diff --git a/conf/default.php b/conf/default.php
index 98e5e5b..feb1322 100644
--- a/conf/default.php
+++ b/conf/default.php
@@ -8,3 +8,7 @@ $conf['paths'] = '';
 $conf['allow_in_comments'] = 0;
 $conf['defaults'] = '';
 $conf['extensions'] = '';
+
+// Local opener service used by {{open>...}}.
+$conf['open_service_url'] = 'http://127.0.0.1:8765';
+$conf['open_service_token'] = '';
diff --git a/conf/metadata.php b/conf/metadata.php
index 3fc01d6..ec3812c 100644
--- a/conf/metadata.php
+++ b/conf/metadata.php
@@ -11,3 +11,6 @@ $meta['paths'] = array('');
 $meta['allow_in_comments'] = array('onoff');
 $meta['defaults'] = array('string');
 $meta['extensions'] = array('string');
+
+$meta['open_service_url'] = array('string');
+$meta['open_service_token'] = array('string');
diff --git a/lang/de/settings.php b/lang/de/settings.php
index be23671..5629d41 100644
--- a/lang/de/settings.php
+++ b/lang/de/settings.php
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 
 $lang['allow_in_comments'] = 'Files-Syntax in Kommentaren erlauben.';
+
+$lang['open_service_url'] = 'URL des lokalen Öffner-Dienstes für {{open>...}} (z.B. http://127.0.0.1:8765).';
+$lang['open_service_token'] = 'Token für den lokalen Öffner-Dienst (X-Filetools-Token).';
diff --git a/lang/en/settings.php b/lang/en/settings.php
index 519fc79..3c261be 100644
--- a/lang/en/settings.php
+++ b/lang/en/settings.php
@@ -3,3 +3,6 @@
 $lang['allow_in_comments'] = 'Whether to allow the files syntax to be used in comments.';
 $lang['defaults'] = 'Default options. Use the same syntax as in inline configuration';
 $lang['extensions'] = 'Comma-separated list of allowed file extensions to list';
+
+$lang['open_service_url'] = 'Local opener service URL for the {{open>...}} button (e.g. http://127.0.0.1:8765).';
+$lang['open_service_token'] = 'Token sent to the local opener service (X-Filetools-Token).';
diff --git a/lang/nl/settings.php b/lang/nl/settings.php
index c2f349b..cda7a0a 100644
--- a/lang/nl/settings.php
+++ b/lang/nl/settings.php
@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@
 $lang['allow_in_comments'] = 'Of de files syntax toegestaan is voor gebruik in commentaar.';
 $lang['defaults'] = 'Default options. Gebruik dezelfde syntax als de inline configuratie.';
 $lang['extensions'] = 'Komma-gescheiden lijst van toegestane bestandsextensies voor de lijst.';
+
+$lang['open_service_url'] = 'Lokale opener service-URL voor de {{open>...}} knop (bijv. http://127.0.0.1:8765).';
+$lang['open_service_token'] = 'Token dat naar de lokale opener service wordt gestuurd (X-Filetools-Token).';
diff --git a/local-opener/go.mod b/local-opener/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fbadd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/local-opener/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module filetools-local-opener
+
+go 1.22
diff --git a/local-opener/main.go b/local-opener/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c44122
--- /dev/null
+++ b/local-opener/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+type allowList []string
+
+func (a *allowList) String() string { return strings.Join(*a, ",") }
+func (a *allowList) Set(value string) error {
+	value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	if value == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	*a = append(*a, value)
+	return nil
+}
+
+type openRequest struct {
+	Path string `json:"path"`
+}
+
+type openResponse struct {
+	OK      bool   `json:"ok"`
+	Message string `json:"message"`
+}
+
+func main() {
+	listen := flag.String("listen", "127.0.0.1:8765", "listen address (host:port), should be loopback")
+	token := flag.String("token", "", "shared secret token; if empty, requests are allowed without authentication")
+	var allowed allowList
+	flag.Var(&allowed, "allow", "allowed path prefix (repeatable); if none, any path is allowed")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	if !isLoopbackListenAddr(*listen) {
+		log.Fatalf("refusing to listen on non-loopback address: %s", *listen)
+	}
+
+	if strings.TrimSpace(*token) == "" {
+		generated, err := generateToken()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to generate token: %v", err)
+		}
+		*token = generated
+		log.Printf("generated token (set this in the plugin config): %s", *token)
+	}
+
+	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+
+	mux.HandleFunc("/health", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		withCORS(w, r)
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"ok": true, "time": time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339)})
+	})
+
+	mux.HandleFunc("/open", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		withCORS(w, r)
+		if r.Method == http.MethodOptions {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+			return
+		}
+
+		var req openRequest
+		switch r.Method {
+		case http.MethodGet:
+			req.Path = r.URL.Query().Get("path")
+		case http.MethodPost:
+			dec := json.NewDecoder(http.MaxBytesReader(w, r.Body, 32*1024))
+			dec.DisallowUnknownFields()
+			if err := dec.Decode(&req); err != nil {
+				writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, openResponse{OK: false, Message: "invalid json"})
+				return
+			}
+		default:
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusMethodNotAllowed, openResponse{OK: false, Message: "GET or POST required"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		if !checkToken(r, *token) {
+			// Allow token to be supplied via query string for GET fallback.
+			qt := strings.TrimSpace(r.URL.Query().Get("token"))
+			if qt == "" || !subtleStringEqual(qt, strings.TrimSpace(*token)) {
+				writeJSON(w, http.StatusUnauthorized, openResponse{OK: false, Message: "unauthorized"})
+				return
+			}
+		}
+
+		target, err := normalizePath(req.Path)
+		if err != nil {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, openResponse{OK: false, Message: err.Error()})
+			return
+		}
+
+		if len(allowed) > 0 && !isAllowed(target, allowed) {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusForbidden, openResponse{OK: false, Message: "path not allowed"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		if err := openFolder(target); err != nil {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, openResponse{OK: false, Message: err.Error()})
+			return
+		}
+
+		if r.Method == http.MethodGet {
+			// For GET callers (image-ping), a 204 avoids console noise from non-image responses.
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+			return
+		}
+
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, openResponse{OK: true, Message: "opened"})
+	})
+
+	srv := &http.Server{
+		Addr:              *listen,
+		Handler:           mux,
+		ReadHeaderTimeout: 5 * time.Second,
+		ReadTimeout:       10 * time.Second,
+		WriteTimeout:      10 * time.Second,
+		IdleTimeout:       30 * time.Second,
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("listening on http://%s", *listen)
+	log.Printf("os=%s arch=%s", runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	log.Fatal(srv.ListenAndServe())
+}
+
+func isLoopbackListenAddr(addr string) bool {
+	host, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(addr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	ip := net.ParseIP(host)
+	if ip == nil {
+		return host == "localhost"
+	}
+	return ip.IsLoopback()
+}
+
+func generateToken() (string, error) {
+	b := make([]byte, 32)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(b); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(b), nil
+}
+
+func withCORS(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	origin := r.Header.Get("Origin")
+	if origin != "" {
+		w.Header().Set("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", origin)
+		w.Header().Set("Vary", "Origin")
+	} else {
+		w.Header().Set("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*")
+	}
+	w.Header().Set("Access-Control-Allow-Methods", "POST, GET, OPTIONS")
+	w.Header().Set("Access-Control-Allow-Headers", "Content-Type, X-Filetools-Token")
+}
+
+func checkToken(r *http.Request, required string) bool {
+	required = strings.TrimSpace(required)
+	if required == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	got := r.Header.Get("X-Filetools-Token")
+	got = strings.TrimSpace(got)
+	return got != "" && subtleStringEqual(got, required)
+}
+
+func subtleStringEqual(a, b string) bool {
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+	var v byte
+	for i := 0; i < len(a); i++ {
+		v |= a[i] ^ b[i]
+	}
+	return v == 0
+}
+
+func normalizePath(input string) (string, error) {
+	p := strings.TrimSpace(input)
+	if p == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("missing path")
+	}
+
+	// Accept file:// URLs.
+	if strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(p), "file://") {
+		p = strings.TrimPrefix(p, "file://")
+		// file:///C:/... becomes /C:/... (strip one leading slash)
+		p = strings.TrimPrefix(p, "/")
+		p = strings.TrimPrefix(p, "/")
+		p = strings.TrimPrefix(p, "/")
+		p = strings.ReplaceAll(p, "/", string(os.PathSeparator))
+	}
+
+	p = filepath.Clean(p)
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(p) {
+		return "", errors.New("path must be absolute")
+	}
+
+	// Ensure path exists.
+	st, err := os.Stat(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("path not found")
+	}
+	if !st.IsDir() {
+		// If a file is provided, open its containing folder.
+		p = filepath.Dir(p)
+	}
+	return p, nil
+}
+
+func isAllowed(path string, allowed []string) bool {
+	path = filepath.Clean(path)
+	for _, a := range allowed {
+		a = filepath.Clean(a)
+		if a == "." || a == string(os.PathSeparator) {
+			return true
+		}
+		// Case-insensitive on Windows.
+		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(path), strings.ToLower(a)) {
+				return true
+			}
+		} else {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(path, a) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func openFolder(path string) error {
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "windows":
+		// explorer requires backslashes.
+		p := strings.ReplaceAll(path, "/", "\\")
+		cmd := exec.Command("explorer.exe", p)
+		return cmd.Start()
+	case "linux":
+		cmd := exec.Command("xdg-open", path)
+		return cmd.Start()
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported OS: %s", runtime.GOOS)
+	}
+}
+
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, resp openResponse) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(resp)
+}
diff --git a/script.js b/script.js
index ffb6d8d..6d9310d 100644
--- a/script.js
+++ b/script.js
@@ -3,6 +3,63 @@
 (function () {
   'use strict';
 
