HP All-in-One Printer with Fax: Setup, Pricing & Alternatives

By Michael Chen · Published March 23, 2026 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 8 min read

Quick Answer: HP all-in-one printers with fax are found exclusively in the OfficeJet Pro and LaserJet Pro MFP lines (look for "f" in the model name). All require an analog phone line — but HP Smart app's Mobile Fax sends over the internet with no phone line. For full send-and-receive without any hardware, use mFax.to.

An HP all-in-one printer with fax sounds convenient — and it can be. But only specific HP models include built-in fax hardware, setup requires an analog phone line that many homes no longer have, and VoIP compatibility issues trip up even experienced users. On top of the hardware requirements, HP now offers two software-based fax methods that work entirely over the internet — no phone line at all.

This guide covers every HP fax method, what each one costs, the exact steps to use it, and when it makes more sense to skip the printer entirely and send your fax from your phone with mFax.to.

Which HP Printers Support Faxing

Not every HP printer can fax. The fastest way to tell: look for the letter "f" in the model name.

• "f" = fax built in (e.g., HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdn)
• "fd" = fax + automatic duplex printing
• "fdw" = fax + duplex + wireless
• "fdwe" = fax + duplex + wireless + HP+ enrollment (requires Instant Ink)

Models with built-in fax include:

HP enterprise LaserJets (5800 series and above) often offer fax as an optional hardware accessory rather than a built-in feature — check your model's spec sheet before assuming.

Method 1 — Send a Fax from the HP Printer Control Panel

This is the traditional method. It uses an analog phone line plugged directly into the back of the printer.

What you need: An HP printer with "f" in the model name, and a working analog phone line connected to the 1-LINE port.

Step by step:

1. Load your document — face-down on the scanner glass for a single page, face-up in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for multiple pages.
2. On the printer's touchscreen, tap Fax.
3. Select Send Now (or Send Fax, depending on your model).
4. Enter the recipient's fax number using the keypad. Include the area code. For international faxes, dial 011 + country code + number.
5. To add a cover page: tap Cover Page, enter a subject line and message.
6. Tap Start Black or Start Color to begin.
7. The printer dials, handshakes, and transmits. A fax confirmation report prints automatically when the transmission completes.

Method 2 — Send a Fax via HP Printer Software (Windows / Mac)

If your HP printer is connected to your computer, you can send faxes directly from your desktop:

1. Open the HP printer software (search for your printer model in the Start menu or Applications folder on Mac).
2. Click Send a Fax in the main dashboard.
3. In the Send Fax window, attach the document you want to fax.
4. Enter the recipient's fax number.
5. Fill in cover page details if needed.
6. Click Send.

The software queues the fax and routes it through the printer's phone line connection. Delivery status appears in the software when the transmission is complete.

Method 3 — HP Mobile Fax (HP Smart App, No Phone Line)

HP Mobile Fax is the internet-based option built into the HP Smart app. It requires no phone line and no fax hardware — just an HP account and an internet connection.

How to use HP Mobile Fax:

1. Download the HP Smart app (iOS, Android, Windows, or macOS).
2. Log into your HP account (free to create).
3. Tap Mobile Fax from the home screen tiles. If it isn't visible, go to Personalize Tiles and enable it.
4. Select your document — PDF only, up to 50 pages or 20 MB per fax.
5. Enter the recipient's fax number (standard 10-digit US number; VoIP destination numbers are not supported).
6. Add a cover page with subject and message if needed.
7. Tap Send. The fax transmits over a TLS-encrypted internet connection.

Key limitations of HP Mobile Fax:

• Send-only — you cannot receive incoming faxes through HP Mobile Fax.
• PDF only — other file formats must be converted before sending.
• No VoIP destination numbers — the receiving fax machine must be on a traditional phone line.
• Currently free — HP provides 30 days' notice before any paid tier begins.

For more options on internet-based faxing, see our guide: How to Fax Without a Phone Line.

HP Digital Fax — Receive Faxes Without Printing

HP Digital Fax is a separate feature on supported HP OfficeJet Pro models. When enabled, it automatically forwards incoming faxes to your email address or a shared network folder as a PDF or TIFF — without printing them on paper.

