diff --git a/src/core/qgsdatasourceuri.cpp b/src/core/qgsdatasourceuri.cpp
index 689690e40035..40442fe2f7b0 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsdatasourceuri.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsdatasourceuri.cpp
@@ -681,17 +681,17 @@ QByteArray QgsDataSourceUri::encodedUri() const
   QUrlQuery url;
   for ( auto it = mParams.constBegin(); it != mParams.constEnd(); ++it )
   {
-    url.addQueryItem( it.key(), it.value() );
+    url.addQueryItem( it.key(), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( it.value() ) );
   }
 
   if ( !mUsername.isEmpty() )
-    url.addQueryItem( QStringLiteral( "username" ), mUsername );
+    url.addQueryItem( QStringLiteral( "username" ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( mUsername ) );
 
   if ( !mPassword.isEmpty() )
-    url.addQueryItem( QStringLiteral( "password" ), mPassword );
+    url.addQueryItem( QStringLiteral( "password" ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( mPassword ) );
 
   if ( !mAuthConfigId.isEmpty() )
-    url.addQueryItem( QStringLiteral( "authcfg" ), mAuthConfigId );
+    url.addQueryItem( QStringLiteral( "authcfg" ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( mAuthConfigId ) );
 
   mHttpHeaders.updateUrlQuery( url );
 
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ void QgsDataSourceUri::setEncodedUri( const QByteArray &uri )
 
   mHttpHeaders.setFromUrlQuery( query );
 
-  const auto constQueryItems = query.queryItems();
+  const auto constQueryItems = query.queryItems( QUrl::ComponentFormattingOption::FullyDecoded );
   for ( const QPair<QString, QString> &item : constQueryItems )
   {
     if ( !item.first.startsWith( QgsHttpHeaders::PARAM_PREFIX ) && item.first != QgsHttpHeaders::KEY_REFERER )
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ QString QgsDataSourceUri::param( const QString &key ) const
   else if ( key == QLatin1String( "authcfg" ) && !mAuthConfigId.isEmpty() )
     return mAuthConfigId;
 
-  return mParams.value( key );
+  return mParams.value( key ).toUtf8();
 }
 
 QStringList QgsDataSourceUri::params( const QString &key ) const
diff --git a/src/core/vectortile/qgsvectortileprovidermetadata.cpp b/src/core/vectortile/qgsvectortileprovidermetadata.cpp
index f7a8b5f1fd9c..f0b9b5c3bbc2 100644
--- a/src/core/vectortile/qgsvectortileprovidermetadata.cpp
+++ b/src/core/vectortile/qgsvectortileprovidermetadata.cpp
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ QString QgsVectorTileProviderMetadata::absoluteToRelativeUri( const QString &uri
       // relative path will become "file:./x.txt"
       const QString relSrcUrl = context.pathResolver().writePath( sourceUrl.toLocalFile() );
       dsUri.removeParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ) );  // needed because setParam() would insert second "url" key
-      dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( relSrcUrl ).toString() );
+      dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( relSrcUrl ).toString( QUrl::DecodeReserved ) );
       return dsUri.encodedUri();
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/core/vectortile/qgsxyzvectortiledataprovider.cpp b/src/core/vectortile/qgsxyzvectortiledataprovider.cpp
index be607514666d..08c45dbe3c55 100644
--- a/src/core/vectortile/qgsxyzvectortiledataprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/core/vectortile/qgsxyzvectortiledataprovider.cpp
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ QString QgsXyzVectorTileDataProviderMetadata::absoluteToRelativeUri( const QStri
     // relative path will become "file:./x.txt"
     const QString relSrcUrl = context.pathResolver().writePath( sourceUrl.toLocalFile() );
     dsUri.removeParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ) );  // needed because setParam() would insert second "url" key
-    dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( relSrcUrl ).toString() );
+    dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( relSrcUrl ).toString( QUrl::DecodeReserved ) );
     return dsUri.encodedUri();
   }
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ QString QgsXyzVectorTileDataProviderMetadata::relativeToAbsoluteUri( const QStri
   {
     const QString absSrcUrl = context.pathResolver().readPath( sourceUrl.toLocalFile() );
     dsUri.removeParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ) );  // needed because setParam() would insert second "url" key
-    dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( absSrcUrl ).toString() );
+    dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( absSrcUrl ).toString( QUrl::DecodeReserved ) );
     return dsUri.encodedUri();
   }
 
