diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/src/core/config/mod.rs b/apps/oxfmt/src/core/config/mod.rs
index d415f283ec..361523fb97 100644
--- a/apps/oxfmt/src/core/config/mod.rs
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/src/core/config/mod.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ impl ConfigLoader {
     fn load_in_dir(&self, dir: &Path) -> Result<Option<ConfigResolver>, String> {
         let Some(config_file) = self
             .discovery
-            .find_unique_config_by_readdir(dir, false)
+            .find_unique_config_by_readdir(dir)
             .map_err(|e| Into::<oxc_diagnostics::OxcDiagnostic>::into(e).to_string())?
         else {
             return Ok(None);
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/0.snap.md b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/0.snap.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8afff98ea7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/0.snap.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Input
+
+## Command
+```
+oxfmt .
+```
+
+## File tree
+```
+- fixtures/ <CWD>
+  - root.js
+  - shared/
+    - root.json
+    - sub.json
+  - sub/
+    - sub.js
+```
+
+# Result
+
+## Exit code
+0
+
+## stdout
+```
+Finished in <time> on 4 files using 1 threads.
+```
+
+## stderr
+```
+
+```
+
+## File changes
+
+### root.js
+`````diff
+@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
+-const x = "a";
++const x = "a"
+`````
+
+### sub/sub.js
+`````diff
+@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
+-const x = "a";
++const x = 'a';
+`````
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/.oxfmtrc.json b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/.oxfmtrc.json
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..d8ca943b84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/.oxfmtrc.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+shared/root.json
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/root.js b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/root.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6bed0245e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/root.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+const x = "a";
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/shared/root.json b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/shared/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..109a78d906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/shared/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "semi": false }
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/shared/sub.json b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/shared/sub.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..637787883f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/shared/sub.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "singleQuote": true }
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/sub/.oxfmtrc.json b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/sub/.oxfmtrc.json
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..315c722bde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/sub/.oxfmtrc.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../shared/sub.json
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/sub/sub.js b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/sub/sub.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6bed0245e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/fixtures/sub/sub.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+const x = "a";
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/options.json b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/options.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..55150d70df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/cli/config_symlink/options.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[{ "args": ["."] }]
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/__snapshots__/format.test.ts.snap b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/__snapshots__/format.test.ts.snap
index 7a2a09b5de..158f6f8a65 100644
--- a/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/__snapshots__/format.test.ts.snap
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/__snapshots__/format.test.ts.snap
@@ -220,6 +220,18 @@ file://<fixture>/config-svelte/test.svelte
 --------------------"
 `;
 
+exports[`LSP formatting > config options > should apply config from config-symlink/test.ts 1`] = `
+"--- URI -----------
+file://<fixture>/config-symlink/test.ts
+--- BEFORE ---------
+const x = 1;
+
+--- AFTER ----------
+const x = 1
+
+--------------------"
+`;
+
 exports[`LSP formatting > config options > should apply config from config-vite-semi/test.ts 1`] = `
 "--- URI -----------
 file://<fixture>/config-vite-semi/test.ts
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/fixtures/config-symlink/.oxfmtrc.json b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/fixtures/config-symlink/.oxfmtrc.json
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..3ceecf68c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/fixtures/config-symlink/.oxfmtrc.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../config-semi/.oxfmtrc.json
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/fixtures/config-symlink/test.ts b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/fixtures/config-symlink/test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..943c458c79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/fixtures/config-symlink/test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+const x = 1;
diff --git a/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/format.test.ts b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/format.test.ts
index 5c3fee0e11..2c2cf5e723 100644
--- a/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/format.test.ts
+++ b/apps/oxfmt/test/lsp/format/format.test.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ describe("LSP formatting", () => {
   describe("config options", () => {
     it.each([
       ["config-semi/test.ts", "typescript"],
+      ["config-symlink/test.ts", "typescript"],
       ["config-js-semi/test.ts", "typescript"],
       ["config-no-sort-package-json/package.json", "json"],
       ["config-vue-indent/test.vue", "vue"],
diff --git a/apps/oxlint/src/config_loader.rs b/apps/oxlint/src/config_loader.rs
index 56917a9d44..4402064a1d 100644
--- a/apps/oxlint/src/config_loader.rs
+++ b/apps/oxlint/src/config_loader.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ pub fn discover_configs_in_ancestors<P: AsRef<Path>>(
             if !inserted {
                 break;
             }
-            match discovery.find_unique_config_by_readdir(dir, true) {
+            match discovery.find_unique_config_by_readdir(dir) {
                 Ok(Some(config)) => {
                     if config.path() == base_config_path {
                         base_config_found = true;
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ impl<'a> ConfigLoader<'a> {
         dir: &Path,
     ) -> Result<Option<Oxlintrc>, OxcDiagnostic> {
         let config_file =
-            discovery.find_unique_config_by_readdir(dir, true).map_err(OxcDiagnostic::from)?;
+            discovery.find_unique_config_by_readdir(dir).map_err(OxcDiagnostic::from)?;
 
