diff --git a/runtime/autoload/netrw.vim b/runtime/autoload/netrw.vim
index 0adcc65..e09716d 100644
--- a/runtime/autoload/netrw.vim
+++ b/runtime/autoload/netrw.vim
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 "   2024 Sep 19 by Vim Project: mf-selection highlight uses wrong pattern (#15700)
 "   2024 Sep 21 by Vim Project: remove extraneous closing bracket (#15718)
 "   2024 Oct 21 by Vim Project: remove netrwFileHandlers (#15895)
+"   2024 Oct 27 by Vim Project: clean up gx mapping (#15721)
 "   }}}
 " Former Maintainer:	Charles E Campbell
 " GetLatestVimScripts: 1075 1 :AutoInstall: netrw.vim
@@ -538,7 +539,6 @@
 endif
 call s:NetrwInit("g:netrw_special_syntax"   , 0)
 call s:NetrwInit("g:netrw_ssh_browse_reject", '^total\s\+\d\+$')
-call s:NetrwInit("g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg",  1)
 call s:NetrwInit("g:netrw_use_noswf"        , 1)
 call s:NetrwInit("g:netrw_sizestyle"        ,"b")
 " Default values - t-w ---------- {{{3
@@ -5406,25 +5406,6 @@
 "  call Decho("fname<".fname.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
 "  call Decho("exten<".exten."> "."netrwFileHandlers#NFH_".exten."():exists=".exists("*netrwFileHandlers#NFH_".exten),'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
 
-  " set up redirection (avoids browser messages)
-  " by default, g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg is true
-  if g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg
-   if &srr =~ "%s"
-    if has("win32")
-     let redir= substitute(&srr,"%s","nul","")
-    else
-     let redir= substitute(&srr,"%s","/dev/null","")
-    endif
-   elseif has("win32")
-    let redir= &srr . "nul"
-   else
-    let redir= &srr . "/dev/null"
-   endif
-  else
-   let redir= ""
-  endif
-"  call Decho("set up redirection: redir{".redir."} srr{".&srr."}",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-
   " extract any viewing options.  Assumes that they're set apart by spaces.
   if exists("g:netrw_browsex_viewer")
 "   call Decho("extract any viewing options from g:netrw_browsex_viewer<".g:netrw_browsex_viewer.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
@@ -5447,86 +5428,14 @@
 "   call Decho("viewer<".viewer.">  viewopt<".viewopt.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
   endif
 
-  " execute the file handler
-"  call Decho("execute the file handler (if any)",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
   if exists("g:netrw_browsex_viewer") && executable(viewer)
 "   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) g:netrw_browsex_viewer<".g:netrw_browsex_viewer.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   call s:NetrwExe("sil !".viewer." ".viewopt.s:ShellEscape(fname,1).redir)
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("win32")
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) win".(has("win32")? "32" : "64"),'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   if executable("start")
-    call s:NetrwExe('sil! !start rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler '.s:ShellEscape(fname,1))
-   elseif executable("rundll32")
-    call s:NetrwExe('sil! !rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler '.s:ShellEscape(fname,1))
-   else
-    call netrw#ErrorMsg(s:WARNING,"rundll32 not on path",74)
-   endif
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("win32unix")
-   let winfname= 'c:\cygwin'.substitute(fname,'/','\\','g')
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) cygwin: winfname<".s:ShellEscape(winfname,1).">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   if executable("start")
-"    call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) win32unix+start",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-    call s:NetrwExe('sil !start rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler '.s:ShellEscape(winfname,1))
-   elseif executable("rundll32")
-"    call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) win32unix+rundll32",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-    call s:NetrwExe('sil !rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler '.s:ShellEscape(winfname,1))
-   elseif executable("cygstart")
-"    call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) win32unix+cygstart",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-    call s:NetrwExe('sil !cygstart '.s:ShellEscape(fname,1))
-   else
-    call netrw#ErrorMsg(s:WARNING,"rundll32 not on path",74)
-   endif
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("unix") && $DESKTOP_SESSION == "mate" && executable("atril")
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) unix and atril",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   if a:fname =~ '^https\=://'
-    " atril does not appear to understand how to handle html -- so use gvim to edit the document
-    let use_ctrlo= 0
-"    call Decho("fname<".fname.">")
-"    call Decho("a:fname<".a:fname.">")
-    call s:NetrwExe("sil! !gvim ".fname.' -c "keepj keepalt file '.fnameescape(a:fname).'"')
-
-   else
-    call s:NetrwExe("sil !atril ".s:ShellEscape(fname,1).redir)
-   endif
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("unix") && executable("kfmclient") && s:CheckIfKde()
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) unix and kfmclient",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   call s:NetrwExe("sil !kfmclient exec ".s:ShellEscape(fname,1)." ".redir)
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("unix") && executable("exo-open") && executable("xdg-open") && executable("setsid")
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) unix, exo-open, xdg-open",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   call s:NetrwExe("sil !setsid xdg-open ".s:ShellEscape(fname,1).redir.'&')
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("unix") && executable("xdg-open")
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) unix and xdg-open",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   call s:NetrwExe("sil !xdg-open ".s:ShellEscape(fname,1).redir.'&')
-   let ret= v:shell_error
-
-  elseif has("macunix") && executable("open")
-"   call Decho("(netrw#BrowseX) macunix and open",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   call s:NetrwExe("sil !open ".s:ShellEscape(fname,1)." ".redir)
-   let ret= v:shell_error
+    exe 'Launch' viewer viewopt shellescape(fname, 1)
   else
-   call netrw#ErrorMsg(s:ERROR, "Couldn't find a program to open '".a:fname."'", 0)
-   let ret=0
+     " though shellescape(..., 1) is used in Open, it's insufficient
+     exe 'Open' escape(fname, '#%')
   endif
 
