Quick answer: Open the Files app, click the three-dot menu, choose Services > SMB file share, and enter your network drive’s address in the format smb://servername/sharename along with your username and password. It appears in the Files app sidebar once connected.
What This Feature Does
ChromeOS has a built-in SMB (Samba) client, meaning your Chromebook can connect directly to a network-attached storage (NAS) device, a Windows shared folder, or any server that shares files over SMB — without installing any extra app. Once connected, the shared folder shows up in the Files app just like a USB drive or Google Drive.
How to Connect a Network Drive on a Chromebook
1. Find your network drive’s address
You’ll need the server name or IP address and the exact share name. On a NAS, this is usually shown in its admin dashboard; on Windows, right-click a shared folder and check its network path (it looks like \COMPUTERNAMEShareName).
2. Open the Files app
Click the Files app icon in the shelf, or open it from the app launcher.
3. Add the SMB share
Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Services > SMB file share (on some ChromeOS versions this appears as “Add new services”).
4. Enter the file share URL
Type the address as smb://servername/sharename, or use the Windows-style path \servernamesharename — ChromeOS accepts both formats.
5. Enter your credentials
If the share requires a login, enter the username and password. Leave these blank if the share allows guest or anonymous access.
6. Browse your network drive
Once connected, the share appears as a new entry in the Files app sidebar. You can open, copy, and (depending on permissions) edit files directly from it.
Things to Know Before You Start
- SMB support on ChromeOS is experimental — Google notes it may change or be adjusted in future updates.
- Connections generally don’t persist across reboots. You’ll likely need to reconnect the share each time you restart the Chromebook.
- Both devices need to be on the same local network — this won’t work over the internet without a VPN into your home or office network.
- On managed school or work Chromebooks, an administrator may need to allow this feature, or it may already be pre-configured for you.
Still Not Connecting?
If the share doesn’t show up, double-check the address format and that the NAS or shared folder allows SMB1/SMB2 connections (some modern NAS devices disable older SMB versions by default for security). Also confirm the Chromebook and the server are on the same Wi-Fi network or subnet — see our Static IP Address guide if your network setup requires a fixed address for reliable access.
FAQ
Can I access an SMB share while away from home?
Not directly — you’d need a VPN connection into your home or office network first, since SMB is designed for local networks.
Does this work with Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive instead?
No, those are handled separately — see our guide on adding Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive to the Files app.
Why do I have to reconnect my network drive every time I restart?
SMB shares aren’t saved permanently in most ChromeOS versions — this is a known limitation of the experimental feature, not a configuration mistake.
