diff --git a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/rest_constants.py b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/rest_constants.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0944191557d..00000000000
--- a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/rest_constants.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-MAGNET_PREFIX = 'magnet'
-HTTP_PREFIX = 'http'
-FILE_PREFIX = 'file'
diff --git a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/rest_utils.py b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/rest_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0b3a84a007e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/rest_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import os
+from typing import Any, Union
+
+from yarl import URL
+
+MAGNET_SCHEME = 'magnet'
+HTTP_SCHEME = 'http'
+FILE_SCHEME = 'file'
+
+
+def path_to_uri(file_path: Union[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Convert path to url
+
+    Example:
+        '/path/to/file' -> 'file:///path/to/file'
+    """
+    if not isinstance(file_path, str):
+        file_path = str(file_path)
+    return str(URL().build(scheme=FILE_SCHEME, path=file_path))
+
+
+def uri_to_path(file_uri: str) -> str:
+    """Convert uri to path
+
+    Example:
+        'file:///path/to/file' -> '/path/to/file'
+    """
+    path = URL(file_uri).path
+    if os.name == 'nt':
+        # Removes first slash for win OS
+        # see https://github.com/aio-libs/yarl/issues/674
+        return path.lstrip('/')
+    return path
diff --git a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_rest_utils.py b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_rest_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..509a056b4a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_rest_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri, uri_to_path
+
+NIX_PATHS = [
+    ('/path/to/file', 'file:///path/to/file'),
+    ('/path/to/file with space', 'file:///path/to/file%20with%20space'),
+    ('/path/to/%20%21file', 'file:///path/to/%2520%2521file'),  # See: https://github.com/Tribler/tribler/issues/6700
+]
+
+WIN_PATHS = [
+    ('C:\\path\\to\\file', 'file:///C:%5Cpath%5Cto%5Cfile'),
+    ('C:\\path\\to\\file with space', 'file:///C:%5Cpath%5Cto%5Cfile%20with%20space'),
+    ('C:\\path\\to\\%20%21file', 'file:///C:%5Cpath%5Cto%5C%2520%2521file'),
+]
+
+
+# posix
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('path,uri', NIX_PATHS)
+@patch('os.name', 'posix')
+def test_path_to_uri(path, uri):
+    assert path_to_uri(path) == uri
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('path,uri', NIX_PATHS)
+@patch('os.name', 'posix')
+def test_uri_to_path(path, uri):
+    assert uri_to_path(uri) == path
+
+
+# win
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('path,uri', WIN_PATHS)
+@patch('os.name', 'nt')
+def test_path_to_uri_win(path, uri):
+    assert path_to_uri(path) == uri
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('path,uri', WIN_PATHS)
+@patch('os.name', 'nt')
+def test_uri_to_path_win(path, uri):
+    assert uri_to_path(uri) == path
diff --git a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_utils.py b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_utils.py
index 4267db80573..319ca9c0dd6 100644
--- a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1,17 +1,11 @@
-from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 from tribler_common.patch_import import patch_import
-from tribler_common.utilities import Query, extract_tags, parse_query, show_system_popup, to_fts_query, uri_to_path
+from tribler_common.utilities import Query, extract_tags, parse_query, show_system_popup, to_fts_query
 
 # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, import-error
 # fmt: off
 
-def test_uri_to_path():
-    path = Path(__file__).parent / "bla%20foo.bar"
-    uri = path.as_uri()
-    assert uri_to_path(uri) == path
-
 
 def test_to_fts_query():
     assert to_fts_query(None) is None
diff --git a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/utilities.py b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/utilities.py
index 2e93f46cd28..06cc0968bbe 100644
--- a/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/utilities.py
+++ b/src/tribler-common/tribler_common/utilities.py
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 import itertools
-import os
 import platform
 import re
 import sys
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Set, Tuple
-from urllib.parse import urlparse
-from urllib.request import url2pathname
-
-from tribler_core.utilities.path_util import Path
 
 
 def is_frozen():
@@ -23,12 +18,6 @@ def is_frozen():
     return True
 
 
-def uri_to_path(uri):
-    parsed = urlparse(uri)
-    host = "{0}{0}{mnt}{0}".format(os.path.sep, mnt=parsed.netloc)
-    return Path(host) / url2pathname(parsed.path)
-
-
 fts_query_re = re.compile(r'\w+', re.UNICODE)
 tags_re = re.compile(r'#[^\s^#]{3,50}(?=[#\s]|$)')
 
