Allow Users to Create Symbolic Links in Windows

November 29, 2023

My code layout standard and the associated package manager, CPM, use symbolic links to integrate different software modules. In Linux creating a symbolic link is as easy as using the ln command and doesn’t require any special privileges:

ln -s <target> <link>

In Windows however, by default, you need special permissions to create symbolic links. There are different way to deal with this restriction:

1. Use an elevated command prompt. #

This is simplest solution but becomes annoying after a short while.

2. Modify user rights to allow creation of symbolic links. #

Run secpol.msc and go to User Rights Assignment. Double-click Create symbolic links:

On the Local Security Setting tab of the properties window that pops up, click Add User or Group:

You must include group names when you perform a search, so click the Object Types button:

And check the Groups checkbox.

Type Users in the Enter the object names to select box, then press the Check Names button. Windows will fill the box with the full group name:

In properties window, you can see that Users group has been added:

Click OK to close everything and reboot to have the changes applied.

3. Enable developer mode #

If you turn on developer mode, regular users can create symbolic links. To turn on developer mode, from a command windows type:

start ms-settings:developers

or go to Settings > System > For Developers.