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Best alternatives to Local Explorer - Open Local File Links (2026)

10 Chrome extensions that do a similar job to Local Explorer, closest first. Each shows real store users, its rating, how recently it was updated and how many permissions it asks for.

Local Explorer: reviews, users and permissionsBest Functionality & UI extensions

Local Explorer - Open Local File Links today

≈100K users4.4★ from 324 ratingsUpdated 2 weeks ago2 permissions

Local Explorer alternatives, compared

  1. 1

    Open local folder by explorer

    Open local folder in explorer from Chrome

    ≈10K users4.0★ from 4 ratingsNot updated for 4+ years5 permissions
    • About 10× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (5 vs 2)
    • Listed under Accessibility
    Open local folder by explorer alternativesCompare side by side
  2. 2

    Enable local file links

    Make it possible to open by click a link to a local file that is disabled by Chrome.

    ≈3M users3.9★ from 74 ratingsUpdated 13 months ago4 permissions
    • About 30× more users than Local Explorer
    • Rated 0.5 stars lower
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (4 vs 2)
    • Listed under Workflow & Planning
    Compare side by side
  3. 3

    File Explorer

    Transform local folders and directory listings into a powerful file browser with search, filters, previews & shortcuts.

    ≈2K users3.8★ from 10 ratingsUpdated 2 weeks ago3 permissions
    • About 50× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Asks for more permissions (3 vs 2)
    • Listed under Accessibility
    File Explorer alternativesCompare side by side
  4. 4

    Open Local Files in Google Chrome™

    Opening links to local files is prohibited in Chrome, but this extension allows you to open them.

    ≈5K users2.5★ from 17 ratingsUpdated 4 months ago3 permissions
    • About 20× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (3 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
    Open Local Files in Google Chrome™ alternativesCompare side by side
  5. 5

    DatAnswers Chrome Local File Opener

    Open files on your local area network using Chrome

    ≈2K users3.3★ from 16 ratingsNot updated for 2+ years3 permissions
    • About 50× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (3 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
    DatAnswers Chrome Local File Opener alternativesCompare side by side
  6. 6

    Local File Server

    Serve local files via "http://localhost/" URLs.

    ≈1K users2.0★ from 2 ratingsUpdated 9 months ago4 permissions
    • About 100× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (4 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
    Local File Server alternativesCompare side by side
  7. 7

    Enhanced File Explorer for Chrome

    A beautiful file explorer for Chrome with 14 themes, custom colors, and font options

    ≈1K users3.4★ from 11 ratingsUpdated 9 months ago2 permissions
    • About 100× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Updated less recently
    • Listed under Accessibility
    Enhanced File Explorer for Chrome alternativesCompare side by side
  8. 8

    AODocs - Universal File Opener

    Edit any of your Google Drive™ files with your local applications.

    ≈70K users3.5★ from 48 ratingsUpdated 10 months ago5 permissions
    • A similar number of users to Local Explorer
    • Rated 0.9 stars lower
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (5 vs 2)
    • Listed under Workflow & Planning
    Compare side by side
  9. 9

    Open magnet links in Real-Debrid

    Adds an option to the context menu to open magnet links in real-debrid.com/torrents. Please log in to Real-Debrid first.

    ≈1K users5.0★ from 2 ratingsUpdated in the last day4 permissions
    • About 100× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Asks for more permissions (4 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
    Open magnet links in Real-Debrid alternativesCompare side by side
  10. 10

    Catppuccin for Web File Explorer Icons

    Soothing pastel icons for web file explorers

    ≈4K users4.6★ from 10 ratingsUpdated 8 days ago4 permissions
    • About 25× fewer users than Local Explorer
    • Asks for more permissions (4 vs 2)
    • Listed under Developer Tools
    Catppuccin for Web File Explorer Icons alternativesCompare side by side

Local Explorer alternatives: questions

What is the best alternative to Local Explorer?

By users, the most popular alternative is Enable local file links with ≈3M users and a 3.9-star rating. The closest match by what it does is Open local folder by explorer.

Which Local Explorer alternative has the best rating?

Enable local file links has the highest rating of these alternatives with 50+ ratings: 3.9 out of 5 from 74 ratings.

How many alternatives to Local Explorer are there?

We list 10 close alternatives to Local Explorer on the Chrome Web Store, picked by what they do and ranked by how close they are.

Users and ratings are the figures shown on the Chrome Web Store, re-checked continuously. Alternatives are matched on name, description, category and topic. Browse best-of lists by niche.