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How to print to PDF for faxing
Print to PDF is the most useful trick for faxing from a computer. Anything you can print, from a web page to a spreadsheet to an online receipt, can become a PDF, and a PDF is the simplest file to fax. This fax-from-computer.com guide shows how to do it on each platform and which print settings make the result fax well.
Get Started NowPrint to PDF on each system
If you are not sure which printer you picked, look at the file that appears: a real printer produces paper, while a PDF printer asks you where to save the file. Give the file a clear name such as the recipient and date so you can find it again.
- Windows 10 and 11: press Ctrl+P and choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer, then click Print and save
- macOS: press Command+P, open the PDF menu at the bottom of the dialog and choose Save as PDF
- Chrome on any computer, including a Chromebook: press Ctrl+P (or Command+P), set Destination to Save as PDF, then click Save
- Microsoft Edge: press Ctrl+P and choose Save as PDF as the printer
Choose settings that fax well
The print dialog has a few settings that matter for fax. Look for them under More settings, Show Details or Properties, depending on the program.
- Paper size: Letter (8.5 by 11 inches) is the US standard
- Orientation: portrait unless the page is a wide table
- Margins: default or normal, so nothing is cut at the edge
- Scale: fit to page width for spreadsheets and wide web pages
- Background graphics: off, to avoid grey blocks behind the text
- Pages: only the ones the recipient needs
Check the PDF before you fax it
Web pages are the most common problem. Many browsers offer a simplified reading view that prints more cleanly than the full page.
- Open the PDF and scroll through every page.
- Look for blank pages, cut-off columns and ads printed from web pages.
- Zoom in on small print, account numbers and signatures.
- If something is wrong, go back to the print dialog, change the setting and save again.
Common uses for print to PDF
In each case, check that personal information you do not need to share, such as a full account number, is not on the pages you send. Use the page range setting to leave it out.
- Online receipts and order confirmations that an insurer or employer wants by fax
- A single tab of a spreadsheet, using the print area or page range
- An email with its header showing the date and sender
- A filled-in web form, captured before you submit it
- A bank or benefits statement downloaded as an on-screen page
Send the PDF as a fax
Once you have a clean PDF, fax-from-computer.com recommends sending it with FaxToFax.com in your browser. Sign in with your email and a one-time code, start a new fax, upload the PDF, add a cover page and enter the number. You confirm each number before it sends, and a time-stamped delivery receipt is saved when the fax is delivered.
If you send the same document to several offices, you can add up to 50 recipients to one fax rather than repeating the process.
How to Print to PDF for Faxing: questions
Is Microsoft Print to PDF missing on my PC?
It can be turned off. Search Windows for Turn Windows features on or off and check that Microsoft Print to PDF is ticked, or add it under Printers & scanners.
Does printing to PDF reduce quality?
Text stays sharp because it is saved as text, not a picture. Images keep roughly the quality they had on screen.
Can I fax several printed PDFs together?
Yes. Upload more than one file to the same fax and they are sent in order after the cover page.
Why does my PDF have extra blank pages?
Usually a web page or spreadsheet is wider or longer than the paper. Use fit to page width or choose a page range so only the content you need is saved.
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