diff --git a/common/wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp b/common/wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp
index 3f9eb12f01..1274700f87 100644
--- a/common/wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp
+++ b/common/wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp
@@ -68,9 +68,17 @@ static wxString formatWildcardExt( const wxString& aWildcard )
 #endif
 }
 
-
 wxString AddFileExtListToFilter( const std::vector<std::string>& aExts )
 {
+    if( aExts.size() == 0 )
+    {
+        // The "all files" wildcard is different on different systems
+        wxString filter;
+        filter << " (" << wxFileSelectorDefaultWildcardStr << ")|"
+               << wxFileSelectorDefaultWildcardStr;
+        return filter;
+    }
+
     wxString files_filter = " (";
 
     // Add extensions to the info message:
@@ -136,7 +144,10 @@ const std::string PngFileExtension( "png" );
 const std::string JpegFileExtension( "jpg" );
 
 
-const wxString AllFilesWildcard( _( "All files (*)|*" ) );
+wxString AllFilesWildcard()
+{
+    return _( "All files" ) + AddFileExtListToFilter( {} );
+}
 
 
 wxString SchematicSymbolFileWildcard()
diff --git a/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_netlist.cpp b/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_netlist.cpp
index ac60b8bdea..416543a21d 100644
--- a/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_netlist.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_netlist.cpp
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ bool NETLIST_DIALOG::FilenamePrms( NETLIST_TYPE_ID aNetTypeId,
         break;
 
     default:    // custom, NET_TYPE_CUSTOM1 and greater
-        fileWildcard = AllFilesWildcard;
+        fileWildcard = AllFilesWildcard();
         ret = false;
     }
 
diff --git a/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_spice_model.cpp b/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_spice_model.cpp
index d9d1f3f080..5a6cd6b20f 100644
--- a/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_spice_model.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/dialogs/dialog_spice_model.cpp
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ void DIALOG_SPICE_MODEL::onSelectLibrary( wxCommandEvent& event )
     if( searchPath.IsEmpty() )
         searchPath = Prj().GetProjectPath();
 
-    wxString wildcards = SpiceLibraryFileWildcard() + "|" + AllFilesWildcard;
+    wxString     wildcards = SpiceLibraryFileWildcard() + "|" + AllFilesWildcard();
     wxFileDialog openDlg( this, _( "Select library" ), searchPath, "", wildcards,
             wxFD_OPEN | wxFD_FILE_MUST_EXIST );
 
diff --git a/gerbview/files.cpp b/gerbview/files.cpp
index e83c334061..752afd7004 100644
--- a/gerbview/files.cpp
+++ b/gerbview/files.cpp
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ bool GERBVIEW_FRAME::LoadGerberFiles( const wxString& aFullFileName )
         filetypes += _( "Bottom Pad Master (*.GPB)|*.GPB;*.gpb|" );
 
         // All filetypes
-        filetypes += AllFilesWildcard;
+        filetypes += AllFilesWildcard();
 
         // Use the current working directory if the file name path does not exist.
         if( filename.DirExists() )
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ bool GERBVIEW_FRAME::LoadExcellonFiles( const wxString& aFullFileName )
         filetypes << wxT( "|" );
 
         /* All filetypes */
-        filetypes += wxGetTranslation( AllFilesWildcard );
+        filetypes += AllFilesWildcard();
 
         /* Use the current working directory if the file name path does not exist. */
         if( filename.DirExists() )
diff --git a/include/wildcards_and_files_ext.h b/include/wildcards_and_files_ext.h
index f48588a777..3454084a0f 100644
--- a/include/wildcards_and_files_ext.h
+++ b/include/wildcards_and_files_ext.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
  * are all match if you pass "txt" into the function).
  *
  * @param aExts is the list of exts to add to the filter. Do not include the
- * leading dot.
+ * leading dot. Empty means "allow all files".
  *
  * @return the appropriate file dialog wildcard filter list.
  */
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ extern const std::string JpegFileExtension;
  * @{
  */
 
-extern const wxString AllFilesWildcard;
+extern wxString AllFilesWildcard();
 
 extern wxString ComponentFileWildcard();
 extern wxString PageLayoutDescrFileWildcard();
diff --git a/kicad/mainframe.cpp b/kicad/mainframe.cpp
index 709d52b479..4d4ec27f49 100644
--- a/kicad/mainframe.cpp
+++ b/kicad/mainframe.cpp
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ void KICAD_MANAGER_FRAME::OnOpenTextEditor( wxCommandEvent& event )
 void KICAD_MANAGER_FRAME::OnOpenFileInTextEditor( wxCommandEvent& event )
 {
     // show all files in file dialog (in Kicad all files are editable texts):
-    wxString wildcard = AllFilesWildcard;
+    wxString wildcard = AllFilesWildcard();
 
     wxString default_dir = Prj().GetProjectPath();
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/footprint_libraries_utils.cpp b/pcbnew/footprint_libraries_utils.cpp
index 2942666a94..e338f4df28 100644
--- a/pcbnew/footprint_libraries_utils.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/footprint_libraries_utils.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static wxFileName getFootprintFilenameFromUser( wxWindow* aParent, const wxStrin
     wildCard << KiCadFootprintLibFileWildcard() << wxChar( '|' )
              << ModLegacyExportFileWildcard() << wxChar( '|' )
              << GedaPcbFootprintLibFileWildcard() << wxChar( '|' )
-             << AllFilesWildcard;
+             << AllFilesWildcard();
 
     wxFileDialog dlg( aParent, FMT_IMPORT_MODULE, aLastPath, wxEmptyString, wildCard,
             wxFD_OPEN | wxFD_FILE_MUST_EXIST );
diff --git a/qa/common/test_wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp b/qa/common/test_wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp
index 78e88c59e3..6efdd53361 100644
--- a/qa/common/test_wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp
+++ b/qa/common/test_wildcards_and_files_ext.cpp
@@ -86,4 +86,22 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( BasicFilter )
     }
 }
 
+static constexpr bool should_use_windows_filters()
+{
+#ifdef __WXMSW__
+    return true;
+#else
+    return false;
+#endif
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( AllFilesFilter )
+{
+    const auto resp = AddFileExtListToFilter( {} );
+
+    const std::string exp_filter = should_use_windows_filters() ? " (*.*)|*.*" : " (*)|*";
+
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( resp, exp_filter );
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()