A Microsoft Answers post from December 2025 got a lot of upvotes: someone asked how to fax from Outlook Desktop and learned, somewhat surprised, that Microsoft 365 no longer includes any fax functionality. Not in Outlook, not in Word, not anywhere in the suite.

That's not a bug. Microsoft quietly dropped Windows Fax and Scan from Office integrations, and it never made its way into the cloud-based Microsoft 365 version. So if you're an Outlook user who occasionally needs to send a fax — medical forms, rental agreements, legal documents — you need an alternative.

Option 1: Use the web (simplest, no setup)

For occasional faxing, this is the easiest path by a wide margin. Open your browser, go to sendfaxfast.com, upload your document, enter the recipient's fax number, and pay. You'll get a delivery confirmation by email — the same inbox you're already in.

This works whether you use Outlook.com, Microsoft 365, or the desktop app. It doesn't connect to Outlook directly, but it doesn't need to.

Option 2: Email-to-fax (if you send faxes regularly from Outlook)

Some fax services offer an email gateway: you compose an email in Outlook, address it to the fax number at the provider's domain, attach your document, and send. The service converts it and routes it to the fax machine.

The process looks like this:

  1. Sign up with a fax service that offers email-to-fax (most subscription-based services do).
  2. Verify your Outlook email address with that service so it knows to accept your sends.
  3. In Outlook, create a new email. In the To field, enter the fax number at the provider's gateway — for example 16135550100@yourfaxservice.com.
  4. Attach your PDF and send. The service converts and delivers it.
  5. A delivery receipt comes back to your Outlook inbox.
Format matters: Use the full international number without dashes or spaces — country code + area code + number. For a US number: 12025550100. For a Canadian number (same country code): 16135550100. For Australian numbers: 61295550100.

Which approach should you use?

Honestly? If you send faxes rarely — say, a few times a year — skip the email-to-fax setup. The monthly subscription cost of the services that support it doesn't justify itself for occasional use. Go directly to a pay-per-fax site each time.

If you're sending faxes weekly from Outlook and want everything in one place, an email gateway makes sense. Look for a service that explicitly lists email-to-fax and Microsoft 365 compatibility.

Can I use the Windows Fax and Scan app instead?

Windows Fax and Scan still exists on Windows 11, but it requires a physical fax modem or a phone line connected to your PC. If you have neither — and most people don't — it's not useful. It's also not connected to Outlook in any way.

For most people in 2026, an online fax service is the practical answer. No modem, no phone line, no special hardware.

Common questions

Can I fax directly from Outlook?

Not natively. Microsoft removed Outlook's built-in fax function years ago. To fax from Outlook, you need to use an email-to-fax service: compose an email, attach your document, and send it to the fax number at the service's domain. Alternatively, use a web-based fax service directly in your browser.

What do I put in the To field when faxing from Outlook?

The recipient's fax number followed by the provider's email domain. For example: 14155550100@send.yourfaxservice.com. The exact format depends on which fax service you use — each provider has its own gateway address.

Is email-to-fax secure?

It depends on the service. The email from Outlook to the fax gateway is only as secure as standard TLS email encryption. The fax leg itself is point-to-point. For sensitive documents, using the provider's secure web portal (instead of email) is safer.

Does email-to-fax work with Microsoft 365 Outlook?

Yes. Email-to-fax works with any email client that can send attachments — Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, and the Outlook desktop app all work the same way.