diff --git a/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim b/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim
index 2277f24..a2b1451 100644
--- a/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim
+++ b/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim
@@ -2,19 +2,128 @@
 
 # Vim runtime support library
 #
-# Maintainer:	The Vim Project <https://github.com/vim/vim>
-# Last Change:	2023 Oct 25
+# Maintainer:   The Vim Project <https://github.com/vim/vim>
+# Last Change:  2025 Jan 24
 
 export def IsSafeExecutable(filetype: string, executable: string): bool
-    if empty(exepath(executable))
-      return v:false
+  if empty(exepath(executable))
+    return v:false
+  endif
+  var cwd = getcwd()
+  return get(g:, filetype .. '_exec', get(g:, 'plugin_exec', 0))
+    && (fnamemodify(exepath(executable), ':p:h') !=# cwd
+      || (split($PATH, has('win32') ? ';' : ':')->index(cwd) != -1
+        && cwd != '.'))
+enddef
+
+def Redir(): string
+  if get(g:, 'netrw_suppress_gx_mesg', true)
+    if &srr =~# "%s"
+      return printf(&srr, has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
+    elseif &srr =~# '>&\?$'
+      return &srr .. (has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
+    else
+      return &srr .. (has("win32") ? "> nul" : "> /dev/null")
     endif
-    var cwd = getcwd()
-    return get(g:, filetype .. '_exec', get(g:, 'plugin_exec', 0))
-      && (fnamemodify(exepath(executable), ':p:h') !=# cwd
-          || (split($PATH, has('win32') ? ';' : ':')->index(cwd) != -1
-              && cwd != '.'))
+  endif
+  return ''
+enddef
+
+if has('unix')
+  if has('win32unix')
+    # Cygwin provides cygstart
+    if executable('cygstart')
+      export def Launch(args: string)
+        execute 'silent ! cygstart --hide' args Redir() | redraw!
+      enddef
+    elseif !empty($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/
+      export def Launch(args: string)
+        execute 'silent !start "" //b' args Redir() | redraw!
+      enddef
+    else
+      # imitate /usr/bin/start script for other environments and hope for the best
+      export def Launch(args: string)
+        execute 'silent !cmd //c start "" //b' args Redir() | redraw!
+      enddef
+    endif
+  elseif exists('$WSL_DISTRO_NAME') # use cmd.exe to start GUI apps in WSL
+    export def Launch(args: string)
+      execute 'silent !' ..
+            ((args =~? '\v<\f+\.(exe|com|bat|cmd)>') ?
+            $'cmd.exe /c start /b {args} {Redir()}' :
+            $'nohup {args} {Redir()} &')
+            | redraw!
+    enddef
+  else
+    export def Launch(args: string)
+      execute ':silent ! nohup' args Redir() (has('gui_running') ? '' : '&') | redraw!
+    enddef
+  endif
+elseif has('win32')
+  export def Launch(args: string)
+    execute 'silent !' .. (&shell =~? '\<cmd\.exe\>' ? '' : 'cmd.exe /c')
+          'start "" /b' args Redir() | redraw!
+  enddef
+else
+  export def Launch(dummy: string)
+    echom 'No common launcher found'
+  enddef
+endif
+
+var os_viewer = null_string
+# Git Bash
+if has('win32unix')
+  # (cyg)start suffices
+  os_viewer = ''
+# Windows / WSL
+elseif executable('explorer.exe')
+  os_viewer = 'explorer.exe'
+# Linux / BSD
+elseif executable('xdg-open')
+  os_viewer = 'xdg-open'
+# MacOS
+elseif executable('open')
+  os_viewer = 'open'
+endif
+
+def Viewer(): string
+  # g:Openprg could be a string of program + its arguments, test if first
+  # argument is executable
+  var user_viewer = get(g:, "Openprg", get(g:, "netrw_browsex_viewer", ""))
+
+  # Take care of an off-by-one check for "for" too
+  if executable(trim(user_viewer))
+    return user_viewer
+  endif
+
+  var args = split(user_viewer, '\s\+\zs')
+  var viewer = get(args, 0, '')
+
+  for arg in args[1 :]
+    if executable(trim(viewer))
+      return user_viewer
+    endif
+
+    viewer ..= arg
+  endfor
+
+  if os_viewer == null
+    echoerr "No program to open this path found. See :help Open for more information."
+  endif
+
+  return os_viewer
+enddef
+
+export def Open(file: string)
+  Launch($"{Viewer()} {shellescape(file, 1)}")
 enddef
 
