# Open Url

> Open URLs, files, and directories on Linux using default applications. Use for launching browsers, opening documents, or viewing files.

- Skill: `mikeyobrien/open-url` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add mikeyobrien/open-url`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/mikeyobrien/open-url/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: mikeyobrien (https://skillmd.com/u/mikeyobrien)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/mikeyobrien/open-url

---


# Open URLs and Files

Uses `xdg-open` which respects default application settings from the desktop environment.

## Open a URL in default browser
```bash
xdg-open https://example.com
```

## Open a file with default app
```bash
xdg-open document.pdf
xdg-open image.png
xdg-open spreadsheet.csv
```

## Open a directory in file manager
```bash
xdg-open /path/to/directory
xdg-open .
```

## Check/set default applications
```bash
# Query default browser
xdg-settings get default-web-browser

# Set default browser
xdg-settings set default-web-browser firefox.desktop

# Query default for a MIME type
xdg-mime query default application/pdf
```

## Open with a specific app
```bash
# xdg-open always uses defaults; to pick a specific app:
firefox https://example.com
google-chrome https://example.com
code /path/to/project
```

`xdg-open` returns immediately (runs in background). On headless systems without a desktop environment, it will fail. Use `sensible-browser` as a fallback for URLs on Debian-based systems.