diff --git a/src/chat_gui/contact_chat_log.cpp b/src/chat_gui/contact_chat_log.cpp
index d0c03b8..ca00259 100644
--- a/src/chat_gui/contact_chat_log.cpp
+++ b/src/chat_gui/contact_chat_log.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ namespace Context {
 
 } // Context
 
-static constexpr float lerp(float a, float b, float t) {
+static constexpr float lerp_f(float a, float b, float t) {
 	return a + t * (b - a);
 }
 
@@ -275,10 +275,10 @@ float ContactChatLog::render(bool window_focused, float time_delta, const std::v
 					const float fade_frac = msg_reg->get<Components::UnreadFade>(e).fade;
 
 					ImVec4 res_color{
-						lerp(orig_color.x, hi_color.x, fade_frac),
-						lerp(orig_color.y, hi_color.y, fade_frac),
-						lerp(orig_color.z, hi_color.z, fade_frac),
-						lerp(orig_color.w, hi_color.w, fade_frac),
+						lerp_f(orig_color.x, hi_color.x, fade_frac),
+						lerp_f(orig_color.y, hi_color.y, fade_frac),
+						lerp_f(orig_color.z, hi_color.z, fade_frac),
+						lerp_f(orig_color.w, hi_color.w, fade_frac),
 					};
 
 					ImGui::TableSetBgColor(ImGuiTableBgTarget_RowBg1, ImGui::GetColorU32(res_color));
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ bool ContactChatLog::renderMessageBodyFile(Message3Registry& reg, const Message3
 				[this, o](const auto& path) {
 					if (static_cast<bool>(o)) { // still valid
 						// TODO: trim file?
-						o.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::File::ActionTransferAccept>(path.generic_u8string());
+						o.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::File::ActionTransferAccept>(path.generic_string());
 						//_rmm.throwEventUpdate(reg, e);
 						// TODO: block recursion
 						_os.throwEventUpdate(o);
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@ bool ContactChatLog::renderMessageBodyFile(Message3Registry& reg, const Message3
 						_cb.setClipboardData({"text/uri-list", "text/x-moz-url"}, std::make_shared<std::vector<uint8_t>>(url.begin(), url.end()));
 					}
 					if (ImGui::MenuItem("copy filepath")) {
-						const auto file_path = std::filesystem::canonical(local_info.file_list.at(i).file_path).u8string(); //TODO: use generic over native?
+						const auto file_path = std::filesystem::canonical(local_info.file_list.at(i).file_path).string(); //TODO: use generic over native?
 						ImGui::SetClipboardText(file_path.c_str());
 					}
 					ImGui::EndPopup();
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ bool ContactChatLog::renderMessageBodyFile(Message3Registry& reg, const Message3
 						// TODO: try object interface first instead, then fall back to send with SingleInfoLocal
 						//_rmm.sendFileObj(fc, o);
 						std::filesystem::path path = o.get<ObjComp::F::SingleInfoLocal>().file_path;
-						_rmm.sendFilePath(fc, path.filename().generic_u8string(), path.generic_u8string());
+						_rmm.sendFilePath(fc, path.filename().generic_string(), path.generic_string());
 					}
 				}
 				ImGui::EndMenu();
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@ bool ContactChatLog::renderMessageBodyFile(Message3Registry& reg, const Message3
 				_cb.setClipboardData({"text/uri-list", "text/x-moz-url"}, std::make_shared<std::vector<uint8_t>>(url.begin(), url.end()));
 			}
 			if (ImGui::MenuItem("copy filepath")) {
-				const auto file_path = std::filesystem::canonical(local_info.file_path).u8string(); //TODO: use generic over native?
+				const auto file_path = std::filesystem::canonical(local_info.file_path).string(); //TODO: use generic over native?
 				ImGui::SetClipboardText(file_path.c_str());
 			}
 			ImGui::EndPopup();
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/contact_window.cpp b/src/chat_gui/contact_window.cpp
index 353c992..33d02f8 100644
--- a/src/chat_gui/contact_window.cpp
+++ b/src/chat_gui/contact_window.cpp
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ float ContactWindow::render(
 				_fss.requestFile(
 					[](const auto& path) -> bool { return std::filesystem::is_regular_file(path); },
 					[this](const auto& path){
-						_rmm.sendFilePath(c, path.filename().generic_u8string(), path.generic_u8string());
+						_rmm.sendFilePath(c, path.filename().generic_string(), path.generic_string());
 					},
 					[](){}
 				);
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ void ContactWindow::pasteFile(const char* mime_type) {
 				std::ofstream(tmp_file_path, std::ios_base::out | std::ios_base::binary)
 					.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(img_data.data()), img_data.size());
 
