diff --git a/Android.mk b/Android.mk
index 6036a3502..0d2916766 100644
--- a/Android.mk
+++ b/Android.mk
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ LOCAL_SRC_FILES := \
 	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/loadso/dlopen/*.c) \
 	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/locale/*.c) \
 	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/locale/android/*.c) \
+	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/misc/*.c) \
+	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/misc/android/*.c) \
 	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/power/*.c) \
 	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/power/android/*.c) \
 	$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/src/filesystem/android/*.c) \
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1bbe2b065..c51044072 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -407,6 +407,7 @@ file(GLOB SOURCE_FILES
   ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/haptic/*.c
   ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/libm/*.c
   ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/locale/*.c
+  ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/*.c
   ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/power/*.c
   ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/render/*.c
   ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/render/*/*.c
@@ -941,6 +942,10 @@ if(ANDROID)
   file(GLOB ANDROID_CORE_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/core/android/*.c)
   set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${ANDROID_CORE_SOURCES} ${ANDROID_NDK}/sources/android/cpufeatures/cpu-features.c)
 
+  file(GLOB ANDROID_MISC_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/android/*.c)
+  set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${ANDROID_MISC_SOURCES})
+  set(HAVE_SDL_MISC TRUE)
+
   # SDL_spinlock.c Needs to be compiled in ARM mode.
   # There seems to be no better way currently to set the ARM mode.
   # see: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/62264618
@@ -1301,6 +1306,10 @@ elseif(UNIX AND NOT APPLE AND NOT ANDROID AND NOT RISCOS)
     set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -DHAVE_LINUX_VERSION_H")
   endif()
 
+  file(GLOB MISC_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/unix/*.c)
+  set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${MISC_SOURCES})
+  set(HAVE_SDL_MISC TRUE)
+
   if(SDL_POWER)
     if(LINUX)
       set(SDL_POWER_LINUX 1)
@@ -1366,6 +1375,10 @@ elseif(WINDOWS)
     endif()
   endif()
 
+  file(GLOB MISC_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/windows/*.c)
+  set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${MISC_SOURCES})
+  set(HAVE_SDL_MISC TRUE)
+
   # Check for DirectX
   if(DIRECTX)
     if(DEFINED MSVC_VERSION AND NOT ${MSVC_VERSION} LESS 1700)
@@ -1606,6 +1619,10 @@ elseif(APPLE)
     message_error("SDL_FILE must be enabled to build on MacOS X")
   endif()
 
+  file(GLOB MISC_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/macosx/*.m)
+  set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${MISC_SOURCES})
+  set(HAVE_SDL_MISC TRUE)
+
   if(SDL_AUDIO)
     set(SDL_AUDIO_DRIVER_COREAUDIO 1)
     file(GLOB AUDIO_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/audio/coreaudio/*.m)
@@ -1860,6 +1877,10 @@ elseif(APPLE)
   CheckPTHREAD()
 
 elseif(HAIKU)
+  file(GLOB MISC_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/haiku/*.cc)
+  set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${MISC_SOURCES})
+  set(HAVE_SDL_MISC TRUE)
+
   if(SDL_VIDEO)
     set(SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_HAIKU 1)
     file(GLOB HAIKUVIDEO_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/video/haiku/*.c)
@@ -1961,6 +1982,11 @@ if(NOT HAVE_SDL_LOCALE)
   file(GLOB LOCALE_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/locale/dummy/*.c)
   set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${LOCALE_SOURCES})
 endif()
+if(NOT HAVE_SDL_MISC)
+  set(SDL_MISC_DISABLED 1)
+  file(GLOB LOCALE_SOURCES ${SDL2_SOURCE_DIR}/src/misc/dummy/*.c)
+  set(SOURCE_FILES ${SOURCE_FILES} ${LOCALE_SOURCES})
+endif()
 
