💻 How to Fax From Windows Without a Modem
The fax tool that comes with some versions of Windows, Windows Fax and Scan, only sends faxes through a fax modem connected to a phone line, and newer Windows 11 versions no longer install it by default. Without a modem, open OverseasFax.com in Edge, Chrome or any other browser, upload your PDF, Word file or scan, select United States, type the 10-digit fax number and pay. Up to 3 pages costs $2.99, with no account and no software to install.
📋 In This Guide
- Why Windows Fax and Scan Needs a Modem
- Check Whether Your PC Has Windows Fax and Scan
- Fax From Any Windows PC in Your Browser
- Entering a US Fax Number Correctly
- What to Put on the Cover Page and Each Page
- Cost, Deadline, Your Record and Failed Faxes
- Receiving a Fax Without a Modem
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Windows Fax and Scan Needs a Modem
Windows Fax and Scan is a small program from Microsoft that adds faxing and scanning to a PC. It does not send faxes over the internet. Microsoft's own fax setup guidance tells you to install the modem devices first, because the fax device is what places and answers calls on a phone line. Most laptops and desktops sold today have no fax modem and are not plugged into a phone line, so the program has nothing to send through.
The same limit applies to the fax option inside Microsoft Office. Microsoft says the Office internet fax feature depends on Windows Fax and Scan being installed, so if your PC does not have it, that option will not work either. Buying a modem and finding a working landline just to send one or two faxes is a lot of effort, and it is not needed.
The rule: if your PC has no fax modem and no phone line plugged into it, do not spend time setting up Windows Fax and Scan. Send the fax from your browser instead, to the number printed on the letter or form of the office that asked for it.
Check Whether Your PC Has Windows Fax and Scan
Microsoft lists Windows Fax and Scan as an optional Windows feature, available on Windows 10 from version 2004. After Windows 11 version 22H2 it is not preinstalled, and Microsoft says it is available only in certain Windows editions and configurations. To look for it, open Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, choose Turn Windows features on or off, and open Print and Document Services. If Windows Fax and Scan is not in that list, Microsoft says the feature is not supported on your version of Windows.
Also keep in mind that Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The browser method below does not depend on your Windows version or on any Microsoft feature. It only needs a browser and an internet connection.
Fax From Any Windows PC in Your Browser
Open OverseasFax.com in Edge, Chrome, Firefox or any other browser. Click the upload area and choose your file from Documents, Downloads or your desktop. You can attach up to 10 files in one fax, up to 100MB in total. The site accepts PDF files, Word documents (.doc and .docx) and images such as JPG and PNG, and each image counts as one page. An Excel sheet should be saved as a PDF first.
Then select the country of the fax number, type the number, enter your email address for the confirmation, and pay by card. You see the full price before you pay, there is no account to create, and nothing is printed on your document. If you need to fax a paper document and have no scanner at the PC, you can scan it with your phone; see faxing from an Android phone or faxing from an iPhone.
Entering a US Fax Number Correctly
For a fax number in the United States, select United States and type all 10 digits, which means the 3-digit area code and the 7-digit number. Do not type the leading 1, because +1 is added for you, and the box removes a 1 if you type one. Leave out spaces, dashes and brackets: a number written (614) XXX-XXXX is entered as 614XXXXXXX. The pay button turns on only when exactly 10 digits are in the box.
For a Canadian fax number, select Canada and type the 10 digits in the same way. More examples are in how to fax to a US number online.
What to Put on the Cover Page and Each Page
A cover page tells the office who the fax is for and what it contains, which matters when many faxes arrive at one machine. You can make one in Word or any text editor and upload it as the first file, before your other documents.
On the cover page, write the office name and the person or department it is for, your full name, your phone number and email, the case, claim, member or account number from the letter you received, a short description of what is attached, and the total number of pages. On every other page, add your name and that same reference number in the top margin, and number the pages, for example "Page 3 of 5". This way, a page that gets separated can still be matched to your file.
Cost, Deadline, Your Record and Failed Faxes
A fax to a US or Canadian number costs $2.99 for up to 3 pages, and each extra page is $0.99. A cover page and a four-page form make 5 pages, which comes to $2.99 + 2 x $0.99 = $4.97. A 10-page packet is $9.92.
The deadline is set by the office that asked for your document, so check their letter, form or website for the date. Delivery usually takes a few minutes. Afterward you get a confirmation email with the destination number, the page count and the time it went through, in US Eastern Time. Save that email in a folder on your PC, because it is your record of exactly when it was sent.
If the fax cannot be delivered, for example because the line is busy or the number belongs to a phone and not a fax, the full amount goes back to your card automatically. Check the number against the office's letter and send it again.
Receiving a Fax Without a Modem
Windows Fax and Scan can only receive faxes through a modem on a phone line, and OverseasFax only sends. If the office will fax you a reply, our sister service GetAFax.com gives you a private US fax number for 24 hours for $5. It receives up to 30 pages, and each fax arrives in your email as a PDF that you can open and save on your PC.
If you use a Mac at home as well, see faxing from a Mac, and for a broader look at sending without any equipment, see faxing without a fax machine or a fax number. Our US fax guide covers common forms and offices that still take fax.
Why send it here
One price for the whole fax, shown before you pay, and nothing added at checkout.
Nothing is printed on your document. It arrives exactly as you uploaded it.
If it cannot be delivered, the money goes back to your card without you asking.
It works from anywhere in the US, in any browser, with no account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fax from a Windows computer without a modem?
Do I need to buy a USB fax modem for Windows 11 to send one fax?
Is there a monthly fee to fax from my Windows laptop?
How do I fax from my computer on Windows 10 without a phone line?
Can Windows Fax and Scan send a fax over the internet?
Is Windows Fax and Scan still in Windows 11?
How do I find out if my Windows PC has Windows Fax and Scan?
Why doesn't the fax option in Microsoft Word work on my PC?
My office PC runs Windows and the HR form is due by 5 PM, what is the fastest way to fax it?
Can I fax a scanned document from my Windows PC?
How do I enter a US fax number when faxing from Windows?
Can I fax from my Windows PC to a fax number in Canada?
Can I receive a fax on my Windows computer without a modem?
How do I know my fax from Windows was delivered?
What happens if my fax from my Windows PC fails?
Is it safe to fax tax or medical papers from my work computer?
Can I fax from Windows 10 now that Microsoft ended support for it?
Can I fax several files from my PC in one fax?
Can I fax an Excel spreadsheet from my Windows computer?
Related Guides
📖 How to Fax From an Android Phone
📖 Fax Without a Fax Machine or Fax Number
📖 How to Fax to a US Number Online
📖 Fax Employment and Income Verification
📠 Ready to send?
No account needed · $2.99 for up to 3 pages · Delivered in minutes · Full refund if delivery fails
Fax from your PC →