How to Fax From Windows 10: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

By Alexey Spasskiy · Published May 30, 2025 · Updated September 18, 2026 · 15 min read

Quick answer: The fastest way to fax from Windows 10 is mFax for Windows — a free native app on the Microsoft Store. Install it, drag your document in, type the fax number, and send over the internet. No modem, no phone line. Prefer not to install anything? The same account works at mFax.to in any browser. If you need the built-in route, Windows 10 includes Windows Fax and Scan, but it requires a USB fax modem (~$25–$50) and an analog phone line.

Faxing from Windows 10 is more straightforward than most people expect — but only once you know which method fits your setup. The built-in Windows Fax and Scan app still exists, yet it demands hardware that most modern PCs simply don't have. Since August 2026 there is also a proper desktop answer: mFax for Windows, a native app you install from the Microsoft Store that faxes over the internet instead of over a phone line.

This guide walks through every working method in 2026 — from the zero-hardware desktop app to the classic Windows Fax and Scan workflow — so you can pick the one that matches what you already have.

Which Method Is Right for You?

Before diving into the steps, use this quick selector to jump to the right section:

Method 1: mFax for Windows (the Native Desktop App)

This method requires: A Windows 10 PC (version 17763.0 or higher), an internet connection, and an mFax account. No modem. No phone line. No printer driver.

For years the honest answer to "which fax app should I install on Windows?" was "none — use a browser." That changed on 10 August 2026, when mFax for Windows shipped on the Microsoft Store. It is a real desktop application — listed as mFax - Send and Receive FAX, published by Octagon Lab under Utilities & tools — and it sends faxes over the internet, so none of the Windows Fax and Scan hardware applies.

It is free to install (about a 46 MB download). Sending faxes and getting your own fax number require a subscription — the first 7 days are free, then $7.99/month. For the app documented on its own — store facts, every supported file type, the full limits — see our mFax for Windows guide.

Steps to Send a Fax from Windows 10 Using mFax for Windows

Receiving Faxes in the Windows App

The desktop app receives as well as sends. You can claim your own fax number from inside the app — pick a country, then a state or area, and filter the available numbers by the digits you want. Incoming faxes land in the app and open in a proper desktop PDF viewer with zoom, fit-to-width, fit-to-page, rotation and page thumbnails. Every transmission, in or out, is tracked in your history.

If several people need to work the same fax line, you can create an organization inside the app, invite colleagues by email, and share one workspace, number and fax history — then switch between your personal and organization workspace from the same window.

For a wider look at what else is available on the platform, see our roundup of the best fax software for Windows.

Method 2: Use an Online Fax Service in Your Browser

This method requires: A Windows 10 PC, any web browser, and internet access. No modem. No phone line. No additional software.

Online fax services convert your digital file into a fax signal and send it over the internet. The recipient's fax machine receives it like any other fax — they never know you didn't use a physical machine. It is the right method if you are on a locked-down work PC where you cannot install from the Microsoft Store, or if you only fax once or twice a year and would rather not install anything at all.

mFax.to is the most straightforward option: upload, enter a fax number, send. You get a delivery receipt, and the whole process takes under two minutes. It is the same account as the desktop app, so faxes you send in the browser show up in the Windows app's history too.

Steps to Send a Fax from Windows 10 Using mFax.to

Method 3: Windows Fax and Scan (Built-in App)

Windows 10 ships with a free fax application called Windows Fax and Scan — still the only fax program that is built into Windows itself. It has been part of Windows since Vista and works in 2026 — but only if you have the right hardware. Our dedicated Windows Fax and Scan guide covers the app in more depth.

What You Need

• A USB fax modem — internal modems were removed from laptops over a decade ago. You need an external USB device. Recommended models include the USRobotics USR5637 ($30) or the HiRO H50113 ($25). Plug it into any USB port and Windows 10 installs the driver automatically.
• An analog (POTS) phone line — this is the traditional copper landline from a phone company. VoIP lines (Vonage, Ooma, Spectrum Voice) do not reliably work with fax modems because they convert signals to digital packets, causing transmission errors.

How to Set Up Windows Fax and Scan

1. Find the app — press Windows + S and type Windows Fax and Scan. Click the result to open it.
2. Connect your modem — plug the USB fax modem into your PC and connect its phone jack to the wall jack with a standard phone cable.
3. Open Fax Accounts — in the app, go to Tools → Fax Accounts → Add.
4. Choose your modem — select Connect to a fax modem. Windows detects the attached device automatically. Name the account and click Next.
5. Test the line — dial your own number or a test fax service to confirm the modem picks up a dial tone. If you hear nothing, check that the phone line is plugged into the LINE port on the modem, not the PHONE port.

How to Send a Fax with Windows Fax and Scan

Once your modem is configured:

1. Click New Fax in the toolbar.
2. In the To field, enter the recipient's name and fax number.
3. Click the Attachments paperclip icon to add your document. Windows converts it to a fax-compatible format automatically.
4. Add a subject and any cover page notes.
5. Click Send. The modem dials the number and transmits the document. The status bar shows progress, and a delivery confirmation appears when done.

To receive faxes, go to Tools → Fax Settings and turn on Allow the device to receive fax calls. The modem must be connected and the app must be open (or running in the background) to receive.

Method 4: Send a Fax from Outlook on Windows 10

If you work in a corporate environment or subscribe to a fax service that supports email-to-fax, you can send faxes directly from Microsoft Outlook without any additional software.

How Email-to-Fax Works

Your fax service assigns a gateway email address in the format:

[faxnumber]@[provider-gateway-domain]

For example, to send a fax to 5551234567 through a hypothetical provider:

5551234567@fax.provider.com

You attach your document, send the email, and the provider's servers convert it and transmit it as a fax.

Steps for Outlook Email-to-Fax

1. Open a new email in Outlook.
2. In the To field, enter the gateway address ([faxnumber]@[gateway]). Your fax provider gives you the exact gateway domain after signup.
3. Attach your document — PDF, Word, or other supported formats.
4. Add a subject — this usually becomes the cover page subject line.
5. Click Send — the provider converts and transmits the fax. A confirmation email is sent back when delivery is complete.

For a detailed walkthrough with screenshots, see our guide to faxing from Outlook or our broader fax from email guide.

Method 5: Fax from a Connected Printer on Windows 10

If your office has an all-in-one printer (a multifunction device with print, scan, copy, and fax), you may be able to send faxes from your Windows 10 PC through it.

What You Need

• An MFP printer with a built-in fax modem (e.g., HP OfficeJet Pro, Canon PIXMA MX series, Brother MFC series)
• The printer's fax port connected to an analog phone line
• The printer's Windows 10 driver installed (usually handled automatically via Windows Update when you plug it in)

How to Fax via a Networked Printer

1. Open your document in any application (Word, Acrobat, Notepad, etc.).
2. Go to File → Print.
3. Select your fax printer from the printer list — it typically appears as something like Fax (HP OfficeJet Pro 8025) or Canon Fax.
4. Click Print — a fax dialog appears asking for the recipient's fax number.
5. Enter the fax number and click Send.

The document is routed through the printer's fax modem and sent over the phone line connected to the device.

Windows Fax and Scan vs. mFax vs. Email-to-Fax: Quick Comparison

Verdict: For most Windows 10 users, the mFax desktop app is the fastest route — it installs from the Microsoft Store in a couple of minutes, needs no hardware, and keeps everything (compose, edit, sign, send, receipts) in one window. The browser version is the fallback when you cannot install software. Windows Fax and Scan makes sense only if you already have the modem and a dedicated analog line.

Troubleshooting Windows 10 Fax Issues

Windows Fax and Scan says "No modems detected"

The app cannot see your USB fax modem. Try these fixes:

1. Unplug the modem and plug it into a different USB port.
2. Open Device Manager (Windows + X → Device Manager) and look for the modem under Modems. If it shows a yellow warning icon, right-click and choose Update driver.
3. Download the latest driver from the modem manufacturer's website (e.g., USRobotics, HiRO) and install manually.

Fax goes through but recipient gets a blank page

The file format may not have converted correctly. Try printing the document to a PDF first using Microsoft Print to PDF, then attaching that PDF to the fax. PDFs convert more reliably than Word documents or images.

"Fax transmission failed" error

Most transmission failures have one of three causes:

• Wrong number format — for US faxes, try entering 1 + area code + 7-digit number. Some modems need a leading 1.
• VoIP interference — your phone line is VoIP, not analog. Switch to an online service.
• The recipient's machine is busy — retry after 10–15 minutes. Fax machines can only receive one fax at a time.

Windows Fax and Scan crashes after a Windows update

Restart the Windows Fax and Scan service: press Windows + R, type services.msc, scroll to Fax, right-click, and choose Restart. If it won't start, check that your modem is still recognized in Device Manager.

For a broader list of fax error codes and what they mean, see our fax error codes guide.

Why Skip the Modem Entirely?

The total cost of the Windows Fax and Scan route adds up quickly:

• USB fax modem: ~$25–$50 (one-time)
• Analog phone line: $15–$40/month from most providers
• Annual cost: $180–$480 just for the line

For occasional faxing, a pay-per-fax online service is a fraction of that. For regular faxing — say, once a week — a monthly mFax.to subscription costs far less than maintaining a landline. And you get the added benefit of sending faxes from any device, including your phone.

For personal faxing, install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store — free to install, then drag a PDF in, enter the fax number, and send in under 2 minutes. No hardware setup at all. The same account also works in your browser and on your phone.

For business teams, mFax Business adds virtual fax numbers, HIPAA compliance, shared team inboxes, and delivery audit logs — starting at about $9/mo (billed annually). Pricing is usage-based ($3/seat + $4 per 100 pages), so you build your own plan around the exact seats and pages you need rather than picking a rigid fixed tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fax app for Windows 10 and Windows 11?

Yes. mFax for Windows is a native desktop app on the Microsoft Store, listed as mFax - Send and Receive FAX and published by Octagon Lab. It is free to install (~46 MB), runs on Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher and on Windows 11, and ships x64 and ARM64 builds. It faxes over the internet, so no modem and no phone line are involved. Sending faxes and getting your own fax number require a paid subscription.

Can I fax from Windows 10 without a phone line?

Yes. Install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store — or open mFax.to in any browser — then add your document, enter the recipient's fax number, and send over the internet. No modem or phone line is needed. The built-in Windows Fax and Scan app, by contrast, requires both a USB fax modem and a physical analog phone line.

Is Windows Fax and Scan still available on Windows 10?

Yes — it ships with every edition of Windows 10, and it is still the only fax program built into Windows itself. Search for it in the Start menu. If it does not appear, go to Settings → Apps → Optional Features and install it. Keep in mind it requires hardware (a USB modem + analog line) to send faxes; an installed app like mFax for Windows does not.

Does Windows 10 support VoIP faxing?

Standard VoIP lines generally do not work reliably with traditional fax modems. If your phone line runs through a cable or fiber provider, it is likely VoIP. You have two options: ask your provider for a T.38 fax-over-IP connection (a VoIP protocol specifically designed for fax), or skip the phone line entirely with the mFax Windows app or a browser-based fax service.

What is the best free way to fax from Windows 10?

GotFreeFax offers limited free faxing (up to 2 pages to US/Canada numbers) with no signup. For more volume, mFax.to's free trial lets you send faxes without a subscription. See our guide to free online fax services for a full comparison.

Can I receive faxes on Windows 10?

Yes, through Windows Fax and Scan if you have the modem hardware — turn on Allow the device to receive fax calls in Fax Settings. You can also receive without hardware: in the mFax Windows app you claim your own fax number (pick a country, then a state or area), and incoming faxes land in the app and open in a built-in PDF viewer. Online services like mFax.to work the same way from your browser dashboard.

Summary: Faxing from Windows 10 in 2026

Faxing from Windows 10 has never been easier — as long as you choose the right method for your setup.

• No hardware? Install the desktop app. mFax for Windows is free on the Microsoft Store, runs on x64 and ARM64, and needs no modem or phone line.
• Can't install software? mFax.to handles everything in the browser on the same account.
• Already have a modem and landline? Windows Fax and Scan is built right in — follow the setup steps above.
• Corporate Outlook user? Email-to-fax keeps you in your existing workflow without any new apps.
• Office printer with fax capability? Print-to-fax works seamlessly from any Windows 10 application.

On Windows 11 the picture is the same, with one extra wrinkle — Windows Fax and Scan has to be added as an optional feature and is missing entirely on ARM machines. See how to fax from Windows 11 for that walkthrough. For a broader look at faxing from any computer platform, see our complete guide to faxing from a computer. If you are on a Mac instead, check out how to fax on Mac.

Ready to send your first fax? Install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store, drag your document in, type the fax number, and send — done in under two minutes, no modem required. Or open mFax in your browser if you'd rather not install anything.