How to Fax from Windows 11: Built-in & Online Methods

By Alexey Spasskiy · Published December 28, 2024 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 11 min read

Quick answer: The fastest way to fax from Windows 11 is to use an online service like mFax.to — no modem, no phone line, works in any browser. If you prefer the built-in route, Windows 11 includes Windows Fax and Scan as an optional feature you must install manually, but it requires a USB fax modem (~$25–$50) and an analog landline.

Faxing from Windows 11 is entirely possible — but the experience differs depending on which method you choose. The built-in Windows Fax and Scan app still exists in 2026, though Microsoft has quietly moved it to an optional feature you must install yourself. Online fax services sidestep the hardware requirement entirely and take under two minutes to use.

This guide covers every working method: from the zero-hardware browser route to the classic modem-and-phone-line workflow, plus email-to-fax and networked printer options. Pick the method that matches your setup.

Which Method Is Right for You?

Method 1: Use an Online Fax Service (Recommended)

What you need: A Windows 11 PC, any web browser, and internet access. No modem. No phone line. No hardware.

Online fax services convert your document into a fax signal and transmit it over the internet. The recipient's machine receives it like any other fax — they never know you didn't use a physical device. This is the recommended route for virtually every Windows 11 user without specialized hardware.

mFax.to is the most straightforward option: upload your document, enter the fax number, and send. The whole process takes under two minutes, and you get a delivery receipt automatically.

Steps to Fax from Windows 11 Using mFax.to

Method 2: Windows Fax and Scan (Built-in App)

Windows 11 includes a free fax application called Windows Fax and Scan — the same tool that has shipped with Windows since Vista. Unlike Windows 10, where it was present but not always visible, in Windows 11 it is not installed by default and must be added manually.

Important: ARM Devices Are Not Supported

Step 1: Install Windows Fax and Scan on Windows 11

Option A — Settings (standard path):

1. Open Settings (Win + I)
2. Go to Apps → Optional Features
3. Click View features
4. Type fax in the search box
5. Check Windows Fax and Scan
6. Click Next → Install
7. Wait for installation to complete (may take a few minutes)

Option B — Control Panel (if the Settings path fails):

1. Open Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off
2. Expand Print and Document Services
3. Check Windows Fax and Scan
4. Click OK and restart when prompted

Option C — PowerShell (advanced):

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0

After installation by any method, search "Windows Fax and Scan" in the Start menu to launch it.

Step 2: Hardware You Need

Windows Fax and Scan cannot send faxes over the internet — it requires physical hardware:

• A USB fax modem — internal modems were removed from PCs years ago. You need an external USB device. The USRobotics USR5637 (~$30) and Conexant-based USB modems are widely compatible. Avoid modems that rely on the Agere/Lucent driver — Microsoft removed that driver in October 2025 and January 2026 updates due to a security vulnerability (CVE-2025-24990).
• An analog (POTS) phone line — the traditional copper landline from a phone company. VoIP lines (Vonage, Ooma, cable voice service) do not reliably support fax transmission because they digitize the signal, causing errors.

Step 3: Set Up Your Fax Account

1. Open Windows Fax and Scan
2. Go to Tools → Fax Accounts → Add
3. Select Connect to a fax modem
4. Name the account and complete the wizard — Windows detects the USB modem automatically
5. Go to Tools → Fax Settings → General tab
6. Click Select fax device and choose your modem
7. Check Allow the device to send faxes
8. Fill in your name and fax number on the Sender Information tab
9. Click OK

Step 4: Send a Fax

1. In Windows Fax and Scan, click New Fax in the toolbar
2. In the To field, enter the recipient's fax number with area code
3. Enter a Subject line
4. Click the Attachments (paperclip) icon to add your document — PDF, DOCX, TIFF, JPG, and PNG are all supported
5. Click Send — the modem dials and transmits. Progress appears in the Outbox; completed faxes move to Sent Items.

To receive faxes, go to Tools → Fax Settings and enable Allow the device to receive fax calls, then choose how many rings before auto-answer.

Method 3: Send a Fax from Outlook or Office Apps

If you use Microsoft 365, you have two ways to fax without leaving your familiar apps.

Option A: Email-to-Fax (Any Email Client)

Online fax services assign a gateway email address. You send an email to [faxnumber]@[provider-gateway] with your document attached, and the service transmits it as a fax.

Steps:

1. Open a new email in Outlook (or any email client)
2. In the To field, enter the gateway address — for example: 12125551234@fax.provider.com
3. Attach your document (PDF, Word, TIFF)
4. The email subject becomes the cover page subject line
5. Click Send — you receive a confirmation email when delivery is complete

Your fax provider gives you the exact gateway domain after signup. For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide to faxing from Outlook or our fax from email guide.

Option B: Send as Internet Fax from Word or Excel

Microsoft 365 apps have a built-in Send as Internet Fax option that works with Windows Fax and Scan:

1. Install Windows Fax and Scan first (Method 2, Step 1 above) — this installs the required fax printer driver
2. Open your document in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
3. Go to File → Share → Send as Internet Fax
4. Follow the prompts to connect an internet fax provider if prompted
5. Enter the recipient's fax number and click Send

Method 4: Fax from a Connected Printer on Windows 11

If your office has a multifunction printer (MFP) with a built-in fax modem — common in HP OfficeJet Pro, Brother MFC, Canon PIXMA MX, and Epson WorkForce series — you can fax directly from any Windows 11 application through the print dialog.