diff --git a/src/providers/wms/qgswmsprovider.cpp b/src/providers/wms/qgswmsprovider.cpp
index bff0e2cb9319..89162eab5d6b 100644
--- a/src/providers/wms/qgswmsprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/wms/qgswmsprovider.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,10 @@ QgsWmsProvider::QgsWmsProvider( QString const &uri, const ProviderOptions &optio
 QString QgsWmsProvider::prepareUri( QString uri )
 {
   // some services provide a percent/url encoded (legend) uri string, always decode here
-  uri = QUrl::fromPercentEncoding( uri.toUtf8() );
+  if ( uri.startsWith( "https%3A%2F%2F" ) || uri.startsWith( "http%3A%2F%2F" ) )
+  {
+    uri = QUrl::fromPercentEncoding( uri.toUtf8() );
+  }
 
   if ( isUrlForWMTS( uri ) )
   {
diff --git a/tests/src/app/testqgsidentify.cpp b/tests/src/app/testqgsidentify.cpp
index 856d5077c15c..401e58747d8c 100644
--- a/tests/src/app/testqgsidentify.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/app/testqgsidentify.cpp
@@ -932,7 +932,9 @@ void TestQgsIdentify::identifyVectorTile()
   const QString vtPath = QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + QStringLiteral( "/vector_tile/{z}-{x}-{y}.pbf" );
   QgsDataSourceUri dsUri;
   dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "type" ), QStringLiteral( "xyz" ) );
-  dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromLocalFile( vtPath ).toString() );
+  // The values need to be passed to QgsDataSourceUri::setParam() in the same format they are expected to be retrieved.
+  // QUrl::fromPercentEncoding() is needed here because QUrl::fromLocalFile(vtPath).toString() returns the curly braces in an URL-encoded format.
+  dsUri.setParam( QStringLiteral( "url" ), QUrl::fromPercentEncoding( QUrl::fromLocalFile( vtPath ).toString().toUtf8() ) );
   QgsVectorTileLayer *tempLayer = new QgsVectorTileLayer( dsUri.encodedUri(), QStringLiteral( "testlayer" ) );
   QVERIFY( tempLayer->isValid() );
 
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsdatasourceuri.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsdatasourceuri.cpp
index 409b059b4889..76327eaa6fee 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsdatasourceuri.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsdatasourceuri.cpp
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ void TestQgsDataSourceUri::checkAuthParams()
   // issue GH #53654
   QgsDataSourceUri uri5;
   uri5.setEncodedUri( QStringLiteral( "zmax=14&zmin=0&styleUrl=http://localhost:8000/&f=application%2Fvnd.geoserver.mbstyle%2Bjson" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( uri5.param( QStringLiteral( "f" ) ), QStringLiteral( "application%2Fvnd.geoserver.mbstyle%2Bjson" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( uri5.param( QStringLiteral( "f" ) ), QStringLiteral( "application/vnd.geoserver.mbstyle+json" ) );
 
   uri5.setEncodedUri( QStringLiteral( "zmax=14&zmin=0&styleUrl=http://localhost:8000/&f=application/vnd.geoserver.mbstyle+json" ) );
   QCOMPARE( uri5.param( QStringLiteral( "f" ) ), QStringLiteral( "application/vnd.geoserver.mbstyle+json" ) );
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsgdalcloudconnection.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsgdalcloudconnection.cpp
index e43c4757ee7f..0e69eb210ab5 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsgdalcloudconnection.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsgdalcloudconnection.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ void TestQgsGdalCloudConnection::encodeDecode()
   data.rootPath = QStringLiteral( "some/path" );
   data.credentialOptions = QVariantMap { { "pw", QStringLiteral( "xxxx" ) }, { "key", QStringLiteral( "yyy" ) } };
 
-  QCOMPARE( QgsGdalCloudProviderConnection::encodedUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "container=my_container&credentialOptions=key%3Dyyy%7Cpw%3Dxxxx&handler=vsis3&rootPath=some/path" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( QgsGdalCloudProviderConnection::encodedUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "container=my_container&credentialOptions=key%3Dyyy%7Cpw%3Dxxxx&handler=vsis3&rootPath=some%2Fpath" ) );
 
   const QgsGdalCloudProviderConnection::Data data2 = QgsGdalCloudProviderConnection::decodedUri( QStringLiteral( "container=my_container&credentialOptions=key%3Dyyy%7Cpw%3Dxxxx&handler=vsis3&rootPath=some/path" ) );
   QCOMPARE( data2.vsiHandler, QStringLiteral( "vsis3" ) );
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ void TestQgsGdalCloudConnection::testConnections()
 
