The local device name is already in use Fix

While mapping the network drive names on your network connection settings, specialty while setting up names of your network systems, you may notice an error message ‘The local device name already in use’. You may have already suspected that this issue involves some mapping issues of your network drives. But sometimes, the unassigned drive letters or file and printer sharing settings may cause this issue on your computer.

Fix 1 – Add the Network drive as Network location

Instead of mapping the network drive, add the Network drive as a network location.

Fix 2 – Remap the drive

You can remap the drive with which you are facing this issue on your system.

1. You need to click on the search box and start to write “cmd“.

2. Further, right-click on the “Command Prompt” and click on “Run as administrators“.

 

Cmd Search New Min

 

3. Paste this code in the terminal. Thereafter, hit Enter to delete the conflicted user name.

net use * /delete

2. Once you have deleted the device name, paste this code modify it, and hit Enter.

net use Z://server/share/user: your_password

NOTE– Please replace your_password with your password

Once you have done these steps, close the CMD screen and restart your system once. This should have fixed your problem.



Fix 3 – Restart Workstation service

1 – Search CMD in windows search.

2 – Right click and choose run as administrator.

Cmd Admin Min

 

3 – Now, type the command given below.

net stop "workstation"

4 – No again type the command given below.



net start "workstation"

 

Workstation Min

5 – Close the command prompt and try again.

Fix 4 – Reboot the computer browser

Some users have reported that they have solved this issue just by restating the browser on their system.

1. Right-click on the Windows key and click on “Run“.

2. Type “cmd” and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys together.

 

Explorer Cmd

 

3. To stop the browser settings on your computer, type this code, and hit Enter thereafter.

net stop "Computer Browser"

 

Net Stop Computer Browser Min

 

4. Now, you have to reinitialize the computer browser on your system. To do that, execute this code.

net start "Computer Browser"

 

Net Start Computer Browser Min

 

Exit the terminal and check if this has solved your concerned issue.

 

Fix 5  – Remove the particular key

If you are facing this issue with a virtual drive or a CD/DVD drive on your system, consider this fix for a perfect solution for your case.

1. Press Windows key+R to launch the Run.

2. Then, type “regedit“. Click on “OK” further to open the Registry Editor.

 

4 Run Regedit

NOTE –

Registry Editor is a very sensitive place on your computer. Any unaccounted changes may lead to an unstable system. We request to make a backup of the registry on your computer.

Once you have opened the Registry Editor, click on “File“. Then click on “Export” to make a new backup on your computer.

 

Export Registry

3. Once you have taken the backup, go to this location-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

 

4. On the left-hand side, right-click on the “MountPoints2” key and click on “Delete“.

 

Mountpoints2 Reg Delete Min

 

Consent with any warning message that appears on your screen.

After deleting the key from your system, close the registry editor window. Restart your computer and check if this works out for you or not.

 

Fix 6 – Assign a new drive letter

You need to assign a new drive letter to get rid of the conflict.

1. Press the Windows key +X keys together.

2. After that, you need to click on the “Disk Management” to access it.

 

Disk Management Min

 

3. When the Disk Management opens up, look for the problematic drive on your screen.

4. Right-click on the conflicted drive and click on the “Change Drive Letter and Paths…“.

 

Change Drive Letter Min

 

5. Click on “Change“.

 

Change Min

 

6. You have to click on the radio button beside “Assign the following drive letter“.

7. Then, assign the drive letter “A” or “B” from the drop-down option.

8. To complete the change, click on “OK“.

 

Finally Change The Drive Letter Min

 

This should help you to fix the issue on your computer.

Fix 7 – Enable File and Printer sharing settings

Try enabling the file and printer sharing settings on your system.

1. Press the Windows key+R keys together.

2. After that, type this code and hit Enter.

control firewall.cpl

 

Control Firewall New Min

 

3. Once the firewall setting opens up, you need to click on the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall“.

 

Allow An App

 

4. Just click on “Change settings” to change the settings on your computer.

5. Then, check box the “File and Printer Sharing” settings and click on “OK“.

 



File And Printer Sharing Min

 

Close any opened window and restart your system.

 

Fix 8 – Check the space on the network device

This problem sometimes occurs due to a shortage of space in the network device on your computer.

You need to have some free space in the root folders of the network device so that it operates smoothly. At least allow 5 GB free space to avoid this error message.

 

Fix 9 – Modify the value of ProtectionMode

You can modify the registry further if the previous fixes didn’t help you out.

1. Type “regedit” in the search box and click on “Registry Editor” to access it.

 

Regedit New Press Enter

 

2. Once the Registry Editor opens up, navigate to this place –

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\

 

3. On the right-hand side, double click on the “ProtectionMode” key.

 

Protection Mode Dc Min

 

4. Set the value to “1” and click on “OK“.

 

Value Data 1 Ok Min

 

Once you have done this, close the Registry Editor screen. Restart the system and check if this solves.