         match config_file {
             Some(DiscoveredConfigFile::Json(path) | DiscoveredConfigFile::Jsonc(path)) => {
diff --git a/crates/oxc_config/src/discovery.rs b/crates/oxc_config/src/discovery.rs
index 4eea9a49f4..86a4c0b12a 100644
--- a/crates/oxc_config/src/discovery.rs
+++ b/crates/oxc_config/src/discovery.rs
@@ -115,10 +115,8 @@ impl ConfigDiscovery {
     /// Issues one `read_dir()` and matches entry names in memory,
     /// avoiding the per-candidate `stat` syscalls that a name-by-name probe would incur.
     ///
-    /// When `follow_symlinks` is `true`,
-    /// symlink entries fall back to `Path::is_file()` so a symlinked config is still recognized.
-    /// When `false`, only regular files are considered;
-    /// symlinks, directories, and other entry types are skipped, matching walkers configured with `follow_links(false)`.
+    /// Symlinks are followed, so a symlinked config is recognized.
+    /// Directories and dangling symlinks are skipped.
     ///
     /// Returns `Ok(None)` when `dir` is unreadable;
     /// the caller can decide whether that warrants a diagnostic.
@@ -129,7 +127,6 @@ impl ConfigDiscovery {
     pub fn find_unique_config_by_readdir(
         &self,
         dir: &Path,
-        follow_symlinks: bool,
     ) -> Result<Option<DiscoveredConfigFile>, ConfigConflict> {
         let Ok(entries) = std::fs::read_dir(dir) else {
             return Ok(None);
@@ -141,14 +138,7 @@ impl ConfigDiscovery {
             let Some(priority) = self.priority(&entry.file_name()) else { continue };
 
             // NOTE: `Path::is_file()` follows symlinks; `FileType::is_file()` does not.
-            let is_match = if follow_symlinks {
-                entry.path().is_file()
-            } else {
-                let Ok(file_type) = entry.file_type() else { continue };
-                #[expect(clippy::filetype_is_file)]
-                file_type.is_file()
-            };
-            if is_match {
+            if entry.path().is_file() {
                 matches.push((priority, self.entries[priority].1(entry.path())));
             }
         }
@@ -298,9 +288,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn readdir_returns_none_for_empty_dir() {
         let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
-        assert!(
-            discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap().is_none()
-        );
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap().is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -308,7 +296,7 @@ mod test {
         // Pointing at a path that doesn't exist mimics the "read_dir fails" case
         // without relying on platform-specific permission setups.
         let missing = std::path::PathBuf::from("/this/path/does/not/exist/__readdir_test__");
-        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(&missing, false).unwrap().is_none());
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(&missing).unwrap().is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -317,9 +305,7 @@ mod test {
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join("README.md"), "").unwrap();
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join("package.json"), "").unwrap();
 
-        assert!(
-            discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap().is_none()
-        );
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap().is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -328,7 +314,7 @@ mod test {
         let cfg_path = temp_dir.path().join(JSON);
         fs::write(&cfg_path, "{}").unwrap();
 
-        let found = discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap();
+        let found = discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap();
         assert!(matches!(found, Some(DiscoveredConfigFile::Json(p)) if p == cfg_path));
     }
 
@@ -338,7 +324,7 @@ mod test {
         let cfg_path = temp_dir.path().join("oxlint.config.mts");
         fs::write(&cfg_path, "export default {};").unwrap();
 
-        let found = discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap();
+        let found = discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap();
         assert!(matches!(found, Some(DiscoveredConfigFile::Js(p)) if p == cfg_path));
     }
 
@@ -349,7 +335,7 @@ mod test {
             fs::write(temp_dir.path().join(name), "export default {};").unwrap();
         }
 
-        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).is_err());
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -358,7 +344,7 @@ mod test {
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join(JSON), "{}").unwrap();
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join(".oxlintrc.jsonc"), "{}").unwrap();
 
-        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).is_err());
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -368,9 +354,7 @@ mod test {
         // treated as a config file.
         fs::create_dir(temp_dir.path().join(JSON)).unwrap();
 
-        assert!(
-            discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap().is_none()
-        );
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap().is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -380,7 +364,7 @@ mod test {
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join(JSON), "{}").unwrap();
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join("vite.config.ts"), "").unwrap();
 
-        let found = vite_discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap();
+        let found = vite_discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap();
         assert!(
             matches!(found, Some(DiscoveredConfigFile::Vite(p)) if p.file_name().unwrap() == "vite.config.ts")
         );
@@ -392,7 +376,7 @@ mod test {
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join("vite.config.ts"), "").unwrap();
         fs::write(temp_dir.path().join("vite.config.mjs"), "").unwrap();
 
-        let found = vite_discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap();
+        let found = vite_discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap();
         assert!(
             matches!(found, Some(DiscoveredConfigFile::Vite(p)) if p.file_name().unwrap() == "vite.config.mjs")
         );
@@ -400,7 +384,7 @@ mod test {
 
     #[cfg(unix)]
     #[test]
-    fn readdir_follow_symlinks_toggles_link_resolution() {
+    fn readdir_follows_symlinks() {
         use std::os::unix::fs::symlink;
 
         let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
@@ -413,28 +397,19 @@ mod test {
         let link = temp_dir.path().join(JSON);
         symlink(&target, &link).unwrap();
 
-        // follow_symlinks=false: symlinked configs are ignored.
-        assert!(
-            discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), false).unwrap().is_none()
-        );
-
-        // follow_symlinks=true: the symlink resolves to a file and matches.
-        let found = discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), true).unwrap();
+        let found = discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap();
         assert!(matches!(found, Some(DiscoveredConfigFile::Json(p)) if p == link));
     }
 
     #[cfg(unix)]
     #[test]
-    fn readdir_follow_symlinks_skips_dangling_links() {
+    fn readdir_skips_dangling_symlinks() {
         use std::os::unix::fs::symlink;
 
         let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
-        // Symlink target does not exist; even with follow_symlinks=true this
-        // must not be reported as a config file.
+        // Symlink target does not exist, so this must not be reported as a config file.
         symlink("/nonexistent/target", temp_dir.path().join(JSON)).unwrap();
 
-        assert!(
-            discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path(), true).unwrap().is_none()
-        );
+        assert!(discovery().find_unique_config_by_readdir(temp_dir.path()).unwrap().is_none());
     }
 }