diff --git a/conda/common/url.py b/conda/common/url.py
index ad43c0947e7..5b244539059 100644
--- a/conda/common/url.py
+++ b/conda/common/url.py
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ def path_to_url(path):
 
 @memoize
 def urlparse(url):
+    if on_win and url.startswith('file:'):
+        url.replace('\\', '/')
     return parse_url(url)
 
 
diff --git a/conda/models/channel.py b/conda/models/channel.py
index 4c452b1bcc4..6fc9abe23f0 100644
--- a/conda/models/channel.py
+++ b/conda/models/channel.py
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ def from_value(value):
             return Channel(name=UNKNOWN_CHANNEL)
         value = ensure_text_type(value)
         if has_scheme(value):
+            if value.startswith('file:') and on_win:
+                value = value.replace('\\', '/')
             return Channel.from_url(value)
         elif is_path(value):
             return Channel.from_url(path_to_url(value))