How to Undo php artisan storage:link in Laravel

How to Undo php artisan storage:link in Laravel

If you're working with Laravel, you might be familiar with the php artisan storage:link command. This command creates a symbolic link from the public/storage directory to the storage/app/public directory, allowing you to conveniently access files stored in the Laravel storage folder from your web application.

While creating the symbolic link is beneficial in many cases, there might be situations where you need to undo or remove the link. Perhaps you made a mistake during the setup process or decided to change your storage configuration. In such cases, you can easily undo the php artisan storage:link using the following steps.

Step 1: Accessing the Command Line

To undo the php artisan storage:link, you'll need to access the command line interface (CLI) on your development machine. Open your preferred terminal or command prompt and navigate to the root directory of your Laravel project.

Step 2: Removing the Symbolic Link

To remove the symbolic link, you can use the rm command, which is commonly used to delete files and directories in Unix-based systems. In this case, we'll use rm -rf to recursively remove the entire public/storage directory.

In your command line interface, enter the following command:

rm -rf public/storage

Please note that the rm -rf command can permanently delete files and directories, so it's crucial to be cautious when using it. Make sure you're executing the command from the correct directory and confirm the deletion prompt if it appears.

Step 3: Verifying the Removal

After executing the rm -rf public/storage command, the symbolic link should be successfully removed from your Laravel project. You can verify this by checking the public directory and ensuring that the storage folder no longer exists.

Additionally, you can also check your web application and confirm that the files stored in the storage/app/public directory are no longer accessible via the public/storage URL.

Conclusion

Undoing the php artisan storage:link command in Laravel is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can remove the symbolic link and revert your storage configuration as needed.

It's worth noting that the php artisan storage:link command can be beneficial in various scenarios, enabling easy access to your storage files. However, if you find yourself needing to undo the link, the rm -rf public/storage command should help you achieve that.

Remember to exercise caution when executing commands that involve file or directory deletion. Always double-check your actions to ensure you're targeting the correct files and directories.

Thank you for reading this blog post! We hope you found it helpful for your Laravel development endeavors. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.