How to Send a Fax From Outlook & Microsoft 365 — Complete Guide
Three proven methods to fax documents straight from your Outlook inbox — no fax machine, phone line, or extra hardware required.
⚡ Quick Answer
The fastest way to send a fax from Outlook is the email-to-fax method: compose a new email, enter the fax number followed by @fax.plus in the To field, attach your document, and hit Send. Fax.plus gives you 10 free pages to start — no credit card needed.
Can You Fax Directly from Outlook?
Outlook does not have a built-in fax feature. Microsoft removed native fax support years ago, and neither Outlook desktop nor Outlook on the web includes a “Send Fax” button. However, with a cloud fax service like Fax.plus, you can turn Outlook into a full-featured fax machine in under two minutes.
There are three ways to send faxes from Outlook in 2026:
✉️ Email-to-Fax
Compose a regular Outlook email addressed to a fax number. No add-in needed — works on desktop, web, and mobile.
🔌 Fax.plus Add-in
Install the official Fax.plus add-in from the Office Store. Send and track faxes without leaving Outlook.
⚡ Microsoft 365 Integration
Connect Fax.plus to your Microsoft 365 tenant for organization-wide faxing with admin controls, shared numbers, and compliance logging.
Method 1: Email-to-Fax from Outlook (Step-by-Step)
The email-to-fax approach is the simplest option. It works with any version of Outlook — desktop, web, or the mobile app — on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Here’s how to do it:
Create a Free Fax.plus Account
Head to Fax.plus and sign up with your Outlook email address. Verify the email — this is required so Fax.plus knows which inbox is authorized to send faxes. You’ll receive 10 free pages instantly.
Compose a New Email
Open Outlook and click New Email. In the To field, type the recipient’s fax number (including country code) followed by @fax.plus. For example: 12125551234@fax.plus. The subject line becomes your cover-page heading.
Attach Your Document
Click Attach File and add the document you want to fax. Fax.plus accepts PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PNG, JPG, and TIFF. The email body text is printed on an optional cover page, so add a brief message if needed.
Send & Get Confirmation
Click Send. Fax.plus converts the attachment, dials the recipient’s fax number, and transmits the document. Within minutes, you’ll receive a delivery confirmation email in your Outlook inbox with a transmission report.
That’s it — four steps, no fax machine, no phone line. This method is perfect for occasional faxing or if you prefer not to install any add-ins. Need to fax from Gmail instead? Check our fax from Gmail guide.
Method 2: Fax.plus Outlook Add-in
If you fax regularly, installing the Fax.plus Outlook add-in gives you a dedicated fax panel right inside your mail client. Here’s how to set it up:
Install the Add-in
In Outlook, go to Home > Get Add-ins (or Store in older versions). Search for “Fax.plus” and click Add. The add-in icon appears on your ribbon bar within seconds.
Log In & Compose
Click the Fax.plus icon to open the side panel. Log in with your Fax.plus credentials (or create a free account). Enter the destination fax number, add a cover page note, and attach files directly from OneDrive or your computer.
Send & Track
Click Send Fax. The add-in panel shows real-time transmission status — queued, sending, delivered, or failed. You can view your full fax history without leaving Outlook.
The add-in method is ideal for power users who send multiple faxes a day. It supports contact lists, scheduled sending, and read receipts — features you won’t get with plain email-to-fax.
Method 3: Microsoft 365 Integration via Fax.plus
For businesses that run on Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Fax.plus Enterprise offers a tenant-level integration with admin controls, shared fax numbers, and compliance audit logs. It’s also available through Microsoft Teams.
Connect Your M365 Tenant
Your IT admin logs into the Fax.plus Enterprise dashboard, navigates to Integrations > Microsoft 365, and authorizes the connection using Azure AD single sign-on.
Assign Fax Numbers
The admin assigns virtual fax numbers to teams or individuals. Shared numbers let any authorized team member send and receive faxes from a single Outlook mailbox.
Fax from Outlook or Teams
Users send faxes using email-to-fax or the add-in as described above. All transmissions are logged in the admin console with timestamps, recipient details, and page counts for compliance.
