How to Send a Fax from iPhone in 2026

What you need before you start

You only need three things, and the setup takes about two minutes:

• Your iPhone with an internet connection. Wi-Fi or cellular data both work. You do not need a phone line or a fax machine.
• The document. A PDF, a photo, or a paper page you scan with the iPhone camera.
• The recipient's fax number. Include the country code if you are faxing abroad.

You do not need a subscription. Faxend's Basic option lets you send a single fax of up to 10 pages for $9.99, with nothing recurring.

Two ways to fax from iPhone: app or browser

An iPhone has no built-in fax feature, so every method uses an online fax service that dials the recipient's fax machine for you. You can reach that service in two ways:

• From the browser (no app): open Safari and go to faxend.com/send. Upload your file, enter the number, pay, and send. This is the quickest option for a one-off fax, and it works on work phones where you cannot install apps.
• From an app: install the Faxend app from the App Store if you fax regularly and want your recent numbers and history in one place.

Both routes deliver the fax the same way. The recipient cannot tell which one you used.

The 4 steps to send a fax from iPhone

Every modern fax service follows the same workflow. Here it is with Faxend:

A one-page fax usually arrives in under a minute. Longer documents take a few minutes.

How to scan a paper document on iPhone

Your iPhone has a built-in document scanner that produces a clean PDF, which faxes much better than a regular photo.

Option 1: Use the Files app

Open Files, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Scan Documents. Hold the phone over the page until it captures automatically, repeat for each page, then save the PDF. Upload that PDF in step 2.

Option 2: Use the Notes app

Open Notes, tap the camera icon in a note, and choose Scan Documents. When you are done, share the PDF to Files so you can upload it.

Option 3: Scan inside the Faxend app

If you use the app, its camera button scans pages and turns them into a PDF for you.

Scan in good light, keep the page flat, and prefer black-and-white text: a fax is sent in black and white at about 200 dpi, so high contrast gives the sharpest result on the other end.

File types and limits

• PDF: the most reliable choice. Layout and text are preserved, and multi-page PDFs go out as one fax.
• JPEG and PNG: fine for scans, screenshots and photos. When you pick an iPhone photo (HEIC) in Safari, iOS normally converts it to JPEG for the upload.
• Word, Pages and other documents: export to PDF first (Share → Print → pinch out on the preview, or “Export as PDF” in the app you used).

Web limits: up to 10 attachments, 20 MB in total and 100 pages per fax. If a scan is too large, rescan it in black and white or split it into two faxes.

What happens after you tap Send

Fax is simply image data sent as tones between two fax machines, using the Group 3 standard that almost every machine still understands. When you fax from an iPhone:

1. Your document is uploaded to the fax service over the internet.
2. The service converts it into a fax image.
3. The service dials the recipient's fax number and transmits the pages, usually over the fax-over-IP protocol T.38 or a regular phone line.
4. You get a confirmation that the fax was delivered, or a failure notice if it was not.

The recipient's machine receives an ordinary fax. There is no “sent from iPhone” marker, and if the recipient uses an online fax service they simply get a PDF by email. Image quality depends mostly on your original: a crisp PDF produces a crisp fax, a blurry photo produces a blurry one.

Can you fax from iPhone for free?

Truly free sending is rare. Apps that advertise “free” usually give you a few trial pages and then ask for a monthly subscription, or add ads to your cover page. If you only fax occasionally, paying once is usually cheaper than a subscription you forget to cancel: Faxend charges $9.99 for a single fax of up to 10 pages and does not renew.

For a comparison of apps and their free allowances, see free fax apps for iPhone and fax apps without a subscription.

Tips for a fax that goes through the first time

• Check the number with the recipient. A wrong digit is the most common reason a fax fails, and it matters most for medical, legal or tax documents.
• Send one PDF instead of many photos. Separate images can arrive in an odd order on older machines.
• Remove blank pages at the end of a scan before sending. Every page counts toward your page total.
• Add a cover sheet for offices that receive many faxes, with the recipient's name and your call-back number.
• For international faxes, use the full country code, and consider the recipient's business hours: busy lines are retried, but an off-hours send often goes through faster.

Troubleshooting failed sends

1. Wrong number format. Use the international format (+country code, area code, number) and double-check the digits.
2. The receiving line is busy or offline. The service retries automatically. If it still fails, ask the recipient whether their fax line is working.
3. The file is too large. Stay under 20 MB in total; rescan in black and white or split the document.
4. No pages left on your plan. An “insufficient pages” message means your plan is used up. See pricing and try again.

Need to receive faxes on your iPhone as well? See how to receive a fax online. Faxing a government form? The IRS from iPhone guide lists the right numbers and cover sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send a fax from my iPhone without an app?

Yes. Open Safari, go to faxend.com/send, upload your PDF or photo, enter the fax number and send. No app or account is needed for a one-time fax.

Can I send a fax from my iPhone for free?

Most services charge once you pass a few trial pages. Faxend Basic is $9.99 for up to 10 pages with no subscription. See our roundup of free iPhone fax apps for free allowances.

What file formats can I fax from iPhone?

PDF, JPEG and PNG. Export Word or Pages files to PDF first. iPhone photos are normally converted to JPEG automatically when you upload them in Safari.

Do I need Wi-Fi or a phone line?

No phone line is needed, and either Wi-Fi or cellular data works. The fax service does the dialing.

How long does it take to send a fax from iPhone?

A single page usually arrives in under a minute; a 10-page document typically takes a few minutes.

Can the recipient tell the fax came from an iPhone?

No. They receive a normal fax on their machine, or a PDF by email if they use an online fax service.

How do I scan a paper document to fax?

Use Scan Documents in the Files or Notes app, or the scanner in the Faxend app. It creates a clean PDF you can upload.