diff --git a/lua/orgmode/config/defaults.lua b/lua/orgmode/config/defaults.lua
index 8b2397fae..d36e0e735 100644
--- a/lua/orgmode/config/defaults.lua
+++ b/lua/orgmode/config/defaults.lua
@@ -52,6 +52,17 @@ local DefaultConfig = {
     deadline_reminder = true,
     scheduled_reminder = true,
   },
+  org_nontext_hyperlinks = false,
+  org_external_opener = 'xdg-open',
+  org_link_types = {
+    shell = {
+      handler = function(url)
+        url = string.gsub(url, '^shell:', '')
+        vim.fn.jobstart(url, { detach = true })
+        return
+      end,
+    },
+  },
   mappings = {
     disable_all = false,
     prefix = '<Leader>o',
diff --git a/lua/orgmode/org/mappings.lua b/lua/orgmode/org/mappings.lua
index a2dc0e4e5..6325f53d9 100644
--- a/lua/orgmode/org/mappings.lua
+++ b/lua/orgmode/org/mappings.lua
@@ -754,6 +754,7 @@ function OrgMappings:open_at_point()
   local parts = vim.split(link, '][', true)
   local url = parts[1]
   local link_ctx = { base = url, skip_add_prefix = true }
+
   if url:find('^file:') then
     if url:find(' +', 1, true) then
       parts = vim.split(url, ' +', true)
@@ -766,6 +767,9 @@ function OrgMappings:open_at_point()
 
     if url:find('^file:(.-)::') then
       link_ctx.line = url
+    elseif config.org_nontext_hyperlinks and vim.filetype.match({ filename = url }) == nil then
+      local filepath = Hyperlinks.get_file_real_path(url)
+      vim.fn.jobstart(config.org_external_opener .. ' ' .. vim.fn.shellescape(filepath), { detach = true })
     else
       vim.cmd(string.format('edit %s', Hyperlinks.get_file_real_path(url)))
       vim.cmd([[normal! zv]])
@@ -783,6 +787,12 @@ function OrgMappings:open_at_point()
     return vim.cmd(string.format('edit %s', url))
   end
 
+  pref = string.gsub(url, '^(.-):.*', '%1')
+  if config.org_link_types[pref] ~= nil then
+    config.org_link_types[pref].handler(url)
+    return
+  end
+
   local headlines = Hyperlinks.find_matching_links(link_ctx)
   local current_headline = Files.get_closest_headline()
   if current_headline then