You can still send a fax from a Mac or MacBook, but you do not need a modem, landline or old fax machine to do it.
The easiest method is to use an online fax service. You upload a document from your Mac, enter the recipient’s fax number and send it over the internet. You can also send a fax from Apple Mail, Gmail or Outlook if your fax service supports email-to-fax.
Modern macOS no longer includes Apple’s old fax-modem workflow, so buying a USB fax modem is not a sensible solution for a current Mac.
Quick answer: what is the best way to fax from a Mac?
| Your situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| You need to send one or two faxes | An online fax service or a limited free fax service |
| You send faxes regularly or need to receive them | An online fax service with your own fax number |
| You already use a fax-capable office printer | Send from the printer itself, or check whether its current Mac software supports PC faxing |
| You have a USB fax modem | Do not use it with a current version of macOS |
For most people, the answer is an online fax service for Mac. It works on every recent Mac, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Studio models.
What you need before sending a fax
Before you start, make sure you have:
- The recipient’s correct fax number
- Your document as a PDF, Word document or image file
- An internet connection
- An online fax account, if you are not using an existing office fax machine
A PDF is usually the safest format because it preserves the layout of contracts, forms and signed documents.
If you have a paper document, scan it first. You can use a scanner, a multifunction printer or your iPhone’s document-scanning feature, then save or share the scan to your Mac as a PDF.
1. Send a fax from a Mac using an online fax service
Online faxing is the simplest option because it replaces the entire traditional setup: no telephone line, fax machine, ink, paper or modem required.
You sign in through Safari, Chrome or a Mac app, upload your document and send it to the recipient’s fax number.
How to send an online fax from a Mac
- Sign up for an online fax service that works with Macs.
- Choose Send Fax, New Fax or a similar option.
- Enter the recipient’s fax number.For international faxes, use the number format required by your provider, including the country code where necessary.
- Upload your PDF, Word document or image.
- Add a cover page if required.
- Check the number carefully, then click Send.
- Wait for a delivery confirmation by email or in the service dashboard.
Why this is the best method
- Works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
- No landline or physical fax machine required
- Lets you send faxes from home, work or while travelling
- Usually supports PDFs, Word documents and image files
- Makes receiving faxes as PDFs much easier
- Gives you a delivery record, which is useful for forms, invoices and contracts
If you are choosing a service rather than simply sending a one-off fax, see our comparison of the best fax software and apps for Mac.
2. Send a fax from Apple Mail, Gmail or Outlook
Many online fax services let you fax directly from your usual email account. This is called email-to-fax.
It is useful when the document you need to send is already attached to an email, or when you want to fax without opening a separate dashboard.
How email-to-fax works
Your fax provider gives you a special email address format. Instead of sending to a person’s email address, you enter the recipient’s fax number followed by the provider’s fax domain.
The format varies by service, but typically resembles this:
recipientfaxnumber@yourfaxprovider.com
How to send a fax by email
- Open Apple Mail, Gmail, Outlook or another email app.
- Start a new email.
- Enter the recipient’s fax number in the To field using your provider’s required format.
- Attach the document you want to fax.
- Add a subject line or cover-page message if your service supports one.
- Click Send.
- Check for the delivery confirmation email.
Do not simply email a fax number unless you already have an email-to-fax account. The fax service is what converts your attachment into a fax and transmits it.
Email-to-fax tips
- Convert important documents to PDF first.
- Use the number format specified by your provider.
- Check the delivery confirmation rather than assuming the fax arrived.
- Double-check the recipient’s number before sending confidential information.
- Avoid putting sensitive details in the email body unless you understand your provider’s security and retention settings.
3. Use a fax-capable multifunction printer
A fax-capable Brother, Canon, Epson or HP multifunction printer may still be useful if your office already has one connected to a working fax line.
However, this is different from sending a fax directly from macOS.
Some printers can send a paper or scanned document from their own touchscreen or control panel. A smaller number also provide Mac software that adds a PC-fax option, but this depends on the exact printer model, driver and version of macOS.
