Windows Make Symlink [patched] Official

New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path "C:\LinkPath\file.txt" -Target "C:\TargetPath\file.txt" Use code with caution. powershell

In (equivalent but native):

The most common way to create a symlink is using the mklink command. mklink "C:\Path\To\Link.txt" "C:\Path\To\OriginalFile.txt" Use code with caution. windows make symlink

mklink "Path\To\NewLink.txt" "Path\To\ExistingFile.txt"

In :

mklink /D .\link ..\target

The syntax of the mklink command is its own small hurdle. Unlike the intuitive copy-paste logic of the graphical user interface, mklink requires a specific order: the link name comes first, then the target. /D is used for directories, and /H creates a hard link. This command-line barrier means that the symlink remains a power-user tool, eschewed by the casual user who remains content with the deceptive simplicity of the .lnk file. New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path "C:\LinkPath\file

A symbolic link, by contrast, operates at the file system level. It is a transparent redirection. To the operating system and the applications running on it, a symlink is the target file or folder. When a program requests data from a symbolic link, the file system immediately redirects the request to the target path, seamlessly and invisibly. This distinction transforms how users interact with their data, turning the file system from a rigid cabinet of drawers into a fluid, multidimensional web of references.

Hard Link (or file hard link) – is a file that acts like a representation of another file on the same drive without actually dupli... cects.com Show all Syntax: New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path "C:\LinkPath" -Target "C:\TargetPath" Key Differences in Link Types Type Switch Description Soft Link (File) (None) A "virtual" file. If the original is deleted, the link breaks. Soft Link (Dir) /D A "virtual" folder. Can point to network paths (UNC). Hard Link /H A "mirror" of a file. Data remains as long as at least one link exists. Only works on the same drive. Junction /J A hard link for directories. Limited to local drives only. Important Considerations Permissions: By default, creating symbolic links requires mklink "Path\To\NewLink

Despite its utility, creating symlinks in Windows has historically been gated. In the Unix world, the ln -s command is a standard right of passage. In Windows, the capability exists via the mklink command, but for years, creating them required elevated Administrator privileges. This security measure was intended to prevent malware from silently linking system directories to malicious locations, but it hindered usability. Recent updates to Windows 10 and 11 have relaxed these restrictions for "Developer Mode," acknowledging that symlinks are now a standard requirement for modern cross-platform development workflows.