+  function getServiceUrl(el) {
+    var url = el.getAttribute('data-service-url') || '';
+    url = (url || '').trim();
+    if (!url) return '';
+    // strip trailing slashes
+    return url.replace(/\/+$/, '');
+  }
+
+  function getServiceToken(el) {
+    var token = el.getAttribute('data-service-token') || '';
+    return (token || '').trim();
+  }
+
+  function pingOpenViaImage(el, rawPath) {
+    var baseUrl = getServiceUrl(el);
+    if (!baseUrl) return;
+
+    var token = getServiceToken(el);
+    var url = baseUrl + '/open?path=' + encodeURIComponent(rawPath);
+    if (token) url += '&token=' + encodeURIComponent(token);
+
+    // Fire-and-forget without CORS.
+    try {
+      var img = new window.Image();
+      img.src = url;
+    } catch (e) {
+      // ignore
+    }
+  }
+
+  function openViaService(el, rawPath) {
+    var baseUrl = getServiceUrl(el);
+    if (!baseUrl) return Promise.reject(new Error('No opener service configured'));
+
+    var headers = {
+      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
+    };
+    var token = getServiceToken(el);
+    if (token) headers['X-Filetools-Token'] = token;
+
+    return window.fetch(baseUrl + '/open', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      mode: 'cors',
+      credentials: 'omit',
+      headers: headers,
+      body: JSON.stringify({ path: rawPath })
+    }).then(function (res) {
+      if (!res.ok) {
+        return res.json().catch(function () { return null; }).then(function (body) {
+          var msg = (body && body.message) ? body.message : ('HTTP ' + res.status);
+          throw new Error(msg);
+        });
+      }
+      return res.json().catch(function () { return { ok: true }; });
+    });
+  }
+
   function normalizeToFileUrl(path) {
     if (!path) return '';
 
