diff --git a/contrib/lisp/ox-deck.el b/contrib/lisp/ox-deck.el
index ea2d8fed0..0ebde41fa 100644
--- a/contrib/lisp/ox-deck.el
+++ b/contrib/lisp/ox-deck.el
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ the \"slide\" class will be added to the to the list element,
 
 (defun org-deck-link (link desc info)
   (replace-regexp-in-string "href=\"#" "href=\"#outline-container-"
-			    (org-html-link link desc info)))
+			    (org-export-with-backend 'html link desc info)))
 
 (defun org-deck-template (contents info)
   "Return complete document string after HTML conversion.
diff --git a/contrib/lisp/ox-groff.el b/contrib/lisp/ox-groff.el
index 7b110a1c4..7974051c0 100644
--- a/contrib/lisp/ox-groff.el
+++ b/contrib/lisp/ox-groff.el
@@ -1251,13 +1251,10 @@ INFO is a plist holding contextual information.  See
          (imagep (org-export-inline-image-p
                   link org-groff-inline-image-rules))
          (path (cond
-                ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-                 (concat type "://" raw-path))
-		((string= type "mailto") (concat type ":" raw-path))
-                ((string= type "file")
-                 (if (file-name-absolute-p raw-path)
-                     (concat "file://" (expand-file-name raw-path))
-                   (concat "file://" raw-path)))
+                ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp" "mailto"))
+                 (concat type ":" raw-path))
+                ((and (string= type "file") (file-name-absolute-p raw-path))
+                 (concat "file://" raw-path))
                 (t raw-path)))
          protocol)
     (cond
diff --git a/lisp/org-element.el b/lisp/org-element.el
index 13837e9e7..29a90be41 100644
--- a/lisp/org-element.el
+++ b/lisp/org-element.el
@@ -3002,18 +3002,20 @@ Assume point is at the beginning of the link."
       (save-excursion
 	(setq post-blank (progn (goto-char link-end) (skip-chars-forward " \t"))
 	      end (point))
-	;; Extract search option and opening application out of
-	;; "file"-type links.
+	;; Special "file" type link processing.
 	(when (member type org-element-link-type-is-file)
-	  ;; Application.
+	  ;; Extract opening application and search option.
 	  (cond ((string-match "^file\\+\\(.*\\)$" type)
 		 (setq application (match-string 1 type)))
 		((not (string-match "^file" type))
 		 (setq application type)))
-	  ;; Extract search option from PATH.
-	  (when (string-match "::\\(.*\\)$" path)
+	  (when (string-match "::\\(.*\\)\\'" path)
 	    (setq search-option (match-string 1 path)
 		  path (replace-match "" nil nil path)))
+	  ;; Normalize URI.
+	  (when (and (not (org-string-match-p "\\`//" path))
+		     (file-name-absolute-p path))
+	    (setq path (concat "//" (expand-file-name path))))
 	  ;; Make sure TYPE always reports "file".
 	  (setq type "file"))
 	(list 'link
diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index 7cd96eb39..e245d6d4b 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -5669,54 +5669,55 @@ stacked delimiters is N.  Escaping delimiters is not possible."
 (defun org-make-link-regexps ()
   "Update the link regular expressions.
 This should be called after the variable `org-link-types' has changed."
-  (setq org-link-types-re
-	(concat "\\`" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)")
-	org-link-re-with-space
-	(concat "<?" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)"
-		"\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
-		"[^" org-non-link-chars "]*"
-		"[^" org-non-link-chars " ]\\)>?")
-	org-link-re-with-space2
-	(concat "<?" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)?"
-		"\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
-		"[^\t\n\r]*"
-		"[^" org-non-link-chars " ]\\)>?")
-	org-link-re-with-space3
-	(concat "<?" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)?"
-		"\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
-		"[^\t\n\r]*\\)")
-	org-angle-link-re
-	(concat "<" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)?"
-		"\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
-		"[^" org-non-link-chars "]*"
-		"\\)>")
-	org-plain-link-re
-	(concat
-	 "\\<" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)?"
-	 (org-re "\\([^ \t\n()<>]+\\(?:([[:word:]0-9_]+)\\|\\([^[:punct:] \t\n]\\|/\\)\\)\\)"))
-	;;	 "\\([^]\t\n\r<>() ]+[^]\t\n\r<>,.;() ]\\)")
-	org-bracket-link-regexp
-	"\\[\\[\\([^][]+\\)\\]\\(\\[\\([^][]+\\)\\]\\)?\\]"
-	org-bracket-link-analytic-regexp
-	(concat
-	 "\\[\\["
-	 "\\(" (regexp-opt org-link-types t) ":\\(?://\\)?\\)?"
-	 "\\([^]]+\\)"
-	 "\\]"
-	 "\\(\\[" "\\([^]]+\\)" "\\]\\)?"
-	 "\\]")
-	org-bracket-link-analytic-regexp++
-	(concat
-	 "\\[\\["
-	 "\\(" (regexp-opt (cons "coderef" org-link-types) t) ":\\(?://\\)?\\)?"