-				_rmm.sendFilePath(c, tmp_file_name.str(), tmp_file_path.generic_u8string());
+				_rmm.sendFilePath(c, tmp_file_name.str(), tmp_file_path.generic_string());
 			},
 			[](){}
 		);
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ void ContactWindow::sendFilePath(std::string_view file_path) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	_rmm.sendFilePath(c, path.filename().generic_u8string(), path.generic_u8string());
+	_rmm.sendFilePath(c, path.filename().generic_string(), path.generic_string());
 }
 
 void ContactWindow::sendFileList(const std::vector<std::string_view>& list) {
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ void ContactWindow::sendFileList(const std::vector<std::string_view>& list) {
 					std::ofstream(tmp_file_path, std::ios_base::out | std::ios_base::binary)
 						.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(img_data.data()), img_data.size());
 
-					_rmm.sendFilePath(c, tmp_file_name.str(), tmp_file_path.generic_u8string());
+					_rmm.sendFilePath(c, tmp_file_name.str(), tmp_file_path.generic_string());
 				},
 				[](){}
 			)) {
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/file_selector.cpp b/src/chat_gui/file_selector.cpp
index c171cf7..3c55c02 100644
--- a/src/chat_gui/file_selector.cpp
+++ b/src/chat_gui/file_selector.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void FileSelector::render(void) {
 		std::filesystem::path current_path = _current_file_path;
 		current_path.remove_filename();
 
-		ImGui::Text("path: %s", _current_file_path.generic_u8string().c_str());
+		ImGui::Text("path: %s", _current_file_path.generic_string().c_str());
 
 		// begin table with selectables
 		constexpr ImGuiTableFlags table_flags =
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ void FileSelector::render(void) {
 
 						if (ImGui::TableNextColumn()) {
 							try {
-								ImGui::TextUnformatted((dir_entry.path().filename().generic_u8string() + "/").c_str());
+								ImGui::TextUnformatted((dir_entry.path().filename().generic_string() + "/").c_str());
 							} catch (...) {}
 						}
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ void FileSelector::render(void) {
 
 						if (ImGui::TableNextColumn()) {
 							try {
-								ImGui::TextUnformatted(file_entry.path().filename().generic_u8string().c_str());
+								ImGui::TextUnformatted(file_entry.path().filename().generic_string().c_str());
 							} catch(...) {}
 						}
 
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/send_image_popup.cpp b/src/chat_gui/send_image_popup.cpp
index f367794..edaeee7 100644
--- a/src/chat_gui/send_image_popup.cpp
+++ b/src/chat_gui/send_image_popup.cpp
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ bool SendImagePopup::sendFilePath( // file2 instead?
 	}
 
 	if (path_o.has_extension()) {
-		original_file_ext = path_o.extension().u8string();
+		original_file_ext = path_o.extension().string();
 	}
 
 	if (!load()) {
diff --git a/src/sdl_clipboard_utils.cpp b/src/sdl_clipboard_utils.cpp
index 61ef9f0..d68b6cc 100644
--- a/src/sdl_clipboard_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/sdl_clipboard_utils.cpp
@@ -97,20 +97,20 @@ std::string file_path_to_file_url(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
 	std::string url {"file://"};
 	// special windows detection <.<
 	// we detect a drive letter here
-	if (can_path.has_root_name() && can_path.root_name().generic_u8string().back() == ':') {
-		const std::string root_name = can_path.root_name().generic_u8string();
+	if (can_path.has_root_name() && can_path.root_name().generic_string().back() == ':') {
+		const std::string root_name = can_path.root_name().generic_string();
 		// drive letters have a colon, which needs skipping the url escaping
 		url += "/";
 		url += root_name;
 
 		//url += "/";
 		// bugged, does not work (but it should, open msvc stl issue?)
-		//url += file_path_url_escape(can_path.lexically_proximate(can_path.root_name()).generic_u8string());
+		//url += file_path_url_escape(can_path.lexically_proximate(can_path.root_name()).generic_string());
 
 		// remove drive letter
-		url += file_path_url_escape(can_path.generic_u8string().substr(root_name.size()));
+		url += file_path_url_escape(can_path.generic_string().substr(root_name.size()));
 	} else {
-		url += file_path_url_escape(can_path.generic_u8string());
+		url += file_path_url_escape(can_path.generic_string());
 	}
 
 	return url;
diff --git a/src/start_screen.cpp b/src/start_screen.cpp
index bd17c83..9b8e3b3 100644
--- a/src/start_screen.cpp
+++ b/src/start_screen.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ StartScreen::StartScreen(const std::vector<std::string_view>& args, SDL_Renderer
 		if (real_tox_profile_path.is_relative()) {
 			real_tox_profile_path = config_path_base / real_tox_profile_path;
 		}
-		_tox_profile_path = real_tox_profile_path.u8string();
+		_tox_profile_path = real_tox_profile_path.string();
 	}
 
 	float display_scale = SDL_GetWindowDisplayScale(SDL_GetRenderWindow(renderer));
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ StartScreen::StartScreen(const std::vector<std::string_view>& args, SDL_Renderer
 				real_plugin_path = config_path_base / real_plugin_path;
 			}
 