 # We always need to have threads and timers around
 if(NOT HAVE_SDL_THREADS)
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 2e7db2cdb..834e7c6a4 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ HDRS = \
 	SDL_main.h \
 	SDL_messagebox.h \
 	SDL_metal.h \
+	SDL_misc.h \
 	SDL_mouse.h \
 	SDL_mutex.h \
 	SDL_name.h \
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 00bf5ebf7..2fc410710 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -17313,6 +17313,7 @@ SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/file/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/haptic/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/joystick/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/libm/*.c"
+SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/power/*.c"
 #SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/filesystem/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/render/*.c"
@@ -24685,6 +24686,9 @@ case "$host" in
         CheckRPATH
         CheckVivanteVideo
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/unix/*.c"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/unix/*.c"
         have_locale=yes
 
@@ -24865,6 +24869,9 @@ $as_echo "#define SDL_TIMER_UNIX 1" >>confdefs.h
         # Set up the core platform files
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/core/windows/*.c"
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/windows/*.c"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Use the Windows locale APIs.
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/windows/*.c"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -25121,6 +25128,9 @@ $as_echo "#define SDL_FILESYSTEM_HAIKU 1" >>confdefs.h
             have_filesystem=yes
         fi
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/haiku/*.cc"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Set up files for the locale library
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/haiku/*.cc"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -25167,6 +25177,9 @@ fi
         CheckVulkan
         CheckPTHREAD
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/ios/*.m"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Set up files for the locale library
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/macosx/*.m"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -25295,6 +25308,9 @@ $as_echo "#define SDL_VIDEO_RENDER_OGL_ES2 1" >>confdefs.h
         CheckPTHREAD
         CheckHIDAPI
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/macosx/*.m"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Set up files for the locale library
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/macosx/*.m"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -25514,6 +25530,9 @@ INSTALL_SDL2_CONFIG=$enable_sdl2_config
 
 # Verify that we have all the platform specific files we need
 
+if test x$have_misc != xyes; then
+    SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/dummy/*.c"
+fi
 if test x$have_locale != xyes; then
     SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/dummy/*.c"
 fi
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9b2b324d9..4675d36e9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -413,6 +413,7 @@ SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/file/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/haptic/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/joystick/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/libm/*.c"
+SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/power/*.c"
 #SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/filesystem/*.c"
 SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/render/*.c"
@@ -3533,6 +3534,9 @@ case "$host" in
         CheckRPATH
         CheckVivanteVideo
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/unix/*.c"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/unix/*.c"
         have_locale=yes
 
@@ -3685,6 +3689,9 @@ case "$host" in
         # Set up the core platform files
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/core/windows/*.c"
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/windows/*.c"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Use the Windows locale APIs.
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/windows/*.c"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -3861,6 +3868,9 @@ AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-render-d3d], [enable the Direct3D render driver [[defau
             have_filesystem=yes
         fi
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/haiku/*.cc"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Set up files for the locale library
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/haiku/*.cc"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -3885,6 +3895,9 @@ AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-render-d3d], [enable the Direct3D render driver [[defau
         CheckVulkan
         CheckPTHREAD
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/ios/*.m"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Set up files for the locale library
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/macosx/*.m"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -3991,6 +4004,9 @@ AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-render-d3d], [enable the Direct3D render driver [[defau
         CheckPTHREAD
         CheckHIDAPI
 
+        SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/macosx/*.m"
+        have_misc=yes
+
         # Set up files for the locale library
         SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/macosx/*.m"
         have_locale=yes
@@ -4173,6 +4189,9 @@ AC_SUBST([INSTALL_SDL2_CONFIG], [$enable_sdl2_config])
 
 # Verify that we have all the platform specific files we need
 
+if test x$have_misc != xyes; then
+    SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/misc/dummy/*.c"
+fi
 if test x$have_locale != xyes; then
     SOURCES="$SOURCES $srcdir/src/locale/dummy/*.c"
 fi
diff --git a/include/SDL.h b/include/SDL.h
index 9a8f580f1..e2656caf7 100644
--- a/include/SDL.h
+++ b/include/SDL.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 #include "SDL_version.h"
 #include "SDL_video.h"
 #include "SDL_locale.h"
+#include "SDL_misc.h"
 