   // retrieve stored connection
   conn = QgsGdalCloudProviderConnection( QStringLiteral( "my connection" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( conn.uri(), QStringLiteral( "container=my_container&credentialOptions=key%3Dyyy%7Cpw%3Dxxxx&handler=vsis3&rootPath=some/path" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( conn.uri(), QStringLiteral( "container=my_container&credentialOptions=key%3Dyyy%7Cpw%3Dxxxx&handler=vsis3&rootPath=some%2Fpath" ) );
 
   // add a second connection
   QgsGdalCloudProviderConnection::Data data2;
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgshttpheaders.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgshttpheaders.cpp
index 9c2df3cc20ec..58ad7638fd1b 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgshttpheaders.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgshttpheaders.cpp
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ void TestQgsHttpheaders::createQgsOwsConnection()
   QgsDataSourceUri uri3( uri2.uri() );
   QCOMPARE( uri3.httpHeader( QgsHttpHeaders::KEY_REFERER ), "http://test.com" );
   QCOMPARE( uri3.httpHeader( "other_http_header" ), "value" );
-  QCOMPARE( uri3.encodedUri(), "https://www.ogc.org/?p1=v1&referer=http://test.com&http-header:other_http_header=value&http-header:referer=http://test.com" );
+  QCOMPARE( uri3.encodedUri(), "https://www.ogc.org/?p1=v1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Ftest.com&http-header:other_http_header=value&http-header:referer=http://test.com" );
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgssensorthingsconnection.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgssensorthingsconnection.cpp
index b6e68ffce933..ddfef807bc5c 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgssensorthingsconnection.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgssensorthingsconnection.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void TestQgsSensorThingsConnection::encodeDecode()
   data.password = QStringLiteral( "my_pw" );
   data.httpHeaders.insert( QStringLiteral( "my_header" ), QStringLiteral( "value" ) );
 
-  QCOMPARE( QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::encodedUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::encodedUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
   QCOMPARE( QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::encodedLayerUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "user='my_user' password='my_pw' authcfg=my_auth url='http://testurl' http-header:my_header='value'" ) );
 
   const QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::Data data2 = QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::decodedUri( QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ void TestQgsSensorThingsConnection::testConnections()
 
   // retrieve stored connection
   conn = QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection( QStringLiteral( "my connection" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( conn.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( conn.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
 
   // add a second connection
   QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::Data data2;
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ void TestQgsSensorThingsConnection::testConnections()
   data2.httpHeaders.insert( QStringLiteral( "my_header" ), QStringLiteral( "value2" ) );
   // construct connection using encoded uri
   QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection conn2( QgsSensorThingsProviderConnection::encodedUri( data2 ), {} );
-  QCOMPARE( conn2.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl2&username=my_user2&password=my_pw2&authcfg=my_auth2&http-header:my_header=value2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( conn2.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl2&username=my_user2&password=my_pw2&authcfg=my_auth2&http-header:my_header=value2" ) );
   conn2.store( QStringLiteral( "second connection" ) );
 
   // retrieve stored connections
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgstiledsceneconnection.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgstiledsceneconnection.cpp
index 1f5d4263c67e..c579080d4da2 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgstiledsceneconnection.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgstiledsceneconnection.cpp
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ void TestQgsTiledSceneConnection::encodeDecode()
   data.password = QStringLiteral( "my_pw" );
   data.httpHeaders.insert( QStringLiteral( "my_header" ), QStringLiteral( "value" ) );
 
-  QCOMPARE( QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::encodedUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::encodedLayerUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::encodedUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::encodedLayerUri( data ), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
 
   const QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::Data data2 = QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::decodedUri( QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
   QCOMPARE( data2.url, QStringLiteral( "http://testurl" ) );
@@ -97,8 +97,10 @@ void TestQgsTiledSceneConnection::testConnections()
 
