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An LNK file is a Windows shortcut. It stores information Windows uses to find and open an application, document, folder, or another Shell object; it normally does not contain a copy of that target.
Most LNK files are ordinary shortcuts, but an unexpected one can launch commands or programs with hidden arguments. Treat unfamiliar LNK files as launchers to inspect—not as harmless documents to double-click.
What does “LNK” mean?
.lnk is the filename extension used for a Windows Shell Link. “Windows shortcut,” “shortcut file,” “Shell link,” and “LNK file” are common ways to describe the same user-facing feature. Microsoft’s formal name for the binary format is the Shell Link (.LNK) Binary File Format.
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The format is binary, not a plain text file containing only a path. It can hold target-identification data and launch settings that Windows Explorer and other Shell-aware software use to resolve the shortcut.
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What does an LNK file do?
When Windows creates a shortcut, it records information about the item the shortcut represents. When you activate the shortcut, Windows resolves that information and opens the target using the appropriate application or Shell behavior.
- Windows creates an LNK that references an item.
- The shortcut stores the target’s location or Shell identity, along with optional launch metadata.
- You double-click or otherwise activate the shortcut.
- Windows finds the target and opens or launches it.
- If the target has moved, been renamed, disconnected, or removed, the shortcut may fail or Windows may try to locate it.
An LNK may point to an executable, document, folder, network share, removable-drive location, Shell namespace object, or, in some circumstances, another shortcut or special Windows object. Microsoft describes a link file as storing the information needed to access a referenced object in the Windows Shell namespace.
An LNK is separate from the original file
| Item | What it is |
|---|---|
Program.exe |
The actual executable program |
Report.docx |
The actual document |
Report - Shortcut.lnk |
A separate shortcut pointing to the document |
Folder shortcut.lnk |
A separate shortcut pointing to a folder |
Deleting an LNK normally deletes only the shortcut. It does not delete the target application, document, or folder. Conversely, moving or deleting the target can leave the LNK behind with a “target not found” error. Copying an LNK copies the shortcut, not the original item.
Microsoft’s Shell Links documentation explicitly states that deleting a link file does not affect its corresponding object.
What information is stored inside an LNK?
The exact contents vary by shortcut, but reader-relevant fields can include:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Target path or identity | Helps Windows locate the referenced application, file, folder, or Shell object |
| Working directory | Sets the directory used when launching a program |
| Arguments | Passes command-line parameters to the target |
| Show state | Controls whether a program opens normally, minimized, or maximized |
| Icon path and index | Determines the icon displayed for the shortcut |
| Description or comment | Stores optional explanatory text |
| Keyboard shortcut | Provides an optional hotkey |
| Extra data and properties | Stores additional Shell and application information |
That flexibility explains why an LNK can do more than simply remember a filename. It can launch a program with a particular working directory and arguments, or present a customized icon and window state.
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Are LNK files safe?
Not automatically dangerous, but not automatically safe. An LNK is a file format, not a malware verdict. Shortcuts created by Windows, an installer, or a trusted user are usually legitimate. However, an LNK can point to a command interpreter, script host, loader, or unfamiliar executable and can pass arguments that change the launched program’s behavior.
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Warning signs
These indicators do not prove that a file is malicious, but they warrant investigation:
- The shortcut arrived unexpectedly by email, download, archive, shared folder, or USB drive.
- A filename appears to be a document, image, or video but actually ends in
.lnk. - Hidden extensions make a name such as
Invoice.pdf.lnklook like a document. - The target is
cmd.exe,powershell.exe,wscript.exe,cscript.exe,mshta.exe,rundll32.exe, or an unfamiliar executable. - Arguments contain long encoded or obfuscated text, URLs, temporary folders, or network locations.
- The icon resembles a PDF, folder, Word document, or video even though the file type is Shortcut.
The visible name and icon are not sufficient evidence of what an LNK will run.
How to inspect an LNK without launching it
- Do not double-click an unfamiliar shortcut.
- Right-click it and choose Properties, if Windows provides shortcut information for that object.
- Review the Target, Start in or working-directory field, arguments, icon path, shortcut key, and Run setting where shown.
- Check whether the target is on a removable drive, network share, temporary directory, or unexpected user-profile location.
- Scan the file with current security software.
- For a suspicious sample, use an isolated analysis environment and a trusted LNK parser or forensic tool rather than opening it on a normal workstation.
Properties viewing is generally safer than opening a shortcut, but no inspection method should be treated as universally risk-free in every environment. If the file is unexpected, the safest choice is not to activate it.
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Windows may hide known file extensions and display shortcuts using friendly names and icons. To make extensions visible:
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- Open File Explorer.
- Choose View.
- Enable File name extensions, or open Options, go to the View tab, and clear Hide extensions for known file types.
