Local Explorer - Open File Links in Chrome
Enable local file links to hard disk, Azure AD & company shared folders, mapped network drive directly in corporate/local host site.
Enable local file links in Chrome or Edge by using the Local Explorer browser extension. It lets you browse and open local file links directly in your web browser.
Local Explorer can enable local file links and open them in associated application when clicked. For examples, click a folder link to open Windows Explorer, click *.docx file to open MS Word, click *.avi file to open Windows Media Player, and so on...
You may use Local Explorer to open local file links & folder links to hard disk drives, Azure Active Directory or company's shared folders, mapped network drive directly in corporate website or local host site.
EXAMPLES
C:\Users\my_user_name\Documents ("My Documents" folders)
\\10.0.0.1\shared\local\folders\files (network drive)
W:\folder\ and W:\folder\file.docx (on webpages they're "file:///W:/folder/" and "file:///W:/folder/file.docx")
NOTES
- Currently it works only on Windows. We built this long ago for our in-house system and it's free. If you find any problem, contact us at [email protected] or click "Send Feedback" button before you post a negative review.
- The extension started to support Unicode since version 2022.11.30. It enables local file links or folders that contains Unicode characters.
- For the people complain about anti-vir warnings, it was a FALSE POSITIVE. We rebuilt our Integration module, see this http://goo.gl/qDNGP7
HOW TO ENABLE LOCAL FILE LINKS
For security reason, webpages are not allowed to read-write local resource on hard drives. To enable local file links, we need an integration between the extension and file system which is an external software runs outside of the browser. Read the simple steps described at http://www.vnprodev.com/browser-extensions/local-explorer-install.php
- Step 1: Add the extension to Chrome/Edge browser and enable "Allow access to file URLs".
- Step 2: Set your default folder in Options page and click Save Settings.
- Step 3: On Windows, download and install this app http://goo.gl/trX9bB for Windows Explorer integration. Run "LocalExplorer-Setup.exe" once then you're ready to go. Now you can open local file links directly while browsing the web.
SILENT INSTALL enterprise command line for the Integration module: LocalExplorer-Setup.exe /S
Latest reviews
This is the best extension. Here's why: If you struggle with links in Microsoft Office applications -- for example a link to a folder on your hard drive, the LocalExplorer helper is great for that -- no browser needed. The Windows Explorer integration allows you to use Web URLs to open local files on your hard drive simply by inserting "localexplorer://" in front of the path. I also use the LocalExplorer browser plugin to access local files from my local Wiki -- that was the original use-case, but since switching much of my workflow to OneNote, and then Microsoft breaking the links feature inside OneNote, this extension SAVED MY WORKFLOW. Thank you, LocalExplorer!
Works verry well except german special characters and root-share like "\\server\share" Thank you for programming updateing this
Extension works again in version 133.0.6943.60 (Officiële build) (64-bits)
Windows only. Tried to use in chrome on Chromebook and says I need LocalExplorer.exe https://www.vnprodev.com/browser-extensions/local-explorer-install.php?thanks&ws=chrome&br=chrome
How to open folders have non-english name?
for those who are not able to use the extension after chrome update, you can try to change \ to %5C, i.e. localexplorer:%5C%5C<server> for developers, you can use encodeURIComponent to encode the URL
It used to be a great add-on to Chrome but lately it became quite cumbersome to manage whenever there is a new Windows update, it stops working and even after several reinstall it still doesn't work.
Hello, Very useful extension for accessing folders on the network, but since the last Chrome update it stopped working, is there any solution?
Please update the extension to make it works with UNC paths after the Chrome 130.x update.
I have upvoted all comments mentioning that it does not work in the new version of Chrome when trying to open network paths. I had to switch to using Firefox, hopefully temporarily.
@Shantanu We have the same problem. How did you add Chrome Extension to Firefox?
Yes we love this extension but as of last friday 10/18/24 it has stopped working. when ever you click on a link on a web page which is defined as LocalExplorer:\\<server>\<share>\<folder> it open a blank chrome page and the URL says about:blank#blocked Please anyone has found any workaround. I have tried on firefox and seems like it is working fine. So switching to Firefox for now.
@Harshal Jain I found a solution for this. Previously, we were using the path like this: [C:\\Users\\\Desktop\\test] Now, we need to use it like this: [localexplorer:C:\\Users\\\Desktop\\test]
The extension does NOT work in the new version of Chrome: How to manage this extension with new chrome version ???
Great work, expecting support chinese path name and file name.
The extension does NOT work in the new version of Chrome: Version 127.0.6533.89 (Official Build) (64-bit). Please provide fix.
We just recently encountered the same issue that Kady Burns reported below. This no longer works in Chrome.
While this will still work in Edge, it no longer works in Chrome.
Super, danke
We use this extension to open network folders through a web page, but right now it's not working like before, because if the newtork path is like "\\server\folder\subfolder" it works, but if the path is like "\\server\folder", it doesn't. I think there's a problem with the integration module.
Love this extension. save me a lots of time to search long file names
Works perfectly
Works perfectly
PERFECT
PERFECT
works like a charm
works like a charm
Not working
Not working
Works perfectly. Does what it says it does. Perfect for web based company applications
Works perfectly. Does what it says it does. Perfect for web based company applications
works! finally same functionality as in Firefox for local Office-Files
works! finally same functionality as in Firefox for local Office-Files
It will be great to support Mac OS, use this extension on Windows but my colleagues cannot... ;)
It will be great to support Mac OS, use this extension on Windows but my colleagues cannot... ;)
Thank You!
Thank You!
Should be a built in feature for web browsers
Should be a built in feature for web browsers
does the job we need
does the job we need
DON'T WORK ON Chrome ver.108.0.5359.125（Official Build） （64 bit） Chrome will change the Link be like "unsafe:localexplorer:\\svr01\TEMP.PDF" according to its security policy. IF YOU REMOVE THE "unsafe:" PART YOU CAN OPEN THE LOCAL LINK. Can you do some update to remove the "unsafe:" part automatically?
DON'T WORK ON Chrome ver.108.0.5359.125（Official Build） （64 bit） Chrome will change the Link be like "unsafe:localexplorer:\\svr01\TEMP.PDF" according to its security policy. IF YOU REMOVE THE "unsafe:" PART YOU CAN OPEN THE LOCAL LINK. Can you do some update to remove the "unsafe:" part automatically?
Great extension.
Great extension.
This is good, really
This is good, really
EXCELENTE¡¡¡¡¡
Perfekt!
Enfin trouvée l'application qu'il me fallait. Dommage qu'il me demande toujours si je veux ouvrir le répertoire.