-			_queued_plugin_paths.push_back(real_plugin_path.u8string());
+			_queued_plugin_paths.push_back(real_plugin_path.string());
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/tox_avatar_manager.cpp b/src/tox_avatar_manager.cpp
index 250dc56..78d45f6 100644
--- a/src/tox_avatar_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/tox_avatar_manager.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void ToxAvatarManager::iterate(void) {
 std::string ToxAvatarManager::getAvatarPath(const ToxKey& key) const {
 	const std::string_view avatar_save_path {_conf.get_string("ToxAvatarManager", "save_path").value()};
 	const auto file_path = std::filesystem::path(avatar_save_path) / getAvatarFileName(key);
-	return file_path.generic_u8string();
+	return file_path.generic_string();
 }
 
 std::string ToxAvatarManager::getAvatarFileName(const ToxKey& key) const {
diff --git a/src/tox_client.cpp b/src/tox_client.cpp
index d62e62b..1f6bbf8 100644
--- a/src/tox_client.cpp
+++ b/src/tox_client.cpp
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ void ToxClient::saveToxProfile(void) {
 	}
 
 	std::filesystem::path tmp_path = _tox_profile_path + ".tmp";
-	tmp_path.replace_filename("." + tmp_path.filename().generic_u8string());
+	tmp_path.replace_filename("." + tmp_path.filename().generic_string());
 
 	try {
 		std::ofstream ofile{tmp_path, std::ios::binary};
diff --git a/external/solanaceae_object_store/src/solanaceae/object_store/backends/filesystem_storage_atomic.cpp
index 05cad6a..37f411c 100644
--- a/external/solanaceae_object_store/src/solanaceae/object_store/backends/filesystem_storage_atomic.cpp
+++ b/external/solanaceae_object_store/src/solanaceae/object_store/backends/filesystem_storage_atomic.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ ObjectHandle FilesystemStorageAtomic::newObject(ByteSpan id, bool throw_construc
 	oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::BackendMeta>(this);
 	oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::BackendAtomic>(this);
 	oh.emplace<ObjComp::ID>(std::vector<uint8_t>{id});
-	oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>(object_file_path.generic_u8string());
+	oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>(object_file_path.generic_string());
 	oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::MetaFileType>(_mft_new);
 
 	// meta needs to be synced to file
@@ -137,11 +137,11 @@ bool FilesystemStorageAtomic::write(Object o, std::function<write_to_storage_fet
 	}
 
 	std::filesystem::path meta_tmp_path = oh.get<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>().path + ".meta" + metaFileTypeSuffix(meta_type) + ".tmp";
-	meta_tmp_path.replace_filename("." + meta_tmp_path.filename().generic_u8string());
+	meta_tmp_path.replace_filename("." + meta_tmp_path.filename().generic_string());
 	// TODO: make meta comp work with mem compressor
-	//auto meta_file_stack = buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view{meta_tmp_path.generic_u8string()}, meta_enc, meta_comp);
+	//auto meta_file_stack = buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view{meta_tmp_path.generic_string()}, meta_enc, meta_comp);
 	std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> meta_file_stack;
-	meta_file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2WFile>(std::string_view{meta_tmp_path.generic_u8string()}));
+	meta_file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2WFile>(std::string_view{meta_tmp_path.generic_string()}));
 
 	if (meta_file_stack.empty()) {
 		std::cerr << "FS error: failed to create temporary meta file stack\n";
@@ -159,8 +159,8 @@ bool FilesystemStorageAtomic::write(Object o, std::function<write_to_storage_fet
 	}
 
 	std::filesystem::path data_tmp_path = oh.get<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>().path + ".tmp";
-	data_tmp_path.replace_filename("." + data_tmp_path.filename().generic_u8string());
-	auto data_file_stack = buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view{data_tmp_path.generic_u8string()}, data_enc, data_comp);
+	data_tmp_path.replace_filename("." + data_tmp_path.filename().generic_string());
+	auto data_file_stack = buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view{data_tmp_path.generic_string()}, data_enc, data_comp);
 	if (data_file_stack.empty()) {
 		while (!meta_file_stack.empty()) { meta_file_stack.pop(); }
 		std::filesystem::remove(meta_tmp_path);
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ size_t FilesystemStorageAtomic::scanPath(std::string_view path) {
 		}
 
