Home windows Fax and Scan, a built-in utility within the Home windows working system, lets you ship and obtain faxes with out a fax machine.
It helps numerous doc varieties, together with Phrase paperwork, PDFs, pictures, spreadsheets, and extra. This instrument additionally allows admins to handle a number of fax machines, multifunction printers (MFPs), or fax servers via one centralized program.
So when you’re able to simplify the faxing course of with a free and simple instrument, let’s check out tips on how to use Home windows Fax and Scan in simply seven easy steps.
Vital: With a view to use Home windows Fax and Scan, your laptop should have a built-in fax modem or you will have to attach an exterior fax modem. I’ll say extra about this as we go, however in case you are in a rush, you possibly can use a web based fax service to ship paperwork from a tool with out a fax modem.
Home windows Fax and Scan setup
The helpful fax and scan instrument has been a part of the Home windows household for fairly a while, stretching its compatibility from Home windows Vista proper as much as the newest Home windows model. Whether or not you’re new to digital faxing or a seasoned professional, enabling Home windows Fax and Scan is simple.
First, let’s discuss what you could get began. The Home windows Fax and Scan software program requires a fax modem. This little piece of {hardware} turns your laptop right into a fax machine.
However earlier than you begin rummaging via your laptop’s inner mechanisms, you’ll wish to work out if you have already got one built-in to your laptop or laptop computer.
Checking for a built-in fax modem
You’ll find out if you have already got a built-in modem by checking your laptop system, and the method is fairly easy:
- Hit the Begin button in your laptop.
- Sort Machine Supervisor into the search bar and press Enter.
- Within the Machine Supervisor, search for a class named Modems, and click on on it to see what’s listed.
If there isn’t a class for modems, it means you don’t have one built-in.
Most newer laptops and computer systems don’t include a fax modem, so don’t be stunned when you can’t discover something in machine supervisor.
Organising an exterior fax modem
In the event you discover your laptop doesn’t have an inner fax modem, there are nonetheless a few choices obtainable. You possibly can simply discover exterior fax modems, typically as USB units, or as a card that may be put in into your laptop’s PCI slot.
This received’t be an enormous funding, as exterior modems might be discovered for beneath $20.
In the event you’re happening the exterior modem route, right here’s a fast information:
- Verify the producer handbook: It’s at all times a good suggestion to look via the handbook that comes with the modem, particularly to grasp any particular set up directions.
- Buy the modem: You’ll find USB or card fax modems on-line or at your native electronics retailer.
- USB set up: Merely plug the modem right into a USB port in your laptop. In case your modem comes with a driver CD, be sure to put in the drivers.
- Modem card set up: In case you have a modem card, shut down your laptop and set up the cardboard in an obtainable PCI slot. Restart your laptop, and you need to be good to go.
Keep in mind, meddling together with your laptop’s {hardware} can generally have an effect on your guarantee. So, when you’re not comfy with the DIY strategy, searching for skilled help is a smart transfer. It could price a bit extra to have somebody set up a modem card for you, nevertheless it’s higher than damaging your laptop.
It’s also possible to keep away from all the difficulty through the use of a web based fax service, or downloading an app to be able to ship a fax from an iPhone or Android telephone.
Organising Home windows Fax and Scan
To start out faxing, you have to first hyperlink a telephone line to your laptop through a fax modem and activate the Fax and Scan software program. The best manner to do that is to attach a landline to your laptop within the acceptable jack, or to the jack situated on the exterior fax modem.
Upon getting your line arrange, observe these steps to ensure Home windows Fax and Scan is able to work together with your fax modem and communication line:
- Start by looking for Fax and Scan within the Home windows search bar. Choose the Home windows Fax and Scan app that seems within the outcomes.
- In your first go to to Home windows Fax and Scan, you’ll must arrange your modem so as to ship correspondences. To do that, navigate to the Instruments menu within the Home windows Fax and Scan utility.
- Inside the Instruments menu, go to Fax Accounts.
- Within the Fax Accounts window, click on on Add.
- You’ll then see a Fax Setup dialog field, the place you must select to Connect with a fax modem. Choose this feature and your pre-installed modem ought to seem.
Upon connecting your fax modem to your PC, the mandatory drivers ought to be put in robotically. In the event that they don’t, observe the directions offered together with your fax modem for correct set up.
Computerized vs handbook fax calls
After choosing your fax modem, full the set up. It’s possible you’ll be requested to decide on how the telephone line will reply calls — robotically or manually.
In the event you go for Computerized, the fax utility will robotically reply incoming calls and obtain faxes. If you choose Handbook, you’ll must manually choose Obtain a Fax Now within the Home windows Fax and Scan app every time you want to obtain a fax.
Seven steps to ship a fax with Home windows Fax and Scan
As soon as your laptop is provided to ship and obtain faxes through Home windows Fax and Scan, navigating the software program turns into fairly easy.
If you could fax a verify or another vital doc, take into account sending a free take a look at fax as a low-stakes technique to make it possible for every thing is working appropriately.
Right here’s a walkthrough that makes it a breeze to ship your first fax with Home windows:
Step 1: Provoke a brand new fax

