Open Local Files in Google Chrome™

Overview

Open Local Files — Version 1.1: A Complete Overhaul Open Local Files does one thing, and now it does it really well: it lets you open links that point to files on your own computer. For security, Chrome blocks "file://" links, so clicking a link to a PDF, a spreadsheet, a document on a network share, or any file on your hard drive usually does nothing at all. This extension safely re-enables those links. One click opens the file in a new tab, right where you expect it — no downloads, no dead ends, no copying and pasting paths by hand. Version 1.1 is a ground-up rebuild. We focused on a single promise: opening a local file should just work on any operating system, and the moment the browser blocks it, the extension should tell you exactly why and how to fix it. To get there, we repaired every major bug, added the features users kept asking for, and gave the whole extension a clean, modern design. Every change in this release came straight from real reviews and bug reports, so the problems that frustrated people the most are exactly the ones we fixed first. What we fixed The settings popup was broken. A single outdated line of code caused the popup to fail silently, which meant the on/off switch never worked and the test link never loaded. The popup has been completely rebuilt, and every control now works. The on/off switch did nothing. Previously, turning the extension "off" had no effect — it kept opening links anyway. Now the switch genuinely enables and disables the extension, instantly, and your choice is remembered. Files failed to open with no explanation. Since late 2023, Chrome requires you to grant "Allow access to file URLs" before any extension can open local files. The old version gave no hint about this, so links simply did nothing. The new version detects the problem automatically and shows a clear, one-tap path to enable access. We also removed noisy background logging, stopped the extension from running inside every frame of every page where it wasn't needed, tightened security so only genuine clicks are honored, fixed garbled text that appeared in dozens of languages, corrected the extension's name, and removed unnecessary marketing redirects. Your privacy is now spelled out in a bundled policy: no tracking, no data collection, and nothing ever leaves your device. What's new A guided first run. A friendly welcome page walks you through the one-time setup and confirms everything is working. A built-in test page. One click opens a folder that exists on your computer — on Windows, macOS, or Linux — so you can confirm the extension works in seconds, without having to create a sample file first. Right-click to open. Select any file path on a page, or right-click a link, and choose "Open as local file." This even works on plain-text paths that are not clickable links. Open a file by path. Paste a Windows path, a network share (\\server\share), or a path containing spaces and non-English characters straight into the extension, and it opens — the extension cleans up and formats the path for you. Address-bar shortcut. Type "file" followed by a path in the address bar to open it instantly, plus a keyboard shortcut to jump straight to the extension. Recent files. Quickly reopen files you have opened before. A real settings page. Choose whether files open in a new tab or the current one, keep a per-site block list, pick a light, dark, or system theme, and manage your recent files. Friendly error pages. When something cannot open, you get a plain-language explanation and a fix instead of a blank, broken page. Accessibility and languages. The controls are now fully keyboard- and screen-reader-friendly, with proper focus indicators and contrast. The extension is available in more than 40 languages, with right-to-left layouts handled correctly. An optional power-user helper. For advanced needs — opening folders, mapped drives, and network shares, or launching files in their associated apps — you can install an optional companion that handles paths the browser cannot. It is completely optional, off by default, and the permission it needs is only requested if you turn it on. A brand-new look. The popup has a clean, modern design with a clear on/off switch, a short "how it works" guide, and a polished light and dark theme. The result is an extension that finally lives up to its name. Whether you manage documents on a shared drive, work with locally generated reports, or simply want your file links to behave, Open Local Files 1.1 makes opening local files quick, reliable, and obvious — on every site and every platform. Thank you to everyone who reported issues and suggested features; this release is built on your feedback, and we are just getting started.