This tutorial will show you how to find and list all hard links, symbolic links, and junction points and their target source in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
There are three types of file links supported in the NTFS file system: hard links, junctions, and symbolic links. Otherwise known as Reparse Points.
Hard Links can only be created for files. Any changes to that file are instantly visible to applications that access it through the hard links that reference it. Hard links do not support UNC paths (network paths that begin with \\). Hard links to a file will not have a shortcut arrow icon on them.
Symbolic Links are soft links that are basically advanced shortcuts. You can create a symbolic link to a local or remote file, folder, or shares path, and that link will appear to be the same as the target source. Symbolic links do support UNC paths (network paths that begin with \\). When you open a symbolic link, you will be redirected to the target source. Symbolic links will have a shortcut arrow icon on them.
Junctions (Directory Junction) are soft links that can only be created to a local folder (directory) path. Junction points make it appear as though folder (directory) actually exists at the location of the junction point, and your app won’t know any better. Junction points do not support UNC paths (network paths that begin with \\). Junction points will have a shortcut arrow icon on them.
Deleting anything in the link/junction or target (source) folder will delete it in both folders.
Deleting the hard link, symbolic link, or junction point itself will not delete anything in the target (source) folder.
1 Open a command prompt or elevated command prompt (recommended).
2 Type the command below you want to use into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
(Output in command prompt)
DIR /AL /S "Directory Path"OR
(Output to "Links.txt" file on desktop)
DIR /AL /S "Directory Path" > "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Links.txt"Substitute Directory Path in the command above with the actual full path of the drive or folder you want to search in to find and list all symbolic links and junction points.
Folder example: DIR /AL /S "C:\Users\Brink\Downloads" or DIR /AL /S "C:\Users\Brink\Downloads" > "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Links.txt"
Drive example: DIR /AL /S "C:\" or DIR /AL /S "C:\" > "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Links.txt"
3 You will now see a Directory of <path> listed for each folder symbolic links and/or junction points were found in. Under this path you will see the link file/folder name and its target source path.
Types of links:
- <JUNCTION> = Junction point to folder (directory)
- <SYMLINK> = Symbolic link to file
- <SYMLINKD> = Symbolic link to folder (directory)
1 Open a command prompt or elevated command prompt (recommended).
2 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
CD "Directory Path"Substitute Directory Path in the command above with the actual full path of the drive or folder you want to search in to find and list all hard links.
Folder example: CD "C:\Users\Brink\Downloads"
3 Copy and paste the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
(Output in command prompt)
echo off & for /F "delims=" %A in ('dir /s /b') do echo. & fsutil hardlink list "%A"OR
(Output to "HardLinks.txt" file on desktop)
echo off & for /F "delims=" %A in ('dir /s /b') do echo. & fsutil hardlink list "%A" > "%UserProfile%\Desktop\HardLinks.txt"4 You will now see a list of full paths for all files found in the directory from step 2.
- A single isolated line means the it's a normal file. You can ignore this.
- Two lines together means it's a hard link. The top path will be for the hard link, and the bottom path will be for it's target source.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