-  if ret
-   call netrw#ErrorMsg(s:ERROR, "Failed to open '".a:fname."'", 0)
-  endif
-
-  " restoring redraw! after external file handlers
-  redraw!
-
   " cleanup: remove temporary file,
   "          delete current buffer if success with handler,
   "          return to prior buffer (directory listing)
@@ -5563,12 +5472,37 @@
   if &ft == "netrw"
    let fname= s:NetrwGetWord()
   else
-   let fname= expand((exists("g:netrw_gx")? g:netrw_gx : '<cfile>'))
+   let fname= exists("g:netrw_gx")? expand(g:netrw_gx) : s:GetURL()
   endif
 "  call Dret("netrw#GX <".fname.">")
   return fname
 endfun
 
+fun! s:GetURL() abort
+   let URL = ''
+   if exists('*Netrw_get_URL_' .. &filetype)
+      let URL = call('Netrw_get_URL_' .. &filetype, [])
+   endif
+   if !empty(URL) | return URL | endif
+  " URLs end in letter, digit or forward slash
+  let URL = matchstr(expand("<cWORD>"), '\<' .. g:netrw_regex_url .. '\ze[^A-Za-z0-9/]*$')
+  if !empty(URL) | return URL | endif
+
+  " Is it a file in the current work dir ...
+  let file = expand("<cfile>")
+  if filereadable(file) | return file | endif
+  " ... or in that of the current buffer?
+  let path = fnamemodify(expand('%'), ':p')
+  if isdirectory(path)
+    let dir = path
+  elseif filereadable(path)
+    let dir = fnamemodify(path, ':h')
+  endif
+  if exists('dir') && filereadable(dir..'/'..file) | return dir..'/'..file | endif
+
+  return ''
+endf
+
 " ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 " netrw#BrowseXVis: used by gx in visual mode to select a file for browsing {{{2
 fun! netrw#BrowseXVis()
@@ -6733,6 +6667,7 @@
    nnoremap <buffer> <silent> <nowait> U	:<c-u>call <SID>NetrwBookHistHandler(5,b:netrw_curdir)<cr>
    nnoremap <buffer> <silent> <nowait> v	:call <SID>NetrwSplit(2)<cr>
    nnoremap <buffer> <silent> <nowait> x	:<c-u>call netrw#BrowseX(<SID>NetrwBrowseChgDir(0,<SID>NetrwGetWord()),1)<cr>
+   nmap     <buffer>          <nowait> gx	x
    if !hasmapto('<Plug>NetrwHideEdit')
     nmap <buffer> <c-h> <Plug>NetrwHideEdit
    endif
@@ -12156,13 +12091,16 @@
 " s:NetrwExe: executes a string using "!" {{{2
 fun! s:NetrwExe(cmd)
 "  call Dfunc("s:NetrwExe(a:cmd<".a:cmd.">)")
-  if has("win32") && &shell !~? 'cmd\|pwsh\|powershell' && !g:netrw_cygwin
+  if has("win32")
 "    call Decho("using win32:",expand("<slnum>"))
     let savedShell=[&shell,&shellcmdflag,&shellxquote,&shellxescape,&shellquote,&shellpipe,&shellredir,&shellslash]
     set shell& shellcmdflag& shellxquote& shellxescape&
     set shellquote& shellpipe& shellredir& shellslash&
-    exe a:cmd
-    let [&shell,&shellcmdflag,&shellxquote,&shellxescape,&shellquote,&shellpipe,&shellredir,&shellslash] = savedShell
+    try
+     exe a:cmd
+    finally
+      let [&shell,&shellcmdflag,&shellxquote,&shellxescape,&shellquote,&shellpipe,&shellredir,&shellslash] = savedShell
+    endtry
   else
 "   call Decho("exe ".a:cmd,'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
    exe a:cmd
diff --git a/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt b/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt
index dd73ed2..a956437 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*pi_netrw.txt*  For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2024 Oct 21
+*pi_netrw.txt*  For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2024 Oct 27
 
