Windows Hard Link Verified (2027)

This isn't a shortcut, and it's not a copy. It's something far more powerful—and far more confusing if you don't understand how it works.

(Get-Item "link.txt").LinkType # Output: HardLink In File Explorer, hard links appear as normal files—there's no special icon or overlay. This is both a feature (no clutter) and a danger (easy to forget they're linked). 1. Deduplication Without Deduplication Features You have the same large ISO file needed in three different project folders. Instead of using 6 GB, create hard links: windows hard link

You can view the link count using:

fsutil hardlink list "link.txt" Or in PowerShell: This isn't a shortcut, and it's not a copy

| 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) | This is both a feature (no clutter) and

fsutil hardlink list "file.txt" Or with PowerShell: