Ctrl+Click fails to open file link with an in-terminal editor

[Maraxi]

Issue Description

I set nvim as my default editor.
In the terminal I create a file ~/bar.txt and print a link to it with printf '\e]8;;file://%s/bar.txt\e\\Link to my file\e]8;;\e\\\n' $HOME.
Using Ctrl+Click on the printed link does nothing instead of opening the file.

Expected Behavior

Nvim is opened to edit the file.

Actual Behavior

Nothing happens after Ctrl+Clicking on the file, no program is opened.

For reference running xdg-open "file://$HOME/bar.txt" opens nvim in the same active window to open the file. Closing nvim returns to the prompt.

I expect Ctrl+Click give the same result as running xdg-open on the link as per the documentation https://ghostty.org/docs/config/reference#link.

For a comparison: When wrapping nvim to always use a new window, I get consistent and expected results.
Use nvim-new-term.desktop (See Additional Relevant Configuration) as the default handler for text/plain instead and observe:
Clicking on the link or using xdg-open both create a new ghostty window running nvim and the file opened. Closing nvim then always closes the new window.

Reproduction Steps

1. Ensure neovim is installed
2. Open Ghostty
3. Create the file ~/.local/share/applications/nvim-same-term.desktop. See Additional Relevant Configuration
4. Assign it as default handler for text/plain with xdg-mime default nvim-same-term.desktop text/plain
5. Create a plain text file echo foo > ~/bar.txt
6. Ensure the mime type is correctly detected, i.e., xdg-mime query filetype ~/bar.txt return text/plain
7. Print a link to the file printf '\e]8;;file://%s/bar.txt\e\\Link to my file\e]8;;\e\\\n' $HOME
8. Open the link via Ctrl+Click

Ghostty Logs

No logs are created while clicking on the link.

Ghostty Version

Ghostty 1.3.1

Version
  - version: 1.3.1
  - channel: stable
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.15.2
  - build mode    : .ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : .gtk
  - font engine   : .fontconfig_freetype
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
  - libxev        : io_uring
  - kernel version: 6.18.33
  - desktop env   : other
  - GTK version   :
    build         : 4.22.4
    runtime       : 4.22.4
  - libadwaita    : enabled
    build         : 1.9.0
    runtime       : 1.9.0
  - libX11        : enabled
  - libwayland    : enabled

OS Version Information

NixOS 26.11 (Zokor) x86_64

(Linux only) Display Server

Wayland

(Linux only) Desktop Environment/Window Manager

Hyprland 0.55.2

Minimal Ghostty Configuration

problem exists with empty config

Additional Relevant Configuration

File: ~/.local/share/applications/nvim-new-term.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Neovim same term
Exec=ghostty -e nvim %F
Terminal=false

File: ~/.local/share/applications/nvim-same-term.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Neovim same term
Exec=nvim %F
Terminal=true

File ~/.config/mimeapps.list

[Added Associations]
text/plain=nvim-same-term.desktop

[Default Applications]
text/plain=nvim-same-term.desktop

I acknowledge that:

• I have reviewed the FAQ and confirm that my issue is NOT among them.
• I have searched the Ghostty repository (both open and closed Discussions and Issues) and confirm this is not a duplicate of an existing issue or discussion.
• I have checked the "Preview" tab on all text fields to ensure that everything looks right, and have wrapped all configuration and code in code blocks with a group of three backticks (```) on separate lines.

[rhodes-b]

when a program captures the mouse (or in the alternate screen) you must press shift for url clicking.

Why? Because programs which capture the mouse can have their own keybinds for ctrl+click, when pressing shift ghostty overrides the mouse capture for itself.

[Maraxi]

Sorry, but I think you might have misunderstood the question:
While triggering the bug I am in the primary screen without any program open.
Holding Ctrl and hovering does generate the preview line at the bottom of the screen.
But while clicking the behavior depends on the configured handler:

• for nvim-new-term.desktop a new window is opened as expected
• for nvim-same-term.desktop nvim should be opened in the same window, like it happens when using xdg-open. But nothing happens instead

[rhodes-b]

In that case (you can find other discussions) ghostty currently does not officially support file links. Some people have attemped to make it better (i believe after 1.3) but its still not perfect