Windows Fax and Scan Multiple Pages: Full Guide

By Alexey Spasskiy · Published April 17, 2025 · Updated September 18, 2026 · 12 min read

Quick answer: Windows Fax and Scan handles multiple pages by attaching multiple TIFF files or by scanning with an automatic document feeder (ADF) — and either way it needs a fax modem and an analog phone line. PDFs work only with Adobe Acrobat as the default viewer. If you don't have that hardware, install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store: drag a multi-page PDF, Word file, or images into the app, type the fax number, and send over the internet — no modem, no phone line, no TIFF conversion.

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, and common error fixes. It also covers the option Windows didn't have until August 2026: a native desktop fax app you install from the Microsoft Store, which sends multi-page documents over the internet without any of the hardware below.

Windows Version Compatibility

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

The two "Not available" rows are why this guide now has a second answer. mFax for Windows — the Microsoft Store app listed as mFax - Send and Receive FAX — requires only Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher, and ships builds for both x64 and ARM64, including the Copilot+ / Snapdragon machines where Windows Fax and Scan is missing entirely.

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 an analog landline — and most homes and offices no longer do — start with Method 1, which needs neither.

Method 1: Send a Multi-Page Fax with mFax for Windows

This is the fastest route on a modern PC, because it skips the modem, the phone line, and the TIFF conversion entirely. mFax for Windows is a native desktop app published on the Microsoft Store by Octagon Lab, free to install, that sends faxes over your internet connection.

Incoming faxes work the same way: you can pick your own fax number (choose country, then state or area, then filter by digits) and received faxes land in the app and open in a proper desktop PDF viewer with zoom, fit-to-width, rotate and page thumbnails.

If you'd rather not install anything, the same account works at app.mfax.to in any browser.

Method 2: Attach Multiple Files to a New Fax

This is the classic Windows Fax and Scan approach for documents you already have on your computer, and it's the right one if you have a modem and a landline already installed. 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 3: 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 2

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.

Fix 4: Send the PDF from a Desktop App That Reads PDFs

The whole problem is that Windows Fax and Scan has to borrow someone else's PDF handler. mFax for Windows converts PDFs to fax-ready pages itself, so a multi-page PDF goes in as-is regardless of what your default PDF app is — see Method 1.

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, Windows Fax and Scan is not available on it at all — no Optional Feature or DISM command will bring it back. Install a fax app from the Microsoft Store instead; mFax for Windows ships both x64 and ARM64 builds and doesn't need a modem (Method 1). Our guide to Windows Fax and Scan alternatives covers the other ways it fails, including the scanner half that a fax app does not replace.

mFax for Windows vs. Windows Fax and Scan

Windows Fax and Scan is still the only fax tool built into Windows, and on a PC that already has a modem and an analog line it costs nothing to use. What changed in August 2026 is that it's no longer the only native option: mFax for Windows is a real desktop app you install, not a website you visit.

Key differences:

Installation and the full send flow are in Method 1 above. On a locked-down work PC where you can't install anything, the same account opens in any browser at app.mfax.to.

For the full Windows-to-fax workflow including other methods, see our complete guide to faxing from Windows 10 or the Windows 11 walkthrough.

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; that's what a Microsoft Store app like mFax for Windows does instead
• TIFF is the only safe format — every other format either fails or requires workarounds
• No page editing — there is no page editor in the compose window; get the page order right in the source file before you attach it
• 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 next to a desktop app that sends over the internet connection you already pay for. 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, both of which need a fax modem and an analog phone line:

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 don't have the modem and the landline — or you just want to send a multi-page PDF without format workarounds — install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store, drag the document in, type the fax number, and send. It runs on Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher and Windows 11, on x64 and ARM64, and it's free to install.

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
• Best fax software for Windows