 #include "begin_code.h"
 /* Set up for C function definitions, even when using C++ */
diff --git a/include/SDL_misc.h b/include/SDL_misc.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6ac925c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/SDL_misc.h
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+/**
+ *  \file SDL_misc.h
+ *
+ *  \brief Include file for SDL API functions that don't fit elsewhere.
+ */
+
+#ifndef SDL_misc_h_
+#define SDL_misc_h_
+
+#include "SDL_stdinc.h"
+
+#include "begin_code.h"
+
+/* Set up for C function definitions, even when using C++ */
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * \brief Open an URL / URI in the browser or other
+ *
+ * Open a URL in a separate, system-provided application. How this works will
+ *  vary wildly depending on the platform. This will likely launch what
+ *  makes sense to handle a specific URL's protocol (a web browser for http://,
+ *  etc), but it might also be able to launch file managers for directories
+ *  and other things.
+ *
+ * What happens when you open a URL varies wildly as well: your game window
+ *  may lose focus (and may or may not lose focus if your game was fullscreen
+ *  or grabbing input at the time). On mobile devices, your app will likely
+ *  move to the background or your process might be paused. Any given platform
+ *  may or may not handle a given URL.
+ *
+ * If this is unimplemented (or simply unavailable) for a platform, this will
+ *  fail with an error. A successful result does not mean the URL loaded, just
+ *  that we launched something to handle it (or at least believe we did).
+ *
+ * All this to say: this function can be useful, but you should definitely
+ *  test it on every platform you target.
+ *
+ *   \param url A valid URL to open.
+ *  \return 0 on success, or -1 on error.
+ */
+extern DECLSPEC int SDLCALL SDL_OpenURL(const char *url);
+
+/* Ends C function definitions when using C++ */
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+#include "close_code.h"
+
+#endif /* SDL_filesystem_h_ */
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
diff --git a/include/SDL_system.h b/include/SDL_system.h
index 8ad0184bc..48878b7aa 100644
--- a/include/SDL_system.h
+++ b/include/SDL_system.h
@@ -206,13 +206,6 @@ extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_AndroidGetExternalStoragePath(void);
  */
 extern DECLSPEC SDL_bool SDLCALL SDL_AndroidRequestPermission(const char *permission);
 
-/**
-   \brief Open an URL / URI in the browser or other
-
-   \return 0 on success, or -1 on error.
- */
-extern DECLSPEC int SDLCALL SDL_AndroidOpenURL(const char *url);
-
 #endif /* __ANDROID__ */
 
 /* Platform specific functions for WinRT */
diff --git a/src/core/android/SDL_android.c b/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
index 598d17137..f8c02ea1d 100644
--- a/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
+++ b/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
@@ -2469,19 +2469,6 @@ SDL_bool SDL_AndroidRequestPermission(const char *permission)
     return Android_JNI_RequestPermission(permission);
 }
 
