fax-from-computer.com › Resources › How to fax from a scanner
How to fax from a scanner
A scanner on its own cannot send a fax; it has no modem and no phone connection, so it can only turn paper into a file. Faxing from a scanner is therefore a two-stage job: scan the document to PDF or image, then transmit that file with an online fax service or an all-in-one's fax function. This fax-from-computer.com guide covers both routes and, just as important, the scanner settings that keep your pages legible after fax compression squeezes them.
Get Started NowWhy you cannot fax from a scanner directly
Faxing is a transmission between two devices over the phone network, negotiated by the T.30 protocol: the machines handshake, exchange pages at around 14.4 kbps, and confirm receipt. A flatbed or document scanner has neither a fax modem nor an RJ-11 port, so there is nothing to dial with and no way to perform that handshake. Scanning and faxing are two halves of one workflow: the scanner captures, and something else transmits. The good news is that the second half no longer requires any hardware at all.
Fax from a scanner by going online
The fastest path from a standalone scanner to a delivered fax runs through your browser. You need the scanned file, an internet connection and the recipient's fax number; the service supplies the phone-network connection on its side.
- Scan the document and save it as a PDF, JPG or PNG; PDF is best for multi-page documents.
- Open FaxToFax.com in any browser, sign up with your email and a one-time code, and pick a local or toll-free number.
- Upload the scanned file and enter the recipient's fax number.
- Send, then watch the status: Delivered, In progress or Failed, with a time-stamped receipt saved for every delivered fax.
Using an all-in-one's scan-to-fax
If your scanner is part of an all-in-one printer with fax hardware, the machine combines both stages itself: it scans the pages and transmits them over the phone line in a single job. That only works when the LINE port is connected to an active landline or a VoIP adapter. Without the line, the all-in-one is just a scanner too, and the online route above still applies.
Scanner settings for a clean fax
Fax transmission is black and white at modest resolution, so a careless scan comes out the other end smudged. Set up the scan with the fax in mind.
- Scan at 200 to 300 dpi; standard fax resolution is about 200 dpi, so anything higher is wasted and slower to upload.
- Choose grayscale or black and white rather than color, since fax output is monochrome regardless.
- Make sure the original uses dark ink on light paper, and raise the contrast for faint pencil or pale print.
- Keep pages straight in the feeder; a skewed scan loses characters at the edges after fax compression.
Why the scan-and-fax combo beats a fax machine
The two-stage method has quiet advantages over a dedicated machine. Your scanned file is a permanent, searchable original, while a fax machine keeps nothing once the page feeds through. An online service adds delivery proof with a time-stamped receipt per fax, and failed attempts do not consume plan pages. For anything sensitive, received faxes sit in an encrypted inbox instead of an output tray, which is why we at fax-from-computer.com treat the scanner plus browser combination as the default setup for home offices.
How to Fax From a Scanner in Two Simple Stages: questions
Can you fax from a scanner?
Not directly. A scanner has no fax modem or phone connection, so it can only create a file. Scan the document first, then send the file with an online fax service or an all-in-one printer that has fax hardware and a phone line.
How do I fax a scanned document?
Save the scan as a PDF, JPG or PNG, upload it to a browser fax service such as FaxToFax.com, enter the recipient's fax number and press send. A time-stamped delivery receipt confirms when it goes through.
What resolution should I use to scan for faxing?
Scan at 200 to 300 dpi in grayscale or black and white. That matches standard fax resolution, keeps file sizes manageable and preserves text sharpness through fax compression.
Is scan to fax the same as faxing from a scanner?
Scan-to-fax is a feature of all-in-one printers with fax hardware: the machine scans and transmits in one job over a phone line. A standalone scanner needs a second step, usually an online fax service, to do the transmitting.
Do I need a phone line to fax a scan?
Not if you send it online. A browser fax service handles the transmission on its side, so your only requirements are the scanned file and an internet connection.
More guides on fax-from-computer.com
Send a fax to India from the US ›
Dialing code +91, 2 plan pages per page, and the best time to send.
Send a fax to Brazil from the US ›
Dialing code +55, 1 plan page per page, and the best time to send.
Send a fax to Singapore from the US ›
Dialing code +65, 2 plan pages per page, and the best time to send.
Get a Florida fax number ›
23 area codes (239, 305, 321, 324…) and how to get a local number.
Get a Virginia fax number ›
10 area codes (276, 434, 540, 571…) and how to get a local number.
Get a Louisiana fax number ›
6 area codes (225, 318, 337, 457…) and how to get a local number.
More from fax-from-computer.com
How it works ›
Step by step: get a number, send, receive and track faxes with fax-from-computer.com.
Pricing ›
fax-from-computer.com plans from $4.99 for the first month, extra numbers and faxing abroad.
Security ›
Encryption, audit log and the compliance programs behind fax-from-computer.com.
FAQ ›
Answers to the questions people ask most about fax-from-computer.com.
Guide ›
A step-by-step guide to sending your first fax with fax-from-computer.com.
Resources ›
Country guides, fax numbers by state and province, and how-to guides on fax-from-computer.com.
Start faxing online with fax-from-computer.com
Get your fax number in minutes and send your first fax today. $4.99 for your first month, cancel online any time.
Get Started Now →