brew link php71: Could not symlink sbin/php-fpm

Question

I'm trying to install Laravel Valet, which requires php 7.1, but when i run brew install php71, I get the following error:

==> Pouring php71-7.1.10_21.high_sierra.bottle.tar.gz
Error: The `brew link` step did not complete successfully
The formula built, but is not symlinked into /usr/local
Could not symlink sbin/php-fpm
/usr/local/sbin is not writable.

I get the same error when i run brew link php71. If i run php -v, I actually see that I'm currently running PHP 7.1.7.

But when I run valet install, I get:

  [DomainException]
  Unable to determine linked PHP.

I don't even have an sbin directory in /usr/local.

Any suggestions?

Just a guess but you probably need to temporarily disable *"System Integrity Protection"*... `csrutil` or somesuch. — Mark Setchell, Oct 16 '17 at 20:28
You should be able to make it yourself and try again `mkdir /usr/local/sbin` — Mark Setchell, Oct 16 '17 at 21:25
Ok that worked! Not sure I feel good about it, but installing nonetheless. — AlxVallejo, Oct 16 '17 at 21:27

score 119 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 04 '20 at 20:26

119

I solved this problem by first creating the directory sbin:

sudo mkdir /usr/local/sbin

then if you are like me using macOS highSierra 10+ you need to run:

sudo chown -R $(whoami) $(brew --prefix)/sbin

after this

brew link php

edited Jan 04 '20 at 20:26

iSWORD

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answered Nov 24 '17 at 00:25

Qifan Guo

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When you say "local dir" do you mean `/usr/local/sbin`? – Andy Ibanez Aug 18 '18 at 17:51
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This is one of the best explanations by far, thanks. @AndyIbanez it is, indeed – Yajairo87 Sep 25 '18 at 04:50
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```sudo mkdir /usr/local/sbin``` after ```sudo chown -R `whoami`:admin /usr/local/sbin``` and just ```brew link php``` – Thiago Valente Dec 01 '19 at 16:41
This solution is worked for me. I was having a problem linking brew to php. The error was permission denied @ apply2files. – Fatimah Mohmmed Oct 29 '22 at 06:41

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 15 '17 at 23:54

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Installing Laravel Valet, I had a similar issue with sbin not being writable. I had to make the directory, then utilized the solution included at this page. This finally allowed me the proper permissions to run a brew link command with a previously installed version of php 7.1.

answered Nov 15 '17 at 23:54

Sam

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Just for future reference, it's typically best practice to include the relevant part of the link in your answer just in case the page or question/answer are deleted. That way this question and your answer remain intact and valid. – Michael Nov 15 '17 at 23:59
I didn't get this. – The Onin Jul 10 '18 at 14:48

brew link php71: Could not symlink sbin/php-fpm

2 Answers2

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