 	    ------------------------------------------------
 	    NETRW REFERENCE MANUAL    by Charles E. Campbell
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 Copyright: Copyright (C) 2017 Charles E Campbell    *netrw-copyright*
 	The VIM LICENSE applies to the files in this package, including
-	netrw.vim, pi_netrw.txt, netrwFileHandlers.vim, netrwSettings.vim, and
+        netrw.vim, pi_netrw.txt, netrwSettings.vim, and
 	syntax/netrw.vim.  Like anything else that's free, netrw.vim and its
 	associated files are provided *as is* and comes with no warranty of
 	any kind, either expressed or implied.  No guarantees of
@@ -1469,43 +1469,94 @@
 that the removal is in fact what you want to do.  If netrw doesn't have
 permission to remove a file, it will issue an error message.
 
-						*netrw-gx*
+                                                *netrw-gx* *Open* *Launch*
 CUSTOMIZING BROWSING WITH A SPECIAL HANDLER	*netrw-x* *netrw-handler* {{{2
 
 Certain files, such as html, gif, jpeg, (word/office) doc, etc, files, are
 best seen with a special handler (ie. a tool provided with your computer's
-operating system).  Netrw allows one to invoke such special handlers by: >
+operating system).  Netrw allows one to invoke such special handlers by:
 
-	* when Exploring, hit the "x" key
-	* when editing, hit gx with the cursor atop the special filename
-<	  (latter not available if the |g:netrw_nogx| variable exists)
+        * hitting gx with the cursor atop the file path or alternatively x
+          in a netrw buffer; the former can be disabled by defining the
+          |g:netrw_nogx| variable
+        * when in command line, typing :Open <path>
 
-Netrw determines which special handler by the following method:
-
-  * if |g:netrw_browsex_viewer| exists, then it will be used to attempt to
-    view files.  Examples of useful settings (place into your <.vimrc>): >
-
-	:let g:netrw_browsex_viewer= "kfmclient exec"
-<   or >
-	:let g:netrw_browsex_viewer= "xdg-open"
-<
-    If the viewer you wish to use does not support handling of a remote URL
-    directory, set |g:netrw_browsex_support_remote| to 0.
-  * for Windows 32 or 64, the URL and FileProtocolHandler dlls are used.
-  * for Gnome (with gnome-open): gnome-open is used.
-  * for KDE (with kfmclient)   : kfmclient is used
-  * for Mac OS X               : open is used.
-
-The gx mapping extends to all buffers; apply "gx" while atop a word and netrw
-will apply a special handler to it (like "x" works when in a netrw buffer).
 One may also use visual mode (see |visual-start|) to select the text that the
-special handler will use.  Normally gx uses expand("<cfile>") to pick up the
-text under the cursor; one may change what |expand()| uses via the
+special handler will use.  Normally gx checks for a close-by URL or file name
+to pick up the text under the cursor; one may change what |expand()| uses via the
 |g:netrw_gx| variable (options include "<cword>", "<cWORD>").  Note that
 expand("<cfile>") depends on the |'isfname'| setting.  Alternatively, one may
 select the text to be used by gx by making a visual selection (see
 |visual-block|) and then pressing gx.
 
