How can I delete a symbolic link?

Question

I created a symlink using mklink. Now I need to change it but I can't figure out how to delete it so I can recreate it correctly.

Cristian Ciupitu · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-19 11:28:39Z

582

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

edited Sep 19 '18 at 11:28

Cristian Ciupitu

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answered Jul 5 '11 at 17:07

eddyq

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117

Having just accidentally done this (deleted the complete contents of the target folder), this an important tip. – Simon Gillbee Aug 8 '11 at 21:10
4

This answer is not entirely accurate. Del deletes files, not folders. Therefore, you would not use del to delete the link. – AMissico Mar 12 '13 at 1:47
13

But don't use rmdir in PowerShell. Wrap it in cmd first. See my answer below... – northben May 13 '13 at 21:25
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How about if i delete it through windows explorer???? – Cheung Aug 11 '13 at 16:49
12

There Microsoft Employees go again, just trying to ruin my life, career, and Windows operating system. – ThorSummoner Aug 25 '14 at 7:52

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ddelrio1986 · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-30 15:05:27Z

72

To remove directory symbolic links created with mklink /d it is safe to delete the symbolic link in windows explorer.

edited Jan 30 at 15:05

answered Jan 13 '12 at 4:15

ddelrio1986

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+1 for telling people it is save to delete symbolic link through Windows Explorer. – AMissico Mar 12 '13 at 1:45
4

It is correct. I do it all the time. Just tested it again right now. – ddelrio1986 Sep 29 '16 at 21:00
3

This just worked for me as well. i deleted the link not the source folder that was linked to. perhaps that the catch. – R Hughes Feb 24 '17 at 15:59
4

It is safe to just delete it with Rightclick -> Delete. This does NOT delete the linked folder. – Hexo Sep 29 '17 at 13:24
mklink /d Didn't work for me on Windows 7.. I may have been using an old version though – abelito May 17 '19 at 3:49

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George V. Reilly · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-19 19:13:48Z

53

For a symlink to a file, use del. For a symlink to a directory made with mklink /d, use rmdir.

answered Aug 19 '10 at 19:13

George V. Reilly

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Warning: "del" will delete the file and not just the link. – WoodenKitty Nov 12 '15 at 0:39
8

Warning from @Tristan is not correct, this answer is accurate. Tested on windows 7. – jiggunjer Jun 23 '16 at 3:07
1

In Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit), a symbolic link that points to either a file (e.g. created using MKLINK) or to a directory (MKLINK /D) can be deleted in Windows Explorer, using the ordinary Windows GUI 'delete' option, without deleting the target. Even a JUNCTION (e.g. created using the MKLINK /J command), if deleted in Explorer, will not delete the target directory nor its contents. If not empty, the target directory cannot even be deleted using the command DEL junction at the command prompt. Tested today. – Ed999 Jan 20 '17 at 15:56
On Windows Server 2012, this removed the directory contents that my symlink was pointed to... – C Bauer Jun 18 '18 at 14:12
You should warn people not to rmdir links from Powershell! – NH. Oct 29 '18 at 16:57

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northben · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-13 21:22:31Z

30

In Powershell, don't use rmdir! Use cmd /c rmdir .\Target instead. I tested this myself and confirmed it here: http://kristofmattei.be/2012/12/15/powershell-remove-item-and-symbolic-links/

answered May 13 '13 at 21:22

northben

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That blog confuses the meaning of "Target", which is the actual directory the link points to, and which folks generally wish to avoid deleting whilst removing the link. – kreemoweet Sep 22 '15 at 16:59
4

rmdir is an internal command of cmd.exe, thus obviously to call it from other shells you'll need cmd /c or cmd /k. rmdir in PowerShell is just an alias to Remove-Item – phuclv Feb 7 '19 at 0:17

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vcorp · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-06 07:24:41Z

26

There is another solution tested by me and safe to use. just add to the real folder _ (example: foo become foo_) then simply delete your symbolik link, then remove _ from your true folder.

