How to fax wirelessly

Last Update: August 9th, 2021

Wireless fax can be done in a number of ways depending on the technology you have available.sending a fax over wireless (cellular or wifi)

For “cellular wireless” (the kind used in smartphones), the most common option is to fax over the mobile network through an online fax service.

For “WiFi wireless” (from the computer) (the kind used to connect a laptop or smartphone to a local internet connection), an online fax service is often, or there are other options for faxing through a connected fax machine.

For “WiFi wireless” (from the fax machine), there are many fax machines and multifunction printers with WiFi fax capability.

Finally, for a “fax machine that has a wireless (cellular) connection,” there are very few models available.

On this page

  • Method 1 – Cellular wireless
  • Method 2 – WiFi wireless
  • Method 3 – Fax machine with a wireless (cellular) connection

Method 1 – Cellular Wireless

Smartphone and tablet users who want to fax wirelessly over a cellular connection have one option – an online fax service.

These fax services act a virtual fax machine and allow you to send and receive faxes through email, an app, or a web interface.

With a cellular wireless connection, there is no way to turn a smartphone into a cellular “modem” that connects to a traditional fax machine. As well, no software will make a smartphone “act” like a direct replacement for a fax machine, sending and receiving faxes over the same phone line as the cellular phone number.

Method 2 – WiFi wireless (from the computer)

Computer, tablet, and smartphone users who want to fax wirelessly over a WiFi connection can do so through an online fax service the same way as in Method 1 (Cellular wireless). The Internet is used to access most online fax services.

Another option is that some connected fax machines can be faxed to wirelessly over a WiFi network from a computer, smartphone, or tablet.

These connected fax machines still need a physical connection to a land-line phone line – the “wireless” portion is the WiFi connection between the computer and the fax machine.

Method 3 – Fax machines with a wireless (cellular) connection

The final option is a “wireless fax machine” – a physical fax machine that connects to a mobile phone connection.

While the terms vary, these are typically called “GSM fax machines” or “CDMA fax machines” depending on the type of network they operate on (the AT&T network is an example of GSM, while Verizon is an example of CDMA).

With this approach, the fax machine would have a separate fax number and cellular account and operate over the cellular connection to send and receive faxes (just like a traditional fax machine).

It should be noted that reception quality is important for this approach – any static or loss of quality on the connection, and a GSM or CDMA fax machine will not be able to understand the message.