How to send a fax online from a computer

If you need to fax a document, you might want to know how to send one from your computer. This decades-old method of transmitting documents is, in some cases, preferred over email. There are several online fax service providers to send and receive faxes without needing access to a fax machine.

In this article, we'll show you the easiest way to send free faxes using FAX.PLUS, eFax, and RingCentral. Additionally, you will learn how to send and receive faxes via email from various computer operating systems and mobile devices.

How to send a fax from a computer

There are two ways to do this once you have signed up for an online fax service and given a fax number. In the following examples, we will use the free fax service provider FAX.PLUS, and a Gmail account:

To send from your desktop using the FAX.PLUS application:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS application and go to the “Send a fax” section.
   
2. In the "To" field, enter the recipient's fax number (country code + area code + fax number).
   
3. To add the documents you wish to fax, select the "Add File" button and/or add text by selecting "Add Text".
   
4. The first attachment in the list will be displayed at the top end of the recipient, so sort your files according to priority if necessary.
   
5. Press the "Send" button, you will shortly receive a confirmation email.
   

To send from your desktop using your Gmail account:

1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. Select "Compose".
   
3. In the "To" field, enter the recipient's fax number (country code + area code + fax number); then after the "@", enter "fax.plus", e.g. [email protected].
   
4. Enter your subject and message as you normally would when sending an email. This will be your cover page.
   
5. Select the paperclip icon at the bottom to choose the documents you want to fax.
   
6. Press "Send".
   

Notes: The above steps can be applied to any email account.

How to send a fax on a Windows PC

To send a fax via Windows 10:

1. To access the fax application, type “Windows Fax and Scan” in the search bar and open the application.
   
2. At the top of the window, in the toolbar, select “New fax”.
   
3. In the "To" field, enter the recipient's fax number.
   
4. Complete the information on the cover page if you want to include one.
5. Choose and attach the files you want to send.
   
6. Click on "Send".
   

How to send a fax on a Mac

In this example, we will use RingCentral. It is ideal for frequent faxing and is compatible with Mojave and Catalina macOS. To send a fax using the RingCentral for desktop app from your Mac:

1. Launch and log in to the RingCentral app.
2. At the bottom, click on “Compose a fax”.
3. From the "Send a Fax" screen, in the "To" field, enter the fax number or name of your recipient. You can also click the plus sign icon "Select Contact" to view a list of your contacts.
4. Check the "I want a cover page" option, then select the style you want from the available templates.
5. In "Recipient Details", complete the details so that they appear on the cover page.
6. To attach the documents you want to fax, drag and drop them into the attachments area or click the attachment paperclip icon.
7. Click on the “Send” button.

How to send a fax from an iPhone

In this example, we will use RingCentral. To send a fax from your iPhone using the RingCentral mobile app:

1. Launch and log in to the RingCentral app.
2. In the upper right corner, click on the “Compose fax” icon.
3. From the “Fax a document” page, in the “To” field, enter the fax number or the name of your recipient. Alternatively, for a list of contacts, click on “Contact”.
4. Check the "I want a cover page" box, then select the cover page style from the list of available options.
5. Complete and “Save” the Cover Page details.
6. Click the paperclip icon to attach the file[s] you want to fax, from your documents or another file storage service like Dropbox.
7. Click the "Send Now" button.

How to send a fax from an Android device

For this example, we're going to FAX.PLUS. To send a fax from your Android device:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS application and log in to your account.
   
2. Go to the "Send a fax" tab and enter the recipient in the "To" field.
   
3. To add the documents you want to fax, you can either scan documents using your phone's camera or upload them from your documents or file storage services such as Google Drive and Dropbox.
   
4. Once you're done adding the files, in the top left, click the gear icon to select from the following options if needed:
   
   • "Scheduled Transmission"
     
   • "Try again"
     
   • "Fax to a human-operated fax machine" or,
     
   • "Optimize the document for fax." »
     
5. Click on "Send".
   

How to send a fax by e-mail

In this example, we will use RingCentral. To send a fax through a Gmail account with RingCentral:

1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. Select "Compose".
   
3. In the "To" field, enter the recipient's fax number, then after the "@", enter rcfax.com for example [email protected].
   
4. Enter your subject and message as you normally would when sending an email. This will be your cover page.
   
5. Then select the paperclip icon at the bottom of the compose area to choose the documents you want to fax.
   
6. Then press "Send".
   

How to get a Gmail fax number

To get a Gmail fax number, you need to register with an online fax service provider like FAX.PLUS e-Fax or RingCentral. During the registration process, you will need to select the type of number you want associated with your Gmail address. For example, a toll-free or local fax number.

Once the fax company has linked your Gmail account to your new fax number, you will be able to send faxes from your Gmail account and access incoming faxes from your inbox or the service provider's app.

How to send a fax for free

To send a free fax from your office using a FAX.PLUS account:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS application and go to the “Send a fax” section.
   
2. In the “To” field, enter the recipient[s] fax number, (country code + area code + fax number).
   
3. To add the documents you wish to fax, select the "Add File" button and/or add text by selecting "Add Text".
   
4. The first attachment in the list will be displayed at the top end of the recipient, so sort your files according to priority if necessary.
5. Press the "Send" button; you will receive a confirmation email shortly.
   

To send a free fax from your iPhone using a free FAX.PLUS account:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS application then select “Send a fax”.
   
2. In the “To” field, enter the recipient[s] fax number, (country code + area code + fax number).
   
3. To add the documents you wish to fax, select the "Add File" button and/or add text by selecting "Add Text".
   
4. Click "Add File" and choose from the following options:
   • “Camera” – will launch your camera to take and send a photo.
   • “Storage” – will launch the file manager to select a file from your documents.
   • "Google Drive" or "Dropbox" to select your files from there, you will need to confirm access to your accounts and log in. The first attachment in the list will be displayed at the top end of the recipient, so order your files according to priority if necessary.
5. Press the "Send" button, you will shortly receive a confirmation email.
   

To send a free fax from your Android using a free FAX.PLUS account:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS application then select “Send a fax”.
   
2. In the “To” field, enter the recipient[s] fax number, (country code + area code + fax number).
   
3. To add the documents you wish to fax, select the "Add File" button and/or add text by selecting "Add Text".
   
4. Click "Add File" and choose from the following options:
   • “Camera” – will launch your camera to take and send a photo.
   • “Storage” – will launch the file manager to select a file from your documents.
   • "Google Drive" or "Dropbox" to select your files from there, you will need to confirm access to your accounts and log in. The first attachment in the list will be displayed at the top end of the recipient, so order your files according to priority if necessary.
5. Press the "Send" button, you will shortly receive a confirmation email.
   

Additional FAQs

What is a Google fax number?

A "Google fax number" is the name given to an online fax number associated with your Gmail account. They are not generated by Google but assigned by the fax service provider.

You need a fax number when sending one from your Gmail address, and the account you're sending from must be the same as the account associated with your Google fax number.

How do I receive a fax on my computer?

To receive a fax via your computer:

1. Launch the application you are using.

2. Wait to be notified of an incoming fax, for example a ringing fax line.

3. Once this happens, the app will automatically respond to receive the fax.

4. When the transmission is complete, the fax is displayed.

Internet fax without fax machine

In some cases, Internet faxing is a preferred method for sending documents, and you don't need a dedicated phone line or fax machine to accomplish this. Benefits include attachments arriving malware and virus free, and large files arriving much faster than emails.

Now that you know how easy it is to send a fax from your computer and mobile device, which method do you prefer? fax or e-mail? Why do you prefer this method? We would love to hear your thoughts; Let us know in the comments section below.