Menu wording varies by Windows release, edition, language, and configuration. Microsoft explains the role of extensions in its guide to common file name extensions in Windows.
How to create an LNK shortcut
For ordinary Windows use:
- Locate the application, file, folder, or other item in File Explorer or the Start menu.
- Right-click it.
- Choose an available shortcut command, such as Create shortcut or Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
- Move or rename the resulting shortcut as needed.
The exact command depends on the item and current Windows interface. The resulting .lnk can usually be customized through its Properties dialog.
How to edit an LNK
Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, and edit the fields Windows exposes. Common options include:
- Target
- Start in or working directory
- Command-line arguments
- Shortcut key
- Run state, such as normal, minimized, or maximized
- Comment and icon
Not every Shell link exposes every field in the same way. The available controls depend on the target type, Windows version, and Shell behavior.
Do not edit an LNK in a normal text editor. Because it is binary, doing so can corrupt the shortcut. Developers can use Windows Shell Link COM interfaces such as IShellLink together with persistence interfaces including IPersistFile or IPersistStream. Relevant methods include SetPath, GetPath, SetArguments, SetWorkingDirectory, and SetIconLocation.
How to fix a broken LNK shortcut
A shortcut can remain present even when its target is no longer reachable. Check these causes:
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- The target was moved or renamed.
- A USB drive is disconnected.
- A network share is unavailable.
- The drive letter changed.
- The target exists under another user profile.
- The application was uninstalled or updated.
- The shortcut’s working directory no longer exists.
- The shortcut was copied from another computer with different paths or permissions.
- Security software is blocking the target or its arguments.
- The LNK is corrupted or is not actually a valid Shell Link.
Open the shortcut’s Properties and inspect its target. If the item still exists at a new location, update the path where Windows allows it. When the environment has changed substantially, deleting the broken shortcut and creating a new one is often simpler and less error-prone.
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These are different kinds of links:
| Type | Main purpose | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|
.lnk Shell Link |
User-facing Windows shortcut | Stores Shell metadata, target information, icons, arguments, and launch settings |
| Symbolic link | Filesystem-level redirection | A path refers to another file or directory |
| Hard link | Another directory entry for a file | Refers to the same file data on a supported filesystem |
| Junction | Directory redirection | Uses a Windows filesystem reparse-point mechanism |
.url |
Internet shortcut | Typically points to a web address |
mklink does not create a normal Explorer .lnk shortcut. It creates a symbolic link, hard link, or directory junction:
mklink [[/d] | [/h] | [/j]] <link> <target>/dcreates a directory symbolic link./hcreates a hard link./jcreates a directory junction.- With no switch,
mklinkcreates a file symbolic link.
See Microsoft’s mklink documentation for syntax and supported Windows editions. An LNK is primarily a Shell and user-interface object; a symbolic link is interpreted during filesystem path resolution. Software that does not understand Windows Shell shortcuts may not treat an LNK as the referenced file.
Technical details for developers and forensic analysts
A Shell Link is commonly understood through several conceptual components: a header, link-target identifier information, link information, string data, extra data blocks, and optional property-store data. An ID list and related link information can help identify and resolve targets beyond a simple literal path.
Windows exposes Shell Link functionality through COM interfaces including IShellLink, IPersistFile, and IPersistStream. For parsers, software development, or forensic work, use the normative Microsoft MS-SHLLINK specification rather than treating the format as a simplified path file. Microsoft’s published entry is dated November 21, 2025 and lists protocol revision 10.0; specifications can be revised, so verify the current entry when implementing a parser.
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An LNK is a good fit for a user-facing desktop or Start-menu launcher, a shortcut that passes arguments to an application, a custom icon or launch state, or a convenient reference to a file, folder, application, or Shell object.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I delete an LNK file?
Yes. Deleting the shortcut normally does not delete the application, document, or folder it points to. Confirm that you are deleting the LNK rather than the target itself.
Does an LNK contain the original file?
Normally no. It contains structured information used to locate or open the target. Copying the LNK does not copy the target.
Can an LNK be a virus?
An LNK is not malware by definition, but malicious shortcuts exist. A suspicious target, unexpected source, deceptive icon, or unusual arguments should be investigated before activation.
Can I open an LNK on Mac or Linux?
An LNK is a Windows Shell Link, so it is not a general cross-platform shortcut. Non-Windows systems may be able to inspect it with specialized software, but they will not necessarily resolve it as Windows does.
Can I convert an LNK into the original file?
You do not need to convert it if the target still exists. Inspect the shortcut to identify the target, then open or copy the target itself. If the target is gone, the LNK cannot recreate it.
How do I find LNK files on a PC?
In File Explorer, search for *.lnk in a selected folder, drive, or This PC. Search results can include ordinary desktop and Start-menu shortcuts as well as shortcuts created by applications or installers.
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