Ollama install on Windows missing symlink permissions
Setting up Ollama on Windows 11 this morning. Installer finished, but every ollama run threw:
open C:\Users\Me\.ollama\models\registry.json: CreateFile symlink \?\C:\Users\Me\.ollama\models\registry.json: Access is denied.
Fresh PowerShell session, Admin prompt. Windows Developer Mode was disabled.
mklink needs Developer Mode or SeCreateSymbolicLink privilege.
Solved it by:
- opening Settings › For Developers
- toggling Developer Mode on
- restarting PowerShell
- re‑running
ollama run llama2
The model downloaded and started serving.
If you cannot enable Developer Mode, run secpol.msc and grant Create symbolic links to your user account.