astral-sh/uv · error · anyhow::Error

Failed to remove symlink directory {}

Error message

Failed to remove symlink directory {}

What it means

Error "Failed to remove symlink directory {}" thrown in astral-sh/uv.

Source

Thrown at crates/uv/src/commands/python/uninstall.rs:253

        );

    for (_, installation) in remaining_minor_versions
        .iter()
        .filter(|(minor_version, _)| uninstalled_minor_versions.contains(minor_version))
    {
        installation.ensure_minor_version_link()?;
    }
    // For each uninstalled installation, check if there are no remaining installations
    // for its minor version. If there are none remaining, remove the symlink directory
    // (or junction on Windows) if it exists.
    for installation in &matching_installations {
        if !remaining_minor_versions.contains_key(installation.minor_version_key()) {
            if let Some(minor_version_link) =
                PythonMinorVersionLink::from_installation(installation)
            {
                if minor_version_link.exists() {
                    if uv_fs::remove_symlink(&minor_version_link.symlink_directory).is_err() {
                        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
                            "Failed to remove symlink directory {}",
                            minor_version_link.symlink_directory.display()
                        ));
                    }
                    let symlink_term = if cfg!(windows) {
                        "junction"
                    } else {
                        "symlink directory"
                    };
                    debug!(
                        "Removed {}: {}",
                        symlink_term,
                        minor_version_link.symlink_directory.to_string_lossy()
                    );
                }
            }
        }
    }

View on GitHub (pinned to f1a42680ff)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at crates/uv/src/commands/python/uninstall.rs:253 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of astral-sh/uv@f1a42680ff (2026-08-16). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f7539db57186b186. Report an issue: GitHub.