diff --git a/lib/livebook/content_loader.ex b/lib/livebook/content_loader.ex
index 993bc87ec..b358668c3 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/content_loader.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/content_loader.ex
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ defmodule Livebook.ContentLoader do
   """
   @spec rewrite_url(String.t()) :: String.t()
   def rewrite_url(url) do
-    case URI.new(url) do
-      {:ok, uri} -> uri |> do_rewrite_url() |> URI.to_string()
-      {:error, _} -> url
-    end
+    url
+    |> URI.parse()
+    |> do_rewrite_url()
+    |> URI.to_string()
   end
 
   defp do_rewrite_url(%URI{host: "github.com"} = uri) do
diff --git a/lib/livebook/file_system/s3.ex b/lib/livebook/file_system/s3.ex
index 714b02c31..2c14f6b23 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/file_system/s3.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/file_system/s3.ex
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ defimpl Livebook.FileSystem, for: Livebook.FileSystem.S3 do
     headers = opts[:headers] || []
     body = opts[:body]
 
-    %{host: host} = URI.new!(file_system.bucket_url)
+    %{host: host} = URI.parse(file_system.bucket_url)
 
     url = file_system.bucket_url <> path <> "?" <> URI.encode_query(query)
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ defimpl Livebook.FileSystem, for: Livebook.FileSystem.S3 do
 
   defp region_from_uri(uri) do
     # For many services the API host is of the form *.[region].[rootdomain].com
-    %{host: host} = URI.new!(uri)
+    %{host: host} = URI.parse(uri)
     host |> String.split(".") |> Enum.reverse() |> Enum.at(2, "auto")
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/livebook/utils.ex b/lib/livebook/utils.ex
index 3d37ccd33..466a48187 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/utils.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/utils.ex
@@ -167,10 +167,8 @@ defmodule Livebook.Utils do
   """
   @spec valid_url?(String.t()) :: boolean()
   def valid_url?(url) do
-    case URI.new(url) do
-      {:ok, uri} -> uri.scheme != nil and uri.host != nil
-      _ -> false
-    end
+    uri = URI.parse(url)
+    uri.scheme != nil and uri.host != nil
   end
 
   @doc """
@@ -247,7 +245,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.Utils do
   @spec expand_url(String.t(), String.t()) :: String.t()
   def expand_url(url, relative_path) do
     url
-    |> URI.new!()
+    |> URI.parse()
     |> Map.update!(:path, fn path ->
       path |> Path.dirname() |> Path.join(relative_path) |> Path.expand()
     end)