- during installation, set config to enabled
- edit policy, add your user on Local Comp Policy > Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment > Create symbolic links
- enable Windows Developer mode to bypass UAC requirement
- Search > For developer settings > Dev mode
Last active
July 25, 2025 20:49
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Enable symbolic links for Git on Windows 10
err, yes. I c/should have noted that @James-E-A.
For sake of completeness, it's my understanding that hard- and directory junction links also require admin privs on Windows (each time they're made).
@maphew no, actually; the reason I wished Git would check out symlinks locally as directory junctions is that you can create them as an unprivileged user on Windows, and they provide a UX almost identical to Linux's symlinks.
"By default, only Administrators can create symbolic links. The security setting 'Create symbolic links' can be granted at: Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment\
Creating a symbolic link requires elevation, but from Windows 10 build 14972, symlinks can be created without needing to elevate the console as administrator - this does however require that you have Developer Mode enabled."
This defect is being tracked at https://lore.kernel.org/git/681f8e65b4d3cf82a5920840aa8dc88bde812964.1548771561.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com/
Hopefully, soon, Git will just "do the right thing" and check out intra-repo directory symlinks as junctions when running in non-Developer mode Windows
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@maphew
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINErequires administrator access to modify.