attempting to open that share automatically when you log in.
Fix Permissions and Access Problems
A successful connection does not guarantee that you can open, edit, or delete every file. Access is controlled by permissions on the server.
Common symptoms include:
- You can see a folder but cannot open it.
- You can open files but cannot save changes.
- You can create files but cannot delete or rename them.
- macOS repeatedly asks for a password.
- The server connects under the wrong user account.
Ask the NAS administrator to check the following:
- The account is enabled.
- The account has permission for the specific shared folder.
- The account has the required read or write access.
- The share is not full.
- The NAS has not disabled SMB access for that account.
- The folder’s server-side permissions allow the requested action.
If macOS connected with the wrong account, disconnect the share and reconnect using Registered User. If saved credentials are causing repeated login failures, remove the relevant entry from Keychain Access only after confirming that you know the correct password.
Remove Saved NAS Credentials From Keychain Access
Use care when deleting keychain items. Removing a credential can cause repeated login prompts, but it does not change the NAS account or its password.
- Open Keychain Access. You can find it in Applications > Utilities.
- Search for the NAS name, server name, or IP address.
- Review matching entries before deleting anything.
- Select the credential associated with the network share.
- Press the Delete key or choose the appropriate delete command.
- Confirm the deletion if prompted.
- Disconnect and reconnect to the share in Finder.
Do not delete unrelated keychain items. If you are unsure which entry belongs to the NAS, leave it in place and ask the server administrator for help.
Troubleshooting a Mac That Cannot Connect to a NAS
“There was a problem connecting to the server”
Check the address carefully. Try the server name and then its IP address:
smb://MyNAS/Shared
smb://192.168.1.50/Shared
Also confirm that the NAS is powered on and that the Mac is connected to the correct Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
The Server Does Not Appear in Finder
You do not need the server to appear automatically. Use Go > Connect to Server and enter its SMB address manually.
If discovery is unreliable, use the NAS’s IP address. Guest networks, VPN connections, router isolation, and some firewall configurations can prevent devices from discovering one another even when internet access works.
The Password Is Rejected
Verify that:
- You selected Registered User rather than Guest.
- The username is correct.
- Caps Lock is not enabled.
- The account is allowed to use SMB.
- You are using the NAS account password, not necessarily your Mac login password.
- An old saved password is not being supplied from the keychain.
Disconnect the share before trying another account. A server may continue using the first authenticated session until it is disconnected.
The Share Connects but Files Will Not Open
The account may have permission to list the share but not to read particular files. The file may also be locked, damaged, or stored in a format that the application cannot use over a network connection.
Try copying a small test file to the Mac before opening it. If you cannot copy it, ask the administrator to check permissions and storage availability.
Files Cannot Be Saved or Deleted
You likely have read-only access, or the share is full. Check whether you can create a temporary file in the same folder. If not, the administrator should review the account’s write permissions and the NAS’s available space.
The Connection Drops
Wireless interference, weak Wi-Fi, sleep settings, VPN software, and an unstable NAS connection can interrupt access. For large transfers, use Ethernet when practical, keep the Mac and NAS on the same local network, and avoid disconnecting the Mac from power during the transfer.
If the NAS has gone offline, reconnect through Finder. Do not assume that a file transfer completed merely because it started successfully.
Safe Practices for NAS Connections
- Use a separate NAS account for each person instead of sharing one administrator login.
- Give each account only the access it needs.
- Use a strong, unique NAS password.
- Save credentials in the Mac’s keychain rather than in notes or unencrypted text files.
- Avoid guest access for private or sensitive data.
- Do not expose SMB directly to the public internet.
- Keep important files backed up separately. A NAS is storage, not automatically a backup.
- Eject a share before shutting down the NAS or interrupting a large transfer.
- Be cautious when opening unfamiliar applications or scripts from a shared folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct SMB address format on a Mac?
Use:
smb://server-name/share-name
For example:
smb://MyNAS/Projects
You can substitute the server’s local IP address for its name.
Can I connect to a Windows shared folder from a Mac?
Yes. Windows file sharing commonly uses SMB, so connect through Finder > Go > Connect to Server with the Windows computer’s SMB address and a Windows account that has permission to use the share.
Why does my NAS ask for my password every time?
The password may not have been saved in the keychain, the saved credential may be incorrect, or the server may be configured to require authentication for every session. Reconnect and select Remember this password in my keychain if that option is available.
Can I use a NAS without installing an app?
Usually, yes. Finder can connect to many NAS devices through SMB without a manufacturer-specific Mac app. An app may still be useful for setup, firmware updates, backups, or advanced NAS features.
Does disconnecting a share delete its files?
No. Ejecting a mounted share disconnects your Mac from it. It does not delete the shared folder or its contents.
Can I connect when I am away from home?
A normal local SMB address generally works only on the same network. Remote access requires a properly configured VPN or a NAS remote-access feature. Do not expose SMB ports directly to the internet.
Why can I see the NAS but not a particular folder?
The account may not have permission to that share, the folder may not be published through SMB, or the share name may be incorrect. Check the NAS’s sharing and user-permission settings.
Final Thoughts
The most dependable way to connect to a shared folder or NAS on a Mac is Finder’s Go > Connect to Server command with an SMB address. Use a registered NAS account when possible, store credentials in Keychain Access, and add frequently used shares to System Settings > General > Login Items. If a connection fails, verify the SMB address, network connection, account permissions, and saved credentials before changing server settings.