-int SDL_AndroidOpenURL(const char *url)
-{
-    JNIEnv *env = Android_JNI_GetEnv();
-    int ret = -1;
-
-    if (url) {
-        jstring jurl = (*env)->NewStringUTF(env, url);
-        ret = (*env)->CallStaticIntMethod(env, mActivityClass, midOpenURL, jurl);
-        (*env)->DeleteLocalRef(env, jurl);
-    }
-    return ret;
-}
-
 void Android_JNI_GetManifestEnvironmentVariables(void)
 {
     if (!mActivityClass || !midGetManifestEnvironmentVariables) {
diff --git a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h
index bbdc9da99..8720258e7 100644
--- a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h
+++ b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h
@@ -766,4 +766,4 @@
 #define SDL_truncf SDL_truncf_REAL
 #define SDL_GetPreferredLocales SDL_GetPreferredLocales_REAL
 #define SDL_AndroidRequestPermission SDL_AndroidRequestPermission_REAL
-#define SDL_AndroidOpenURL SDL_AndroidOpenURL_REAL
+#define SDL_OpenURL SDL_OpenURL_REAL
diff --git a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h
index 885d17729..bb5843d61 100644
--- a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h
+++ b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h
@@ -826,5 +826,5 @@ SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(float,SDL_truncf,(float a),(a),return)
 SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(SDL_Locale *,SDL_GetPreferredLocales,(void),(),return)
 #ifdef __ANDROID__
 SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(SDL_bool,SDL_AndroidRequestPermission,(const char *a),(a),return)
-SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(int,SDL_AndroidOpenURL,(const char *a),(a),return)
 #endif
+SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(int,SDL_OpenURL,(const char *a),(a),return)
diff --git a/src/misc/SDL_url.c b/src/misc/SDL_url.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f49bb9d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/SDL_url.c
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+#include "SDL_error.h"
+
+extern int SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url);
+
+int
+SDL_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    if (!url) {
+        return SDL_InvalidParamError("url");
+    }
+    return SDL_SYS_OpenURL(url);
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
diff --git a/src/misc/android/SDL_sysurl.c b/src/misc/android/SDL_sysurl.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ee5f8b23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/android/SDL_sysurl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+#include "../../core/android/SDL_android.h"
+
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    JNIEnv *env = Android_JNI_GetEnv();
+    jstring jurl = (*env)->NewStringUTF(env, url);
+    const int ret = (*env)->CallStaticIntMethod(env, mActivityClass, midOpenURL, jurl);
+    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef(env, jurl);
+    return ret;
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/misc/dummy/SDL_sysurl.c b/src/misc/dummy/SDL_sysurl.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5fa49c0b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/dummy/SDL_sysurl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+#include "SDL_error.h"
+
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    return SDL_Unimplemented();
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/misc/haiku/SDL_sysurl.cc b/src/misc/haiku/SDL_sysurl.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..150028dd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/haiku/SDL_sysurl.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+#include "SDL_error.h"
+#include <Url.h>
+
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    BUrl burl(url);
+    const status_t rc = burl.OpenWithPreferredApplication(false);
+    return (rc == B_NO_ERROR) ? 0 : SDL_SetError("URL open failed (err=%d)", (int) rc);
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/misc/ios/SDL_sysurl.m b/src/misc/ios/SDL_sysurl.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..73b9fee22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/ios/SDL_sysurl.m
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{ @autoreleasepool {
+
+    NSString *nsstr = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:url];
+    NSURL *nsurl = [NSURL URLWithString:nsstr];
+    return [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:nsurl] ? 0 : -1;
+}}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/misc/macosx/SDL_sysurl.m b/src/misc/macosx/SDL_sysurl.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18324e335
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/macosx/SDL_sysurl.m
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{ @autoreleasepool
+{
+    NSString *nsstr = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:url];
+    NSURL *nsurl = [NSURL URLWithString:nsstr];
+    return [[NSWorkspace sharedWorkspace] openURL:nsurl] ? 0 : -1;
+}}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/misc/unix/SDL_sysurl.c b/src/misc/unix/SDL_sysurl.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df00e930a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/unix/SDL_sysurl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+#include "SDL_error.h"
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    const pid_t pid1 = fork();
+    if (pid1 == 0) {  /* child process */
+        /* Notice this is vfork and not fork! */
+        const pid_t pid2 = vfork();
+        if (pid2 == 0) {  /* Grandchild process will try to launch the url */
+            execlp("xdg-open", "xdg-open", url, NULL);
+            _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        } else if (pid2 < 0) {   /* There was an error forking */
+            _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        } else {
+            /* Child process doesn't wait for possibly-blocking grandchild. */
+            _exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+        }
+    } else if (pid1 < 0) {
+        return SDL_SetError("fork() failed: %s", strerror(errno));
+    } else {
+        int status;
+        if (waitpid(pid1, &status, 0) == pid1) {
+            if (WIFEXITED(status)) {
+                 if (WEXITSTATUS(status) == 0) {
+                     return 0;  /* success! */
+                 } else {
+                     return SDL_SetError("xdg-open reported error or failed to launch: %d", WEXITSTATUS(status));
+                 }
+             } else {
+                return SDL_SetError("xdg-open failed for some reason");
+             }
+        } else {
+            return SDL_SetError("Waiting on xdg-open failed: %s", strerror(errno));
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/misc/windows/SDL_sysurl.c b/src/misc/windows/SDL_sysurl.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d4c5a23e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/windows/SDL_sysurl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+  Simple DirectMedia Layer
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+
+  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+     appreciated but is not required.
+  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+     misrepresented as being the original software.
+  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
+*/
+
+#include "../../SDL_internal.h"
+#include "../../core/windows/SDL_windows.h"
+
+/* https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb762153%28v=vs.85%29.aspx */
+int
+SDL_SYS_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    WCHAR* wurl = WIN_UTF8ToString(url);
+    int rc;
+
+    if (wurl == NULL) {
+        return SDL_OutOfMemory();
+    }
+
+    /* Success returns value greater than 32. Less is an error. */
+    rc = (int) ShellExecuteW(NULL, L"open", wurl, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
+    SDL_free(wurl);
+    return (rc > 32) ? 0 : WIN_SetError("Couldn't open given URL.");
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */
+
diff --git a/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc b/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc
index 669a2ae43..817fccf43 100644
--- a/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc
+++ b/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "SDL_bframebuffer.h"
 #include "SDL_bevents.h"
 
