Windows Hard Link _top_ May 2026

ni link.txt -ItemType HardLink -Target original.txt To confirm you've created a hard link (and not a copy or symlink), check the link count :

Use them wisely, and always remember: a file with two names is still one file. windows hard link

Workaround: Use directory junctions or symlinks with mklink /D or mklink /J . Hard links cannot span drives (C:\ to D:). Each volume maintains its own file reference table. For cross-volume needs, use symbolic links. ❌ The Deletion Trap This is the most common hard link mistake: ni link

| Feature | Hard Link | Symbolic Link | |---------|-----------|----------------| | Points to | File data (inode) | Pathname (string) | | Survives target deletion | Yes (data still exists) | No (becomes broken) | | Works across volumes | No | Yes | | Works with directories | No (by design) | Yes (with privilege) | | Relative paths | N/A | Yes | | Network paths | No | Yes (UNC paths) | Each volume maintains its own file reference table

A hard link doesn't point to a path —it points directly to the raw data on disk. That data has no location except "wherever Windows put it." Junction points are volume-mounted directory links (only for folders, only local drives). They behave like symlinks for folders but have fewer features. Hard links don't work on folders at all in Windows (NTFS supports them, but Windows restricts creation for safety). Creating Hard Links on Windows Windows provides two built-in ways: mklink (Command Prompt) and New-Item (PowerShell). Using Command Prompt (Run as Administrator for some operations, but not strictly required for files) mklink /H LinkName TargetFile Example: