The fastest way to fax from your computer
You can fax directly from your computer using an online fax service, your printer's built-in fax feature, or fax software. The easiest route for most people is an online fax service like FaxZero, HelloFax, or eFax, which lets you upload a document and send it to any fax number in minutes. If your printer has a fax modem and you still have a phone line connected to it, you can also fax through your printer's software without paying anything. A third option is fax software installed on your computer, though this requires either a fax modem or a subscription to an online service.
The method you choose depends on how often you fax, whether you want to keep costs down, and what equipment you already have. One-time faxes are cheapest through a free service. Regular faxing makes a paid subscription worthwhile because you get a dedicated fax number and can receive faxes too.
Key Takeaways
- Online fax services are the fastest option for occasional faxing and require no special equipment beyond your computer and internet connection.
- If your printer has a fax modem and an active phone line, you can fax for free using your printer's software without any subscription.
- Free online services like FaxZero let you send one or two faxes at no cost, but paid services offer more pages per month and a dedicated fax number.
- You need either the document already in digital form (PDF, Word, image) or a scanner to convert a paper document before you can fax from your computer.
Using an online fax service for one-time or occasional faxes
Online fax services are the simplest option if you fax rarely. Services like FaxZero, eFax, and HelloFax let you log in through a web browser, upload a document, enter the recipient's fax number, and send within minutes. FaxZero allows one fax per day at no cost (up to three pages), which covers most single documents. If you need to send more than one fax or more than three pages, you pay per fax—usually between $1 and $3 per transmission.
To use an online service, you need the document in digital form. If you have a paper document, scan it first using a scanner or your phone's camera and a scanning app like Adobe Scan or Microsoft Lens. Save the scanned file as a PDF or image file. Then log into the fax service, click the upload button, select your file, type in the fax number (including the area code), and send. The service handles the rest—it converts your file to fax format and transmits it over the internet to the recipient's fax machine.
The main advantage is speed and simplicity. You do not need to install software, own a fax machine, or have a phone line. The main drawback is that you cannot receive faxes through these free services, and you have no record of your fax number for others to send to. If you need a dedicated fax number or want to receive incoming faxes, move to a paid subscription.
Faxing through your printer if it has a fax modem
Many printers built in the last 15 years have a fax modem inside, which means they can send and receive faxes over a phone line without any internet service or subscription. To check whether your printer has this feature, look at the back of the printer for a phone jack (it looks like the jack on a telephone cord). If you see one and you still have an active phone line running to that location, you can fax for free using your printer's software.
To fax through your printer, open the document you want to send on your computer. Go to File > Print, and instead of selecting your regular printer, look for an option that says "Fax" or "Print to Fax" in the printer dropdown menu. Click that option, enter the recipient's fax number, and send. Your printer will dial the number over the phone line and transmit the document. The whole process takes two to five minutes depending on the document size.
This method works only if you have a phone line physically connected to your printer and your phone service includes fax capability (most residential lines do). If you have switched to internet-only phone service or removed the phone line, this option is not available. Also, faxing through a printer ties up your phone line during transmission, so you cannot use the phone at the same time.
Using fax software on your computer
Fax software installed directly on your computer is another option, though it requires either a fax modem in your computer (rare in modern machines) or a subscription to an online fax service. Windows and Mac both come with basic fax software built in, but it only works if your computer has a fax modem, which most laptops and desktops no longer have.
If you want dedicated fax software with a subscription, services like eFax, Nextiva, and RingCentral offer desktop applications that let you send and receive faxes directly from your computer. You install the software, log in with your account, and fax from within the process. These services typically cost $10 to $30 per month and include a dedicated fax number, cloud storage for your faxes, and the ability to receive incoming faxes. They are worth the cost if you fax regularly for work.
Preparing your document before you fax
Before you send a fax from your computer, make sure your document is in a format the fax service or software can read. Most services accept PDF files, Word documents (.docx), images (.jpg, .png), and scanned documents. If you have a paper document, you must scan it first.
To scan a paper document, use a flatbed scanner connected to your computer, or use your smartphone camera with a scanning app. Adobe Scan (free on iOS and Android) and Microsoft Lens (free on iOS and Android) both turn photos into clean, readable PDFs. Take a photo of each page in good lighting, straighten the image if needed, and save the PDF. Then upload that PDF to your fax service or software.
Check that the document is readable before you send. Faxes are lower quality than email, so dark text on a light background works best. If your document has very small text or faint printing, the recipient may have trouble reading it. Test by sending a sample page first if you are unsure.
Comparing costs and features across methods
| Method | Cost | Speed | Can receive faxes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free online service (FaxZero) | Free (1 fax/day, 3 pages max) | 2–5 minutes | No | One-time faxes |
| Paid online service (eFax, HelloFax) | $1–$3 per fax or $10–$30/month | 2–5 minutes | Yes (with subscription) | Regular faxing, need a fax number |
| Printer fax modem | Free (if you have a phone line) | 3–10 minutes | Yes | Occasional faxing, already own printer with modem |
| Fax software subscription | $10–$30/month | 2–5 minutes | Yes | Frequent business faxing |
Troubleshooting common fax problems
If your fax does not go through, the most common reason is an incorrect fax number. Double-check that you entered the number with the correct area code and no extra spaces or dashes. Fax numbers are 10 digits in North America (area code plus seven-digit number). If the number is correct, the recipient's fax machine may be offline, out of paper, or not accepting incoming faxes.
If you are faxing through your printer and the transmission fails, make sure your phone line is active and connected to the back of the printer. Listen for a dial tone by picking up a phone on the same line. If there is no dial tone, contact your phone provider. If you hear a dial tone but the fax still fails, restart your printer and try again.
For online fax services, if the upload fails, try converting your document to PDF format first. Some services have trouble with certain Word or image formats. If the fax sends but the recipient says it arrived unreadable, the document may have been too dark or too light. Rescan or adjust the brightness and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fax from my phone instead of my computer?
Yes. Most smartphones have fax apps like eFax, FaxBurner, or Adobe Scan that work the same way as computer faxing. You take a photo of the document, upload it to the app, and send to a fax number. The process is identical to computer faxing, just on a smaller screen.
Do I need a fax machine to receive faxes on my computer?
No. If you use an online fax service with a paid subscription, incoming faxes arrive as email attachments or PDFs in your account. You read them on your computer without owning a fax machine. If you use your printer's fax modem, the printer receives the fax and you can view it on your computer through the printer's software.
What if the recipient's fax number is outside the United States?
Most online fax services support international faxing, but the cost is higher—usually $3 to $5 per fax instead of $1 to $2. Enter the full international number including the country code (for example, +44 for the United Kingdom). Check the service's pricing page to confirm they support the destination country before you send.
Is faxing from my computer find?
Online fax services encrypt your documents in transit and at rest, which is as find as sending a fax through a traditional fax machine. However, the recipient receives the fax on their end, so security depends on how they handle it. If you are sending sensitive information, confirm the recipient has a find fax machine or ask them to receive it as an email instead.
Can I schedule a fax to send at a specific time?
Some paid online fax services like eFax and HelloFax let you schedule faxes to send at a later time or date. Free services typically do not offer this feature. Check your service's settings or help page to see if scheduling is available on your plan.