   // retrieve stored connection
   conn = QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection( QStringLiteral( "my connection" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( conn.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( qgis::down_cast<QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection *>( &conn )->providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "test_provider" ) );
+
+  QCOMPARE( conn.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl&username=my_user&password=my_pw&authcfg=my_auth&http-header:my_header=value" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( qgis::down_cast< QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection * >( &conn )->providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "test_provider" ) );
+
 
   // add a second connection
   QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::Data data2;
@@ -110,8 +112,10 @@ void TestQgsTiledSceneConnection::testConnections()
   data2.httpHeaders.insert( QStringLiteral( "my_header" ), QStringLiteral( "value2" ) );
   // construct connection using encoded uri
   QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection conn2( QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection::encodedUri( data2 ), QStringLiteral( "test_provider2" ), {} );
-  QCOMPARE( conn2.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http://testurl2&username=my_user2&password=my_pw2&authcfg=my_auth2&http-header:my_header=value2" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( qgis::down_cast<QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection *>( &conn2 )->providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "test_provider2" ) );
+
+  QCOMPARE( conn2.uri(), QStringLiteral( "url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesturl2&username=my_user2&password=my_pw2&authcfg=my_auth2&http-header:my_header=value2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( qgis::down_cast< QgsTiledSceneProviderConnection * >( &conn2 )->providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "test_provider2" ) );
+
   conn2.store( QStringLiteral( "second connection" ) );
 
   // retrieve stored connections
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortileconnection.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortileconnection.cpp
index e539eb0be697..d73454fa4289 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortileconnection.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortileconnection.cpp
@@ -62,13 +62,13 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileConnection::test_encodedUri()
   conn.zMin = 0;
   conn.zMax = 18;
   QString uri = QgsVectorTileProviderConnection::encodedUri( conn );
-  QCOMPARE( uri, QStringLiteral( "type=xyz&url=https://api.maptiler.com/tiles/v3/%7Bz%7D/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D.pbf?key%3Dabcdef12345&zmax=18&zmin=0" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( uri, QStringLiteral( "type=xyz&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.maptiler.com%2Ftiles%2Fv3%2F%7Bz%7D%2F%7Bx%7D%2F%7By%7D.pbf%3Fkey%3Dabcdef12345&zmax=18&zmin=0" ) );
 
   conn.url = QStringLiteral( "file:///home/user/tiles.mbtiles" );
   conn.zMin = 0;
   conn.zMax = 18;
   uri = QgsVectorTileProviderConnection::encodedUri( conn );
-  QCOMPARE( uri, QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=file:///home/user/tiles.mbtiles&zmax=18&zmin=0" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( uri, QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fhome%2Fuser%2Ftiles.mbtiles&zmax=18&zmin=0" ) );
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortilelayer.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortilelayer.cpp
index 4a5f82f0b0db..f7e41cf28f58 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortilelayer.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsvectortilelayer.cpp
@@ -256,11 +256,13 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::testMbtilesProviderMetadata()
   QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->validLayerTypesForUri( QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) ), { Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile } );
 
   // query sublayers
+  QString localMbtilesPath = QStringLiteral( "%1%2" ).arg( QUrl::toPercentEncoding( TEST_DATA_DIR ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( QStringLiteral( "/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ) ) );
   QList<QgsProviderSublayerDetails> sublayers = vectorTileMetadata->querySublayers( QStringLiteral( "%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "mbtilesvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "mbtiles_vt" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1" ).arg( localMbtilesPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
   QVERIFY( !sublayers.at( 0 ).skippedContainerScan() );
   QVERIFY( !QgsProviderUtils::sublayerDetailsAreIncomplete( sublayers ) );
@@ -269,7 +271,7 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::testMbtilesProviderMetadata()
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "mbtilesvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "mbtiles_vt" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1" ).arg( localMbtilesPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
   QVERIFY( !sublayers.at( 0 ).skippedContainerScan() );
 
@@ -278,7 +280,7 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::testMbtilesProviderMetadata()
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "mbtilesvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "mbtiles_vt" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1" ).arg( localMbtilesPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
   QVERIFY( sublayers.at( 0 ).skippedContainerScan() );
   QVERIFY( QgsProviderUtils::sublayerDetailsAreIncomplete( sublayers ) );
@@ -287,17 +289,19 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::testMbtilesProviderMetadata()
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "mbtilesvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "mbtiles_vt" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1" ).arg( localMbtilesPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
   QVERIFY( sublayers.at( 0 ).skippedContainerScan() );
 
