Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: "Network path was not found" error when Windows resumes, if remote folders are open

Fix Network path was not found error when Windows resumes with open remote folders.

Quick Answer: Close all open network drives before sleep or hibernate to prevent this issue.

The 'Network path was not found' error occurs when Windows resumes from sleep or hibernate and attempts to access open network drive folders. This issue affects users who have remote folders open in Explorer at the time of sleep, resulting in an error message with code 0x80070035.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents users from accessing their files immediately after resuming from a power-saving state. Fortunately, there are methods to resolve this issue and ensure seamless access to network drive folders.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • When Windows goes to sleep or hibernate, the operating system temporarily disconnects the network interface to conserve resources. During this time, any open network drive folders are not updated with the new connection state. When Windows resumes, it attempts to access these folders using the old connection state, resulting in the 'Network path was not found' error.
  • Another possible cause is a misconfigured network drive mapping or a corrupted system file that prevents Windows from recognizing the network drive folder.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Preventing Windows from accessing open network drive folders during sleep

  1. Step 1: Press the Windows key + X and select Task Manager. In the Task Manager, go to the 'Processes' tab and find the process that is keeping the network drive folder open (usually 'explorer.exe'). Right-click on this process and select 'End task'. This will close the Explorer window and prevent Windows from accessing the network drive folder during sleep.
  2. Step 2: Open File Explorer and navigate to the network drive folder. Right-click on the folder and select 'Properties'. In the Properties window, uncheck the box next to 'Reconnect at sign-in' under the 'Network location' tab. This will ensure that Windows does not attempt to reconnect to the network drive folder during sleep.
  3. Step 3: Set the network drive folder to 'Disconnect on logout' by right-clicking on the folder and selecting 'Properties'. In the Properties window, check the box next to 'Disconnect on logout' under the 'Network location' tab.

Configuring Windows to reconnect to network drive folders during resume

  1. Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the network drive folder. Right-click on the folder and select 'Properties'. In the Properties window, check the box next to 'Reconnect at sign-in' under the 'Network location' tab. This will ensure that Windows reconnects to the network drive folder during resume.
  2. Step 2: Set up a scheduled task to run a script that re-establishes the connection to the network drive folder when Windows resumes from sleep or hibernate. You can use the Task Scheduler applet to create this task.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the 'Network path was not found' error, you can try either preventing Windows from accessing open network drive folders during sleep or configuring Windows to reconnect to these folders during resume. By following these steps, you should be able to access your remote files seamlessly after resuming from a power-saving state.

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