diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index 6d7e58a9a3..4c3f5b3a12 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 # To update the file, execute
 import %workspace%/.bazelrc.deleted_packages
 
+# Symlinks are used extensively because of runfiles, venvs, and other reasons.
+# Supporting otherwise is very complex with little benefit.
+startup --windows_enable_symlinks
+
 test --test_output=errors
 
 # Do NOT implicitly create empty __init__.py files in the runfiles tree.
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 189e46f3f8..8ce7291a62 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ END_UNRELEASED_TEMPLATE
 
 {#v0-0-0-changed}
 ### Changed
+
+**Breaking**
+* {obj}`--windows_enable_symlinks` is required. Add `startup
+  --windows_enable_symlinks` to your `.bazelrc` to enable Bazel using full
+  symlink support on Windows.
+
+Other changes:
 * (pypi) Update dependencies used for `compile_pip_requirements`, building
   sdists in the `whl_library` rule and fetching wheels using `pip`.