This wikiHow teaches you how to send a fax from your computer. Both Windows and Mac computers have built-in fax programs which will allow you to send a fax if you have a fax modem or printer attached to your computer. If you don't have the hardware to send a fax, you can use an online service called FaxZero to send up to 15 free fax pages per day.
Steps
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Make sure that you have the correct equipment. If you don't have all of the following equipment, you won't be able to send a fax from your computer and you'll need to use an online service instead: [1] X Research source- USB fax modem — You can buy a fax modem that plugs into one of your computer's USB ports online (e.g., Amazon or eBay) or in some tech stores.
- Active phone line — You'll need a phone line that you can connect to your fax modem. If you don't have a landline phone, you won't be able to send a fax using your computer.
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Connect your phone line to your computer. Plug the USB fax modem into one of your computer's USB ports, then connect the phone line to the fax modem's port.- You will have to ban others in your household from using the landline until your fax has been sent and received.
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Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
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Open Windows Fax and Scan. Type in fax and scan , then click Windows Fax and Scan at the top of the Start menu. -
Click New Fax . It's in the top-left corner of the window. -
Click Connect to a fax modem if prompted. This option is at the top of a pop-up menu. Clicking it will connect your computer to your fax modem and open the "New Fax" window.- You may have to confirm this decision or click OK before proceeding.
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Enter your recipient's fax number . Type the number for the fax machine to which you're sending your fax into the "To" text box near the top of the window. -
Add a subject. In the "Subject" text box, type in whatever you want your fax's subject to be. -
Create your fax. Type your fax's text into the main window.- You can add an existing file (e.g., a photo or a document) to the fax by clicking the paperclip icon at the top of the window, selecting the proper file, and clicking OK .
- You can add an existing file (e.g., a photo or a document) to the fax by clicking the paperclip
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Click Send . It's in the upper-left corner of the "New Fax" window. Doing so will prompt your fax to send to the fax machine listed in the "To" section.
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Make sure that you have the correct equipment. If you don't have all of the following equipment, you won't be able to send a fax from your computer and you'll need to use an online service instead: [2] X Research source- A multifunction printer which supports faxing — Unfortunately, MacOS Sierra (and up) computers don't support printing from fax modems. You'll need to use a printer which supports faxing.
- An active phone line — You'll need a phone line that you can connect to your fax modem. If you don't have a landline phone, you won't be able to send a fax using your computer.
EXPERT TIPTechnology SpecialistBrandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.You can send a fax from your computer without a traditional fax machine. There are several services available that allow you to send faxes online. It can be a convenient option if you don't have access to a fax machine or if you prefer to handle your faxing needs electronically.
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Make sure that your printer is on and connected to your Mac . Your fax-compatible printer won't be able to receive your fax request if it isn't turned on.- Your printer will also need to be connected to your phone line, which means that you'll need to avoid using the landline until your fax has been sent and received.
- This method will work whether you're printing wirelessly or via a USB cable.
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Open the document that you want to fax . Find a document to fax, then double-click it to open it.- If you haven't yet created the document, open a program (e.g., TextEdit or Word) and create your fax in it before proceeding.
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Click File . It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. -
Click Print . You'll find this option in the File drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Print window. -
Click the "PDF" drop-down box. It's in the lower-left side of the window. A drop-down menu will appear. -
Click Fax PDF . This option is in the drop-down menu.- If you don't see this option, you can't fax using your current printer. Try sending an online fax instead.
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Select your printer. Click the "Printer" drop-down menu, then click your printer's name in the menu. -
Enter the fax number. The number for your recipient's fax machine into the "To" text box. -
Add a cover page if needed. If you want to add a cover page to your fax, check the "Use cover page" box, then enter a subject in the "Subject" text field and type in the cover page's contents in the main text field. -
Click Fax . It's near the bottom of the window. Doing so will send your fax to the machine listed in the "To" text box.
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Open FaxZero. Go to https://faxzero.com/ in your computer's web browser. This service allows you to send up to 5 free faxes per day, with an allowance of up to 3 pages (plus a cover) per fax (15 pages and 5 covers total). [3] X Research source- You'll need an email address in order to send your fax.
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Enter your sender information. Do the following in the green "Sender Information" section at the top of the page:- Type your first and last name into the "Name" text box.
- Type your email address into the "Email" text box.
- Add your phone number in the "Phone #" text box.
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Add your recipient's details. In the blue "Receiver Information" section at the top of the page, do the following:- Type your recipient's name into the "Name" text box.
- Enter the recipient's fax machine number into the "Fax #" text box.
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Click Choose Files . It's a grey button below the "Fax Information" heading in the middle of the page. -
Select a document. In your computer's File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), find and click once the Word or PDF document that you want to fax.- Your document must contain 3 or fewer pages.
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Click Open . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will upload your selected document to FaxZero.- If you want to upload another document, you can click another Choose Files button and select another document. You can do this up to two more times after uploading the initial document as long as the page count doesn't exceed three pages.
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Add a cover page. If you want to add a cover page for your fax, enter the cover page's information in the text box. -
Enter the confirmation code. In the "Confirmation Code" text box, type the 5-character code that appears near the bottom of the page. This confirms that you aren't a spam service. -
Scroll down and click Send Free Fax Now . It's in the lower-left side of the page. Doing so will send your fax to your listed recipient.
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Tips
- You can also send a fax via email if you're willing to pay for an account with a premium fax service such as eFax or RingCentral.Thanks
- Remember to use your recipient's fax prefix if necessary.Thanks
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Warnings
- Although Apple's official documentation claims that Macs with MacOS Sierra and up can use modems to fax, this is untrue.Thanks
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References
About This Article
Article Summary
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To fax from a computer, you can use a USB fax modem as long as you have an active landline phone to connect to the modem. If you don't have a landline phone, you can use an online service, like FaxZero, instead. FaxZero offers 5 free faxes a day, up to 3 pages each. Just visit their website and enter the recipient's name and fax number. Then, you can upload the files you want to fax and send them to the recipient. To learn how to use a USB fax modem, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I needed to send a fax very quickly. I could not find a fax app that didn't cost money or have a trial period. I am very grateful to have found FaxZero and for the directions on how to use it. THANK YOU!" ..." more
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"I needed to send a fax very quickly. I could not find a fax app that didn't cost money or have a trial period. I am very grateful to have found FaxZero and for the directions on how to use it. THANK YOU!"
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