 # Uncomment this line to check for compilation errors early
 # defcompile
+
+# vim: ts=8 sts=2 sw=2 et
diff --git a/runtime/doc/eval.txt b/runtime/doc/eval.txt
index 2348cdd..094b650 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/eval.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/eval.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*eval.txt*	For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2025 Jan 02
+*eval.txt*	For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2025 Jan 25
 
 
 		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL	  by Bram Moolenaar
@@ -4907,5 +4907,40 @@
 	filetype	string
 	executable	string
 
+						      *dist#vim9#Open()* *:Open*
+						      *g:Openprg*
+dist#vim9#Open(file: string) ~
+
+Opens `path` with the system default handler (macOS `open`, Windows
+`explorer.exe`, Linux `xdg-open`, …). If the variable |g:Openprg| exists the
+string specified in the variable is used instead.
+
+NOTE: Escaping of the path is automatically applied.
+
+Usage: >vim
+	:call dist#vim9#Open(<path>)
+	:Open <path>
+<
+
+						  *dist#vim9#Launch()* *:Launch*
+dist#vim9#Launch(file: string) ~
+
+Launches <args> with the appropriate system programs. Intended for launching
+GUI programs within Vim.
+
+NOTE: escaping of <args> is left to the user
+
+Examples: >vim
+	vim9script
+
+	import autoload 'dist/vim9.vim'
+	# Execute 'makeprg' into another xterm window
+	vim9.Launch('xterm ' .. expandcmd(&makeprg))
+<
+
+Usage: >vim
+	:call dist#vim9#Launch(<args>)
+	:Launch <app> <args>.
+<
 
  vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:
diff --git a/runtime/doc/index.txt b/runtime/doc/index.txt
index 079f9ea..06a24e0 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/index.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/index.txt
@@ -803,8 +803,6 @@
 |gu|		gu{motion}	2  make Nmove text lowercase
 |gv|		gv		   reselect the previous Visual area
 |gw|		gw{motion}	2  format Nmove text and keep cursor
-|netrw-gx|	gx		   execute application for file name under the
-				   cursor (only with |netrw| plugin)
 |g@|		g@{motion}	   call 'operatorfunc'
 |g~|		g~{motion}	2  swap case for Nmove text
 |g<Down>|	g<Down>		1  same as "gj"
diff --git a/runtime/doc/tags b/runtime/doc/tags
index 0b92532..e667a33 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/tags
+++ b/runtime/doc/tags
@@ -2133,7 +2133,7 @@
 :LP	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LP*
 :LPE	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LPE*
 :LPF	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LPF*
-:Launch	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Launch*
+:Launch	eval.txt	/*:Launch*
 :Lexplore	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Lexplore*
 :Lfilter	quickfix.txt	/*:Lfilter*
 :LogiPat	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LogiPat*
@@ -2151,7 +2151,7 @@
 :Ntree	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Ntree*
 :Nw	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Nw*
 :Nwrite	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Nwrite*
-:Open	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Open*
+:Open	eval.txt	/*:Open*
 :Over	terminal.txt	/*:Over*
 :P	various.txt	/*:P*
 :Pexplore	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Pexplore*
@@ -6879,6 +6879,8 @@
 discard	editing.txt	/*discard*
 dist#vim	eval.txt	/*dist#vim*
 dist#vim9	eval.txt	/*dist#vim9*
+dist#vim9#Launch()	eval.txt	/*dist#vim9#Launch()*
+dist#vim9#Open()	eval.txt	/*dist#vim9#Open()*
 distribute-script	usr_51.txt	/*distribute-script*
 distributed-plugins	usr_05.txt	/*distributed-plugins*
 distribution	intro.txt	/*distribution*
@@ -7527,6 +7529,7 @@
 g:Netrw_UserMaps	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:Netrw_UserMaps*
 g:Netrw_corehandler	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:Netrw_corehandler*
 g:Netrw_funcref	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:Netrw_funcref*
+g:Openprg	eval.txt	/*g:Openprg*
 g:actual_curbuf	options.txt	/*g:actual_curbuf*
 g:actual_curwin	options.txt	/*g:actual_curwin*
 g:ada#Comment	ft_ada.txt	/*g:ada#Comment*
@@ -7630,8 +7633,6 @@
 g:netrw_banner	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_banner*
 g:netrw_bannerbackslash	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_bannerbackslash*
 g:netrw_browse_split	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_browse_split*
-g:netrw_browsex_support_remote	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_browsex_support_remote*
-g:netrw_browsex_viewer	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_browsex_viewer*
 g:netrw_bufsettings	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_bufsettings*
 g:netrw_chgperm	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_chgperm*
 g:netrw_chgwin	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_chgwin*
@@ -7660,7 +7661,6 @@
 g:netrw_ftpextracmd	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_ftpextracmd*
 g:netrw_ftpmode	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_ftpmode*
 g:netrw_glob_escape	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_glob_escape*
-g:netrw_gx	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_gx*
 g:netrw_hide	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_hide*
 g:netrw_home	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_home*
 g:netrw_http_cmd	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_http_cmd*
@@ -7686,7 +7686,6 @@
 g:netrw_mkdir_cmd	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_mkdir_cmd*
 g:netrw_mousemaps	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_mousemaps*
 g:netrw_nobeval	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_nobeval*
-g:netrw_nogx	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_nogx*
 g:netrw_preview	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_preview*
 g:netrw_rcp_cmd	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_rcp_cmd*
 g:netrw_remote_mkdir	pi_netrw.txt	/*g:netrw_remote_mkdir*
@@ -9031,8 +9030,6 @@
 netrw-gn	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-gn*
 netrw-gp	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-gp*
 netrw-grep	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-grep*
-netrw-gx	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-gx*
-netrw-handler	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-handler*
 netrw-help	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-help*
 netrw-hexplore	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-hexplore*
 netrw-hide	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-hide*
@@ -9161,7 +9158,6 @@
 netrw-windows-netrc	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-windows-netrc*
 netrw-windows-s	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-windows-s*
 netrw-write	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-write*
-netrw-x	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-x*
 netrw-xfer	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw-xfer*
 netrw.txt	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw.txt*
 netrw.vim	pi_netrw.txt	/*netrw.vim*
diff --git a/runtime/doc/version9.txt b/runtime/doc/version9.txt
index 2f2ab5a..f77499a 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/version9.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/version9.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*version9.txt*  For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2025 Jan 23
+*version9.txt*  For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2025 Jan 25
 
