diff --git a/docs/reference/default-theme-config.md b/docs/reference/default-theme-config.md
index adf3db95..da8b0f96 100644
--- a/docs/reference/default-theme-config.md
+++ b/docs/reference/default-theme-config.md
@@ -398,3 +398,10 @@ Can be used to customize the label of the return to top button. This label is on
 - Default: `Change language`
 
 Can be used to customize the aria-label of the language toggle button in navbar. This is only used if you're using [i18n](../guide/i18n).
+
+## externalLinkIcon
+
+- Type: `boolean`
+- Default: `false`
+
+Whether to show an external link icon next to external links in markdown.
diff --git a/src/client/theme-default/components/VPDoc.vue b/src/client/theme-default/components/VPDoc.vue
index bbb833a9..7a413718 100644
--- a/src/client/theme-default/components/VPDoc.vue
+++ b/src/client/theme-default/components/VPDoc.vue
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@
 import { useRoute } from 'vitepress'
 import { useSidebar } from 'vitepress/theme'
 import { computed } from 'vue'
+import { useData } from '../composables/data'
 import VPDocAside from './VPDocAside.vue'
 import VPDocFooter from './VPDocFooter.vue'
 import VPDocOutlineDropdown from './VPDocOutlineDropdown.vue'
 
+const { theme } = useData()
+
 const route = useRoute()
 const { hasSidebar, hasAside, leftAside } = useSidebar()
 
@@ -42,7 +45,13 @@ const pageName = computed(() =>
           <slot name="doc-before" />
           <VPDocOutlineDropdown />
           <main class="main">
-            <Content class="vp-doc" :class="pageName" />
+            <Content
+              class="vp-doc"
+              :class="[
+                pageName,
+                theme.externalLinkIcon && 'external-link-icon-enabled'
+              ]"
+            />
           </main>
           <VPDocFooter>
             <template #doc-footer-before><slot name="doc-footer-before" /></template>
@@ -193,4 +202,8 @@ const pageName = computed(() =>
 .VPDoc.has-aside .content-container {
   max-width: 688px;
 }
+
+.external-link-icon-enabled :is(.vp-doc a[href*='://'], .vp-doc a[target='_blank'])::after {
+  content: '';
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/src/client/theme-default/components/VPLink.vue b/src/client/theme-default/components/VPLink.vue
index 3166858c..3e9f8e59 100644
--- a/src/client/theme-default/components/VPLink.vue
+++ b/src/client/theme-default/components/VPLink.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts" setup>
 import { computed } from 'vue'
 import { normalizeLink } from '../support/utils'
-import VPIconExternalLink from './icons/VPIconExternalLink.vue'
 import { EXTERNAL_URL_RE } from '../../shared'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
@@ -20,25 +19,11 @@ const isExternal = computed(() => props.href && EXTERNAL_URL_RE.test(props.href)
   <component
     :is="tag"
     class="VPLink"
-    :class="{ link: href }"
+    :class="{ link: href, 'vp-external-link-icon': isExternal && !noIcon }"
     :href="href ? normalizeLink(href) : undefined"
     :target="target || (isExternal ? '_blank' : undefined)"
     :rel="rel || (isExternal ? 'noreferrer' : undefined)"
   >
     <slot />
-    <VPIconExternalLink v-if="isExternal && !noIcon" class="icon" />
   </component>
 </template>
-
-<style scoped>
-.icon {
-  display: inline-block;
-  margin-top: -1px;
-  margin-left: 4px;
-  width: 11px;
-  height: 11px;
-  fill: var(--vp-c-text-3);
-  transition: fill 0.25s;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-}
-</style>
diff --git a/src/client/theme-default/components/icons/VPIconExternalLink.vue b/src/client/theme-default/components/icons/VPIconExternalLink.vue
deleted file mode 100644
index 72459909..00000000
--- a/src/client/theme-default/components/icons/VPIconExternalLink.vue
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-<template>
-  <svg
-    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-    aria-hidden="true"
-    focusable="false"
-    height="24px"
-    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-    width="24px"
-  >
-    <path d="M0 0h24v24H0V0z" fill="none" />
-    <path d="M9 5v2h6.59L4 18.59 5.41 20 17 8.41V15h2V5H9z" />
-  </svg>
-</template>
diff --git a/src/client/theme-default/styles/components/vp-doc.css b/src/client/theme-default/styles/components/vp-doc.css
index bf94bdd5..67583b7f 100644
--- a/src/client/theme-default/styles/components/vp-doc.css
+++ b/src/client/theme-default/styles/components/vp-doc.css
@@ -522,3 +522,24 @@
   margin: 0 !important;
   max-width: calc((100% - 24px) / 2) !important;
 }
+
+:is(
+  .vp-external-link-icon,
+  .vp-doc a[href*='://'],
+  .vp-doc a[target='_blank']
+)::after {
+  display: inline-block;
+  margin-top: -1px;
+  margin-left: 4px;
+  width: 11px;
+  height: 11px;
+  background: currentColor;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  --icon: url("data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' %3E%3Cpath d='M0 0h24v24H0V0z' fill='none' /%3E%3Cpath d='M9 5v2h6.59L4 18.59 5.41 20 17 8.41V15h2V5H9z' /%3E%3C/svg%3E");
+  -webkit-mask-image: var(--icon);
+  mask-image: var(--icon);
+}
+
+.vp-external-link-icon::after {
+  content: '';
+}
diff --git a/types/default-theme.d.ts b/types/default-theme.d.ts
index e12c395d..648a676d 100644
--- a/types/default-theme.d.ts
+++ b/types/default-theme.d.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,13 @@ export namespace DefaultTheme {
      * @default true
      */
     i18nRouting?: boolean
+
+    /**
+     * Show external link icon in Markdown links.
+     *
+     * @default false
+     */
+    externalLinkIcon?: boolean
   }
 
   // nav -----------------------------------------------------------------------