Learn how to fax with a Brother printer — from initial phone line setup to sending, receiving, and troubleshooting. Covers PC-FAX, internet fax, and when to skip the printer entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Brother printers can send faxes?
Only Brother MFC (Multi-Function Center) series printers include fax capability. Models starting with DCP or HL do not have fax. Popular fax-capable models include the MFC-L2820DW, MFC-L2750DW, MFC-J4535DW, and MFC-J995DW.
How do I send a fax from my Brother printer?
Place your document in the ADF (face up) or on the scanner glass (face down), press the Fax button, enter the recipient's fax number, and press Fax Start. The machine scans and transmits automatically.
Can I fax from my computer using a Brother printer?
Yes. Brother's free PC-FAX feature lets you send faxes directly from any Windows or Mac application by printing to the "Brother PC-FAX" printer. PC-FAX Receive (Windows only) routes incoming faxes to your computer screen.
Why won't my Brother printer fax (no dial tone)?
The most common cause is connecting the phone cord to the wrong port. Use the LINE jack, not the EXT jack. Also avoid splitters or power strips between the machine and the wall jack — connect directly.
Does a Brother printer need a phone line to fax?
Traditional faxing requires an analog phone line (or a VoIP line set to Basic/9,600 bps mode). For phone-line-free faxing, use Brother's FaxForward to Cloud/E-mail feature or an online fax service like [mFax.to](https://mfax.to).