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/download_manager/download_manager.py b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/download_manager/download_manager.py
index 42eb6bdb25b..fb7e63249dd 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/download_manager/download_manager.py
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/download_manager/download_manager.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 from ipv8.taskmanager import TaskManager, task
 
 from tribler_common.network_utils import default_network_utils
-from tribler_common.rest_constants import FILE_PREFIX, HTTP_PREFIX, MAGNET_PREFIX
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import FILE_SCHEME, HTTP_SCHEME, MAGNET_SCHEME, uri_to_path
 from tribler_common.simpledefs import DLSTATUS_SEEDING, MAX_LIBTORRENT_RATE_LIMIT, NTFY, STATEDIR_CHECKPOINT_DIR
 
 from tribler_core.components.libtorrent.download_manager.dht_health_manager import DHTHealthManager
@@ -505,10 +505,10 @@ def _map_call_on_ltsessions(self, hops, funcname, *args, **kwargs):
             getattr(self.get_session(hops), funcname)(*args, **kwargs)
 
     async def start_download_from_uri(self, uri, config=None):
-        if uri.startswith(HTTP_PREFIX):
+        if uri.startswith(HTTP_SCHEME):
             tdef = await TorrentDef.load_from_url(uri)
             return self.start_download(tdef=tdef, config=config)
-        if uri.startswith(MAGNET_PREFIX):
+        if uri.startswith(MAGNET_SCHEME):
             name, infohash, _ = parse_magnetlink(uri)
             if infohash is None:
                 raise RuntimeError("Missing infohash")
@@ -517,8 +517,8 @@ async def start_download_from_uri(self, uri, config=None):
             else:
                 tdef = TorrentDefNoMetainfo(infohash, "Unknown name" if name is None else name, url=uri)
             return self.start_download(tdef=tdef, config=config)
-        if uri.startswith(FILE_PREFIX):
-            file = uri[len(FILE_PREFIX) + 1:]
+        if uri.startswith(FILE_SCHEME):
+            file = uri_to_path(uri)
             return self.start_download(torrent_file=file, config=config)
         raise Exception("invalid uri")
 
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/libtorrent_component.py b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/libtorrent_component.py
index 3735a57a83a..3b85e65cea1 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/libtorrent_component.py
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/libtorrent_component.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri
+
 from tribler_core.components.base import Component
 from tribler_core.components.key.key_component import KeyComponent
 from tribler_core.components.libtorrent.download_manager.download_manager import DownloadManager
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ async def run(self):
 
         if config.gui_test_mode:
             from tribler_core.tests.tools.common import TORRENT_WITH_DIRS  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-            uri = f"file:{TORRENT_WITH_DIRS}"
+            uri = path_to_uri(TORRENT_WITH_DIRS)
             await self.download_manager.start_download_from_uri(uri)
 
     async def shutdown(self):
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_downloads_endpoint.py b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_downloads_endpoint.py
index ef0fbe30906..5e814595a06 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_downloads_endpoint.py
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_downloads_endpoint.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import HTTP_SCHEME, path_to_uri
 from tribler_common.simpledefs import DLSTATUS_CIRCUITS, DLSTATUS_DOWNLOADING, DLSTATUS_EXIT_NODES, DLSTATUS_STOPPED
 
 from tribler_core.components.libtorrent.download_manager.download_state import DownloadState
@@ -184,11 +185,10 @@ async def test_start_download_from_file(test_download, mock_dlmgr, rest_api):
     Testing whether we can start a download from a file
     """
     mock_dlmgr.start_download_from_uri = lambda *_, **__: succeed(test_download)
-
-    post_data = {'uri': f"file:{TESTS_DATA_DIR / 'video.avi.torrent'}"}
+    uri = path_to_uri(TESTS_DATA_DIR / 'video.avi.torrent')
     expected_json = {'started': True, 'infohash': 'c9a19e7fe5d9a6c106d6ea3c01746ac88ca3c7a5'}
     await do_request(rest_api, 'downloads', expected_code=200, request_type='PUT',
-                     post_data=post_data, expected_json=expected_json)
+                     post_data={'uri': uri}, expected_json=expected_json)
 
 
 async def test_start_download_with_selected_files(test_download, mock_dlmgr, rest_api):
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ def mocked_start_download(*_, config=None):
         return succeed(test_download)
 
