Laravel - Symlink Image Storage on Share Hosting Not Found Path

Hi Dev I will show you how to fix image path in storage when hosting in server. I'm trying to access files that are stored in /storage/app/public/uploads/image/file.jpeg, but return is 404 which is not found. The problem is that the path in local machine is point different from path on hosting server.

The problem

I want to get display image via https://www.cambotutorial.com/uploads/test.jpeg. In hosting server point to uploads directory which is in root. But in local machine is acually point to /public/uploads. However, by default we upload files in Laravel are store in /storage/app/public/uploads/ which is different and can't link to display on webpage.

Finally, I have found a solution to solve this problem by using symlink and command artisan. I will guide you how to solve using symbolic link in a shared hosting and local machine.

1. Using PHP Artisan

If you store files in /storage/app/public/uploads and custome directory is uploads . The map link will point the files to public > uploads by following step below

Goto directory app->config->filesystems.php change path

'links' => [
        public_path('storage') => storage_path('app/public'),
    ],

to

'links' => [
        public_path('uploads') => storage_path('app/public'),
    ],

Then run command below

php artisan storage:link

After run artisan command will created new shortcut folder in public folder which is name uploads (/public/uploads), so we can access file within url http://localhost:8000/uploads/test.jpeg

2. Using symlink()

In hosting server, in my case can not run command artisan, so below solution can handle above problem as well.

Create new symlink.php file in root directory (public_html) then run that file to link without run php artisan command.

symlink.php

<?php
  $targetFolder = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/storage/app/public';
  $linkFolder = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/uploads';
  symlink($targetFolder,$linkFolder);
  echo 'Symlink completed';
?>

Goto http://sample.com/symlink.php after run the file, it will create new shortcut folder in root directory name uploads.
We can access file within url http://sample.com/uploads/test.jpeg

You will see the link uploads directory are in differerent location. One is located in public folder and other one is located in root directory (public_html), but when you access the file path in hosting and local machine no need to changed which means you can access like http://sample.com/uploads/test.jpeg on both server and local machine.