diff --git a/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/ConfigXmlParser.java b/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/ConfigXmlParser.java
index ae9b57fd1b..17b47b06c4 100644
--- a/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/ConfigXmlParser.java
+++ b/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/ConfigXmlParser.java
@@ -46,9 +46,14 @@ public ArrayList<PluginEntry> getPluginEntries() {
     }
 
     public String getLaunchUrl() {
-        if (launchUrl == null) { 
+        if (launchUrl == null) {
             launchUrl = "https://" +  this.prefs.getString("hostname", "localhost");
         }
+
+        if (this.prefs.getBoolean("AndroidInsecureFileModeEnabled", false)) {
+            launchUrl = "file:///android_asset/www/index.html";
+        }
+
         return launchUrl;
     }
 
@@ -142,7 +147,11 @@ private void setStartUrl(String src) {
             if (src.charAt(0) == '/') {
                 src = src.substring(1);
             }
-            launchUrl = "https://" +  this.prefs.getString("hostname", "localhost") + "/" + src;
+            if (this.prefs.getBoolean("AndroidInsecureFileModeEnabled", false)) {
+                launchUrl = "file:///android_asset/www/" + src;
+            } else {
+                launchUrl = "https://" +  this.prefs.getString("hostname", "localhost") + "/" + src;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/engine/SystemWebViewEngine.java b/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/engine/SystemWebViewEngine.java
index 2921d3d091..ff37f9b6dd 100755
--- a/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/engine/SystemWebViewEngine.java
+++ b/framework/src/org/apache/cordova/engine/SystemWebViewEngine.java
@@ -159,6 +159,14 @@ private void initWebViewSettings() {
         settings.setSaveFormData(false);
         settings.setSavePassword(false);
 
+        if (preferences.getBoolean("AndroidInsecureFileModeEnabled", false)) {
+            //These settings are deprecated and loading content via file:// URLs is generally discouraged,
+            //but we allow this for compatibility reasons
+            LOG.d(TAG, "Enabled insecure file access");
+            settings.setAllowFileAccess(true);
+            settings.setAllowUniversalAccessFromFileURLs(true);
+        }
+
         settings.setMediaPlaybackRequiresUserGesture(false);
 
         // Enable database