     mock_dlmgr.start_download_from_uri = mocked_start_download
-
-    post_data = {'uri': f"file:{TESTS_DATA_DIR / 'video.avi.torrent'}", 'selected_files': [0]}
+    uri = path_to_uri(TESTS_DATA_DIR / 'video.avi.torrent')
+    post_data = {'uri': uri, 'selected_files': [0]}
     expected_json = {'started': True, 'infohash': 'c9a19e7fe5d9a6c106d6ea3c01746ac88ca3c7a5'}
     await do_request(rest_api, 'downloads', expected_code=200, request_type='PUT',
                      post_data=post_data, expected_json=expected_json)
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def mocked_start_download(*_, **__):
 
     mock_dlmgr.start_download_from_uri = mocked_start_download
 
-    post_data = {'uri': 'http://localhost:1234/test.torrent'}
+    post_data = {'uri': f'{HTTP_SCHEME}://localhost:1234/test.torrent'}
     result = await do_request(rest_api, 'downloads', expected_code=500, request_type='PUT', post_data=post_data)
     assert result["error"] == "test"
 
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_torrentinfo_endpoint.py b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_torrentinfo_endpoint.py
index 3e6dfc20718..73479943cfc 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_torrentinfo_endpoint.py
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/tests/test_torrentinfo_endpoint.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from tribler_common.rest_constants import FILE_PREFIX
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri
 from tribler_common.simpledefs import NTFY
 
 from tribler_core.components.libtorrent.restapi.torrentinfo_endpoint import TorrentInfoEndpoint
@@ -63,9 +63,8 @@ async def test_get_torrentinfo_escaped_characters(tmp_path, rest_api):
     source = TORRENT_UBUNTU_FILE
     destination = tmp_path / 'ubuntu%20%21 15.04.torrent'
     shutil.copyfile(source, destination)
-
-    response = await do_request(rest_api, url='torrentinfo', params={'uri': f'{FILE_PREFIX}:{destination}'},
-                                expected_code=200)
+    uri = path_to_uri(destination)
+    response = await do_request(rest_api, url='torrentinfo', params={'uri': uri}, expected_code=200)
 
     assert 'metainfo' in response
 
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ async def test_get_torrentinfo(tmp_path, rest_api, endpoint: TorrentInfoEndpoint
     """
 
     def _path(file):
-        return f'{FILE_PREFIX}:{TESTS_DATA_DIR / file}'
+        return path_to_uri(TESTS_DATA_DIR / file)
 
     shutil.copyfile(TORRENT_UBUNTU_FILE, tmp_path / 'ubuntu.torrent')
 
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/torrentinfo_endpoint.py b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/torrentinfo_endpoint.py
index e6a4a7a32f1..64fc98fcab7 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/torrentinfo_endpoint.py
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/restapi/torrentinfo_endpoint.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from marshmallow.fields import String
 
-from tribler_common.rest_constants import FILE_PREFIX, HTTP_PREFIX, MAGNET_PREFIX
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import FILE_SCHEME, HTTP_SCHEME, MAGNET_SCHEME, uri_to_path
 from tribler_common.simpledefs import NTFY
 
 from tribler_core.components.libtorrent.download_manager.download_manager import DownloadManager
@@ -82,15 +82,15 @@ async def get_torrent_info(self, request):
             return RESTResponse({"error": "uri parameter missing"}, status=HTTP_BAD_REQUEST)
 
         metainfo = None
-        if uri.startswith(FILE_PREFIX):
-            file = uri[len(FILE_PREFIX) + 1:]
+        if uri.startswith(FILE_SCHEME):
+            file = uri_to_path(uri)
             try:
                 tdef = TorrentDef.load(file)
                 metainfo = tdef.metainfo
             except (TypeError, RuntimeError):
                 return RESTResponse({"error": f"error while decoding torrent file: {file}"},
                                     status=HTTP_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
-        elif uri.startswith(HTTP_PREFIX):
+        elif uri.startswith(HTTP_SCHEME):
             try:
                 response = await query_http_uri(uri)
             except (ServerConnectionError, ClientResponseError) as e:
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ async def get_torrent_info(self, request):
                     metainfo = await self.download_manager.get_metainfo(infohash, timeout=60, hops=hops, url=response)
             else:
                 metainfo = bdecode_compat(response)
-        elif uri.startswith(MAGNET_PREFIX):
+        elif uri.startswith(MAGNET_SCHEME):
             infohash = parse_magnetlink(uri)[1]
             if infohash is None:
                 return RESTResponse({"error": "missing infohash"}, status=HTTP_BAD_REQUEST)
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/tests/test_download_api.py b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/tests/test_download_api.py
index b058bc85295..21086bd0684 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/tests/test_download_api.py
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/components/libtorrent/tests/test_download_api.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from tribler_common.rest_constants import FILE_PREFIX
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri
 from tribler_common.simpledefs import DLSTATUS_DOWNLOADING
 