   // fast scan mode means that any mbtile file will be reported, including those with only raster tiles
   // (we are skipping a potentially expensive db open and format check)
+  QString localIsleOfManPath = QStringLiteral( "%1%2" ).arg( QUrl::toPercentEncoding( TEST_DATA_DIR ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( QStringLiteral( "/isle_of_man.mbtiles" ) ) );
+
   sublayers = vectorTileMetadata->querySublayers( QStringLiteral( "%1/isle_of_man.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ), Qgis::SublayerQueryFlag::FastScan );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "mbtilesvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "isle_of_man" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/isle_of_man.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1" ).arg( localIsleOfManPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
   QVERIFY( sublayers.at( 0 ).skippedContainerScan() );
 
@@ -328,8 +332,9 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_relativePathsMbTiles()
   QgsReadWriteContext contextRel;
   contextRel.setPathResolver( QgsPathResolver( QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + QStringLiteral( "/project.qgs" ) ) );
   const QgsReadWriteContext contextAbs;
+  QString localMbtilesPath = QStringLiteral( "%1%2" ).arg( QUrl::toPercentEncoding( TEST_DATA_DIR ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( QStringLiteral( "/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ) ) );
 
-  const QString srcMbtiles = QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1/vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR );
+  const QString srcMbtiles = QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=%1" ).arg( localMbtilesPath );
 
   std::unique_ptr<QgsVectorTileLayer> layer = std::make_unique<QgsVectorTileLayer>( srcMbtiles );
   QVERIFY( layer->isValid() );
@@ -337,7 +342,7 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_relativePathsMbTiles()
 
   // encode source: converting absolute paths to relative
   const QString srcMbtilesRel = layer->encodedSource( srcMbtiles, contextRel );
-  QCOMPARE( srcMbtilesRel, QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=./vector_tile/mbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( srcMbtilesRel, QStringLiteral( "type=mbtiles&url=.%2Fvector_tile%2Fmbtiles_vt.mbtiles" ) );
 
   // encode source: keeping absolute paths
   QCOMPARE( layer->encodedSource( srcMbtiles, contextAbs ), srcMbtiles );
@@ -377,7 +382,7 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_relativePathsXyz()
   contextRel.setPathResolver( QgsPathResolver( "/home/qgis/project.qgs" ) );
   const QgsReadWriteContext contextAbs;
 
-  const QString srcXyzLocal = "type=xyz&url=file:///home/qgis/%7Bz%7D/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D.pbf";
+  const QString srcXyzLocal = "type=xyz&url=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fhome%2Fqgis%2F%7Bz%7D%2F%7Bx%7D%2F%7By%7D.pbf";
   const QString srcXyzRemote = "type=xyz&url=http://www.example.com/%7Bz%7D/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D.pbf";
 
   std::unique_ptr<QgsVectorTileLayer> layer = std::make_unique<QgsVectorTileLayer>( srcXyzLocal );
@@ -385,7 +390,7 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_relativePathsXyz()
 
   // encode source: converting absolute paths to relative
   const QString srcXyzLocalRel = layer->encodedSource( srcXyzLocal, contextRel );
-  QCOMPARE( srcXyzLocalRel, QStringLiteral( "type=xyz&url=file:./%7Bz%7D/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D.pbf" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( srcXyzLocalRel, QStringLiteral( "type=xyz&url=file%3A.%2F%7Bz%7D%2F%7Bx%7D%2F%7By%7D.pbf" ) );
   QCOMPARE( layer->encodedSource( srcXyzRemote, contextRel ), srcXyzRemote );
 
   // encode source: keeping absolute paths
@@ -421,7 +426,8 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_absoluteRelativeUriXyz()
 
   QString absoluteUri = dsAbs.encodedUri();
   QString relativeUri = dsRel.encodedUri();
-  QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->absoluteToRelativeUri( absoluteUri, context ), relativeUri );
+  QString absToRelUri = vectorTileMetadata->absoluteToRelativeUri( absoluteUri, context );
+  QCOMPARE( absToRelUri, relativeUri );
   QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->relativeToAbsoluteUri( relativeUri, context ), absoluteUri );
 }
 
