This wikiHow teaches you how to send a fax from a computer. Both Windows and Mac computers have a built-in fax program that allows you to send a fax if you have a modem or fax printer connected to the computer. If you don't have the hardware to send faxes, you can use the online service FaxZero to send up to 15 free fax pages per day.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using a Fax Modem on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Make sure you have the right equipment
If you do not have all of the following equipment, you cannot send faxes from a computer and will need to use an online service:
- USB fax modem - You can purchase a fax modem that plugs into one of your computer's USB ports from the internet (eg Tokopedia or Bukalapak) or tech supply stores.
- An active telephone network - You will need a phone cord that can be connected to a fax modem. If you do not have a landline network, you cannot send faxes through a computer.
Step 2. Connect the phone cord to the computer
Plug the USB fax modem into one of the computer's USB ports, and then connect the phone cord to the fax modem port.
Warn anyone in the house not to use the phone until a fax has been sent and received
Step 3. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 4. Open the Windows Fax and Scan program
Type in fax and scan, then click the “ Windows Fax and Scan ” at the top of the “Start” menu.
Step 5. Click New Fax
It's in the upper-left corner of the window.
Step 6. Click Connect to a fax modem if prompted
It's at the top of the pop-up menu. Once clicked, the computer will connect to the fax modem and a " New Fax " window will be opened.
You may need to confirm your selection or click “ OK ” before continuing.
Step 7. Enter the recipient's fax number
Type the number of the fax machine you want to send the fax to in the " To " field at the top of the window.
Step 8. Add a subject/title line
In the " Subject " field, type whatever you want as the subject of the fax.
Step 9. Create a fax
Type the text/fax message into the main window.
-
You can add existing files (eg photos or documents) to the fax by clicking the paperclip icon
Android7paperclip at the top of the window, select the appropriate file, and click “ OK ”.
Step 10. Click Send
It's in the upper-left corner of the "New Fax" window. After that, the fax will be sent to the machine number listed in the " To " column or segment.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Fax Modem on a Mac Komputer
Step 1. Make sure you have the right equipment
If you do not have all of the following equipment, you cannot send faxes from a computer and will need to use an online service:
- A multifunction printer that supports sending faxes - Unfortunately, computers with MacOS Sierra (and later) do not support printing from a fax modem. You need to use a printer that supports sending faxes.
- An active telephone network - You will need a phone cord that can be connected to a fax modem. If you do not have a landline network, you cannot send faxes through a computer.
Step 2. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected to the Mac computer
Fax-compatible printers cannot receive fax requests if they are not turned on.
- The printer must also be connected to the telephone network. This means that you may not use the telephone until a fax has been sent and received.
- This method can be followed whether you are printing faxes wirelessly or via a USB cable.
Step 3. Open the document you want to send
Find the document you need to send, then double-click the document to open it.
If you haven't created the document yet, open the required program (eg TextEdit or Word) and write the fax before continuing
Step 4. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 5. Click Print
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File After that, the “Print” window will be opened.
Step 6. Click the “PDF” drop-down box
It's in the lower-left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 7. Click Fax PDF
This option is in the drop-down menu.
If you do not see this option, you cannot send a fax using the current printer. Try sending a fax over the internet instead
Step 8. Select a printer
Click the " Printer " drop-down menu, then select a printer name from the menu.
Step 9. Type in the fax number
Enter the recipient's fax machine number in the " To " field.
Step 10. Add a cover page if necessary
If you want to add a cover page to the fax, check the " Use cover page " box, then enter a subject in the " Subject " field and type the contents of the cover page in the main text field.
Step 11. Click Fax
It's at the bottom of the window. The fax will be sent to the machine number listed in the " To " field.
Method 3 of 3: Using Online Services
Step 1. Open FaxZero
Visit https://faxzero.com/ via your computer's web browser. This service allows you to send a maximum of 5 free faxes daily, with a maximum allowance of 3 pages (and cover) per fax (in total, 15 main pages and 5 cover pages).
You need an email address to send a fax
Step 2. Enter the sender information
Follow these steps in the green "Sender Information" section at the top of the page:
- Type your first and last name into the " Name " field.
- Type your email address into the "Email" field.
- Enter the phone number in the " Phone # " field.
Step 3. Add recipient details
In the blue " Receiver Information " section at the top of the page, follow these steps:
- Type the recipient's name into the "Name" field.
- Enter the recipient's fax machine number in the " Fax # " field.
Step 4. Click Choose Files
It's a gray button below the " Fax Information " heading, in the middle of the page.
Step 5. Select the document
In a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window, locate and single-click the Word or PDF document that you want to fax.
The document must contain three pages (or less)
Step 6. Click Open
It's in the lower-right corner of the file browsing window. The selected file will be uploaded to FaxZero.
If you want to upload another document, click the button “ Choose Files ” and select the desired document. You can add additional documents two more times after uploading the first document, as long as the total number of pages for all documents does not exceed three pages.
Step 7. Add a cover page
If you want to add a cover page to the fax, type the cover information into the text field.
Step 8. Enter the confirmation code
In the " Confirmation Code " field, type the 5 character code that appears at the bottom of the page. With this code, you confirm that you are not a spam service.
Step 9. Scroll down and click Send Free Fax Now
It's in the lower-left corner of the page. The fax will be sent to the specified recipient afterwards.
Tips
- You can also send a fax by email if you want to pay for an account with a premium fax service, such as eFax or RingCentral.
- Remember to use the recipient's fax prefix if necessary.
