Windows Soft | Link New!

1. What is a Soft Link? A Soft Link (Symbolic Link or Symlink) is a special file system object that points to another file or folder. Think of it as a virtual shortcut that both programs and Windows itself treat as if it were the original file/folder. Soft Link vs. Hard Link vs. Junction vs. Shortcut (.lnk) | Feature | Soft Link (Symlink) | Hard Link | Junction | Shortcut (.lnk) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Works across drives | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (same volume) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Works across network | ✅ Yes (need enabled) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | | Points to directories | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (files only) | ✅ Yes (directories only) | ✅ Yes | | Points to files | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | | Transparent to apps | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (opens in explorer) | | Survives target deletion | ❌ No (broken link) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |

# For file link del "C:\link.txt" rmdir "C:\link_folder"

mklink "C:\Users\Me\.vimrc" "D:\git\dotfiles\.vimrc" mklink "C:\Users\Me\.bashrc" "D:\git\dotfiles\.bashrc" Same app data for two versions: windows soft link

# Move User Downloads folder move "C:\Users\Me\Downloads" "D:\UserData\Downloads" mklink /D "C:\Users\Me\Downloads" "D:\UserData\Downloads" Store data elsewhere, but keep a copy in Dropbox/OneDrive:

Or use File Explorer (delete as normal). You can move or rename a soft link freely – it still points to the original target. Changing target of a link (repointing) Cannot modify existing symlink – delete and recreate: Think of it as a virtual shortcut that

cd "C:\ParentFolder" mklink /D "link" "..\OtherFolder\Target" ← two levels up then down Enable first (admin):

mklink /D "C:\Users\Me\Dropbox\WorkFiles" "D:\Work\ImportantFiles" Steam games (move installation folder): Junction vs

rmdir "C:\link" mklink /D "C:\link" "E:\new_target" 📁 Free up C: drive space Move large folders to D: drive, then symlink back: