Mklink 'link' -

The /d option tells mklink to create a symbolic link to a directory.

: A special type of folder link that is limited to local drives (cannot point to network shares). Junctions are often preferred for redirecting system folders or freeing up space on an SSD by moving large directories to a secondary drive.

| Feature | mklink | GUI Junction Tool (e.g., Link Shell Extension) | |---------|-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | Admin rights needed | Yes (usually) | Same | | Ease of use | Low | High | | Scriptable | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not easily | | Error handling | Poor | Good | | Learning curve | Steep | Shallow | mklink

: You know exactly what a symbolic link is, you have admin rights, and you’re comfortable with the command line.

: Creates a second directory entry for an existing file. Both the link and the original file point to the exact same data on the disk. They must reside on the same partition and do not consume additional disk space. Practical Use Cases The /d option tells mklink to create a

Gamers and developers often use junctions to move large asset folders to a slower HDD while keeping the application installed on a fast SSD.

If you use services like OneDrive or Dropbox that force you to use specific folders, you can use mklink to mirror folders from elsewhere on your drive. | Feature | mklink | GUI Junction Tool (e

mklink link.txt C:\path\to\original\file.txt

: Similar to a file symbolic link but specifically for folders. It allows a folder to appear as if it exists in a new location while the actual data remains in the source.

mklink [options] Microsoft Learn +1 : The name of the new link you want to create. : The path to the existing file or folder you want to link to. kak.kornev-online.net Types of Links Switch Link Type Best Used For... (none) File Symbolic Link Linking a single file across different folders. Default behavior. /D Directory Symbolic Link Linking to a folder. Supports relative paths. /H Hard Link Creating a mirror of a file on the same volume; deleting the link doesn't delete the target. /J Directory Junction Linking a local folder to another local folder; often preferred for redirecting application data folders. Important Tips 15 sites Mklink - Microsoft Learn Aug 30, 2016 —

This will create a symbolic link named link.txt in the current directory that points to C:\path\to\original\file.txt .