External Application Launcher

Run any external application with custom arguments from the browser toolbar or context menu to send links, text and more

External Application Launcher - Run Applications from Browser

External Application Launcher is a Chrome extension that enables you to define a toolbar button or create several context menu items to execute external applications with custom arguments directly from your browser. It extracts arguments from the current webpage and passes them along to the external application. Primarily used to send links, selected text, download links, image URLs, or link patterns to external applications such as browsers, text editors, email clients, download managers, or photo editors.
Install from Chrome Web Store

Extension stats

Users: 5,000+
Rating: 4.26
(43)
Version: 0.5.8 (Last updated: 2024-11-21)
Creation date: 2020-06-02
Risk impact: Low risk impact
Risk likelihood:
Manifest version: 3
Permissions:
  • activeTab
  • storage
  • contextMenus
  • nativeMessaging
  • downloads
  • notifications
  • declarativeNetRequestWithHostAccess
  • scripting
Size: 166.91K

Other platforms

External Camera Mic (v1.4)
1.17 (90) 20,248+
External Application Launcher (v0.5.8)
4.00 (1) 1,318+
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Extension summary

The "External Application Launcher" extension enables you to define a toolbar button or several context menu items to execute external executables right from your browser. It extracts arguments from the current web page and passes them as command-line arguments of your choice to the external application.

Use Cases:

  • You can send the current page to another browser
  • You can send selected text to a text editor
  • You can open your external email client and send selected text to it
  • You send download links to an external download manager!
  • You can directly send image URLs to a photo editor of your choice
  • You can browse links with specified patterns with an external application

Notes:

  1. A minimal native client is required for this extension to execute native commands. The native client uses the official NodeJS executable.
  2. The native client is only available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

Usage Preview:

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User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Works great for opening external applications like VLC and MPV
  • User-friendly and flexible extension
  • Easy installation process for Chrome/Windows
  • Useful for opening websites in specific profiles or browsers
  • Saves users time and headache with direct connections
Cons
  • Limited to displaying only a few added applications in the menu
  • Group menu items implementation is a bad idea
  • Unfriendly installation process for the native client
  • Issues with certain features not working as expected (e.g., context menu options)
Most mentioned
  • Works great
  • Limited application display
  • Installation process difficulties
  • User interface concerns
  • Need for multiple application configurations
User reviews
wow amazing, unlocks so much potential by directly connecting browser info to your local pc (like client to server) I just made a .bat file that downloads a YouTube video, generates subtitles and automatically opens the video with matchings subtitles in VLC player
by Riaz Ali, 2024-07-04

by Vadim Shatalov, 2023-12-27

I have added 10 apps - only 6 of them is shown in menu also no way to reorder apps?
by Deja Vu, 2023-08-28
View all user reviews

Extension safety

Risk impact

External Application Launcher requires very minimum permissions.

Risk likelihood

External Application Launcher has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

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Promo images

External Application Launcher small promo image
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