Open the Home windows Fax and Scan software program and choose the New Fax choice.
Step 2: Enter the recipient’s fax quantity

Within the New Fax window that seems, key within the fax variety of your meant recipient within the ‘To’ subject. You even have the choice to click on ‘To’ to open your handle guide and select a recipient from there.
Step 3: Incorporate a canopy web page

In the event you want to embody a canopy web page together with your fax, this feature is conveniently situated simply above the ‘To’ line within the fax kind. Be happy to make use of these fax cowl sheet templates.
Step 4: Fill within the topic line

Subsequent up, present a topic to your fax. This subject is located above the primary physique of the message on the left aspect.
Step 5: Enter your message

Proceed to sort within the info you wish to fax in the primary physique of the fax kind.
A formatting toolbar on the prime of the doc space lets you format textual content, introduce hyperlinks, or embed pictures in your fax doc.
Step 6: Add further paperwork or media

It’s also possible to add scanned paperwork or connect recordsdata by clicking the toolbar situated on the prime of the fax kind. Choose Insert to open a dropdown of things.
Step 7: Click on ship

When you find yourself prepared, click on Ship to dispatch your fax. This button is situated within the higher proper nook of the window.
SEE: Attempt these suggestions in case your fax received’t undergo, and bear in mind to make sure that the fax header info is correct.
How you can obtain a fax with Home windows Fax and Scan
With Home windows Fax and Scan, you’ve the flexibleness to arrange fax receiving both robotically or manually.
In the event you select the automated choice, the software program will robotically reply incoming calls and obtain faxes with out your intervention.
That is helpful when you incessantly obtain faxes. Nevertheless, if you need extra management over the reception of faxes or don’t obtain them typically, you possibly can select the handbook choice.
How you can manually obtain a fax with Home windows Fax and Scan
To manually obtain faxes utilizing the fax service when the telephone rings, make sure that the Home windows Fax and Scan utility is open.
- Launch Home windows Fax and Scan.
- Click on on the Fax choice situated within the decrease left panel.
- Now navigate to the Instruments menu within the upper-left-hand nook of the applying.
- From the toolbar, select Obtain a Fax Now. This allows your laptop to simply accept incoming faxes when the telephone line rings.
How you can robotically obtain a fax with Home windows Fax and Scan
If you wish to arrange the automated reception of faxes, observe these steps:
- Go to Instruments, then select Fax Settings.
- Within the Normal tab, confirm that the Permit machine to obtain fax calls choice is chosen beneath Ship / Obtain Choices.
- Then discover Robotically Reply after _ Rings, and enter the specified variety of rings earlier than the fax service responds, after which click on Okay.
This can robotically allow your laptop to obtain incoming faxes with none handbook intervention.
As you possibly can see, Home windows Fax and Scan affords a user-friendly technique to ship and obtain faxes utilizing your laptop. With these easy steps, you possibly can simply arrange the software program for efficient fax communication.
There are further options of Home windows Fax and Scan, akin to making a contact checklist or customized cowl pages. Ensure to take the time to check and familiarize your self with the software program to make sure clean and environment friendly faxing sooner or later.
Keep in mind — fax is simply as safe as your community. Like some other type of communication, it may be hacked and account credentials might be compromised. Comply with primary community safety finest practices and take further care if faxing whereas related to public networks.