FTP using Internet Explorer for Windows

File this under “Little Known Fact”: You can transfer files — upload, download and even change permissions — directly from Internet Explorer.

Here’s how:

1. Fire up a copy of Internet Explorer
2. In the address bar, type the name of your FTP-enabled server
3. Enter your user name and password if prompted

Now, be aware that some servers don’t allow anonymous FTP access. You may be denied access without being prompted for a password.

If that happens, you can also authenticate yourself by passing the user name and password to the server through the URL. The basic syntax is:

ftp://username:password@ftp.myservername.com

Thanks to the article How to Obscure Any URL on Personalized PC Help for that tip.