What You Need

• An MFP printer with a built-in fax function (check the spec sheet)
• The printer's fax port connected to an analog phone line via an RJ-11 cable
• The full printer driver package installed on Windows 11 (download from the manufacturer's website — the basic Windows driver often omits fax functionality)

How to Fax via a Networked Printer

1. Open your document in any application (Word, Adobe Acrobat, Notepad)
2. Press Ctrl + P to open the Print dialog
3. Select the printer's fax function from the printer list — it typically appears as something like HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 Fax or Brother MFC Fax
4. Click Print — a fax dialog appears
5. Enter the recipient's fax number and click Send

Windows Fax and Scan vs. Online Fax: Quick Comparison

Verdict: For most Windows 11 users, an online fax service is the right choice — faster to set up, no hardware, and more reliable. Windows Fax and Scan makes sense only if you already own the hardware and maintain an analog landline specifically for faxing.

Troubleshooting Windows 11 Fax Issues

Windows Fax and Scan does not appear in Optional Features

If the feature is missing from the list in Settings:

1. Try the Control Panel path: Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off → Print and Document Services → Windows Fax and Scan
2. Run the DISM command in an elevated PowerShell: DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0
3. Make sure Windows 11 is fully updated — some older builds had the feature missing
4. If you are on an ARM device (Snapdragon processor), the feature is simply not available — use an online service instead

Modem stopped working after a Windows 11 update

Microsoft removed the Agere/Lucent fax modem driver (ltmdm64.sys) in the October 2025 and January 2026 cumulative updates to patch a security vulnerability. If your USB fax modem stopped working after one of those updates, it likely relied on that driver.

Fix: Replace the modem with a Conexant-based USB fax modem, which uses a different driver unaffected by the removal. Alternatively, switch to an online fax service — no modem needed at all.

"No modems detected" error in Windows Fax and Scan

1. Unplug the USB modem and reconnect it to a different USB port
2. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager) and look for the modem under Modems — a yellow triangle means a driver issue
3. Right-click the modem and choose Update driver, or download the driver directly from the manufacturer's website
4. In Windows Fax and Scan, go to Tools → Fax Accounts, remove the existing account, and add it again

Fax sent but recipient receives a blank page

The file format did not convert correctly. Print the document to PDF first using Microsoft Print to PDF (built into Windows 11), then attach that PDF to the fax. PDFs convert far more reliably than Word documents or raw image files.

Transmission failed error

Three common causes:

• Wrong number format — for US faxes, try prefixing 1 before the area code: 15551234567
• VoIP interference — your phone line is not analog. Switch to an online service
• Recipient's machine is busy — fax machines handle one transmission at a time; retry after 10–15 minutes

For a full breakdown of error codes, see our fax error codes guide.

Windows Fax and Scan won't launch after a Windows update

The Fax service may have stopped. Press Win + R, type services.msc, scroll to Fax, right-click and choose Start. If startup type is set to Disabled, change it to Automatic (Delayed Start) first.

The Real Cost of Windows Fax and Scan

Before committing to the hardware route, consider what it actually costs:

For occasional faxing — a tax form, a medical record, a signed contract — a pay-per-fax online service costs a fraction of that. For regular business use, mFax Business lets you build your own plan with a live calculator — choose the exact seats and pages you need and pay only for what you use, with no rigid fixed tiers — starting at about $9/mo (billed annually) and including a virtual fax number, HIPAA compliance features, and a team dashboard — all without a single piece of hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fax from Windows 11 without a phone line?

Yes. Use an online fax service like mFax.to — you upload your document, enter the fax number, and send over the internet. No modem, no phone line, no hardware of any kind. Windows Fax and Scan requires a physical analog line, but online services do not.

Where is Windows Fax and Scan in Windows 11?

Search "Windows Fax and Scan" in the Start menu after installation. To install it: Settings → Apps → Optional Features → View features → search "fax" → Install. Alternatively, use Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off → Print and Document Services.

Does Windows Fax and Scan work over Wi-Fi in Windows 11?

No. Windows Fax and Scan transmits faxes over analog phone lines only — your Wi-Fi or broadband connection cannot carry fax signals. For internet-based faxing, use an online service like mFax.to that works entirely in the browser.

Is Windows Fax and Scan free on Windows 11?

The application itself is free — it is a built-in optional feature of Windows 11. However, you need a USB fax modem ($25–$50) and a monthly analog phone line subscription ($15–$40/month) to actually send faxes with it.

Can I fax from Windows 11 without a fax machine?

Yes. You can fax using a USB fax modem connected to a phone line (no fax machine needed), or use an online fax service that requires only a browser and internet connection — no hardware whatsoever.

Summary: Faxing from Windows 11 in 2026

Faxing from Windows 11 comes down to one key question: do you have a USB modem and analog landline, or not?

• No hardware? Use an online service. mFax.to handles everything in the browser — upload, enter the fax number, send. Under two minutes.
• Already have a modem and landline? Install Windows Fax and Scan via Optional Features and follow the setup steps above.
• On a Copilot+ PC or ARM device? Windows Fax and Scan is not available — online service only.
• Microsoft 365 user? Email-to-fax or the Send as Internet Fax option in Word/Outlook keeps you in your existing workflow.
• Office MFP available? Print-to-fax works from any Windows 11 application through the printer's built-in fax function.

For more on faxing from a PC in general, see our complete guide to faxing from a computer. On Windows 10? Check our Windows 10 faxing guide. On a Mac? See how to fax on Mac.

For personal faxing, visit mFax.to, upload your document, and send in under two minutes — no modem, no landline, no setup.

For business teams, mFax Business adds virtual fax numbers, HIPAA compliance, shared team inboxes, and delivery audit logs — starting at about $9/mo.