+The selection function can be adapted for each filetype by adding a function
+Netrw_get_URL_<filetype>, where <filetype> is given by &filetype.
+The function should return the URL or file name to be used by gx, and will
+fall back to the default behavior if it returns an empty string.
+For example, special handlers for links Markdown and HTML are
+>
+" make gx work on concealed links regardless of exact cursor position
+function Netrw_get_URL_markdown()
+  " markdown URL such as [link text](http://ya.ru 'yandex search')
+  try
+    let save_view = winsaveview()
+    if searchpair('\[.\{-}\](', '', ')\zs', 'cbW', '', line('.')) > 0
+      return matchstr(getline('.')[col('.')-1:], '\[.\{-}\](\zs' .. g:netrw_regex_url .. '\ze\(\s\+.\{-}\)\?)')
+    endif
+  finally
+    call winrestview(save_view)
+    return ''
+  endtry
+endfunction
+
+function Netrw_get_URL_html()
+  " HTML URL such as <a href='http://www.python.org'>Python is here</a>
+  "                  <a href="http://www.python.org"/>
+  try
+    let save_view = winsaveview()
+    if searchpair('<a\s\+href=', '', '\%(</a>\|/>\)\zs', 'cbW', '', line('.')) > 0
+      return matchstr(getline('.')[col('.') - 1 : ],
+            \ 'href=["'.."'"..']\?\zs\S\{-}\ze["'.."'"..']\?/\?>')
+    endif
+  finally
+    call winrestview(save_view)
+    return ''
+  endtry
+endfunction
+<
+
+Other than a file path, the text under the cursor may be a URL.  Netrw uses
+by default the following regular expression to determine if the text under the
+cursor is a URL:
+>
+	g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
+<
+
+Netrw determines which special handler by the following method:
+
+  * if |g:netrw_browsex_viewer| exists, then it will be used to attempt to
+    view files.  Examples of useful settings (place into your <.vimrc>):
+    If the viewer you wish to use does not support handling of a remote URL
+    directory, set |g:netrw_browsex_support_remote| to 0.
+  * otherwise:
+
+    * for Windows			: explorer.exe is used
+    * for Mac OS X			: open is used.
+    * for Linux				: xdg-open is used.
+
+To open a file <filepath> by the appropriate handler, type
+
+	:Open <filepath>
+
+No escaping, neither for the shell, nor for Vim's command-line is needed.
+
+To launch a specific application <app> <args>, often <args> being <filepath>,
+
+	:Launch <app> <args>.
+
+Since <args> can be arbitrarily complex, in particular contain many file
+paths, the escaping is left to the user.
+
 Associated setting variables:
 	|g:netrw_gx|	control how gx picks up the text under the cursor
 	|g:netrw_nogx|	prevent gx map while editing
diff --git a/runtime/doc/tags b/runtime/doc/tags
index 75359f2..9e93a75 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/tags
+++ b/runtime/doc/tags
@@ -5566,6 +5566,7 @@
 Kibaale	uganda.txt	/*Kibaale*
 Korean	mbyte.txt	/*Korean*
 L	motion.txt	/*L*
+Launch	pi_netrw.txt	/*Launch*
 Linux-backspace	options.txt	/*Linux-backspace*
 List	eval.txt	/*List*
 Lists	eval.txt	/*Lists*
@@ -5621,6 +5622,7 @@
 Object	vim9class.txt	/*Object*
 OffTheSpot	mbyte.txt	/*OffTheSpot*
 OnTheSpot	mbyte.txt	/*OnTheSpot*
+Open	pi_netrw.txt	/*Open*
 Operator-pending	intro.txt	/*Operator-pending*
 Operator-pending-mode	intro.txt	/*Operator-pending-mode*
 OptionSet	autocmd.txt	/*OptionSet*
diff --git a/runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim b/runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
index c70e651..59fb7e7 100644
--- a/runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
+++ b/runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 " netrwPlugin.vim: Handles file transfer and remote directory listing across a network
 "            PLUGIN SECTION
 " Maintainer:	This runtime file is looking for a new maintainer.
-" Date:		Feb 09, 2021
+" Date:		Sep 09, 2021
 " Last Change:
 "   2024 May 08 by Vim Project: cleanup legacy Win9X checks
+"   2024 Oct 27 by Vim Project: cleanup gx mapping
 " Former Maintainer:   Charles E Campbell
 " GetLatestVimScripts: 1075 1 :AutoInstall: netrw.vim
 " Copyright:    Copyright (C) 1999-2021 Charles E. Campbell {{{1
@@ -31,6 +32,87 @@
 " ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 " Public Interface: {{{1
 
