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How to fax from a Mac

Macs have not shipped with built-in fax modems for many years, so the old route of faxing through the print dialog needs extra hardware and a phone line. The simpler approach is to make a PDF on your Mac and send it from your browser. This fax-from-computer.com guide covers the macOS tools that help, and the steps to send and receive faxes on a Mac.

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Save any document as a PDF

Almost every Mac app can create a PDF through the print dialog.

  1. Open the document in Pages, Word, Safari, Mail or another app.
  2. Press Command+P.
  3. Click the PDF menu at the bottom left of the print dialog.
  4. Choose Save as PDF, name the file and pick a folder.
  5. Click Save.

Use Preview to prepare multi-page faxes

Preview, the PDF viewer built into macOS, does more than display files.

Before you upload, open the combined PDF in Preview one last time and page through it. Check the order, make sure no page is upside down and confirm that signatures appear where they should. It is quicker to fix a page now than to resend the whole fax later.

  • Combine PDFs: open one PDF, show thumbnails from the View menu, then drag other PDF files into the sidebar
  • Reorder or delete pages: drag thumbnails up and down, or select one and press Delete
  • Rotate a sideways page: select it and press Command+R
  • Sign: use the Markup toolbar and the signature button to add a signature with the trackpad or iPhone
  • Scan paper: choose File, then Import from your iPhone or iPad, then Scan Documents, when your iPhone is nearby

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Send the fax from Safari or Chrome

fax-from-computer.com recommends FaxToFax.com, which runs in Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Edge on macOS, with no software to install.

  1. Open FaxToFax.com and sign in with your email and the one-time code.
  2. Start a new fax and upload the PDF from Finder. PNG and JPG are accepted too.
  3. Pick a cover page template with your logo, or compose a letter in the editor on your letterhead.
  4. Enter the fax number and confirm it before sending.
  5. Send, and wait for Delivered. A time-stamped receipt is saved with the fax.

Fax files from cloud storage

If the document lives in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, open the folder in Finder or download the file from the provider's website first, so it is on your Mac when you upload. Then choose it from the upload dialog in your browser.

For files you fax often, such as a standard release form, keep a Faxing folder in the Finder sidebar. It saves hunting through Downloads each time, and makes it easier to delete working copies once a fax is delivered.

Receive faxes on your Mac

Your fax number can be local or toll-free in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Incoming faxes arrive in a private encrypted browser inbox, never by email, and Safari or Chrome can show a notification when one arrives if you allow alerts. Open the fax to read, download or print it. Every view and download is recorded in an audit log, which is useful in offices that handle client files.

FAQ

How to Fax from a Mac: questions

Can I still fax through the Mac print dialog?

Only with a compatible fax modem and phone line. With an online service, you save a PDF from the print dialog and upload it in your browser.

Is there a Mac app for FaxToFax.com?

No. It is web-only and works in any modern browser on macOS, so there is nothing to install or update.

How do I fax a page from a website?

Press Command+P in Safari, choose Save as PDF, and upload that PDF as your fax. Check the preview first, as some sites print with extra pages.

Can I sign in on my Mac and my iPhone?

Yes. The service works in any modern browser, and you sign in with your email and a one-time code on each device.

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