How to Fax a Document from Outlook
Outlook has no built-in fax feature, but you do not need one. Save your attachment, upload it to OneFaxNow, and your fax is delivered in minutes. No add-in, no email-to-fax gateway, no subscription.
Can Outlook send a fax? No — but the workaround takes 2 minutes
Outlook is an email client. Faxes travel over phone lines. Microsoft has never added a native fax feature to Outlook, and the legacy Windows Fax and Scan tool requires a physical fax modem most people do not have.
Most "fax from Outlook" guides tell you to install an email-to-fax add-in (eFax, Fax.Plus, WiseFax) or compose a specially formatted email to an address like 12125551234@efaxsend.com. These services require account creation, monthly subscriptions, and often IT admin approval in corporate environments.
The faster approach: save the attachment from Outlook, open OneFaxNow.com, upload the file, and send. No add-in to install, no admin approval to request, no subscription to cancel later. Done in under 5 minutes.
What you'll need
Outlook attachment
PDF, DOCX, JPG, or other file
Any device
Desktop, phone, or tablet
Fax number
U.S. or Canada number
Payment
Card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
Step-by-step: fax an Outlook attachment
Open Outlook and find your document
Open Outlook on your computer, phone, or browser. Find the email that contains the document you need to fax.
The attachment appears at the bottom of the email (desktop) or as a thumbnail below the message (mobile). Outlook supports previewing PDFs, images, and Office documents before you download.
Save the attachment to your device
How you save depends on which version of Outlook you are using:
Outlook desktop (classic)
Right-click the attachment and choose Save As, or drag it directly to your desktop.
New Outlook / Outlook on the web
Click the dropdown arrow on the attachment and select Download. The file saves to your Downloads folder.
Outlook mobile (iOS)
Tap the attachment, then tap the share icon and choose Save to Files.
Outlook mobile (Android)
Tap the attachment and select Download. The file saves to your Downloads folder.
No attachment? If the content you need to fax is in the email body itself, use File > Print > Microsoft Print to PDF (desktop) or your browser's Print > Save as PDF (web) to create a PDF of the email.
Open OneFaxNow and upload the file
Open a new browser tab and go to OneFaxNow.com. Tap "Send a Fax" to open the fax form. No account creation, no sign-up required.
Click "Choose Files" or drag and drop the file you just saved from Outlook. You can upload up to 15 files and 50 pages per fax.
Enter the fax number and your email
Type the recipient's U.S. or Canada fax number. The form auto-formats as you type — just enter the digits.
Enter your email address to receive a delivery confirmation when the fax goes through.
Optional: toggle "Add Cover Page" to include sender/recipient details and a message on the first page of your fax.
Pay and send
Review your fax details — number, page count, and price — then tap "Pay & Send".
Pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a credit/debit card. Your payment is authorized but not charged until the fax is delivered successfully.
Pay-on-success guarantee: If the fax fails after 3 automatic retries, the authorization is released and you're never charged.
Track your delivery
After payment, you'll see a live status page that updates in real time: Sending → Delivered.
- Watch transmission progress live
- Automatic retries if the line is busy (up to 3 attempts)
- Email confirmation when delivery is complete
OneFaxNow vs. Outlook fax add-ins and gateways
Email-to-fax add-ins and gateways ask you to install software and learn a special email format. Here is how the approaches compare for a one-time fax.
| Feature | Outlook Add-in / Gateway | OneFaxNow |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | Create account, verify email, pick plan | No account needed |
| Subscription | $7.99-$16.99/mo minimum | Pay per fax: $3.50 for 1-10 pages |
| Outlook add-in | Often required (IT admin approval) | Not needed — works in any browser |
| Setup time | 5-15 min (install + format) | Under 2 min (upload, number, pay) |
| Special email format | e.g., 12125551234@efaxsend.com | Just enter the fax number in a form |
| HIPAA option | Enterprise tier ($25+/mo) | $6.50/fax with instant BAA |
| Pay-on-success | Most charge upfront | Authorization released on failure |
Tips for faxing Outlook attachments
PDF works best
If your Outlook attachment is already a PDF, fax it as-is. PDFs preserve formatting and are automatically optimized for fax transmission by OneFaxNow.
Fax the email body itself?
If the content you need to fax is in the email body (not an attachment), use File > Print > Save as PDF in Outlook or your browser. Then upload that PDF to OneFaxNow.
Medical or legal docs?
If your Outlook attachment contains protected health information, toggle HIPAA mode before sending. You get encrypted transmission, auto-deletion, and an instant BAA.
On your phone?
Save the attachment from the Outlook mobile app, then open OneFaxNow.com in your mobile browser. Works on any phone. See also: How to Fax from iPhone.
Why OneFaxNow instead of an Outlook fax add-in
No add-in needed
Outlook fax add-ins require installation, IT admin approval in many workplaces, and their own subscriptions. OneFaxNow works in any browser — just open, upload, send.
No subscription
Pay $3.50 for up to 10 pages. No monthly fee, no credit packs, no auto-renewals to cancel later.
Under 5 minutes
Save from Outlook, upload to OneFaxNow, enter the number, pay, done. Most faxes deliver within 60 seconds.
Simple pricing
Lite
1-10 pages
$3.50
$3.99 via iOS app
HIPAA add-on: +$3
Standard
11-50 pages
$5.00
$5.99 via iOS app
HIPAA add-on: +$5
Pay only on successful delivery. Authorization released on failure.
Frequently asked questions
Can Outlook send a fax directly?
No. Outlook is an email client with no built-in fax feature. Microsoft discontinued the legacy Internet Fax service years ago, and Windows Fax and Scan requires a physical fax modem. To fax from Outlook, save your attachment and upload it to an online fax service like OneFaxNow.
Do I need to install an Outlook fax add-in?
Not with OneFaxNow. Fax add-ins like eFax or WiseFax require installation, often need IT admin approval in corporate environments, and come with monthly subscriptions. OneFaxNow works in any browser — save the attachment, upload it, and send.
Can I fax an Outlook attachment without a subscription?
Yes. OneFaxNow charges $3.50 for up to 10 pages with no account, no subscription, and a pay-on-success guarantee. You are only charged if the fax is delivered.
Does this work with Outlook on the web?
Yes. Save the attachment from Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com) to your computer, then upload it at OneFaxNow.com. The same process works with the classic desktop app, new Outlook, and the mobile app.
Can I fax from the Outlook mobile app?
Yes. In the Outlook app for iOS or Android, tap the attachment and save it to your device. Then open OneFaxNow.com in your mobile browser and upload the file. You can also use the OneFaxNow app for iOS or Android.
Is it HIPAA-compliant to fax from Outlook?
Email-to-fax add-ins route your document through third-party email servers, which may not meet HIPAA requirements. OneFaxNow's direct upload keeps your document off email entirely. Toggle HIPAA mode for encrypted transmission, auto-deletion, full audit logs, and an instant Business Associate Agreement.
Ready to fax your Outlook attachment?
Save the file from Outlook and send in under 5 minutes. No add-in, no account, no subscription.