 
 		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL    by Bram Moolenaar
@@ -41626,6 +41626,8 @@
 - |v:stacktrace| The stack trace of the exception most recently caught and
   not finished
 - New option value "nosort" for 'completeopt'
+- add |dist#vim9#Launch()| and |dist#vim9#Open()| to the |vim-script-library|
+  and decouple it from |netrw|
 
 							*added-9.2*
 Added ~
diff --git a/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/doc/netrw.txt b/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/doc/netrw.txt
index cd5777e..4afe538 100644
--- a/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/doc/netrw.txt
+++ b/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/doc/netrw.txt
@@ -403,9 +403,6 @@
  *g:netrw_menu*		=0 disable netrw's menu
 			=1 (default) netrw's menu enabled
 
- *g:netrw_nogx*		if this variable exists, then the "gx" map will not
-			be available (see |netrw-gx|)
-
  *g:netrw_uid*		(ftp) user-id,      retained on a per-vim-session basis
  *s:netrw_passwd*	(ftp) password,     retained on a per-vim-session basis
 
@@ -1113,7 +1110,7 @@
 	   U	Change to subsequently-visited directory             |netrw-U|
 	   v	Enter the file/directory under the cursor in a new   |netrw-v|
 		browser window.  A vertical split is used.
-	   x	View file with an associated program                 |netrw-x|
+	   x	View file with an associated program. (see |:Open|)
 	   X	Execute filename under cursor via |system()|           |netrw-X|
 
 	   %	Open a new file in netrw's current directory         |netrw-%|
@@ -1466,106 +1463,6 @@
 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.
 
-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:
-
-        * 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>, see |:Open| below.
-
-One may also use visual mode (see |visual-start|) to select the text that 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 the '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
-      return ''
-    finally
-      call winrestview(save_view)
-    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
-      return ''
-    finally
-      call winrestview(save_view)
-    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:
->
-  :let g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
-<
-Associated setting variables:
-	|g:netrw_gx|	control how gx picks up the text under the cursor
-	|g:netrw_nogx|	prevent gx map while editing
-	|g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg| controls gx's suppression of browser messages
-
-OPENING FILES AND LAUNCHING APPS	*netrw-gx* *:Open* *:Launch* {{{2
-
-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.
-    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 path (or URL) <path> by the appropriate handler, type >
-
-    :Open <path>
-<
-No escaping, neither for the shell nor for Vim's command-line, is needed.
-
-To launch a specific application <app> <args>, often <args> being <path> >
-
-    :Launch <app> <args>.
-
-Since <args> can be arbitrarily complex, in particular contain many file
-paths, the escaping is left to the user.
-
-If you disabled the netrw plugin by setting g:loaded_netrwPlugin (see
-|netrw-noload|), then you can use >
-
-    :call netrw#Launch('<app> <args>')
-    :call netrw#Open('<path>')
-<
 							*netrw-curdir*
 DELETING BOOKMARKS					*netrw-mB* {{{2
 
