diff --git a/internal/app/app.go b/internal/app/app.go
index a643b0d..31d2d17 100644
--- a/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/app/app.go
@@ -581,6 +581,9 @@ func (m *Model) fileActionCmd(path string, action string) tea.Cmd {
 	case "edit":
 		return editFileCmd(path)
 	case "preview":
+		if m.cfg.Behavior.ViewMode == "system" {
+			return openSystemDefaultCmd(path)
+		}
 		return viewFileCmd(path)
 	default:
 		return editFileCmd(path)
@@ -699,7 +702,11 @@ func (m Model) startView() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	if e == nil || e.IsDir() {
 		return m, nil
 	}
-	return m, viewFileCmd(m.currentFilePath())
+	path := m.currentFilePath()
+	if m.cfg.Behavior.ViewMode == "system" {
+		return m, openSystemDefaultCmd(path)
+	}
+	return m, viewFileCmd(path)
 }
 
 func (m Model) startEdit() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
diff --git a/internal/app/commands.go b/internal/app/commands.go
index a8abd75..7d9e015 100644
--- a/internal/app/commands.go
+++ b/internal/app/commands.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
@@ -78,6 +79,22 @@ func externalCmd(envVar, fallback, path string) tea.Cmd {
 	})
 }
 
+func openSystemDefaultCmd(path string) tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		var c *exec.Cmd
+		switch runtime.GOOS {
+		case "darwin":
+			c = exec.Command("open", path)
+		case "windows":
+			c = exec.Command("explorer", path)
+		default:
+			c = exec.Command("xdg-open", path)
+		}
+		_ = c.Start()
+		return externalDoneMsg{}
+	}
+}
+
 func executeFileCmd(path string, dir string, pause bool) tea.Cmd {
 	if pause {
 		shell := os.Getenv("SHELL")
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index c05c2ee..d0d70cd 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ type BehaviorConfig struct {
 	EnterAction string `toml:"enter_action"`
 	// What Space does on a file: "preview" (default) or "edit"
 	SpaceAction string `toml:"space_action"`
+	// ViewMode controls how F3 opens files: "pager" (default, uses $PAGER/less) or "system" (OS default app)
+	ViewMode string `toml:"view_mode"`
 	// Whether to ask for confirmation before executing a file.
 	ConfirmExecute *bool `toml:"confirm_execute"`
 	// Whether to pause and wait after execution before returning to Midday Commander.
@@ -103,9 +105,10 @@ func Default() Config {
 	return Config{
 		Theme: "",
 		Behavior: BehaviorConfig{
-			EnterAction:       "edit",
-			SpaceAction:       "preview",
-			ConfirmExecute:    boolPtr(true),
+			EnterAction: "edit",
+			SpaceAction: "preview",
+			ViewMode:    "pager",
+      ConfirmExecute:    boolPtr(true),
 			PauseAfterExecute: false,
 			ShowHidden:        boolPtr(true),
 		},
@@ -178,13 +181,16 @@ func Load() Config {
 	if fileCfg.Behavior.SpaceAction != "" {
 		cfg.Behavior.SpaceAction = fileCfg.Behavior.SpaceAction
 	}
-	if fileCfg.Behavior.ConfirmExecute != nil {
-		cfg.Behavior.ConfirmExecute = fileCfg.Behavior.ConfirmExecute
-	}
-	cfg.Behavior.PauseAfterExecute = fileCfg.Behavior.PauseAfterExecute
-	if fileCfg.Behavior.ShowHidden != nil {
-		cfg.Behavior.ShowHidden = fileCfg.Behavior.ShowHidden
-	}
+  if fileCfg.Behavior.ViewMode != "" {
+    cfg.Behavior.ViewMode = fileCfg.Behavior.ViewMode
+  }
+  if fileCfg.Behavior.ConfirmExecute != nil {
+    cfg.Behavior.ConfirmExecute = fileCfg.Behavior.ConfirmExecute
+  }
+  cfg.Behavior.PauseAfterExecute = fileCfg.Behavior.PauseAfterExecute
+  if fileCfg.Behavior.ShowHidden != nil {
+    cfg.Behavior.ShowHidden = fileCfg.Behavior.ShowHidden
+  }
 
 	mergeKeys(&cfg.Keys, &fileCfg.Keys)
 	normalizeAllKeys(&cfg.Keys)