How Do I Use My Browser for FTP?

You don't need to have an FTP program to download files from an FTP site. Just use your Web browser.

Using a special Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or Internet address you should be able to log into most any FTP site and navigate the file tree at the site by clicking on directory listings. The general format of the URL is...

ftp://user:password@host:port/path

This looks imposing at first glance but, in reality is fairly simple.

First, note that the URL does not start with http:// but, instead, ftp://. This tells the browser to use its FTP routines instead of its normal Web browsing routines.

Second, note that there is a part before the host domain that tells the FTP site the login information: user:password@. These are optional but, if the site needs a login you will have to provide one at some point. If you leave out the user, the browser will assume that this is an anonymous login and use that along with whatever E-mail address you have put in your browser preferences as the password (anonymous FTP sites demand an E-mail address as the password for various tracking or notification reasons). So, if the site requires a real user login then you must provide the username at least so the browser does not attempt to log in as user anonymous. If there is a password required and you leave it out of the URL a dialog box should pop up and ask for the password as part of the connection process to the FTP site. And, remember that all of this is taking place in the open so all user names and passwords are being transmitted in clear text; not encrypted. Some versions of Internet Explorer have special ways of entering the password; see the more info link below.

After the @ sign you see host:port. This would be the domain name for the host followed by the port to be used for connection. In the vast majority of cases you can ignore the :port part as the browser assumes the standard FTP port 21 will be used for the connection and the vast majority of sites are configured that way.

Finally, if there is any special path to a particular directory that you need, it would go after the host domain name. So, a fully qualified example might look like (I certainly hope this one doesn't work!)...

ftp://billgates:moremoney@files.microsoft.com/special/secretplans

Once you are logged into the FTP site you will generally see a directory listing. By clicking on other directories you can see what's in them (assuming you have the right to -- otherwise they will be blank or you will be asked for a password). By clicking on a file the browser should either attempt to display it (e.g., a .TXT text file will often be displayed along with any .HTML file) or ask if you want to download it. For downloading, just pick a location on your system where you want to store the file and wait for it to be completely downloaded.

More Information

• FTP URLs description
• How to Enter an FTP Site Password in Internet Explorer