answered Dec 6 '13 at 7:24

vcorp

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yeah, this is 100% safest solution after you know that powershell does not give a s**t about rmdir – test30 Jul 3 '14 at 14:54
This is a clever precaution. +1 – Hanna Mar 4 '15 at 17:11
Warning: I don't think this MIGHT not work on Win10 since it's fixing shortcuts upon renaming. (At least classic Shortcuts) Not tested though. – Hexo Sep 29 '17 at 13:26
I did this just in case. After I renamed the target folder, the symbolink link failed when I tried to access it, so I could delete it without worrying. – Andrew Apr 14 '18 at 0:39

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Der Hochstapler · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-27 11:44:06Z

mklink cannot be used to delete symbolic links. To remove a symbolic link, simply delete them as if you’re removing a normal file. For example, to delete the foo symbolic link created above, enter the following command:

If the link is a hard link to a directory:

C:\test>rmdir foo

or else, IF the link points to a file (as opposed to a dir)

C:\test>del foo

Source: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/22/create-symbolic-links-hard-links-and-directory-junctions-in-vista-with-mklink/

Just make sure you don't delete it with del /S or Explorer. — Hello71, Jul 24 '10 at 0:12
See eddyq's answer below because using del for a link made to a directory won't work and instead will attempt to delete teh contents of the folder. — jpierson, May 7 '12 at 13:48
Hardlinks to directories don't exist. I think you meant to say symlink. — Brilliand, Sep 8 '15 at 18:20

tetedp · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-07 10:53:45Z

In my case (Windows 10), after creating the symbolic link using

MKLINK /D "C:\Users\username\Dropbox\MyProject" "C:\SourceProject"

and deleting via delete using the file explorer or keyboard delete key also deletes the original directory.

What you should do is to remove the link via command prompt.

C:\Users\username\Dropbox>rd /s MyProject

For details about the rd command: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/rd

netgoblin · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-26 15:32:25Z

The simplest way is to move the folder (at which the symbolic link is pointing) to another place (to parent folder) and then delete the symbolic link. No files will be harmed!

Ste · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-23 23:30:44Z

I've installed this Link Shell Extension. With this, you have 2 methods.

METHOD 1

Create it using the context menu as shown and deleting via file explorer.

Test with a folder like C:\Windows\Logs as shown or similar. I'm just creating a directory of all the possible locations of temp files to delete and I wanted a central folder where I could monitor the size of them via symbolic links.

Please note: The screen going white is just the UAC.

METHOD 2

The safest way undocumented here AFAIK.

On the created symbolic link (in steps shown above), right-click on it this time and click properties then go to the Link Properties tab.

Note: This shell extension added this tab.

Before I go on, lots more info can be found here, also, on the homepage are the x64 and 32bit versions.

So, to continue, here you can add anything to the target field as long as it's different to the original target.

Here's a before with the target as C:\Windows\Logs
Here's an after with the target as C:\Windows\Logs_, notice the extra _ at the end.
Press OK
You can check this again by going over the same 1-3 steps above to ensure that has stuck, this time you will get an error message when you click on the Link Properties tab so the link is now broken.
It is now safe(r) to delete the symbolic link than method 1 IMHO.

But! Both methods work here so it's entirely up to the user's choice. I like the properties method which I happily stumbled upon, so you're 100% sure the link is broken by using step 4 above.

Here's a gif of me creating a symbolic link by right mouse button dragging a folder to another and choosing the option to create a symbolic link in the sub-menu.

To delete, just follow the 1-5 steps above of method 2 or follow method 1.

How to create and delete a symbolic link using the properties method

Please note: The screen going white is just the UAC.

andronoid · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-29 09:40:35Z

Create Windows 10 directory symbolic link:

MKLINK /D "C:\Users\andronoid\Program Files" C:\Users\andronoid\AppData\Local

Delete Windows 10 directory symbolic link:

eddyq's RMDIR solution from an elevated command prompt didn't work for me: Access is denied.
ddelrio1986's Windows Explorer solution did work (the link target was untouched)

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