How to Send a Fax Online from iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac

If you need to send a document via fax, you may want to know how to send one from your computer. This decades-old document transmission method is, in some cases, preferred over email. Several online fax service providers send and receive faxes without needing access to a fax machine.

In this article, you’ll see the easiest way to send free faxes using FAX.PLUS, eFax, and RingCentral. Plus, you’ll learn how to send and receive faxes via email from various computer operating systems and mobile devices. Let’s get started!

How to Send a Fax From a Computer

There are two ways to send a fax from a computer once you’ve signed up with an online fax service and given a fax number. In the following examples, we’ll use the free faxing service provider FAX.PLUS, and a Gmail account.

To Send from Your Desktop Using the FAX.PLUS App:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS app and navigate to the “Send 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, either select the “Add File” button or add text by selecting “Add Text.”
   
4. The first attachment on the list gets displayed on top at the recipient’s end. Therefore, order your files based on priority if necessary.
   
5. Hit the “Send” button, you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly.
   

To Send From Your Desktop Using Your Gmail or Email Account:

1. Sign 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 “@” symbol, type “fax.plus” e.g. [email protected].
   
4. Enter your content for “Subject” and “Message” as you normally would when sending an email. This step becomes your cover page.
   
5. Select the “paper clip icon” on the bottom, then choose the documents you wish to fax.
   
6. Press “Send.”
   

Note: The above steps apply to any email account, not just Gmail.

How to Send a Fax on a Windows PC

To send a fax via Windows 10:

1. Type “Windows Fax” into the search bar and select the “Windows Fax and Scan” app.
   
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 cover page information if you wish to include one.
5. Choose and attach the files you wish to send.
   
6. Click “Send.”
   

How to Send a Fax on a Mac

For this example, we’ll use RingCentral. It’s excellent for frequent faxing and is compatible with Mojave and Catalina MacOS. To send a fax using RingCentral for the desktop app from your Mac:

1. Download the RingCentral app for Mac.
2. Launch and log in to your account or create one.
3. At the bottom, click on “Compose Fax.”
4. From the “Send Fax” screen, in the “To” field, enter the fax number or the name of your recipient. Alternatively, click on the “Select a Contact” plus sign icon to bring up a list of your contacts.
5. Check the “I want a cover page” option then, select the style you want from the available templates.
6. At “Recipients Details,” complete the information to appear on the cover page.
7. To attach the documents you wish to fax, either drag and drop them into the attachments box or click on the attach file “paper clip” icon.
8. Click on the “Send” button.

How to Send a Fax from an iPhone

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

1. Download the RingCentral app for iPhone.
2. Launch and log in to the RingCentral app, or create an account.
3. At the top right-hand corner, click on the “Compose fax” icon.
4. From the “Fax a document” page, in the “To” field, enter the fax number or name of your recipient. Alternatively, for a list of contacts click on “Contact.”
5. Check the “I want a cover page” box then select the cover page style from the list of available options.
6. Complete and “Save” the cover page details.
7. Click on the “paper clip” icon to attach the file[s] you wish to fax, from either your documents or another file storage service like Dropbox.
8. Click on the “Send Now” button.

How to Send a Fax from an Android Device

For this example, we’ll FAX.PLUS. To send a fax from your Android device:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS app and sign in to your account or create one.
   
2. Navigate to the “Send Fax” tab and enter the recipient in the “To” field.
   
3. To add the documents you wish to fax, you can either scan documents using your phone’s camera or upload from your documents or cloud storage like Google Drive and pCloud.
   
4. Once you’ve finished adding the files, from the top left-hand side, click on the “Gear” icon to select from the following options if required:
   
   • “Scheduled transmitting”
     
   • “Retry”
     
   • “Fax to human operated telefax”
     
   • “Optimize document for fax.”
     
5. Click on “Send.”
   

How to Get a Gmail Fax Number

You’ll need to sign up with an online fax service provider likeFAX.PLUS, eFax, or RingCentral to get a Gmail fax number. During the sign-up process, you’ll need to select the type of number you want to link to your Gmail address. E.g., A toll-free or local fax number.

Once the fax company has linked your Gmail account to your new fax number, you’ll 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 free faxes from your desktop using a free FAX.PLUS account:

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS app and navigate to the “Send 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, either select the “Add File” button and/or add text by selecting “Add Text.”
   
4. The first attachment on the list will be displayed on top at the recipient’s end, therefore, order your files based on priority if necessary.
5. Hit the “Send” button; you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly.
   

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

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS app then select “Send 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, either select the “Add File” button and/or add text by selecting “Add Text.”
   
4. Click on “Add File” and choose from the following options:
   • “Camera” – will launch your camera to take and send a picture.
   • “Storage” – will launch file manager to select a file from your documents.
   • “Google Drive” or “Dropbox” to select your files from there, you’ll need to confirm access to your accounts and log in. The first attachment on the list will be displayed on top at the recipient’s end, therefore, order your files based on priority if necessary.
5. Hit the “Send” button, you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly.
   

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

1. Launch the FAX.PLUS app then select “Send 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, either select the “Add File” button and/or add text by selecting “Add Text.”
   
4. Click on “Add File” and choose from the following options:
   • “Camera” – will launch your camera to take and send a picture.
   • “Storage” – will launch file manager to select a file from your documents.
   • “Google Drive” or “Dropbox” to select your files from there, you’ll need to confirm access to your accounts and log in. The first attachment on the list will be displayed on top at the recipient’s end, therefore, order your files based on priority if necessary.
5. Hit the “Send” button, you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly.
   

Internet Faxing Without a Fax Machine

In some cases, internet faxing is a preferred method for sending documents, and you don’t need a dedicated phone line and fax machine to achieve it. The benefits include file attachments arriving malware and virus-free and large files coming a lot quicker than email.

Now that you’ve learned how easy it is to send a fax from your computer and mobile device, which method do you prefer; fax or email? Why do you like this method? We’d love to hear your thoughts; let us know in the comments section below.

Online Fax FAQs

What Is a Google Fax Number?

A “Google fax number” is the name given to an online-based fax number associated with your Gmail account. They don’t get generated by Google but get assigned by the fax service provider.

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

How Do I Receive a Fax to my Computer?

To receive faxes via your computer:

1. Launch the app you are using, but ensure you have a plan that allows you to receive faxes.

2. Wait to be notified of the incoming fax, e.g., ringing fax line.

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

4. When the transmission is complete, the fax will display.