Windows Fax and Scan Multiple Pages: Full Guide

By Alexey Spasskiy · Published April 17, 2025 · Updated March 26, 2026 · 9 min read

Quick answer: Windows Fax and Scan handles multiple pages by attaching multiple TIFF files or using an automatic document feeder (ADF). PDFs work only with Adobe Acrobat as the default viewer. For a simpler approach — no modem, no phone line — mFax.to accepts PDFs, Word files, and images directly and sends multi-page faxes in under two minutes.

Windows Fax and Scan is the built-in faxing app that has shipped with Windows since Vista. It works — but faxing multiple pages is one area where the tool's quirks become apparent fast. The TIFF-only format requirement, PDF incompatibilities, and ADF vs. flatbed differences all trip people up.

This guide explains every method for faxing multiple pages with Windows Fax and Scan, the file format rules, common error fixes, and when it's worth using an online alternative instead.

Windows Version Compatibility

Before getting started, check whether Windows Fax and Scan is available on your system:

Hardware Requirements

Windows Fax and Scan cannot send faxes over the internet by itself. It requires:

• A fax modem — either an internal modem or an external USB fax modem (~$20–$50, widely available)
• An active analog phone line — standard landline only; VoIP and cellular lines are not compatible
• Installed modem drivers — Windows usually installs these automatically, but Windows 11 may require manual driver installation for older modems

If you don't have a fax modem and landline, skip to the online fax alternative section below.

Method 1: Attach Multiple Files to a New Fax

This is the most common approach for faxing documents you already have on your computer. Each attached file becomes part of the outgoing fax.

You can also insert content directly into the fax body instead of attaching files:

• Insert → Text from File — embeds text content from a .txt file into the fax body
• Insert → Picture — inserts a JPEG, BMP, or PNG image inline in the fax body
• Insert → From Scanner — scans a page directly into the fax body using your connected scanner

Method 2: Scan Multiple Pages First, Then Fax

If your document only exists on paper, you need to scan it before faxing. The process differs significantly depending on whether your scanner has an automatic document feeder (ADF) or only a flatbed.

Using an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) — Recommended

An ADF automatically feeds multiple sheets into the scanner one by one and combines them into a single multi-page TIFF. This is the most reliable way to scan multi-page documents for faxing.

1. Load all pages into the ADF tray, face-up or face-down per your scanner's instructions
2. In Windows Fax and Scan, click New Scan
3. In the New Scan dialog, set Source to Feeder (or Feeder — Scan both sides for duplex)
4. Set Profile to Documents
5. Set File type to TIFF — this produces a multi-page TIFF file
6. Click Scan — the scanner feeds and combines all pages automatically
7. The resulting multi-page TIFF appears in your Scanned Documents list
8. Click New Fax, attach the TIFF, and send as described in Method 1

Using a Flatbed Scanner — Limited Support

Windows Fax and Scan does not reliably support combining multiple flatbed scans into one file. Some scanner models show a "Scan more pages" prompt after each scan, but this varies by scanner driver and is not guaranteed.

If your flatbed scanner doesn't show a "Scan more pages" option:

• Option A: Scan each page separately into individual TIFF files, then attach all of them to the fax (they will all be transmitted as one fax)
• Option B: Use NAPS2 (Not Another PDF Scanner 2) — a free, open-source scanning tool that reliably combines multiple flatbed scans into a single multi-page TIFF or PDF

PDF Files: What Works and What Doesn't

PDF is the most common document format, so the PDF behavior of Windows Fax and Scan is worth understanding clearly.

The core issue: Windows Fax and Scan internally converts everything to TIFF CCITT format before transmitting. When you attach a PDF, it needs a PDF handler to do the conversion. Which handler is installed determines whether it works.

Fix 1: Change Your Default PDF App to Adobe Acrobat

1. Open Settings → Apps → Default Apps
2. Scroll down to .pdf and click it
3. Select Adobe Acrobat Reader from the list
4. Re-open Windows Fax and Scan and try attaching your PDF again

Fix 2: Convert the PDF to TIFF First

If you don't want to change your default PDF app, convert the PDF to TIFF before attaching it:

• Adobe Acrobat: File → Export To → Image → TIFF
• Free option: Use an online PDF-to-TIFF converter, or open the PDF in any viewer and print to a TIFF printer driver
• Microsoft Print to PDF trick: Open the PDF, go to File → Print, choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer to create a PDF, then use Format Factory or another free tool to convert to TIFF

Fix 3: Use the "Print to Fax" Method

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to File → Print, and select Fax as the printer. This bypasses the attachment step entirely and sends the document directly through Windows Fax and Scan.

