How To: Linux Delete Symbolic Link ( Softlink )

• rm command – Removes each given FILE including symbolic links in Linux.
• unlink command – Deletes a single specified file name including symbolic links in Linux.

Warning: Care must be taken with the following rm, unlink, and find command as those commands won’t prompt for removal confirmation. The author or nixCraft site is not responsible for any data loss. Please use all command with care and think twice before you press the [Enter] key. Always keep a verified backup of all files and data.

Linux Delete Symbolic Link File

Use the following syntax:

rm linkname
unlink linkname

Examples

First, we are going to create a new symbolic link in Linux using the ln command. Use the cd command to /tmp/ directory:

cd /tmp/
 
## create a new symbolic for demo purpose ##
ln -s /etc/resolv.conf dns
 
## List it ##
ls -l dns

Sample outputs:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 vivek vivek 16 2009-08-16 04:28 dns -> /etc/resolv.conf

Now we are going to delete the dns symbolic link using the rm command or unlink command as follows:

rm dns
 
## OR ##
 
unlink dns

Verify it using the ls command:

ls -l dns
ls -l /etc/resolv.conf

Getting confirmation prompt

We can force prompt before every removal of symbolic links by passing the -i to the rm:
rm -i {link-name}
rm -i -v test-link

rm: remove symbolic link 'test-link'? y
removed 'test-link'

Delete Symbolic Link Directory

The syntax is same:

rm linkDirName
unlink linkDirName

Please avoid appending / at the end of linkDirName. cd in to the /tmp/ using the cd command:

cd /tmp/
 
## create a new symlink for demo purpose ##
ln -s /etc test
 
## List it ##
ls -ld test

Sample Output:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 vivek vivek 4 2009-08-16 04:31 test -> /etc

Now delete the test symbolic link directory using any one of the following command:

rm test
 
## OR ##
 
unlink test

Make sure symbolic link is removed using the ls command:

ls -ld test
ls -ld /etc

Remove Symbolic Links with find command

Here is we can search and list all symbolic links using the find:

find {/path/to/dir} -type l -action
find {/path/to/dir} -type l -name 'files-regex-to-search' -action
find {/path/to/dir} -type l -iname 'Case-Insensitive-files-regex-to-search' -action
find {/path/to/dir} -lname 'files-regex-to-search'  -action

Say list all symlinks in /tmp/bin/, run:
find /tmp/bin/ -type l -print
Only list *.txt or *.sh symlinks, run:

find /tmp/bin/ -type l -iname "*.sh" -print
find /tmp/bin/ -type l -iname "*.txt" -print
## modern syntax for GNU/find ##
find /tmp/bin/ -lname "*.txt" -print
find /tmp/bin/ -lname "*.db" -print
find /tmp/bin/ -lname "*.sh" -print

Find all symbolic links with find and delete them

All you have to do is replace the -print action with the -delete as follows to delete all ‘*.sh’ symlinks:
find /tmp/bin/ -lname "*.sh" -delete
To get confirmation use the following syntax when you need to find all “*.txt” symlinks and delete them:

find /tmp/bin/ -type l -name "*.txt" -exec rm -i {} +
find /tmp/bin/ -type l -name "*.db" -exec rm -i {} +

Finding and deleting broken symbolic links

Again, we use the find command:

find /dir/to/search/ -xtype l 
 
# add maxdepth to limit searching inside sub dir levels 
find /dir/to/search/ -maxdepth 1 -xtype l 
 
# Current dir
find . -maxdepth 1 -xtype l  -ls

Here is what I see from the last command:

 15597621      0 lrwxrwxrwx   1 vivek    vivek           3 Jun  3 16:37 ./bar -> foo

To remove that broken symlink, run:

find . -maxdepth 1 -xtype l  -delete
 
# Verify it
find . -maxdepth 1 -xtype l  -delete

Where find command options are:

• -type l : Find only symbolic link
• -lname "*.txt" :File is a symbolic link whose contents match shell pattern such as “*.txt”. Pass the -ilname "pattern" to the find for the case insensitive match. This option only works the latest version of GNU/find.
• -print : Print matched file lists.
• -delete : Remove/delete matched symlinks.
• -exec rm -i {} + : Remove/delete matched symlinks using the rm command with confirmation
• -xtype l : Deal with a symbolic link (find only symlinks).
• -ls : List symbolic links if found.

Linux Remove Symbolic Link Command Options

Type the following command:
rm --help
unlink --help

Conclusion

You learned the rm and unlink command to delete or remove a symbolic link under Linux operating systems. See the rm/unlink command man page by typing the following man command or read it online here:
man rm
man find
man unlink