+#include <Url.h>
+
 /* FIXME: Undefined functions */
 //    #define HAIKU_PumpEvents NULL
     #define HAIKU_StartTextInput NULL
@@ -193,6 +195,15 @@ void HAIKU_VideoQuit(_THIS)
     SDL_QuitBeApp();
 }
 
+// just sticking this function in here so it's in a C++ source file.
+extern "C" { int HAIKU_OpenURL(const char *url); }
+int HAIKU_OpenURL(const char *url)
+{
+    BUrl burl(url);
+    const status_t rc = burl.OpenWithPreferredApplication(false);
+    return (rc == B_NO_ERROR) ? 0 : SDL_SetError("URL open failed (err=%d)", (int) rc);
+}
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/test/Makefile.in b/test/Makefile.in
index c14692451..41fa6039e 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.in
+++ b/test/Makefile.in
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ TARGETS = \
 	teststreaming$(EXE) \
 	testthread$(EXE) \
 	testtimer$(EXE) \
+	testurl$(EXE) \
 	testver$(EXE) \
 	testviewport$(EXE) \
 	testvulkan$(EXE) \
@@ -265,6 +266,9 @@ teststreaming$(EXE): $(srcdir)/teststreaming.c
 testtimer$(EXE): $(srcdir)/testtimer.c
 	$(CC) -o $@ $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LIBS)
 
+testurl$(EXE): $(srcdir)/testurl.c
+	$(CC) -o $@ $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LIBS)
+
 testver$(EXE): $(srcdir)/testver.c
 	$(CC) -o $@ $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LIBS)
 
diff --git a/test/testurl.c b/test/testurl.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c1b26f0f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/testurl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*
+  Copyright (C) 1997-2020 Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>
+
+  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+  warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+  arising from the use of this software.
+
+  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+  freely.
+*/
+#include "SDL.h"
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    int i;
+    if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) == -1) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "SDL_Init failed: %s\n", SDL_GetError());
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
+        const char *url = argv[i];
+        SDL_Log("Opening '%s' ...", url);
+        if (SDL_OpenURL(url) == 0) {
+            SDL_Log("  success!");
+        } else {
+            SDL_Log("  failed! %s", SDL_GetError());
+        }
+    }
+
+    SDL_Quit();
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */