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.

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Local Explorer is a powerful Chrome and Edge browser extension designed for Windows users to open local file links and folders directly from web pages. By integrating the browser with an external Windows application, it allows seamless access to files on your hard disk, company shared folders, mapped network drives, and Azure Active Directory locations. With support for various file types such as documents, media files, and folders, clicking a local link opens it in the associated application like Windows Explorer or MS Word.

Installation involves adding the extension to Chrome or Edge, enabling access to file URLs, setting your default folder, and installing the complementary Windows integration app for smooth operation. The extension also supports Unicode character paths, ensuring broad usability across different file names. Ideal for corporate environments, it enhances productivity by bridging browser and local file system workflows securely and efficiently. For detailed setup and troubleshooting, visit the official Local Explorer website or contact support.

By:: https://vnprodev.com
Users:: 100,000+
Rating:: 3.62

(327)
Version:: 2023.1.15.1 (Last updated: 2023-01-20)
Creation date:: 2020-07-04
Risk:: Moderate risk impact Very low risk likelihood
Permissions:: storage
Host permissions:: <all_urls>
Size:: 152.58K
Email:: su*****@vnprodev.com
URLs:: Website ,Privacy policy
Full description:: See detailed description
Source:: Chrome Web Store
Updated:: 18 hours ago

Ranking

# 1,943 ▲ 14

Other rankings

#243 in Functionality & UI ▼ 1

#1 in file keyword 57

#14 in folder keyword 13

#23 in folders keyword 11 ▼ 4

#25 in links keyword 39 ▼ 2

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Other platforms

Local Explorer: Open Local File Links in Edge (v2023.1.15.1)

17,434+ 5.00

(7)

User reviews

The Local Explorer Chrome extension is valued for opening local and network folder links directly from the browser, saving time and simplifying navigation on Windows systems. However, multiple users report that recent Chrome updates have broken the extension's functionality, especially with UNC network paths. Additionally, there are issues with non-English characters in file paths and lack of cross-platform support. While users appreciate its utility, persistent compatibility problems with newer Chrome versions have led some to seek alternatives like Firefox temporarily.

Pros

Effectively opens local and network folder links from Chrome.
Saves time by enabling easy access to long file names or nested folders.
Works well on Windows platforms as intended.
Has good integration with network shares and local directories.
Received positive feedback for utility and functionality before recent Chrome updates.

Cons

Stops working after recent Chrome updates, particularly from version 127 onwards.
Does not handle UNC paths consistently after Chrome updates, leading to broken or blocked links.
Limited support for non-English or special characters in file and folder names, including German, Japanese, Chinese.
Windows-only; requires an external component (LocalExplorer.exe) and does not support ChromeOS or other platforms well.
Users experience blank or blocked pages when clicking local file links due to Chrome security restrictions.

Recent reviews

Klasse Extension erfüllt bei mir genau seinen Zweck ...

Daniel Belleflamme, 2025-04-09

Works verry well except german special characters and root-share like "\\server\share" Thank you for programming updateing this

Karl Schrott, 2025-02-20

Extension works again in version 133.0.6943.60 (Officiële build) (64-bits)

Bart Laureys, 2025-02-12

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Extension safety

Risk impact

Local Explorer - Open File Links in Chrome requires a few sensitive permissions. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk impact analysis details

Critical Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
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Risk likelihood

Local Explorer - Open File Links in Chrome has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

Risk likelihood analysis details

High This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.
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