What you need
- A printer with genuine fax hardware
- An analogue phone line or another connection specifically supported for faxing by the printer and telephone provider
- A current driver or utility if you want to send a fax from your Mac rather than from the printer itself
The important limitation
Do not assume that choosing File > Print on your Mac will reveal a Fax option.
That feature is manufacturer-specific. Some older printer drivers provided it, while others no longer do. Before buying a printer for this purpose, check the support page for the exact model and current version of macOS.
If your printer has a fax function but no Mac fax driver, you can usually still scan or print the document and send it from the printer’s control panel.
For general printer recommendations, see our guide to the best all-in-one printers for Mac.
Can you fax from a Mac using a USB modem?
Not realistically with a current Mac.
Older versions of Mac OS X could use a USB fax modem connected to an analogue phone line. Current versions of macOS do not provide that old built-in fax-modem workflow, and modern Apple Silicon Macs are not a practical platform for it.
If you still own a very old Intel Mac running an unsupported version of OS X, you may be able to maintain a legacy setup. But it is not worth buying old hardware, running obsolete software or using a virtual machine simply to send an occasional fax.
An online fax service is quicker, more reliable and safer.
Can you receive faxes on a Mac?
Yes. This is one of the main benefits of an online fax service.
With a paid account, you can usually choose or port a fax number. When somebody sends a fax to that number, it arrives as a PDF attachment in your email inbox or appears in the provider’s web dashboard.
You can then:
- View the fax on your Mac
- Download and archive it
- Forward it by email
- Print it if needed
- Search your fax history in the provider’s account
Can you fax from a Mac without a phone line?
Yes.
Online fax services use your internet connection rather than a traditional telephone line. This means you can send and receive faxes from a MacBook on Wi-Fi, from an iMac at home or from any Mac with an internet connection.
You do not need:
- A landline
- A USB fax modem
- A fax machine
- A dedicated office phone line
Is there a free way to fax from a Mac?
There are free ways to fax from a Mac, but they are usually best for occasional, non-sensitive documents.
Free services may limit the number of pages you can send, add branding to the cover page, restrict document size or prevent you from receiving faxes.
For regular use, receiving faxes or business documents, a paid service is generally more reliable and easier to manage.
Is it safe to fax confidential documents from a Mac?
It depends on the service and your requirements.
For ordinary paperwork, use a reputable provider, protect your account with a strong password and check the recipient’s number carefully before sending.
For medical, legal or financial documents, check the provider’s security features, document-retention policy and any compliance requirements relevant to you. Do not assume that ordinary email-to-fax is suitable for regulated or highly sensitive information.
FAQ
Can I fax directly from my Mac?
Not with macOS alone. Current Macs do not include Apple’s old built-in fax-modem feature. You need an online fax service, email-to-fax account or a compatible office printer setup.
How do I fax from a MacBook Air?
Use an online fax service in Safari or another browser. Upload the document, enter the recipient’s fax number and send it. The process is the same on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac or Mac mini.
How do I send a fax from my MacBook?
The easiest option is an online fax service. It does not require a modem, landline or physical fax machine.
Can I fax a PDF from a Mac?
Yes. PDFs are one of the best formats for faxing because they preserve the document layout. Upload the PDF to an online fax service or attach it to an email-to-fax message.
Can I fax internationally from a Mac?
Yes. Most online fax services support international numbers. Check the provider’s number format and international rates before sending.
What is the easiest way to fax from a Mac?
For almost everyone, an online fax service is the easiest method. It works on any modern Mac and lets you send and receive faxes without special hardware.
The bottom line
Faxing from a Mac is still easy in 2026, but the modem method belongs in the past.
For occasional use, a limited free or pay-as-you-go online fax service may be enough. If you need to send or receive faxes regularly, choose a service with a dedicated fax number, delivery confirmations and the features you need.
To compare your options, see our guide to the best fax software for Mac.
Reader note: Older comments below may refer to El Capitan, Yosemite, USB modems, virtual machines or discontinued printer drivers. Those workarounds do not apply to current versions of macOS or Apple Silicon Macs.