How to Get a Fax Number for My Printer: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

By Sarah Martinez · Published May 6, 2026 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 8 min read

Quick answer: Printers don't come with a fax number. You get one in two ways — connect an analog phone line (that line's number becomes your fax number), or sign up for an online fax service and get a virtual number in minutes without any phone line at all.

To get a fax number for your printer, you need to understand one thing: the printer itself is just hardware. It has no fax number built in from the factory. The number comes from the connection you attach to it — either a physical telephone line or a cloud-based fax service.

This guide covers both methods with clear steps for every major printer brand, so you can pick the right path for your setup and get your fax number working today.

What Is a Printer Fax Number?

A printer's fax number is simply a telephone number associated with the printer's fax modem. When someone dials that number, the signal travels through the phone network and lands at your printer, which prints the incoming document.

There's nothing special about a "printer fax number" — it's the same as any fax number. What differs is how you obtain it:

• Phone line method: Your carrier assigns the number to the landline, and you plug that line into the printer. The phone number = the fax number.
• Virtual method: An online fax service assigns you a number tied to your account. Incoming faxes arrive as PDFs in your email, and you send by uploading scanned documents to the service.

Does a fax machine need a phone line? — that depends on which method you use. Traditional printer fax does. Online fax does not.

Method 1: Get a Fax Number Through an Analog Phone Line

This is the traditional approach. Your printer's fax number is the phone number of the analog (POTS) landline connected to the printer.

Step 1 — Get an Active Analog Landline

Contact your local telephone carrier (AT&T, Verizon, Lumen, or a regional carrier) and order a basic analog voice line. This is the same type of line used for traditional telephones.

• Cost: Typically $30–50/month for a basic analog line
• Activation time: 1–5 business days
• What to ask for: "A single analog voice line for fax use"

Step 2 — Find Out Your Line's Phone Number

Your fax number is the phone number on that line. To confirm it:

1. Plug a regular telephone handset into the same wall jack
2. Lift the handset and dial a mobile phone you have with you
3. Check the caller ID on your mobile — that's your fax number
4. Alternatively, call your carrier and ask what number is assigned to that line

Note the number down — you'll enter it into your printer's fax settings.

Step 3 — Connect the Line to Your Printer

Find the RJ-11 telephone jack on the back of your printer. It is labeled LINE or 1-LINE (not "EXT" or "2-EXT" — those are for handsets or answering machines).

Plug one end of a standard telephone cable into the LINE port and the other end into the wall telephone jack. This is the only cable you need for basic fax function.

Step 4 — Configure Fax Settings on Your Printer

Each brand uses slightly different menu paths:

HP (OfficeJet Pro, ENVY, LaserJet MFP)

1. On the printer's control panel, go to Fax → Setup → Basic Setup
2. Enter your fax number (the phone number from Step 2)
3. Enter your name or company name — this appears on outgoing fax headers
4. Set the answer mode to Automatic if you want the printer to receive faxes automatically
5. Save and exit

Brother (MFC series)

1. Press Menu → Initial Setup → Station ID
2. Enter your fax number, then your name
3. Press OK
4. Go to Menu → Fax → Setup Receive → set Ring Delay and Auto Answer as needed

Canon (PIXMA MX, imageCLASS MF series)

1. On the home screen, tap FAX → FAX Settings → User Settings
2. Tap Register Unit Tel Number and enter your fax number
3. Tap Register Unit Name and enter your name/company
4. Save settings

Epson (WorkForce series)

1. Go to Settings → General Settings → Fax Settings → Fax Setting Wizard
2. Follow the wizard: enter your fax number, then your name
3. Set receive mode to Auto for automatic incoming faxes
4. Run the connection check at the end of the wizard

Step 5 — Send a Test Fax

Send a test page to a known fax number (a colleague, or call your mobile and listen for the fax tone). Confirm:

• The outgoing fax header shows your name and fax number
• The receiving party gets a legible document
• Incoming faxes print automatically (if you enabled auto-answer)

For more detail on the full sending process, see the guide to faxing from a printer: HP, Brother, Canon & Epson.

Method 2: Get a Virtual Fax Number (No Phone Line Required)

A virtual fax number is a real fax number assigned to a cloud account instead of a physical line. Incoming faxes arrive as PDFs in your email. You send faxes by scanning documents with your printer and uploading them to the fax service — or by using the service's app directly.

This method costs less than maintaining an analog line and works from anywhere.

Phone Line vs. Virtual Fax Number: Side-by-Side Comparison

Which Method Is Right for You?

Choose Method 1 (phone line) if:

• You already have an active analog landline
• Your workflow requires printing every incoming fax immediately
• You send large volumes of paper documents that are easier to feed directly into the printer

Choose Method 2 (virtual fax number) if:

• You don't have an analog phone line (or only have VoIP/cable internet phone)
• You want a fax number active within minutes, not days
• You work remotely or need to access faxes from multiple locations
• You want to avoid a separate $30–50/month phone line
• You need HIPAA compliance for healthcare or legal documents

For most people in 2026, a virtual fax number is the faster, cheaper, and more flexible option. The mFax Business plan gives you everything a traditional printer fax line does — and adds email delivery, a web dashboard, and team access — for less than the cost of the phone line alone.

If you occasionally need to fax and don't want a subscription, the mFax app lets you send faxes pay-per-use: scan your document with your printer, then upload and send from your phone in under 2 minutes.

Common Printer Fax Number Setup Questions

My printer won't dial out — what's wrong?

The most common cause is a VoIP or digital phone line connected to the LINE port. Fax modems require an analog signal. Check with your carrier whether the line is truly analog (POTS). If it isn't, switch to an online fax service.

How do I change my fax number on the printer?

Your fax number is determined by the phone line — you can't change it within the printer settings. To change the number, you'd need to switch to a different phone line or port your number to a different carrier. For the header name displayed on outgoing faxes (which you can change), access Fax Settings → Station ID or User Settings on your printer.

Can I use the same number for calls and fax?

Yes, but with caveats. If your phone line handles both voice and fax, you'll need your printer set to Manual Answer mode and manually switch it to receive fax calls — or subscribe to a distinctive ring service from your carrier, which lets the printer detect fax calls automatically. Most offices use a dedicated fax line to avoid confusion.

Do I need the printer's fax function at all?

Not necessarily. If your main goal is to get a fax number and send/receive faxes digitally, you can do that entirely with an online service — the printer's built-in fax modem is optional. Use the printer's scanner to digitize paper documents, then send via the fax service. This is the approach most modern businesses take.

Get Your Fax Number Today

The fastest path to a working fax number for your printer:

1. With a phone line → Contact your carrier, get a POTS analog line, plug it into the printer's LINE port, configure your station ID, and test.
2. Without a phone line → Sign up for mFax Business, pick your local or toll-free number, and start receiving faxes as PDFs in your email — all in under 5 minutes.

For personal use: Download the mFax app and send individual faxes from your phone without a subscription.

Related guides:

• How to Fax from a Printer: HP, Brother, Canon & Epson
• Virtual Fax Number: How to Get One & Why You Need It
• Does Fax Need a Phone Line?
• How to Fax Without a Phone Line
• How to Get a Fax Number for Your Business