@@ -2585,14 +2482,6 @@
 				    |netrw-C|		|netrw-cr|
 				    |netrw-ctrl-r|
 
-  *g:netrw_browsex_viewer*	specify user's preference for a viewer: >
-					"kfmclient exec"
-					"gnome-open"
-<
-  *g:netrw_browsex_support_remote*
-				specify if the specified viewer supports a
-				remote URL.  (see |netrw-handler|).
-
   *g:netrw_chgperm*		Unix/Linux: "chmod PERM FILENAME"
 				Windows:    "cacls FILENAME /e /p PERM"
 				Used to change access permission for a file.
@@ -2615,12 +2504,11 @@
 
   *g:Netrw_corehandler*		Allows one to specify something additional
 				to do when handling <core> files via netrw's
-				browser's "x" command (see |netrw-x|).  If
-				present, g:Netrw_corehandler specifies
-				either one or more function references
-				(see |Funcref|).  (the capital g:Netrw...
-				is required its holding a function reference)
-
+				browser's "x" command.  If present,
+				g:Netrw_corehandler specifies either one or
+				more function references (see |Funcref|).
+				(the capital g:Netrw... is required its
+				holding a function reference)
 
   *g:netrw_ctags*		="ctags"
 				The default external program used to create
@@ -2769,11 +2657,6 @@
 				These characters in directory names are
 				escaped before applying glob()
 
-  *g:netrw_gx*			="<cfile>"
-				This option controls how gx (|netrw-gx|) picks
-				up the text under the cursor.  See |expand()|
-				for possibilities.
-
   *g:netrw_hide*		Controlled by the "a" map (see |netrw-a|)
 				=0 : show all
 				=1 : show not-hidden files
diff --git a/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim b/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
index 8d10c00..388a7f2 100644
--- a/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
+++ b/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
@@ -20,12 +20,6 @@
 let s:keepcpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
-" Commands Launch/URL: {{{
-
-command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 Launch call netrw#Launch(trim(<q-args>))
-command -complete=file -nargs=1 Open call netrw#Open(trim(<q-args>))
-
-" }}}
 " Local Browsing Autocmds: {{{
 
 augroup FileExplorer
@@ -85,21 +79,6 @@
 " }}}
 " Maps: {{{
 
-if !exists("g:netrw_nogx")
-    if maparg('gx','n') == ""
-        if !hasmapto('<Plug>NetrwBrowseX')
-            nmap <unique> gx <Plug>NetrwBrowseX
-        endif
-        nno <silent> <Plug>NetrwBrowseX :call netrw#BrowseX(netrw#GX(),netrw#CheckIfRemote(netrw#GX()))<cr>
-    endif
-    if maparg('gx','x') == ""
-        if !hasmapto('<Plug>NetrwBrowseXVis')
-            xmap <unique> gx <Plug>NetrwBrowseXVis
-        endif
-        xno <silent> <Plug>NetrwBrowseXVis :<c-u>call netrw#BrowseXVis()<cr>
-    endif
-endif
-
 if exists("g:netrw_usetab") && g:netrw_usetab
     if maparg('<c-tab>','n') == ""
         nmap <unique> <c-tab> <Plug>NetrwShrink
diff --git a/runtime/plugin/openPlugin.vim b/runtime/plugin/openPlugin.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..103b33c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/plugin/openPlugin.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+vim9script
+
+# Vim runtime support library
+#
+# Maintainer:   The Vim Project <https://github.com/vim/vim>
+# Last Change:  2025 Jan 24
+
+import autoload 'dist/vim9.vim'
+
+command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 Launch vim9.Launch(trim(<q-args>))
+command -complete=file -nargs=1 Open vim9.Open(trim(<q-args>))
+
+const no_gx = get(g:, "nogx", get(g:, "netrw_nogx", false))
+if !no_gx
+  if maparg('gx', 'n') == ""
+    const file = get(g:, 'netrw_gx', '<cfile>')
+    nnoremap <unique> gx <scriptcmd>vim9.Open(expand(file))<CR>
+  endif
+  if maparg('gx', 'x') == ""
+    xnoremap <unique> gx <scriptcmd>vim9.Open(getregion(getpos('v'), getpos('.'), { type: mode() })->join())<CR>
+  endif
+endif
+
+# vim: ts=8 sts=2 sw=2 et