diff --git a/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py b/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py
index 73a45dbd7..6fdbe37a5 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py
@@ -14,10 +14,7 @@ from aqt.qt import *
 from aqt.utils import askUser, getFile, showInfo, showText, showWarning, tooltip, tr
 
 
-def import_file(mw: aqt.main.AnkiQt) -> None:
-    if not (path := get_file_path(mw)):
-        return
-
+def import_file(mw: aqt.main.AnkiQt, path: str) -> None:
     filename = os.path.basename(path).lower()
     if filename.endswith(".anki"):
         showInfo(tr.importing_anki_files_are_from_a_very())
@@ -31,6 +28,11 @@ def import_file(mw: aqt.main.AnkiQt) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
 
+def prompt_for_file_then_import(mw: aqt.main.AnkiQt) -> None:
+    if path := get_file_path(mw):
+        import_file(mw, path)
+
+
 def get_file_path(mw: aqt.main.AnkiQt) -> str | None:
     if file := getFile(
         mw,
diff --git a/qt/aqt/main.py b/qt/aqt/main.py
index 3d65e7b3e..b611e25f5 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/main.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/main.py
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ from aqt.dbcheck import check_db
 from aqt.emptycards import show_empty_cards
 from aqt.flags import FlagManager
 from aqt.import_export.exporting import ExportDialog
-from aqt.import_export.importing import import_collection_package_op, import_file
+from aqt.import_export.importing import (
+    import_collection_package_op,
+    import_file,
+    prompt_for_file_then_import,
+)
 from aqt.legacy import install_pylib_legacy
 from aqt.mediacheck import check_media_db
 from aqt.mediasync import MediaSyncer
@@ -129,7 +133,11 @@ class MainWebView(AnkiWebView):
         paths = [url.toLocalFile() for url in mime.urls()]
         deck_paths = filter(lambda p: not p.endswith(".colpkg"), paths)
         for path in deck_paths:
-            aqt.importing.importFile(self.mw, path)
+            if self.mw.pm.new_import_export():
+                import_file(self.mw, path)
+            else:
+                aqt.importing.importFile(self.mw, path)
+
             # importing continues after the above call returns, so it is not
             # currently safe for us to import more than one file at once
             return
@@ -1170,20 +1178,27 @@ title="{}" {}>{}</button>""".format(
     ##########################################################################
 
     def handleImport(self, path: str) -> None:
+        "Importing triggered via file double-click, or dragging file onto Anki icon."
         import aqt.importing
 
         if not os.path.exists(path):
+            # there were instances in the distant past where the received filename was not
+            # valid (encoding issues?), so this was added to direct users to try
+            # file>import instead.
             showInfo(tr.qt_misc_please_use_fileimport_to_import_this())
             return None
 
-        aqt.importing.importFile(self, path)
-        return None
+        if self.pm.new_import_export():
+            import_file(self, path)
+        else:
+            aqt.importing.importFile(self, path)
 
     def onImport(self) -> None:
+        "Importing triggered via File>Import."
         import aqt.importing
 
         if self.pm.new_import_export():
-            import_file(self)
+            prompt_for_file_then_import(self)
         else:
             aqt.importing.onImport(self)