Link Shell Extension (LSE): Installation & Usage Guide

Link Shell Extension (LSE) is a Windows shell add-on that makes it easy to create symbolic links, hard links, junction points, and directory symbolic links using right-click menus.
This tool is extremely handy for developers, power users, and anyone managing files across drives.

✓ What Link Shell Extension Can Do

LSE allows you to create:

Hard Links – File-level links on the same NTFS volume
Symbolic Links (Symlinks) – File or folder redirects (NTFS, works across volumes)
Junctions – Directory-only links
Smart Copies / Smart Mirror – Copies that maintain NTFS hard links
Clone / Move links
Splice / Drop commands via context menus

1. Installing Link Shell Extension

Step 1 — Download LSE

Download the latest version from the official site:

https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html

Look for the installer that matches your system:

LSE x64 (most common)
LSE ARM64 (Surface / ARM devices)
LSE x86 (rare)

Step 2 — Install the Prerequisite: VC++ Runtime

LSE requires the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
The installer will prompt you if it’s missing.

If needed, download from Microsoft: