How to Fax From Word Document: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

By Alexey Spasskiy · Published September 28, 2024 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 8 min read

Faxing a Word document in 2026 is straightforward — you don't need a fax machine, a phone line, or any special hardware. Most online fax services accept .docx files directly, and several offer Word add-ins that let you send right from the ribbon without ever leaving Microsoft Word.

This guide covers five methods to fax a Word document, from the fastest (online fax service) to the most integrated (Word add-in) to the legacy option (Windows Fax and Scan). Pick the one that fits your workflow.

Which Method Is Right for You?

Method 1: Online Fax Service — Recommended

This is the fastest, most reliable path for most people. You visit a fax service's website, upload your Word document, enter the recipient's fax number, and click Send. The service converts your .docx to fax-ready format and transmits it over the internet — no modem, no phone line, no conversion required on your end.

mFax.to accepts Word documents directly and sends a delivery confirmation email when the fax goes through. Over 5 million users rely on it with a 98% delivery success rate.

Method 2: Word Add-ins (Send Without Leaving Word)

Several fax services offer Microsoft Word add-ins that embed faxing directly in the Word ribbon. This is ideal if you frequently fax contracts, reports, or legal documents and want a one-click workflow inside Word itself.

Fax.Plus Add-in

Fax.Plus has an official Office Add-in for Word 2016+, Word for Microsoft 365, and Word Online.

1. In Word, go to Insert > Get Add-ins (or Insert > Add-ins > Store)
2. Search for "Fax.Plus" and click Add
3. The add-in panel opens in Word's sidebar
4. Enter the recipient's fax number (with country code)
5. Your currently open document is attached automatically
6. Click Send

WiseFax Add-in

WiseFax's add-in appears as a button in the Word Home ribbon after installation.

1. In Word, go to Insert > Store and search for "WiseFax"
2. Click Add — a WiseFax button appears in the Home tab
3. Open or create your Word document
4. Click the WiseFax button to open the fax wizard
5. Select which pages to include
6. Enter the recipient's fax number and country
7. Sign in with Google, Microsoft, Apple, or Facebook
8. Click Send — you'll receive an email when processing begins

Method 3: Email-to-Fax (From Outlook, Gmail, or Any Email Client)

If you already have a subscription to an online fax service, you can fax your Word document directly from your email client — no need to log in to a dashboard. Attach the .docx file to an email and send it to a special address provided by your fax service.

How Email-to-Fax Works

1. Open Gmail, Outlook, or any email client
2. Compose a new email
3. In the To field, enter [recipientfaxnumber]@[provider-domain]:
   • eFax: 15551234567@efaxsend.com
   • Fax.Plus: 15551234567@fax.plus
   • MyFax: 15551234567@send.myfax.com
4. Write your cover page text in the email body
5. Attach your Word document (.docx)
6. Click Send

The fax service automatically converts your document and delivers it as a fax. The email body becomes the cover page.

For a deeper dive into this approach, see our guide to faxing from email.

Method 4: Convert to PDF First (Best Practice for Complex Documents)

For simple, plain-text Word documents, faxing the .docx directly works fine. But if your document has custom fonts, tables, images, multi-column layouts, headers/footers, or tracked changes, convert it to PDF before faxing. PDF acts as a "digital snapshot" — it preserves every element of your formatting exactly as it appears on screen.

When to Convert to PDF First

• Documents with custom or decorative fonts (they may not be installed on the fax service's conversion server)
• Multi-column layouts or complex table structures
• Embedded images or charts that need to appear in specific positions
• Any document where layout accuracy is critical (legal contracts, medical forms)

How to Convert Word to PDF

On Windows:

1. Open your document in Word
2. Go to File > Save As
3. In the file format dropdown, select PDF (*.pdf)
4. Click Save

Or use File > Export > Create PDF/XPS for the same result.

On Mac:

1. Go to File > Save As
2. Change the file format to PDF
3. Click Export

Best settings for fax:

• Page size: US Letter (8.5" × 11") or A4
• Margins: at least 0.5 inches on all sides
• Images: 300 DPI minimum for readable fax output
• Color: black and white (fax transmits in monochrome — color adds file size with no benefit)

Once you have the PDF, upload it to any fax service using the steps in Method 1. For more detail, see our complete guide to faxing PDF documents.

Method 5: Windows Fax and Scan (Legacy — Windows 10 Only)

Windows includes a built-in fax feature called Windows Fax and Scan. You can use it to print your Word document directly to a fax — no web browser required. However, this method has significant limitations in 2026.

Requirements

• Windows 10 (included by default) or Windows 11 with Optional Feature installed
• A fax modem — internal PCI card or external USB fax modem (hardware)
• An active analog PSTN landline (VoIP phone lines are incompatible)

How to Send a Fax via Windows Fax and Scan

Step 1 — Enable Windows Fax and Scan (if not installed)

On Windows 10:

1. Open Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off
2. Check Windows Fax and Scan under Print and Document Services
3. Click OK and restart

On Windows 11 (if available):

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features
2. Click View Features, search for Windows Fax and Scan
3. Check the box and click Install, then restart

Step 2 — Print to Fax from Word

1. Open your Word document
2. Press Ctrl+P (or File > Print)
3. In the printer dropdown, select Fax
4. Click Print — Windows Fax and Scan opens automatically
5. Fill in the recipient's fax number and an optional cover page
6. Click Send

For a full comparison of computer faxing options (including Windows and Mac), see our guide to faxing from a computer.

Method 6: Mobile Apps (iPhone and Android)

If you need to fax a Word document from your phone or tablet, several mobile apps support .docx uploads directly. This is useful when you're away from your computer but need to send a contract or report quickly.

How to Fax a Word Document from Your Phone

1. Download a fax app: mFax, Fax.Plus, MyFax, or JotNot Fax from the App Store or Google Play
2. Open the app and sign in (or create an account)
3. Tap Send Fax or New Fax
4. Tap the attachment icon and choose your Word document from:
   • Files (iOS) or My Files (Android)
   • iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive (tap the cloud storage icon)
5. Enter the recipient's fax number with country code
6. Add a cover page if needed
7. Tap Send — you'll get a push notification when the fax is delivered

Should You Convert to PDF or Send .docx Directly?

The rule of thumb: if you'd be upset if one paragraph shifted by two lines, convert to PDF first.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Send as Internet Fax" is Missing from Word

This option only appears if Windows Fax and Scan is installed. On Windows 11 24H2+, it may be completely gone. Solution: Use a Word add-in (Method 2) or an online fax service (Method 1).

Formatting Shifted in the Received Fax

The fax service's conversion server may not have your custom fonts installed. Solution: Convert to PDF before uploading (see Method 4). Use standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

Word Document Won't Upload to Fax Service

Some healthcare-specific fax platforms (e.g., Doximity) only accept PDF — .docx is not supported. Solution: Convert to PDF first, then upload. Also check if you have password protection or macros enabled — remove both before converting.

Old .doc Format Not Accepted

Some services have dropped support for the legacy .doc (Word 97-2003) format and only accept .docx. Solution: Open the file in Word and save as .docx: File > Save As > Word Document (.docx).

Fax is Blurry

Usually caused by low-resolution images embedded in the Word document. Solution: Compress images in Word (select image > Picture Format > Compress Pictures > choose 220 PPI or 300 PPI), or convert to a PDF at 300 DPI before faxing.

File Too Large to Upload

Most services have file size limits. Solution: Use Word's built-in image compression, or convert to PDF and use a PDF optimizer. Our free PDF optimizer tool reduces file size without quality loss.

Sending From an Online Fax Service vs. a Physical Fax Machine

Online fax services like mFax.to handle all the technical complexity — format conversion, transmission routing, delivery confirmation — over the internet. There's no phone line, no modem, and no physical machine to maintain.

For personal faxing, download the mFax app — upload a Word document or PDF, enter the fax number, and send in under 2 minutes. No hardware, no subscription required for pay-per-fax.

For business teams, mFax Business gives you a dedicated virtual fax number, HIPAA-ready infrastructure, team accounts, and a shared dashboard — starting at about $9/mo (billed annually). You build your own plan, picking the exact seats and pages you need with a live calculator and paying only for what you use, instead of being boxed into fixed tiers.

For more options, see our comparison of pay-as-you-go fax services and our guide to sending faxes from email.