There are many different forms of communication in the digital age in which we all live. The internet has seemingly made the world smaller and it is now possible to communicate with people anywhere on earth almost instantly. You are most likely familiar with common current communication methods such as email, phone, and even video calls. The ability to send information so quickly is an amazing part of the age we are all a part of.
Older methods of communicating and sending information do still exist. Some people still have landline phones and others still send faxes. In this article, we will look at how to send a fax from your MacBook Pro if you ever have the need to do so. Even though this form of sending and receiving text information is a bit dated, it is still possible and a task you might want to perform at some point.
What is Fax?
Nov 22, 2018. Jun 16, 2020.
Jan 07, 2020 iFax – The Mac store claims that this is the most popular faxing software in the world and it is designed to work really well with your MacBook Pro. Easy to use and free for a week, then you’ll have to pay. FaxPro – Another great fax app for your MacBook that is simple and easy to use. There is an upfront cost but then you can send.
A fax is essentially a copy of an image or document made by scanning that is then transmitted in the form of data over telecommunication links. Fax machines were popular for a variety of purposes before the age of the internet. By using one of these machines, you could send important documents and information much faster than ‘snail’ mail and it was a sign of the progress in communication that was to come.
A fax is sent by converting images or text information from a scanned document into bitmap format which can then be transmitted over the telephone system in the form of audio-frequency tones. If you’ve ever seen a fax machine in action, you will no doubt recall the robotic modem sounds that are created when a fax is being received. Many businesses and organizations had fax machines as integral components to their daily operations.
Think of fax as like the original way to send an attachment, as we do with modern email. Although fax machines are not as common as they once were, they do still exist and it’s possible to send one over your computer if you have the correct hardware or software to do so.
Can My MacBook Pro Send Faxes?
The short answer to this is yes. Your MacBook Pro can indeed send a fax. But you might need to install software to do so unless you have a really old MacBook that has a built-in fax modem. We will take a look at how to send a fax with any MacBook below but basically, if your computer has a standard phone input, it probably has the ability to send faxes. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to download software to have the ability to send a fax.
How to Fax From a MacBook Pro
As I indicated above, there are basically two ways to send a fax from your MacBook Pro. One method is to use the hardware that might be built into an older model Mac to complete the task over a phone line and modem. The other is to download software that will enable your computer to send faxes to fax numbers around the world. The software method is much more popular these days but we will take a look at how to send a fax both ways.
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How to Send a Fax with Built-In Hardware
If your computer has a phone line input built into it, you can use this to send faxes from any application that allows you to print documents. A MacBook equipped with this phone line input has a built-in fax modem that will allow you to complete the task and you won’t need to use an external fax machine.
- Plug in the phone line into your computer’s phone input.
- Open the document that you want to fax.
- Click File from the top menu.
- Click Print.
- Click the PDF button on the bottom.
- Click Fax PDF from the drop-down menu here.
- Enter the Fax number where you want to send the document in the To field.
- Click Use Cover Page if you want to include a cover page in the fax, you can type a subject line or intro message here as well.
- Click Fax.
How to Send a Fax Using Fax Software
If your computer is more modern, there is a pretty good chance that you will not have a phone line for an input option. In this case, you’ll need to download faxing software in order to be able to send a fax. There are many different programs that will give you the ability to send a fax after you download and install the software and we will take a look at a few of those options here.
Since each one of these software options has a different user interface, I won’t explain how to send a fax from each. Instead, I’m going to list some popular faxing apps with a brief description and you can choose whatever program you think is best. All of these will afford you the ability to send a fax quickly and easily.
- iFax – The Mac store claims that this is the most popular faxing software in the world and it is designed to work really well with your MacBook Pro. Easy to use and free for a week, then you’ll have to pay.
- FaxPro – Another great fax app for your MacBook that is simple and easy to use. There is an upfront cost but then you can send unlimited faxes from there on out. I like this over monthly subscription models.
- FaxDocument – This app has my favorite interface that is really easy to use with a drag and drop style to send faxes. It has a simple layout and is self-explanatory to get started with sending faxes.
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Final Thoughts
Now you know how to send a fax from your MacBook Pro. If you download one of the software options, it really is easy to send a fax. If you want some more options for faxing software, take a look at these. If your computer has a phone line, it’s also really easy to send a fax utilizing the hardware that is already built into your computer. Either way, sending a fax is still possible today even though it might seem as old as a telegram!
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Have you ever sent a fax from your MacBook? Did you use software or built-in hardware?