diff --git a/archivebox/core/templatetags/core_tags.py b/archivebox/core/templatetags/core_tags.py
index 362dc6cd..7bc5b4d2 100644
--- a/archivebox/core/templatetags/core_tags.py
+++ b/archivebox/core/templatetags/core_tags.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def _snapshot_url_for_context(context, snapshot, path: str = "") -> str:
 
 def _build_snapshot_files_url(snapshot_id: str, request=None, config=None, base_url: str | None = None) -> str:
     return (
-        f"{base_url.rstrip('/')}/?files=1"
+        f"{base_url.rstrip('/')}/index.jsonl"
         if base_url
         else build_snapshot_url(str(snapshot_id), "/?files=1", request=request, config=config)
     )
diff --git a/archivebox/templates/core/snapshot.html b/archivebox/templates/core/snapshot.html
index d48344a2..0b339970 100644
--- a/archivebox/templates/core/snapshot.html
+++ b/archivebox/templates/core/snapshot.html
@@ -1487,7 +1487,7 @@
                     sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation allow-scripts allow-forms"
                     class="full-page-iframe"
                     src="about:blank"
-                    data-default-src="{% if best_result.path %}{% snapshot_preview_url snapshot best_result.path %}{% else %}{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1{% endif %}"
+                    data-default-src="{% if best_result.path %}{% snapshot_preview_url snapshot best_result.path %}{% elif STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1{% endif %}"
                     name="preview"
                     loading="eager"
                     fetchpriority="high"></iframe>
@@ -1539,7 +1539,7 @@
                 const frame = document.getElementById('main-frame')
                 if (!frame) return
                 const snapshotBaseUrlEarly = "{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}"
-                const snapshotFilesUrlEarly = `${snapshotBaseUrlEarly}/?files=1`
+                const snapshotFilesUrlEarly = "{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1{% endif %}"
                 const defaultSrc = frame.dataset.defaultSrc || snapshotFilesUrlEarly
                 const rawHash = window.location.hash ? window.location.hash.slice(1) : ''
 
@@ -1783,13 +1783,13 @@
                     <div class="thumb-card">
                             <div class="thumb-body">
                                 <div class="thumb-actions">
-                                    <a href="{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1" data-no-preview="1" title="Browse all snapshot files" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁</a>
+                                    <a href="{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1{% endif %}" data-no-preview="1" title="{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}Open snapshot manifest{% else %}Browse all snapshot files{% endif %}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁</a>
                                 </div>
                                 <h4>📦 Other files</h4>
                                 <div class="loose-items">
                                     {% for item in loose_items %}
                                         {% if item.is_dir %}
-                                            <a href="{% snapshot_url snapshot item.path %}/?files=1" data-no-preview="1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁 {{item.name}}</a>
+                                            <a href="{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_url snapshot item.path %}/?files=1{% endif %}" data-no-preview="1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁 {{item.name}}</a>
                                         {% else %}
                                             <a href="{% snapshot_url snapshot item.path %}" data-no-preview="1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📄 {{item.name}}</a>
                                         {% endif %}
@@ -1802,13 +1802,13 @@
                     <div class="thumb-card">
                             <div class="thumb-body">
                                 <div class="thumb-actions">
-                                    <a href="{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1" data-no-preview="1" title="Browse all snapshot files" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁</a>
+                                    <a href="{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1{% endif %}" data-no-preview="1" title="{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}Open snapshot manifest{% else %}Browse all snapshot files{% endif %}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁</a>
                                 </div>
                                 <h4>⚠️ Failed</h4>
                                 <div class="loose-items failed-items">
                                     {% for item in failed_items %}
                                         {% if item.is_dir %}
-                                            <a href="{% snapshot_url snapshot item.path %}/?files=1" data-no-preview="1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁 {{item.name}}</a>
+                                            <a href="{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_url snapshot item.path %}/?files=1{% endif %}" data-no-preview="1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📁 {{item.name}}</a>
                                         {% else %}
                                             <a href="{% snapshot_url snapshot item.path %}" data-no-preview="1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">📄 {{item.name}}</a>
                                         {% endif %}
@@ -1825,7 +1825,7 @@
 
         <script>
             const snapshotBaseUrl = "{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}";
-            const snapshotFilesUrl = `${snapshotBaseUrl}/?files=1`;
+            const snapshotFilesUrl = "{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% snapshot_url snapshot 'index.jsonl' %}{% else %}{% snapshot_base_url snapshot %}/?files=1{% endif %}";
 
             function tryCenterImageFrame(frame) {
                 try {
@@ -2005,7 +2005,7 @@
                     const basePath = (base.pathname || '').replace(/\/+$/, '')
                     const targetPath = (target.pathname || '').replace(/\/+$/, '')
                     return (
-                        target.search !== '?files=1'
+                        target.search !== "{% if STATIC_EXPORT %}{% else %}?files=1{% endif %}"
                         && (
                             targetPath === basePath
                             || targetPath === `${basePath}/index.html`
diff --git a/archivebox/tests/test_urls.py b/archivebox/tests/test_urls.py
index bd083a13..52cf7d29 100644
--- a/archivebox/tests/test_urls.py
+++ b/archivebox/tests/test_urls.py
@@ -1368,6 +1368,11 @@ class TestUrlRouting:
             static_html = Path(snapshot.output_dir, "index.html").read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
             assert f"http://{snapshot_host}/" not in static_html
             assert f"http://{web_host}/static/archive.png" not in static_html
+            # Static pages are opened directly from disk or a plain HTTP server,
+            # where Django's live-only ?files=1 directory browser does not exist.
+            # Even hidden controls and JavaScript fallbacks must therefore use
+            # portable files, or an offline click can silently navigate nowhere.
+            assert "?files=1" not in static_html
             assert "data:image/svg+xml" in static_html
             assert 'href="./' in static_html
             assert "?preview=1" in static_html