Error unable to symlink local encore.dev using pnpm

TL;DR

If encore version update fails on Windows with a symlink error, skip it and run the install script directly in a fresh PowerShell terminal. The reporter confirmed this worked when the in-place update did not.

The error

Error: unable to symlink local encore.dev

Seen when running pnpm i or encore version update on Windows.

Fix it

1. Open a fresh PowerShell terminal (not the one where the update failed). Success check: a new terminal window with no Encore processes running in it.

2. Run the Encore install script directly:

   iwr https://encore.dev/install.ps1 -useb | iex

   Success check: the script completes and reports the installed version.

3. Verify the install:

   encore version

   Success check: prints the new version with no errors.

When this applies

• encore version update fails on Windows with a symlink-related error.
• pnpm-based Encore installs on Windows that cannot self-update.

When it does not apply

• macOS or Linux; use the standard update path there.
• The failure is a network or permission error rather than a symlink error.
• Fresh installs (not updates) failing for other reasons.

Compatibility

• Windows 10/11, PowerShell 5.1+.
• Encore CLI installed via pnpm or the install script.

Variant phrasings

• encore version update fails Windows
• unable to symlink local encore.dev pnpm
• encore update symlink error

Why it happens

On Windows, the running Encore binary holds a lock on its own symlink, so the in-place updater cannot replace it. Running the install script in a fresh terminal avoids the locked files and lays down a clean install.

Edge cases

• Run PowerShell as Administrator if the script reports access denied.
• Close any terminal running encore run before updating.
• Source: https://github.com/encoredev/encore/issues/1658

Issue gh:encoredev/encore#1658: the reporter asked: Issue encoredev/encore#1658 (closed, 8 comments): Using pnpm i I have this error: ``` PS D:\Weblabs\nodejs\ENCORE\drizzle-sample> pnpm i WARN 2 deprecated subdependencies found: @esbuild-kit/core-utils@3.3.2, @esbuild-kit/esm-loader@2.6.5 Packages: +44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Progress: resolved 88, reused 44, downloaded 0, added 44, done dependencies: + @types/pg 8.11.10 + drizzle-orm 0.36.4 (0.38.2 is available) + encore.dev 1.45.2 + pg 8.13.1 devDependencies: + @types/node 20.17.10 (22.10.2 is available) + drizzle-kit 0.27.2 (0.30.1 is available) + typescript 5.7. The verified answer was: [clabnet (reporter)]: If encore version update fails on Windows, run the install script directly in a fresh PowerShell terminal: iwr https://encore.dev/install.ps1 -useb | iex. The reporter confirmed this worked when encore version update did not. Evidence thread: https://github.com/encoredev/encore/issues/1658