A broken symlink points to a missing or unreachable target. Czkawka can help identify entries, but repairs depend on whether the target was intentionally moved.
What to know before you begin
A broken symlink points to a missing or unreachable target. Czkawka can help identify entries, but repairs depend on whether the target was intentionally moved. The project offers several scanning modes and the current version may place controls differently in Krokiet versus the older GTK GUI. Follow the meaning of the option you see, not just a screenshot from a different release.
For Windows, verify that your chosen folder is accessible and that the correct graphical frontend is running. The recommended approach starts with a small test set, especially when an action could rename, move, delete or link files.
Step-by-step: What does a broken symbolic link mean?
- Scan a folder where you create symbolic links.
- Review each reported link and its expected target.
- Restore moved targets when the link should remain valid.
- Remove only obsolete links after confirming no scripts depend on them.
Important limitation
How to verify the result
Verify applications can resolve the remaining links. A scan's estimated savings or the presence of a matching group does not by itself establish which copy should be discarded.
If the procedure does not match your screen, inspect the project's own FAQ and troubleshooting notes and identify the exact release and frontend first.
FAQ
What does a broken symbolic link mean?
A broken symlink points to a missing or unreachable target. Czkawka can help identify entries, but repairs depend on whether the target was intentionally moved.
What is the biggest risk for this task?
Deleting a link and deleting its target are different operations; inspect what is selected.
How do I check whether it worked?
Verify applications can resolve the remaining links.
Related Windows guides
- Czkawka Broken Files Scan: What It Can and Cannot Tell You
- Remove Empty Folders with Czkawka Safely
- Find Empty Files in Windows with Czkawka
- Find Large Files and Disk Space Hogs
Editorial notes reviewed: November 1, 2026. Version-specific facts are based on the developer's release and FAQ. This guide is educational; it is not a guarantee about a third-party download.
Try Czkawka on Windows
Check the asset name and keep a backup before running a file cleanup operation.
See our download and safety instructions first.