This eliminates wasted ink and paper for every incoming document, and lets you access received faxes from any device.

How to enable HP Digital Fax:

1. From the printer's control panel, navigate to Setup > Fax Setup > Digital Fax Setup.
2. Choose Fax to Email or Fax to Network Folder.
3. Enter your email address or the folder path.
4. Save and run a test fax to confirm delivery.

One important caveat: HP Digital Fax only forwards black-and-white faxes digitally. Incoming color faxes are still printed on the machine.

HP Fax Pricing: What It Actually Costs

HP fax isn't free even when you own a compatible printer. The real cost includes hardware, consumables, and an ongoing phone line:

Does faxing use ink? Sending a fax does not consume ink — only the confirmation report page uses ink. However, received faxes that print on the machine do use ink and likely count against your HP Instant Ink page allowance. Enable HP Digital Fax to receive faxes without printing and protect your Instant Ink budget.

For a broader look at what faxing costs across all methods, see: Fax Cost Per Page: What to Expect.

Setting Up HP Fax for the First Time

If you just got an HP printer or have never configured its fax, complete this setup before your first transmission. A full walk-through is in our guide: How to Set Up a Fax Machine.

Quick checklist:

1. Connect the phone cord to the 1-LINE port on the back of the printer. The 2-EXT port is for an extension phone or answering machine — not for the wall jack.
2. Run the Fax Setup Wizard: Setup > Fax Setup Wizard on the control panel.
3. Set the fax header — your name (or company name) and fax number. US law requires this on all outgoing faxes.
4. Set the correct date and time when prompted.
5. Run a fax test: Setup > Tools > Run Fax Test. The printer prints a report showing pass/fail for each component.

Common HP Fax Problems and Fixes

To disable Error Correction Mode (ECM): Setup > Advanced Fax Setup > Error Correction Mode > Off. This sometimes resolves VoIP and poor-line issues, at the cost of slightly reduced fax quality.

For more systematic troubleshooting, see: Fax Not Going Through? Here's How to Fix It.

When HP Fax Gets Complicated — Use mFax.to Instead

HP fax works well — when the conditions are right. But most people run into at least one barrier: a VoIP phone line that doesn't cooperate with analog fax hardware, an Instant Ink plan eating into the budget with every received document, or simply the overhead of maintaining a phone line for the occasional fax.

For anyone who needs to send a fax without the hardware setup, mFax.to is the faster path:

• No phone line or printer required
• Upload a PDF or scan with your phone camera
• Enter the fax number and send — delivery confirmation included
• Works on iPhone, Android, and any web browser
• Cheaper per fax than maintaining a dedicated phone line for occasional use

For personal faxing, try mFax.to — send your fax in under 2 minutes from anywhere.

For business teams, mFax Business starts at about $9/mo (billed annually) with a virtual fax number, HIPAA-ready features, and a shared dashboard — no hardware required. You build your own plan, choosing the exact seats and pages you need with a live calculator and paying only for what you use, rather than being locked into rigid fixed tiers.

Online Fax Alternatives to HP

For ongoing fax needs — especially receiving faxes or sending in volume — an online service gives more flexibility than HP's hardware-dependent setup:

Online fax services also give you a dedicated inbound fax number — something HP Mobile Fax cannot provide. Incoming faxes go straight to your email, and there's no ink, paper, or phone line to maintain.

For a full comparison, see: Best Business Fax Services: Top Picks for 2026.

HP Fax: Summary

HP offers three distinct ways to fax:

1. Traditional fax via phone line — built into OfficeJet Pro and LaserJet Pro MFP models with "f" in the name. Requires an analog line ($15–$30/month), which is increasingly uncommon in modern offices.
2. HP Mobile Fax (HP Smart app) — free, internet-based, no phone line or printer required. Send-only, PDF only, up to 50 pages per fax.
3. HP Digital Fax — automatically routes incoming faxes to email or a network folder, eliminating paper and ink for every received document.

If the phone line requirement is a barrier — or you just need to send one fax without the setup overhead — mFax.to gets it done from your phone in under 2 minutes. No hardware. No subscription required to start.