 		auto relative_path = std::filesystem::proximate(file_path, storage_path);
-		std::string id_str = relative_path.generic_u8string();
+		std::string id_str = relative_path.generic_string();
 		// delete all '/'
 		id_str.erase(std::remove(id_str.begin(), id_str.end(), '/'), id_str.end());
 		if (id_str.size() % 2 != 0) {
@@ -416,8 +416,8 @@ size_t FilesystemStorageAtomic::scanPath(std::string_view path) {
 		const char* meta_ext = ".meta.msgpack";
 		{ // find meta
 			// TODO: this as to know all possible extentions
-			bool has_meta_msgpack = std::filesystem::is_regular_file(file_path.generic_u8string() + ".meta.msgpack");
-			bool has_meta_json = std::filesystem::is_regular_file(file_path.generic_u8string() + ".meta.json");
+			bool has_meta_msgpack = std::filesystem::is_regular_file(file_path.generic_string() + ".meta.msgpack");
+			bool has_meta_json = std::filesystem::is_regular_file(file_path.generic_string() + ".meta.json");
 			const size_t meta_sum =
 				(has_meta_msgpack?1:0) +
 				(has_meta_json?1:0)
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ size_t FilesystemStorageAtomic::scanPath(std::string_view path) {
 		Compression meta_comp {Compression::NONE};
 		nlohmann::json j;
 		if (it.meta_ext == ".meta.msgpack") {
-			std::ifstream file(it.obj_path.generic_u8string() + it.meta_ext, std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
+			std::ifstream file(it.obj_path.generic_string() + it.meta_ext, std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
 			if (!file.is_open()) {
 				std::cout << "FS error: failed opening meta " << it.obj_path << "\n";
 				continue;
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ size_t FilesystemStorageAtomic::scanPath(std::string_view path) {
 
 			j = nlohmann::json::from_msgpack(binary_read, true, false);
 		} else if (it.meta_ext == ".meta.json") {
-			std::ifstream file(it.obj_path.generic_u8string() + it.meta_ext, std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
+			std::ifstream file(it.obj_path.generic_string() + it.meta_ext, std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
 			if (!file.is_open()) {
 				std::cerr << "FS error: failed opening meta " << it.obj_path << "\n";
 				continue;
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ size_t FilesystemStorageAtomic::scanPath(std::string_view path) {
 		oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::MetaEncryptionType>(meta_enc);
 		oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::MetaCompressionType>(meta_comp);
 
-		oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>(it.obj_path.generic_u8string());
+		oh.emplace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>(it.obj_path.generic_string());
 
 		for (const auto& [k, v] : j.items()) {
 			// type id from string hash
diff --git a/external/solanaceae_tox/solanaceae/tox_messages/tox_transfer_manager.cpp
index 4c5666a..9d63412 100644
--- a/external/solanaceae_tox/solanaceae/tox_messages/tox_transfer_manager.cpp
+++ b/external/solanaceae_tox/solanaceae/tox_messages/tox_transfer_manager.cpp
@@ -344,11 +344,11 @@ bool ToxTransferManager::setFilePath(ObjectHandle transfer, std::string_view fil
 		file_size = file_info.file_size;
 	}
 
-	transfer.emplace_or_replace<ObjComp::F::SingleInfoLocal>(full_file_path.u8string());
-	transfer.emplace_or_replace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>(full_file_path.u8string()); // ?
+	transfer.emplace_or_replace<ObjComp::F::SingleInfoLocal>(full_file_path.string());
+	transfer.emplace_or_replace<ObjComp::Ephemeral::FilePath>(full_file_path.string()); // ?
 
 	// huh? we also set file2i ?
-	auto file_impl = std::make_unique<File2RWFile>(full_file_path.u8string(), file_size, true);
+	auto file_impl = std::make_unique<File2RWFile>(full_file_path.string(), file_size, true);
 	if (!file_impl->isGood()) {
 		std::cerr << "TTM error: failed opening file '" << file_path << "'!\n";
 		return false;
diff --git a/external/solanaceae_util/solanaceae/util/file_synced.cpp
index 1a094f7..3899c6b 100644
--- a/external/solanaceae_util/solanaceae/util/file_synced.cpp
+++ b/external/solanaceae_util/solanaceae/util/file_synced.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void write_to_file_synced(const std::filesystem::path& file_path, const uint8_t*
 
 void write_to_file_synced(const std::filesystem::path& file_path, const uint8_t* data, size_t data_size) {
 	// cant use O_DIRECT, O_SYNC has to be enough
-	const auto fd = open(file_path.generic_u8string().c_str(), O_CREAT | O_WRONLY | O_TRUNC | O_SYNC, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR /*| S_IRGRP*/);
+	const auto fd = open(file_path.generic_string().c_str(), O_CREAT | O_WRONLY | O_TRUNC | O_SYNC, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR /*| S_IRGRP*/);
 	if (fd == -1) {
 		throw std::runtime_error("file creation error: " + std::string(strerror(errno)));
 	}