# How to fax from a computer

Send a fax from a Windows PC or Mac using your browser. Prepare your files, add paper documents from your phone, and track delivery.

Published: 2026-09-28

Canonical: https://dearfax.com/guides/how-to-fax-from-a-computer

You can send a fax from a computer through an online fax service. You don’t need to connect a fax machine or install a fax modem: upload your document in a browser, enter the recipient’s fax number, and submit it.

DearFax works through the browser on your Windows PC or Mac. You can prepare the draft before creating an account, then sign in to review and send it.

## Save the document as a PDF

Start with the file you want the recipient to receive. If it’s already a PDF, open it and check that the pages are complete. If it arrived by email, download the attachment rather than taking screenshots of it.

For a Word document, spreadsheet, or other editable file, use the app’s PDF export option. Open the exported PDF before uploading it. Spreadsheets deserve a closer look: a wide table can spill across several pages, leaving the recipient with disconnected columns.

Make any corrections in the original file and export it again. Faxing won’t fill in missing fields or add a signature that the recipient requires.

## Open DearFax and upload your files

Go to [DearFax](https://dearfax.com/send-fax-online) and choose **Send a fax**. Select **Upload file**, find your document, and wait for the page preview.

You can add supporting documents to the same draft. Review the combined set of pages so a cover, form, and supporting statement arrive in a sensible order. Remove anything unrelated before continuing.

The preview is your chance to catch a blank page, sideways scan, or wrong version. Check it even if the filename looks right.

## Add paper documents from your phone

If part of the paperwork is on your desk, you can use your phone without moving the whole task off your computer.

In the desktop composer, choose **Scan from phone**. Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera, open the link, and add the photos or files to the draft. Return to the computer to review the pages and send.

Use good light and keep the camera square to the paper. Check that the whole page is visible, including signatures near the bottom edge. The larger computer preview makes it easier to spot a blurred line before submitting.

You can also prepare a PDF scan first, then upload it. See the [iPhone](https://dearfax.com/guides/how-to-fax-from-iphone) or [Android](https://dearfax.com/guides/how-to-fax-from-android) guide for phone-specific steps.

## Address the fax

Enter the recipient’s fax number and check the selected country. Compare the full number with the instructions you were given. Don’t assume the main phone number on a company’s website is also its fax number.

If you include a cover page, address it to the person or department handling the document. Give your name and a short explanation of what you’re sending. A requested case or reference number is usually more useful than a long message.

DearFax has an editable cover page, so you don’t need to design a separate file. If the recipient supplied their own cover sheet, upload it instead and remove the extra cover.

![DearFax showing a recipient number and the uploaded PDF preview.](https://dearfax.com/brand/guides/signed-in-fax-preview-v3.jpg)

Reviewing a fax on your computer

## Sign in, review, and send

If you started as a guest, sign up or sign in when prompted. Your draft carries into your workspace. Account creation doesn’t submit it.

Review the recipient, documents, and page allowance, then follow the composer’s send confirmation. DearFax’s Free plan includes 10 pages per month for browser sending; a cover counts as a page. The [pricing page](https://dearfax.com/pricing) lists paid options if you need more.

## Check delivery

Find the fax in **Sent**. Submission and delivery are separate steps: a busy receiving line or a longer document can mean a wait.

When the status is **Delivered**, the receiving fax system has confirmed delivery. For an application or other time-sensitive paperwork, use the recipient’s process to confirm it reached the right person. The status alone doesn’t mean someone has reviewed or accepted it.

If you’re unsure what happened, check the existing fax before submitting another copy. Read any failure information and verify the number before retrying.

## Prefer to send from your email app?

DearFax also supports sending attachments from email on Pro and Business. After setup, you can compose a message in Gmail or another email app and address it to the fax number at DearFax’s domain.

The [email-to-fax guide](https://dearfax.com/guides/how-to-fax-from-gmail) explains the address format, cover message, and account settings. Unlike the browser workflow, sending the email is the instruction to submit the fax; there isn’t another confirmation screen.