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How do I change where a symlink points to, without deleting and creating a new one (with ln -s "/path/to/point/to" "/path/where/symlink/is")?

When I tried doing that to Java's "Current" symlink, Java wouldn't even work (from the command line, at least, said 'Segmentation Fault') but it was back to normal when I restored the old "Current" symlink with Time Machine (but later I found out I should use /Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app anyway to change current java version).

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5 Answers 5

Reset to default
10 
mkdir /path/where/newsymlink
ln -s /path/to/point/to /path/where/newsymlink/is
mv /path/where/newsymlink/is /path/where/symlink/
rmdir /path/where/newsymlink

However, the Java Preferences utility changes more than just a symbolic link; you should use that to ensure that the Java version is changed.

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11
  • wouldn't the mv command just rename it..?
    – mk12
    Sep 6, 2009 at 19:17
  • .. I tried that, it justs moves the new symlink into the folder that the old one points to.
    – mk12
    Sep 6, 2009 at 19:26
  • The first command makes the symlink that points where you want, and the second command replaces the existing pointer to the old place with the pointer to the new place. The mv is atomic so the symlink will always exist.
    – mark4o
    Sep 7, 2009 at 0:00
  • .. But it still doesn't work.. it moves the new pointer into the folder that the old one points to.
    – mk12
    Sep 7, 2009 at 2:08
  • /path/where/symlink/is is the symlink that you are changing. Using these commands will change it to point to /path/to/point/to. The folder that the original symlink points to is not touched at all.
    – mark4o
    Sep 7, 2009 at 7:20
57 
ln -hfs newlocation existinglink

or

ln -nfs newlocation existinglink

will change the existing link to point to newlocation

(the -n and -h are identical in operation)

From man ln

-h If the target_file or target_dir is a symbolic link, do not follow it. This is most useful with the -f option, to replace a symlink which may point to a directory.

-f If the target file already exists, then unlink it so that the link may occur. (The -f option overrides any previous -i options.)

-s Create a symbolic link

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  • 2
    The -nfs version works also on Linux, so it is more portable if anyone cares.
    – Cromax
    Dec 15, 2019 at 23:03
12

Try:

unlink /path/to/current/link
ln -s /path/to/target /path/to/symbolic/link
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1
  • 1
    On my late 2013 MacBook Pro with Mavericks, I had to switch the two parameters: ln -s /path/to/symbolic/link /path/to/target
    – Marius Waldal
    Feb 11, 2014 at 14:35
1

The ln command doesn't let you change links, only create new ones.

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0

Have you compared the permissions on the links and on the targets before and after you change the link? You might just need to follow up with the appropriate chown and chmod commands to get it working.

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2
  • Well I don't even know how to change it so no. And I don't know what chown and chmod do.
    – mk12
    Sep 6, 2009 at 13:22
  • 2
    chown changes ownership of a file and/or directory. chmod changes permissions of a file and/or directory. These are standard in just about every unix platform. Too much detail to explain each here, so I would recommend googling each for tutorials. You can also do "man chown" or "man chmod" to read the actual manual of the command (hit q to get out of the manual).
    – churnd
    Sep 6, 2009 at 13:56

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