Too many symbolic links

The root error message Too many symbolic links indicates that the operating system failed to resolve a file or directory path because it encountered an excessive number of symbolic link references. This error commonly appears on Linux and Unix-like systems, but it can also surface in macOS, containers, servers, and applications like Java, Docker, and database services that rely on the underlying filesystem.

When does this error occur?

  • When a symbolic link points to itself directly or indirectly, creating a loop.
  • When multiple symbolic links form a circular reference chain.
  • When an application follows deeply nested symbolic links beyond system limits.
  • When misconfigured deployment scripts create recursive symlinks.
  • When container volume mounts include cyclic symbolic links.

Root cause of Too many symbolic links

At the OS level, the filesystem enforces a maximum limit on how many symbolic links can be resolved while traversing a path. The Too many symbolic links error occurs when this limit is exceeded, usually due to a symlink loop or recursive path resolution that never reaches a real file or directory.

How to fix the error (step-by-step)

Linux / macOS

Identify symbolic links in the failing path and check where they point. 

ls -l /path/to/file

Recursively inspect symbolic links to detect loops. 

readlink -f /path/to/file

Remove or correct the problematic symbolic link. 

rm /path/to/symlink

Recreate the symbolic link with a valid target. 

ln -s /correct/target /path/to/symlink

Docker / containers

Check volume mounts and symbolic links inside the container filesystem. 

docker inspect <container_id>

Avoid mounting directories that contain circular symbolic links.

Java / application runtime

Verify application configuration paths and ensure they do not resolve through recursive symbolic links.

Verify the fix

After correcting the symbolic links, access the file or directory again. The operation should complete successfully without triggering the Too many symbolic links error. Commands like ls, application startup, or file reads should now work as expected.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Creating symbolic links without verifying their target paths.
  • Linking directories back to parent directories unintentionally.
  • Assuming the filesystem will resolve infinite symlink chains.
  • Ignoring symlinks when debugging file access issues.
  • Mounting host directories with broken symlink structures into containers.

Quick tip

Always validate symbolic links using readlink before deploying or automating filesystem changes.

FAQ

Q: Is this error caused by file permissions?

A: No. It is caused by symbolic link resolution limits, not permissions.

Q: Can increasing system limits fix this issue?

A: No. The correct fix is removing or correcting the symbolic link loop.

Conclusion

The Too many symbolic links error is resolved by identifying and fixing circular or deeply nested symbolic links. Review related filesystem errors on ErrorFixHub for more reliable system-level troubleshooting.

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