Common Problems and Fixes

Problem: Only the First Page Appears When Viewing the Received Fax

This is the most frequently misunderstood issue. The fax itself is not broken — the multi-page TIFF was received correctly. The problem is the viewer.

Windows Photos and Microsoft Office Picture Manager only display the first frame of a multi-page TIFF. To view all pages:

• Right-click the TIFF file → Open with → Windows Photo Viewer (shows all pages with forward/back navigation)
• Or open with XPS Viewer or a dedicated TIFF viewer

Problem: Fax Only Sends Some Pages (Partial Transmission)

If you're sending a large document and only some pages arrive:

1. Check phone line quality — a noisy or digital VoIP line causes mid-transmission failures
2. Update your fax modem driver — especially important on Windows 10/11 with older modems
3. Check Event Viewer — open Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) → Windows Logs → Application → look for Fax errors
4. Split the fax — break a large document into smaller batches of 5–10 pages
5. Convert to TIFF — if attaching a PDF, convert to TIFF first, which gives more reliable transmission

Problem: "No Dial Tone" or Modem Not Found

• Verify the phone cable is connected from the modem's LINE port to the wall jack (not the PHONE port)
• Confirm the phone line is analog — VoIP lines from your internet provider often don't work with fax modems
• Check Device Manager for modem driver errors
• Try a different USB port if using a USB modem

Problem: Windows Fax and Scan Missing from Windows 11

See the installation instructions in the compatibility table above. If your device runs Windows 11 Home or is ARM64, the app is not available and you'll need an online fax service.

The Faster Alternative: Online Fax

Windows Fax and Scan works — but it demands hardware most people no longer have. If you don't have a fax modem and analog landline (or don't want to buy one), mFax.to sends multi-page faxes directly over the internet.

Key differences:

How to Send a Multi-Page Fax with mFax.to

1. Go to mfax.to in any browser — no download required
2. Sign in or create a free account
3. Click Send Fax and upload your document (PDF, Word, TIFF, JPG, PNG — all accepted)
4. Enter the recipient's fax number
5. Click Send — you receive a delivery confirmation when the fax goes through

The service accepts multi-page PDFs natively. No TIFF conversion, no modem, no phone line setup. Over 5 million users have sent faxes this way.

For the full Windows-to-fax workflow including other methods, see our complete guide to faxing from Windows 10.

Limitations of Windows Fax and Scan

It's worth being direct about the tool's limitations before investing time in setup:

• No PDF output from scanning — Windows Fax and Scan cannot save scans as PDF. Use the Windows Scan app (from the Microsoft Store) or NAPS2 if you need PDF scans
• Flatbed multi-page scanning is unreliable — works well with an ADF; flatbed combining is hit-or-miss
• No internet faxing — you cannot fax over Wi-Fi, cellular, or VoIP with Windows Fax and Scan alone
• TIFF is the only safe format — every other format either fails or requires workarounds
• Legacy classification — Microsoft labels Windows Fax and Scan as a "legacy component." It receives no new features and may be removed in future Windows versions
• Not available on Windows 11 Home — approximately 60% of Windows 11 consumers run Home edition

If you only need to fax occasionally, the hardware investment (modem + active phone line) rarely makes sense compared to a pay-per-fax online service. If you fax regularly for work and already have the infrastructure, Windows Fax and Scan is a workable zero-cost option.

Summary

Windows Fax and Scan supports multi-page faxes through two main paths:

1. Attach multiple TIFF files to a new fax — reliable, straightforward
2. Scan with an ADF into a multi-page TIFF, then fax — also reliable

PDFs work only if Adobe Acrobat (not Edge) is your default PDF viewer. Flatbed scanning for multiple pages is unreliable — use NAPS2 as a free alternative scanner tool. The "only first page visible" complaint is almost always a viewer issue, not a fax transmission failure.

If you need to fax without a modem or phone line — or want to send a PDF without format workarounds — mFax.to handles multi-page faxes in any format from any Windows version, including Windows 11 Home.

You might also find these guides useful:

• How to scan and fax a document
• How to fax a PDF document
• How to fax multiple pages at once