Comparison: 3 Ways to Fax from Outlook
Not sure which method is right for you? Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Feature | Email-to-Fax | Fax.plus Add-in | M365 Integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 1 minute | 2 minutes | 10–15 minutes |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Tracking | Email receipt | Real-time panel | Admin dashboard |
| Contact Lists | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Scheduled Sending | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shared Numbers | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| HIPAA Compliant | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free Pages | 10 | 10 | Trial available |
| Best For | Occasional faxing | Regular users | Teams & enterprises |
Fax.plus Outlook Features at a Glance
Fax.plus is our top-rated online fax service for Outlook users. Here’s why:
✅ Key Features
- 10 free fax pages — no credit card required
- Supports 180+ countries with local and toll-free numbers
- HIPAA, SOC 2 & GDPR compliant for healthcare and legal use
- TLS 1.3 + AES-256 encryption on every transmission
- Outlook, Gmail, Teams & Slack integrations
- OCR & searchable PDFs on incoming faxes
- E-signature support built into the dashboard
- API access for developers and automation workflows
- 24/7 email & chat support on all plans
🔔 Things to Know
- Free tier limited to 10 pages (paid plans start at $8.99/mo)
- Add-in requires Outlook 2016 or newer / Outlook on the web
- M365 integration requires admin-level tenant access
Tips for Faxing from Outlook Like a Pro
Follow these best practices to ensure your Outlook faxes arrive quickly and look professional:
📄 Format Your Document
Send documents as PDF whenever possible. PDFs preserve formatting, fonts, and layouts across fax machines. Avoid sending raw HTML or password-protected files.
✍️ Use a Clear Subject Line
The email subject becomes the cover-page title. Write something descriptive like “Invoice #4521 — Attn: Accounts Payable” so the recipient knows what’s coming.
✅ Confirm Delivery
Always wait for the confirmation email from Fax.plus before assuming the fax went through. If a fax fails, check the error code in the report — the most common issue is a busy line, and Fax.plus retries automatically.
📞 Double-Check the Number
Include the country code (e.g., 1 for the US/Canada). Omitting the country code is the #1 reason faxes fail. Format: 1XXXXXXXXXX@fax.plus.
🔒 Keep It Secure
For sensitive documents (medical records, legal contracts), ensure your Fax.plus plan includes HIPAA compliance. Avoid sending confidential data through unencrypted fax services.
📦 Batch Sending
Need to fax the same document to multiple recipients? Use the Fax.plus add-in’s broadcast fax feature to send to up to 500 numbers in a single batch.
Common Errors & Troubleshooting
Running into problems? Here are the most common Outlook faxing issues and how to fix them:
🔴 “Fax number not recognized”
Cause: Missing country code or incorrect formatting. Fix: Use the full international format without dashes or spaces — e.g., 12125551234@fax.plus for a US number.
🔴 “Sender email not authorized”
Cause: The Outlook email you’re sending from hasn’t been verified in your Fax.plus account. Fix: Log into Fax.plus, go to Settings > Email-to-Fax, and add or verify your Outlook address.
🔴 “Busy line — transmission failed”
Cause: The recipient’s fax machine is busy or offline. Fix: Fax.plus automatically retries up to 3 times. If the fax still fails, try again during off-peak hours or contact the recipient to confirm their line is active.
🔴 Attachment not converting
Cause: Unsupported file type or corrupted file. Fix: Stick to supported formats (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PNG, JPG, TIFF). Make sure the file isn’t password-protected or exceeding the 20 MB limit.
For additional help, visit the Fax.plus support center or explore our complete email-to-fax guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fax from Outlook for free?
Yes. Fax.plus offers up to 10 free fax pages when you sign up. You can send those pages directly from Outlook using the email-to-fax method or the Fax.plus add-in without paying anything upfront.
Does Outlook have a built-in fax feature?
No. Microsoft Outlook does not include a native fax function. You need a third-party online fax service such as Fax.plus that connects to Outlook through email-to-fax, an add-in, or the Microsoft 365 integration.
How do I add Fax.plus to Outlook?
Open Outlook, click Get Add-ins on the ribbon bar, search for Fax.plus in the Office Store, and click Add. Once installed, the Fax.plus icon appears in your toolbar and you can send faxes without leaving your inbox.
Can I receive faxes in Outlook?
Yes. With a Fax.plus account and a virtual fax number, incoming faxes are automatically forwarded to your Outlook inbox as PDF attachments. No extra hardware or software is required.
Is faxing from Outlook secure?
Fax.plus uses TLS 1.3 encryption for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for stored faxes. The service is HIPAA-compliant, SOC 2 certified, and GDPR-ready, making it one of the most secure ways to fax from Outlook.
Can I fax from Outlook on Mac?
Yes. The email-to-fax method works with Outlook on any platform including macOS. The Fax.plus Outlook add-in is also available for Outlook on the web, which runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux browsers.
Related Guides
📩 Fax from Gmail
Step-by-step instructions for sending faxes directly from your Gmail inbox using email-to-fax and add-ons.
📨 Email to Fax
Everything you need to know about sending faxes via email — how it works, best providers, and pricing.
🆕 Free Online Fax
The best free online fax services in 2026 — send faxes without paying a dime. Comparison and reviews.
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