How to send a fax with Gmail
Many of us remember the old thermal paper fax machines, which made a deafening noise when connecting to the phone line and sending black and white documents. Today, thanks to technology, it is possible to send a fax directly from your Gmail account without having to purchase a fax machine or pay expensive fees.
In this article, we will show you how to send a fax with Gmail using a free online service called "Fax.Plus". We will guide you step by step through the process of creating a Fax.Plus account, sending your first fax, and managing your faxed documents.
Before getting started, make sure you have an active Gmail account and a digital copy of the document you want to send as a fax.
Compatibility Check
Before proceeding with sending faxes via Gmail, it is important to check compatibility of your computer and the browser used.
Minimum Requirements
- Operating system: Windows 7 or later, macOS X 10.10 or later, Linux Ubuntu 14.04 LTS or later.
- Web browser: Google Chrome (version 43 or later), Mozilla Firefox (version 38 or later), Safari (version 9 or later).
- Gmail account: Make sure you have an active and working Gmail account.
- Credit on online fax service: If you don't already have a subscription to an online fax service, you'll need to purchase credits to be able to send your fax.
Compatibility Check
To check if your system meets the minimum requirements for sending faxes via Gmail, follow these steps:
- Login to your Gmail account from the browser you intend to use for faxing.
- Click on the "New message" button to open a new email.
- In the email composition window, click on the attachment (paperclip) icon and select "Fax" from the list of available options.
- A dialog box will appear asking you to verify your system's compatibility. Follow the instructions provided to complete the verification.
If your system meets the minimum requirements, you'll be ready to send faxes via Gmail. Otherwise, you'll need to update the browser or operating system used.
Setting Up Your Fax Service
To send a fax with Gmail, you need to set up the fax service. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose an Online Fax Service Provider
There are several online fax service providers that allow sending and receiving faxes over the Internet. Some of the most popular providers include MyFax, eFax, and HelloFax.
Step 2: Sign Up for Online Fax Service
After choosing an online fax service provider, sign up for their service. Most providers require either free or paid registration to access their service.
Step 3: Configure your Gmail email account
After registering for the online fax service, configure your Gmail account to send and receive faxes. To do so, follow these steps:
- Login to your Gmail account.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
- Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
- Click on the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab.
- Enable POP for all incoming mail.
- Save changes.
Step 4: Configure your online fax service account
After configuring your Gmail account, configure your online fax service account. To do so, follow these steps:
- Login to your online fax service account.
- Click on the "Settings" or "Account" tab.
- Select "Add an email account" or "Email account setup".
- Enter your Gmail account information.
- Save changes.
You are now ready to send a fax with Gmail using your online fax service!
Sending a Fax through Gmail
To send a fax through Gmail, you need an online fax service that allows you to send documents via email.
Step 1: Choose an online fax service
There are several online fax services available, such as MyFax, eFax, and RingCentral. Choose the service that best suits your needs.
Step 2: Register for the service
After choosing your preferred online fax service, register on their website. You may need to provide some personal information and choose a pricing plan.
Step 3: Prepare the document to be sent
Prepare the document you want to send as a fax. Make sure it is in a format supported by the chosen online fax service (e.g., PDF or TIFF).
Step 4: Send the document via email
Open your Gmail email inbox and create a new email. Enter the email address provided by your online fax service in the "To" section. Add the document to be sent as an attachment.
Step 5: Specify fax recipient information
In the "Subject" field of your email, enter information about the fax recipient, such as their name and phone number. This information will be used by the online fax service to send the document to the correct recipient.
Step 6: Send the email
After completing all necessary fields, click on the "Send" button to send your email. Your online fax service will convert the document into a format compatible with fax and send it to the specified fax number.
Step 7: Confirm successful delivery
After sending your email, check your email inbox to confirm that the fax has been successfully delivered. Some online fax services will send you an email notification or provide a delivery report.
Conclusion and final considerations
We hope this article has been useful to you for sending a fax using Gmail. As you have seen, the process is quite simple and requires only a few steps.
Remember that your email must be formatted correctly and you must include the document to be sent as an attachment. Also, make sure you have enough credit on HelloFax if you are using this platform.
If you want to send faxes regularly, it may be worth considering purchasing a multifunction printer that also supports the fax function. This way, you won't have to worry about using external services or paying extra fees.
In any case, we hope you found this tutorial helpful and wish you good luck with your next fax submission!
Michael Anderson - Software Engineer
My name is Michael Anderson, and I work as a computer engineer in Midland, Texas.
My passion is sharing my knowledge in various areas, and my purpose is to make education accessible to everyone. I believe it is essential to explain complex concepts in a simple and interesting way.
With GlobalHowTo, I aim to motivate and enrich the minds of those who want to learn.