@@ -443,22 +449,26 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::testVtpkProviderMetadata()
   QVERIFY( vectorTileMetadata->querySublayers( QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/points.shp" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) ).isEmpty() );
 
   // vtpk uris
+  QString localVtpkPath = QStringLiteral( "%1%2" ).arg( QUrl::toPercentEncoding( TEST_DATA_DIR ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( QStringLiteral( "/testvtpk.vtpk" ) ) );
+
   QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->priorityForUri( QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + QStringLiteral( "/testvtpk.vtpk" ) ), 100 );
   QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->validLayerTypesForUri( QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + QStringLiteral( "/testvtpk.vtpk" ) ), { Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile } );
   QList<QgsProviderSublayerDetails> sublayers = vectorTileMetadata->querySublayers( QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + QStringLiteral( "/testvtpk.vtpk" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "vtpkvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "testvtpk" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/testvtpk.vtpk" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1" ).arg( localVtpkPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
 
+
   QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->priorityForUri( QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/testvtpk.vtpk" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) ), 100 );
   QCOMPARE( vectorTileMetadata->validLayerTypesForUri( QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/testvtpk.vtpk" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) ), { Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile } );
   sublayers = vectorTileMetadata->querySublayers( QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/testvtpk.vtpk" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.size(), 1 );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).providerKey(), QStringLiteral( "vtpkvectortiles" ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).name(), QStringLiteral( "testvtpk" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/testvtpk.vtpk" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR ) );
+  QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).uri(), QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1" ).arg( localVtpkPath ) );
   QCOMPARE( sublayers.at( 0 ).type(), Qgis::LayerType::VectorTile );
 
   // test that vtpk provider is the preferred provider for vtpk files
@@ -485,7 +495,9 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_relativePathsVtpk()
   contextRel.setPathResolver( QgsPathResolver( QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + QStringLiteral( "/project.qgs" ) ) );
   const QgsReadWriteContext contextAbs;
 
-  const QString srcVtpk = QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1/testvtpk.vtpk" ).arg( TEST_DATA_DIR );
+  QString localVtpkPath = QStringLiteral( "%1%2" ).arg( QUrl::toPercentEncoding( TEST_DATA_DIR ), QUrl::toPercentEncoding( QStringLiteral( "/testvtpk.vtpk" ) ) );
+
+  const QString srcVtpk = QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=%1" ).arg( localVtpkPath );
 
   std::unique_ptr<QgsVectorTileLayer> layer = std::make_unique<QgsVectorTileLayer>( srcVtpk );
   QVERIFY( layer->isValid() );
@@ -493,7 +505,7 @@ void TestQgsVectorTileLayer::test_relativePathsVtpk()
 
   // encode source: converting absolute paths to relative
   const QString srcVtpkRel = layer->encodedSource( srcVtpk, contextRel );
-  QCOMPARE( srcVtpkRel, QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=./testvtpk.vtpk" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( srcVtpkRel, QStringLiteral( "type=vtpk&url=.%2Ftestvtpk.vtpk" ) );
 
   // encode source: keeping absolute paths
   QCOMPARE( layer->encodedSource( srcVtpk, contextAbs ), srcVtpk );
diff --git a/tests/src/providers/testqgswmsprovider.cpp b/tests/src/providers/testqgswmsprovider.cpp
index 48ac8fa4df27..3171fbf00302 100644
--- a/tests/src/providers/testqgswmsprovider.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/providers/testqgswmsprovider.cpp
@@ -475,8 +475,8 @@ void TestQgsWmsProvider::absoluteRelativeUri()
   QgsProviderMetadata *wmsMetadata = QgsProviderRegistry::instance()->providerMetadata( "wms" );
   QVERIFY( wmsMetadata );
 