-	 "\\([^]]+\\)"
-	 "\\]"
-	 "\\(\\[" "\\([^]]+\\)" "\\]\\)?"
-	 "\\]")
-	org-any-link-re
-	(concat "\\(" org-bracket-link-regexp "\\)\\|\\("
-		org-angle-link-re "\\)\\|\\("
-		org-plain-link-re "\\)")))
+  (let ((types-re (regexp-opt org-link-types t)))
+    (setq org-link-types-re
+	  (concat "\\`" types-re ":")
+	  org-link-re-with-space
+	  (concat "<?" types-re ":"
+		  "\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
+		  "[^" org-non-link-chars "]*"
+		  "[^" org-non-link-chars " ]\\)>?")
+	  org-link-re-with-space2
+	  (concat "<?" types-re ":"
+		  "\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
+		  "[^\t\n\r]*"
+		  "[^" org-non-link-chars " ]\\)>?")
+	  org-link-re-with-space3
+	  (concat "<?" types-re ":"
+		  "\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
+		  "[^\t\n\r]*\\)")
+	  org-angle-link-re
+	  (concat "<" types-re ":"
+		  "\\([^" org-non-link-chars " ]"
+		  "[^" org-non-link-chars "]*"
+		  "\\)>")
+	  org-plain-link-re
+	  (concat
+	   "\\<" types-re ":"
+	   (org-re "\\([^ \t\n()<>]+\\(?:([[:word:]0-9_]+)\\|\\([^[:punct:] \t\n]\\|/\\)\\)\\)"))
+	  ;;	 "\\([^]\t\n\r<>() ]+[^]\t\n\r<>,.;() ]\\)")
+	  org-bracket-link-regexp
+	  "\\[\\[\\([^][]+\\)\\]\\(\\[\\([^][]+\\)\\]\\)?\\]"
+	  org-bracket-link-analytic-regexp
+	  (concat
+	   "\\[\\["
+	   "\\(" types-re ":\\)?"
+	   "\\([^]]+\\)"
+	   "\\]"
+	   "\\(\\[" "\\([^]]+\\)" "\\]\\)?"
+	   "\\]")
+	  org-bracket-link-analytic-regexp++
+	  (concat
+	   "\\[\\["
+	   "\\(" (regexp-opt (cons "coderef" org-link-types) t) ":\\)?"
+	   "\\([^]]+\\)"
+	   "\\]"
+	   "\\(\\[" "\\([^]]+\\)" "\\]\\)?"
+	   "\\]")
+	  org-any-link-re
+	  (concat "\\(" org-bracket-link-regexp "\\)\\|\\("
+		  org-angle-link-re "\\)\\|\\("
+		  org-plain-link-re "\\)"))))
 
 (org-make-link-regexps)
 
diff --git a/lisp/ox-html.el b/lisp/ox-html.el
index 8379fb270..e6c3cddff 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-html.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-html.el
@@ -2721,24 +2721,21 @@ INFO is a plist holding contextual information.  See
 	 (desc (org-string-nw-p desc))
 	 (path
 	  (cond
-	   ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-	    (org-link-escape-browser
-	     (org-link-unescape (concat type "://" raw-path))))
-	   ((string= type "mailto")
-	    (org-link-escape-browser
-	     (org-link-unescape (concat type ":" raw-path))))
+	   ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp" "mailto"))
+	    (org-link-escape
+	     (org-link-unescape
+	      (concat type ":" raw-path)) org-link-escape-chars-browser))
 	   ((string= type "file")
 	    ;; Treat links to ".org" files as ".html", if needed.
 	    (setq raw-path
 		  (funcall link-org-files-as-html-maybe raw-path info))
 	    ;; If file path is absolute, prepend it with protocol
-	    ;; component - "file://".
-	    (cond ((file-name-absolute-p raw-path)
-		   (setq raw-path
-			 (concat "file://" (expand-file-name
-					    raw-path))))
-		  ((and home use-abs-url)
-		   (setq raw-path (concat (file-name-as-directory home) raw-path))))
+	    ;; component - "file:".
+	    (cond
+	     ((file-name-absolute-p raw-path)
+	      (setq raw-path (concat "file:" raw-path)))
+	     ((and home use-abs-url)
+	      (setq raw-path (concat (file-name-as-directory home) raw-path))))
 	    ;; Add search option, if any.  A search option can be
 	    ;; relative to a custom-id or a headline title.  Append
 	    ;; a hash sign to any unresolved option, as it might point
diff --git a/lisp/ox-latex.el b/lisp/ox-latex.el
index 08ea285b9..a241a91ce 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-latex.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-latex.el
@@ -1906,12 +1906,10 @@ INFO is a plist holding contextual information.  See
 	 (imagep (org-export-inline-image-p
 		  link org-latex-inline-image-rules))
 	 (path (cond
-		((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-		 (concat type "://" raw-path))
-		((string= type "mailto") (concat type ":" raw-path))
-		((string= type "file")
-		 (if (not (file-name-absolute-p raw-path)) raw-path
-		   (concat "file://" (expand-file-name raw-path))))
+		((member type '("http" "https" "ftp" "mailto"))
+		 (concat type ":" raw-path))
+		((and (string= type "file") (file-name-absolute-p raw-path))
+		 (concat "file:" raw-path))
 		(t raw-path)))
 	 protocol)
     (cond
diff --git a/lisp/ox-man.el b/lisp/ox-man.el
index 6fa238b12..987de4045 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-man.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-man.el
@@ -638,20 +638,15 @@ CONTENTS is nil.  INFO is a plist holding contextual information."