 from tribler_core.tests.tools.common import TORRENT_UBUNTU_FILE
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ async def test_download_torrent_from_url(tmp_path, file_server, download_manager
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 @pytest.mark.timeout(10)
 async def test_download_torrent_from_file(download_manager):
-    d = await download_manager.start_download_from_uri(TORRENT_UBUNTU_FILE.as_uri())
+    uri = path_to_uri(TORRENT_UBUNTU_FILE)
+    d = await download_manager.start_download_from_uri(uri)
     await d.wait_for_status(DLSTATUS_DOWNLOADING)
 
 
@@ -29,5 +30,6 @@ async def test_download_torrent_from_file(download_manager):
 async def test_download_torrent_from_file_with_escaped_characters(download_manager, tmp_path):
     destination = tmp_path / 'ubuntu%20%21 15.04.torrent'
     shutil.copyfile(TORRENT_UBUNTU_FILE, destination)
-    d = await download_manager.start_download_from_uri(f'{FILE_PREFIX}:{destination}')
+    uri = path_to_uri(destination)
+    d = await download_manager.start_download_from_uri(uri)
     await d.wait_for_status(DLSTATUS_DOWNLOADING)
diff --git a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/requirements.txt b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/requirements.txt
index d9b67a1134d..f043d25a03e 100644
--- a/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/requirements.txt
+++ b/src/tribler-core/tribler_core/requirements.txt
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ pyyaml==6.0
 sentry-sdk==1.5.0
 service-identity==21.1.0
 yappi==1.3.3
-yarl==1.7.0
\ No newline at end of file
+yarl==1.7.2 # keep this dependency higher than 1.6.3. See: https://github.com/aio-libs/yarl/issues/517
diff --git a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/dialogs/startdownloaddialog.py b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/dialogs/startdownloaddialog.py
index b703b416386..0ab94c9e681 100644
--- a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/dialogs/startdownloaddialog.py
+++ b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/dialogs/startdownloaddialog.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QTimer, pyqtSignal
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QFileDialog, QSizePolicy
 
-from tribler_common.rest_constants import FILE_PREFIX, MAGNET_PREFIX
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import FILE_SCHEME, MAGNET_SCHEME, uri_to_path
 
 from tribler_gui.defs import METAINFO_MAX_RETRIES, METAINFO_TIMEOUT
 from tribler_gui.dialogs.confirmationdialog import ConfirmationDialog
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ def __init__(self, parent, download_uri):
         DialogContainer.__init__(self, parent)
 
         torrent_name = download_uri
-        if torrent_name.startswith(FILE_PREFIX):
-            torrent_name = torrent_name[len(FILE_PREFIX) + 1 :]
-        elif torrent_name.startswith(MAGNET_PREFIX):
+        if torrent_name.startswith(FILE_SCHEME):
+            torrent_name = uri_to_path(torrent_name)
+        elif torrent_name.startswith(MAGNET_SCHEME):
             torrent_name = unquote_plus(torrent_name)
 
         self.download_uri = download_uri
diff --git a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/start_gui.py b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/start_gui.py
index 4588c11f8b8..33ab278b6ac 100644
--- a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/start_gui.py
+++ b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/start_gui.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QSettings
 
 from tribler_common.logger import load_logger_config
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri
 from tribler_common.sentry_reporter.sentry_reporter import SentryStrategy
 
 from tribler_core.check_os import (
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ def run_gui(api_port, api_key, root_state_dir, parsed_args):
             logger.info('GUI Application is already running. Passing a torrent file path to it.')
             for arg in sys.argv[1:]:
                 if os.path.exists(arg) and arg.endswith(".torrent"):
-                    app.send_message(f"file:{arg}")
+                    app.send_message(path_to_uri(arg))
                 elif arg.startswith('magnet'):
                     app.send_message(arg)
             logger.info('Close the current application.')
diff --git a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tests/test_gui.py b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tests/test_gui.py
index e73b1bb9a2d..3153fd68757 100644
--- a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tests/test_gui.py
+++ b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tests/test_gui.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 import tribler_common
 from tribler_common.reported_error import ReportedError
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri
 from tribler_common.sentry_reporter.sentry_reporter import SentryReporter
 from tribler_common.tag_constants import MIN_TAG_LENGTH
 