@@ -37,21 +94,29 @@
     if (!el || !el.classList || !el.classList.contains('filetools-open')) return;
 
     var raw = el.getAttribute('data-path') || '';
-    var url = normalizeToFileUrl(raw);
-    console.log('Opening file URL:', url);
-    if (!url) return;
+    if (!raw) return;
 
-    // Best-effort: browsers may block file:// navigation depending on settings.
-    try {
-      window.open(url, '_blank', 'noopener');
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.error('Failed to open file URL in new tab:', e);
-      try {
-        window.location.href = url;
-      } catch (e2) {
-        console.error('Failed to open file URL:', e2);
-      }
-    }
+    // Prefer local opener service.
+    openViaService(el, raw)
+      .catch(function (err) {
+        // If the browser blocks the request before it reaches localhost (mixed-content,
+        // extensions, stricter CORS handling), fall back to a no-CORS GET ping.
+        pingOpenViaImage(el, raw);
+
+        // Fallback to old behavior (often blocked in modern browsers).
+        var url = normalizeToFileUrl(raw);
+        if (!url) return;
+        console.warn('Local opener service failed, falling back to file:// navigation:', err);
+        try {
+          window.open(url, '_blank', 'noopener');
+        } catch (e) {
+          try {
+            window.location.href = url;
+          } catch (e2) {
+            console.error('Failed to open file URL:', e2);
+          }
+        }
+      });
   }
 
   document.addEventListener('click', onClick, false);
diff --git a/syntax/open.php b/syntax/open.php
index 374e5e4..6239dd9 100644
--- a/syntax/open.php
+++ b/syntax/open.php
@@ -73,7 +73,19 @@ class syntax_plugin_filetools_open extends SyntaxPlugin
             return true;
         }
 
-        $renderer->doc .= '<button type="button" class="filetools-open" data-path="' . hsc($path) . '">' . hsc($caption) . '</button>';
+        $serviceUrl = trim((string)$this->getConf('open_service_url'));
+        $serviceToken = trim((string)$this->getConf('open_service_token'));
+
+        $attrs = ' type="button" class="filetools-open"'
+            . ' data-path="' . hsc($path) . '"';
+        if ($serviceUrl !== '') {
+            $attrs .= ' data-service-url="' . hsc($serviceUrl) . '"';
+        }
+        if ($serviceToken !== '') {
+            $attrs .= ' data-service-token="' . hsc($serviceToken) . '"';
+        }
+
+        $renderer->doc .= '<button' . $attrs . '>' . hsc($caption) . '</button>';
         return true;
     }
 }