 DESC is the description part of the link, or the empty string.
 INFO is a plist holding contextual information.  See
 `org-export-data'."
-
   (let* ((type (org-element-property :type link))
          (raw-path (org-element-property :path link))
          ;; Ensure DESC really exists, or set it to nil.
          (desc (and (not (string= desc "")) desc))
-
          (path (cond
-                ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-                 (concat type "://" raw-path))
-		((string= type "mailto") (concat type ":" raw-path))
-                ((string= type "file")
-                 (if (file-name-absolute-p raw-path)
-                     (concat "file://" (expand-file-name raw-path))
-                   (concat "file://" raw-path)))
+                ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp" "mailto"))
+                 (concat type ":" raw-path))
+                ((and (string= type "file") (file-name-absolute-p raw-path))
+                 (concat "file:" raw-path))
                 (t raw-path)))
          protocol)
     (cond
diff --git a/lisp/ox-md.el b/lisp/ox-md.el
index 03c6dc659..578f1d08c 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-md.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-md.el
@@ -342,13 +342,13 @@ a communication channel."
 		    (path
 		     (cond
 		      ((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-		       (concat type "://" raw-path))
-		      ((equal type "file")
+		       (concat type ":" raw-path))
+		      ((string= type "file")
 		       (let ((path (funcall link-org-files-as-md raw-path)))
 			 (if (not (file-name-absolute-p path)) path
 			   ;; If file path is absolute, prepend it
-			   ;; with "file://" component.
-			   (concat "file://" (expand-file-name raw-path)))))
+			   ;; with "file:" component.
+			   (concat "file:" path))))
 		      (t raw-path))))
 	       (if (not contents) (format "<%s>" path)
 		 (format "[%s](%s)" contents path)))))))
diff --git a/lisp/ox-odt.el b/lisp/ox-odt.el
index 07848e85e..4d2f25722 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-odt.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-odt.el
@@ -2711,13 +2711,10 @@ INFO is a plist holding contextual information.  See
 	 (imagep (org-export-inline-image-p
 		  link org-odt-inline-image-rules))
 	 (path (cond
-		((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-		 (concat type "://" raw-path))
-		((string= type "mailto") (concat type ":" raw-path))
-		((string= type "file")
-		 (if (file-name-absolute-p raw-path)
-		     (concat "file://" (expand-file-name raw-path))
-		   (concat "file://" raw-path)))
+		((member type '("http" "https" "ftp" "mailto"))
+		 (concat type ":" raw-path))
+		((and (string= type "file") (file-name-absolute-p raw-path))
+		 (concat "file:" raw-path))
 		(t raw-path)))
 	 ;; Convert & to &amp; for correct XML representation
 	 (path (replace-regexp-in-string "&" "&amp;" path))
diff --git a/lisp/ox-texinfo.el b/lisp/ox-texinfo.el
index a1d06b476..9c22153cc 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-texinfo.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-texinfo.el
@@ -1221,11 +1221,9 @@ INFO is a plist holding contextual information.  See
 	 (desc (and (not (string= desc "")) desc))
 	 (path (cond
 		((member type '("http" "https" "ftp"))
-		 (concat type "://" raw-path))
-		((string= type "file")
-		 (if (file-name-absolute-p raw-path)
-		     (concat "file://" (expand-file-name raw-path))
-		   (concat "file://" raw-path)))
+		 (concat type ":" raw-path))
+		((and (string= type "file") (file-name-absolute-p raw-path))
+		 (concat "file:" raw-path))
 		(t raw-path)))
 	 (email (if (string= type "mailto")
 		    (let ((text (replace-regexp-in-string
diff --git a/testing/lisp/test-org-element.el b/testing/lisp/test-org-element.el
index 0f81a795b..1bc2a5363 100644
--- a/testing/lisp/test-org-element.el
+++ b/testing/lisp/test-org-element.el
@@ -1361,10 +1361,12 @@ e^{i\\pi}+1=0
   ;; ... with expansion.
   (should
    (equal
-    "orgmode.org/worg"
+    "//orgmode.org/worg"
     (org-test-with-temp-text "[[Org:worg]]"
       (let ((org-link-abbrev-alist '(("Org" . "http://orgmode.org/"))))
-	(org-element-property :path (org-element-context))))))
+	(org-element-property
+	 :path
+	 (org-element-map (org-element-parse-buffer) 'link 'identity nil t))))))
   ;; ... with translation.
   (should
    (equal