@@ -393,8 +394,8 @@ def test_add_download_url(window):
     go_to_and_wait_for_downloads(window)
     window.on_add_torrent_from_url()
     screenshot(window, name="add_torrent_url_dialog")
-
-    window.dialog.dialog_widget.dialog_input.setText("file:" + str(TORRENT_WITH_DIRS))
+    uri = path_to_uri(TORRENT_WITH_DIRS)
+    window.dialog.dialog_widget.dialog_input.setText(uri)
     QTest.mouseClick(window.dialog.buttons[0], Qt.LeftButton)
     QTest.qWait(200)
     screenshot(window, name="add_torrent_url_startdownload_dialog")
diff --git a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_app.py b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_app.py
index 916f016b866..bb82efefa3d 100644
--- a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_app.py
+++ b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_app.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QCoreApplication, QEvent, Qt
 
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import path_to_uri
+
 from tribler_core.utilities.unicode import ensure_unicode
 
 from tribler_gui.code_executor import CodeExecutor
@@ -38,7 +40,9 @@ def handle_uri(self, uri):
     def parse_sys_args(self, args):
         for arg in args[1:]:
             if os.path.exists(arg):
-                self.handle_uri(f"file:{ensure_unicode(arg, 'utf8')}")
+                file_path = ensure_unicode(arg, 'utf8')
+                uri = path_to_uri(file_path)
+                self.handle_uri(uri)
             elif arg.startswith('magnet'):
                 self.handle_uri(arg)
 
@@ -60,5 +64,6 @@ def parse_sys_args(self, args):
 
     def event(self, event):
         if event.type() == QEvent.FileOpen and event.file().endswith(".torrent"):
-            self.handle_uri(f'file:{event.file()}')
+            uri = path_to_uri(event.file())
+            self.handle_uri(uri)
         return QtSingleApplication.event(self, event)
diff --git a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_window.py b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_window.py
index 06c5109e306..f1ec285c70f 100644
--- a/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_window.py
+++ b/src/tribler-gui/tribler_gui/tribler_window.py
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@
 
 from tribler_common.network_utils import default_network_utils
 from tribler_common.process_checker import ProcessChecker
-from tribler_common.utilities import parse_query, uri_to_path
+from tribler_common.rest_utils import FILE_SCHEME, MAGNET_SCHEME, uri_to_path
+from tribler_common.utilities import parse_query
 from tribler_common.version_manager import VersionHistory
 
 from tribler_core.utilities.unicode import hexlify
@@ -632,10 +633,11 @@ def perform_start_download_request(
     def show_add_torrent_to_channel_dialog_from_uri(self, uri):
         def on_add_button_pressed(channel_id):
             post_data = {}
-            if uri.startswith("file:"):
-                with open(uri_to_path(uri), "rb") as torrent_file:
+            if uri.startswith(FILE_SCHEME):
+                file_path = uri_to_path(uri)
+                with open(file_path) as torrent_file:
                     post_data['torrent'] = b64encode(torrent_file.read()).decode('utf8')
-            elif uri.startswith("magnet:"):
+            elif uri.startswith(MAGNET_SCHEME):
                 post_data['uri'] = uri
 
             if post_data:
@@ -1139,8 +1141,7 @@ def get_urls_from_dragndrop_list(cls, e):
 
     def dragEnterEvent(self, e):
         file_urls = self.get_urls_from_dragndrop_list(e)
-
-        if any(uri_to_path(fu).is_file() for fu in file_urls):
+        if any(Path(uri_to_path(fu)).is_file() for fu in file_urls):
             e.accept()
         else:
             e.ignore()
@@ -1149,7 +1150,8 @@ def dropEvent(self, e):
         file_urls = self.get_urls_from_dragndrop_list(e)
 
         for fu in file_urls:
-            if uri_to_path(fu).is_file():
+            path = Path(uri_to_path(fu))
+            if path.is_file():
                 self.start_download_from_uri(fu)
 
         e.accept()