Symbolic Link On Windows |best| May 2026

C:\> mklink /D "C:\MyProjects\current" "D:\Projects\v2026-04" symbolic link created for C:\MyProjects\current <<===>> D:\Projects\v2026-04 Use del (for file symlinks) or rmdir (for directory symlinks). Deleting a symlink does not affect the target. 4.2 PowerShell New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path C:\Link -Target C:\Real\Target For directories, use -ItemType Junction or symlink with -Type SymbolicLink . 4.3 Programmatic Creation (Win32 API) Call CreateSymbolicLink from winbase.h :

| Command | Effect | | :--- | :--- | | mklink Link Target | Creates file symlink | | mklink /D Link Target | Creates directory symlink | | mklink /H Link Target | Creates hard link (not a symlink) | | mklink /J Link Target | Creates junction | symbolic link on windows

fsutil reparsepoint query <link_path> Displays the reparse tag and target path. | Feature | Windows | Linux/POSIX | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Creation permission | Admin by default | Any user | | Target type enforcement | Strict (file vs. dir) | Loose (any target) | | Relative path support | Yes | Yes | | Cross-filesystem | Yes | Yes | | Hard link directories | No (junctions as workaround) | No | | Dangling link behavior | Error on access | Error on access | and Security Implications

An Analytical Examination of Symbolic Links in the Windows Operating System: Architecture, Implementation, and Security Implications symbolic link on windows