+" Commands Launch/URL {{{2
+" surpress output of command; use bang for GUI applications
+
+" set up redirection (avoids browser messages)
+" by default, g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg is true
+if get(g:, ':netrw_suppress_gx_mesg', 1)
+  if &srr =~# "%s"
+    let s:redir = printf(&srr, has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
+  else
+    let s:redir= &srr .. (has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
+  endif
+else
+  let s:redir= ""
+endif
+
+if has('unix')
+  if has('win32unix')
+    " If cygstart provided, then assume Cygwin and use cygstart --hide; see man cygstart.
+    if executable('cygstart')
+      command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
+          \ exe 'silent ! cygstart --hide' trim(<q-args>)  s:redir | redraw!
+    elseif !empty($MSYSTEM) && executable('start')
+      " MSYS2/Git Bash comes by default without cygstart; see
+      " https://www.msys2.org/wiki/How-does-MSYS2-differ-from-Cygwin
+      " Instead it provides /usr/bin/start script running `cmd.exe //c start`
+      " Adding "" //b` sets void title, hides cmd window and blocks path conversion
+      " of /b to \b\ " by MSYS2; see https://www.msys2.org/docs/filesystem-paths/
+      command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
+            \ exe 'silent !start "" //b' trim(<q-args>)  s:redir | redraw!
+    else
+      " imitate /usr/bin/start script for other environments and hope for the best
+      command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
+            \ exe 'silent !cmd //c start "" //b' trim(<q-args>)  s:redir | redraw!
+    endif
+  elseif exists('$WSL_DISTRO_NAME') " use cmd.exe to start GUI apps in WSL
+    command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch execute ':silent !'..
+          \ ((<q-args> =~? '\v<\f+\.(exe|com|bat|cmd)>') ?
+            \ 'cmd.exe /c start "" /b' trim(<q-args>) :
+            \ 'nohup ' trim(<q-args>) s:redir '&')
+          \ | redraw!
+  else
+    command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
+        \ exe ':silent ! nohup' trim(<q-args>) s:redir '&' | redraw!
+  endif
+elseif has('win32')
+  command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
+        \ exe 'silent !'.. (&shell =~? '\<cmd\.exe\>' ? '' : 'cmd.exe /c')
+        \ 'start /b ' trim(<q-args>) s:redir | redraw!
+endif
+if exists(':Launch') == 2
+  " Git Bash
+  if has('win32unix')
+      " start suffices
+      let s:cmd = ''
+  " Windows / WSL
+  elseif executable('explorer.exe')
+      let s:cmd = 'explorer.exe'
+  " Linux / BSD
+  elseif executable('xdg-open')
+      let s:cmd = 'xdg-open'
+  " MacOS
+  elseif executable('open')
+      let s:cmd = 'open'
+  else
+    s:cmd = ''
+  endif
+  function s:Open(cmd, file)
+    if empty(a:cmd) && !exists('g:netrw_browsex_viewer')
+      echoerr "No program to open this path found. See :help Open for more information."
+    else
+      Launch cmd shellescape(a:file, 1)
+    endif
+  endfunction
+  command -complete=file -nargs=1 Open call s:Open(s:cmd, <q-args>)
+endif
+
+if !exists('g:netrw_regex_url')
+  let g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
+endif
+
+" " }}}
 " Local Browsing Autocmds: {{{2
 augroup FileExplorer
  au!