Create Symlinks Windows Jun 2026

(Warning: Do not use del on a directory junction without caution, as older versions of Windows could accidentally delete the target contents. rmdir is safer for directory links.)

mklink /H "C:\Link\file.txt" "C:\Source\file.txt" create symlinks windows

Steam and other game platforms allow you to move games, but it can be slow. Instead, you can move the game files to a secondary drive and create a symlink in the original installation folder. The game launcher thinks the game is still installed in the default location, but the data lives on your spacious D: drive. (Warning: Do not use del on a directory

Open CMD as Admin → mklink /D "link" "target" → Done. The game launcher thinks the game is still

mklink /J "C:\Path\To\Junction" "D:\Actual\TargetFolder"

Use the /J switch.

Symbolic links are a hidden superpower in Windows. Whether you are a developer needing to manage project dependencies, a gamer managing storage space, or just a power user organizing files, mastering the mklink command provides a level of flexibility that standard shortcuts cannot match.