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Cannot create symbolic link on Windows 11 with Powershell 7 - CommandNotFoundException

Anonymous
2023-08-08T15:11:03+00:00

I installed Powershell 7 and was trying to

mklink /D \kang C:\Users\Me\Documents\Learn\Java\Sandbox\src\mammal\kangaroo

mklink : The term 'mklink' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program.

Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

At line:1 char:2

  • mklink /D \kang C:\Users\Me\Documents\Learn\Java\Sandbox\src\mamma ... 
  • 
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (mklink:String) [], CommandNotFoundException 

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : **CommandNotFoundException**

I had to use Command Prompt with Admin privileges to do this.

How to get these commands to work in Powershell7?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Ramesh 176.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-08-08T15:19:50+00:00

    Mklink is an internal Command Processor command. To execute the command in PowerShell, please try the cmd.exe /c prefix.

    Example:

    cmd /c mklink /d test d:\test

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-08T21:34:38+00:00

    Mklink is an internal Command Processor command. To execute the command in PowerShell, please try the cmd.exe /c prefix.

    Example:

    cmd /c mklink /d test d:\test

    Did not work for me. In Powershell 7, I got this error:

    cmd /c mklink /D \kang C:\Users\Me\Documents\Learn\Java\Sandbox\src\mammal\kangaroo

    You do not have sufficient privilege to perform this operation.

    I opened Powershell in Admin mode and tried again, but still got this error

    mklink : The term 'mklink' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program.

    Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

    At line:1 char:1

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Brink 16,560 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-08-08T18:58:50+00:00

    Hello,

    Double check using the tutorial below to see if it may help using the command to create a symbolic link.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/131182-create-soft-hard-symbolic-links-windows.html

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Ramesh 176.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-08-09T04:06:51+00:00

    Can you post a screenshot of the error in the admin PowerShell window?

    I tested in the inbox version of PowerShell (5.1.19041.3031) and PS7, and the command worked correctly in both.

    Alternatively, use the New-Item cmdlet in PS.

    New-Item (Microsoft.PowerShell.Management) - PowerShell | Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/new-item?view=powershell-7.3

    -ItemType

    Specifies the provider-specified type of the new item. The available values of this parameter depend on the current provider you are using.

    If your location is in a FileSystem drive, the following values are allowed:

    • File
    • Directory
    • SymbolicLink
    • Junction
    • HardLink
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