-  QString absoluteUri = "type=mbtiles&url=file://" + QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + "/isle_of_man.mbtiles";
-  QString relativeUri = "type=mbtiles&url=file:./isle_of_man.mbtiles";
+  QString absoluteUri = "type=mbtiles&url=" + QString( QUrl::toPercentEncoding( "file://" + QStringLiteral( TEST_DATA_DIR ) + "/isle_of_man.mbtiles" ) );
+  QString relativeUri = "type=mbtiles&url=file%3A.%2Fisle_of_man.mbtiles";
   QCOMPARE( wmsMetadata->absoluteToRelativeUri( absoluteUri, context ), relativeUri );
   QCOMPARE( wmsMetadata->relativeToAbsoluteUri( relativeUri, context ), absoluteUri );
 }
diff --git a/tests/src/python/test_qgsvectortile.py b/tests/src/python/test_qgsvectortile.py
index a4866d1229b1..73b46c352193 100644
--- a/tests/src/python/test_qgsvectortile.py
+++ b/tests/src/python/test_qgsvectortile.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def testEncodeDecodeUri(self):
 
         parts["path"] = "/my/new/file.mbtiles"
         uri = md.encodeUri(parts)
-        self.assertEqual(uri, "type=mbtiles&url=/my/new/file.mbtiles")
+        self.assertEqual(uri, "type=mbtiles&url=%2Fmy%2Fnew%2Ffile.mbtiles")
 
         uri = (
             "type=xyz&url=https://fake.server/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D/%7Bz%7D.png&zmin=0&zmax=2"
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def testEncodeDecodeUri(self):
         uri = md.encodeUri(parts)
         self.assertEqual(
             uri,
-            "type=xyz&url=https://fake.new.server/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D/%7Bz%7D.png&zmax=2&zmin=0",
+            "type=xyz&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffake.new.server%2F%7Bx%7D%2F%7By%7D%2F%7Bz%7D.png&zmax=2&zmin=0",
         )
 
         uri = "type=xyz&serviceType=arcgis&url=https://fake.server/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D/%7Bz%7D.png&zmax=2&http-header:referer=https://qgis.org/&styleUrl=https://qgis.org/"
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def testEncodeDecodeUri(self):
         uri = md.encodeUri(parts)
         self.assertEqual(
             uri,
-            "serviceType=arcgis&styleUrl=https://qgis.org/&type=xyz&url=https://fake.new.server/%7Bx%7D/%7By%7D/%7Bz%7D.png&zmax=2&http-header:referer=https://qgis.org/",
+            "serviceType=arcgis&styleUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fqgis.org%2F&type=xyz&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffake.new.server%2F%7Bx%7D%2F%7By%7D%2F%7Bz%7D.png&zmax=2&http-header:referer=https://qgis.org/",
         )
 
     def testZoomRange(self):
diff --git a/tests/src/server/wms/test_qgsserver_wms_parameters.cpp b/tests/src/server/wms/test_qgsserver_wms_parameters.cpp
index 792325c642b1..5aa2ab3bd9f9 100644
--- a/tests/src/server/wms/test_qgsserver_wms_parameters.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/server/wms/test_qgsserver_wms_parameters.cpp
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ void TestQgsServerWmsParameters::external_layers()
 
   QgsWms::QgsWmsParametersLayer layer_params = layers_params[0];
   QCOMPARE( layer_params.mNickname, QString( "external_layer_1" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( layer_params.mExternalUri, QString( "layers=layer_1_name&url=http://url_1" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( layer_params.mExternalUri, QString( "layers=layer_1_name&url=http%3A%2F%2Furl_1" ) );
 
   layer_params = layers_params[1];
   QCOMPARE( layer_params.mNickname, QString( "layer" ) );
 
   layer_params = layers_params[2];
   QCOMPARE( layer_params.mNickname, QString( "external_layer_2" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( layer_params.mExternalUri, QString( "layers=layer_2_name&opacities=100&url=http://url_2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( layer_params.mExternalUri, QString( "layers=layer_2_name&opacities=100&url=http%3A%2F%2Furl_2" ) );
 
   //test if opacities are also applied to external layers
   QCOMPARE( layers_params[0].mOpacity, 255 );
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ void TestQgsServerWmsParameters::external_layers()
 
   QgsWms::QgsWmsParametersLayer layer_params2 = layers_params2[0];
   QCOMPARE( layer_params2.mNickname, QString( "external_layer_1" ) );
-  QCOMPARE( layer_params2.mExternalUri, QString( "layers=layer_1_name&url=http://url_1" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( layer_params2.mExternalUri, QString( "layers=layer_1_name&url=http%3A%2F%2Furl_1" ) );
 }
 
 void TestQgsServerWmsParameters::percent_encoding()