diff --git a/scrapy/utils/url.py b/scrapy/utils/url.py
index 60e2b50eb..1e431d3bf 100644
--- a/scrapy/utils/url.py
+++ b/scrapy/utils/url.py
@@ -83,26 +83,54 @@ def add_http_if_no_scheme(url):
     return url
 
 
+def _is_posix_path(string):
+    return bool(
+        re.match(
+            r'''
+            ^                   # start with...
+            (
+                \.              # ...a single dot,
+                (
+                    \. | [^/\.]+  # optionally followed by
+                )?                # either a second dot or some characters
+                |
+                ~   # $HOME
+            )?      # optional match of ".", ".." or ".blabla"
+            /       # at least one "/" for a file path,
+            .       # and something after the "/"
+            ''',
+            string,
+            flags=re.VERBOSE,
+        )
+    )
+
+
+def _is_windows_path(string):
+    return bool(
+        re.match(
+            r'''
+            ^
+            (
+                [a-z]:\\
+                | \\\\
+            )
+            ''',
+            string,
+            flags=re.IGNORECASE | re.VERBOSE,
+        )
+    )
+
+
+def _is_path(string):
+    return _is_posix_path(string) or _is_windows_path(string)
+
+
 def guess_scheme(url):
     """Add an URL scheme if missing: file:// for filepath-like input or
     http:// otherwise."""
-    # POSIX path
-    if re.match(r'''^                   # start with...
-                    (
-                        \.              # ...a single dot,
-                        (
-                            \. | [^/\.]+  # optionally followed by
-                        )?                # either a second dot or some characters
-                    )?      # optional match of ".", ".." or ".blabla"
-                    /       # at least one "/" for a file path,
-                    .       # and something after the "/"
-                    ''', url, flags=re.VERBOSE):
+    if _is_path(url):
         return any_to_uri(url)
-    # Windows drive-letter path
-    elif re.match(r'''^[a-z]:\\''', url, flags=re.IGNORECASE):
-        return any_to_uri(url)
-    else:
-        return add_http_if_no_scheme(url)
+    return add_http_if_no_scheme(url)
 
 
 def strip_url(url, strip_credentials=True, strip_default_port=True, origin_only=False, strip_fragment=True):
diff --git a/tests/test_utils_url.py b/tests/test_utils_url.py
index 09a6d6c70..6a5254d54 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils_url.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils_url.py
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 import unittest
 
 from scrapy.spiders import Spider
-from scrapy.utils.url import (url_is_from_any_domain, url_is_from_spider,
-                              add_http_if_no_scheme, guess_scheme, strip_url)
+from scrapy.utils.url import (
+    add_http_if_no_scheme,
+    guess_scheme,
+    _is_path,
+    strip_url,
+    url_is_from_any_domain,
+    url_is_from_spider,
+)
 
 
 __doctests__ = ['scrapy.utils.url']
@@ -434,5 +440,28 @@ class StripUrl(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(strip_url(i, origin_only=True), o)
 
 
+class IsPathTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_path(self):
+        for input_value, output_value in (
+            # https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_(computing)#Representations_of_paths_by_operating_system_and_shell
+            # Unix-like OS, Microsoft Windows / cmd.exe
+            ("/home/user/docs/Letter.txt", True),
+            ("./inthisdir", True),
+            ("../../greatgrandparent", True),
+            ("~/.rcinfo", True),
+            (r"C:\user\docs\Letter.txt", True),
+            ("/user/docs/Letter.txt", True),
+            (r"C:\Letter.txt", True),
+            (r"\\Server01\user\docs\Letter.txt", True),
+            (r"\\?\UNC\Server01\user\docs\Letter.txt", True),
+            (r"\\?\C:\user\docs\Letter.txt", True),
+            (r"C:\user\docs\somefile.ext:alternate_stream_name", True),
+
+            (r"https://example.com", False),
+        ):
+            self.assertEqual(_is_path(input_value), output_value, input_value)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()