Windows
Shared drive access failed with 'The local device name is already in use, this connection has not been restored'
Access to a shared drive failed with the Windows error about the local device name already being in use and the connection not being restored. Support reset the password, and the user was able to get back in.
Killed once by someone from XL.net, on 2026-10-02.
What you see
- Windows shows: 'The local device name is already in use, this connection has not been restored' when trying to access the shared drive.
Why it happens
Suspected Suspected password sync issue
When it shows up
A Windows user cannot reconnect to a shared drive and sees the local-device-name-in-use message.
You are in this case if:
- Exact error: 'The local device name is already in use, this connection has not been restored'
1 fix below
The steps that killed it
The steps are behind a quick check
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Someone from XL.net killed this on a Windows computer on 2026-10-02. It is written up from that one repair, so it cites no outside page.