How to fax from a Mac
A Mac faxes only through a multifunction printer that supports faxing. Without one, save the document as a PDF and send that PDF from a browser fax service with a signed BAA.
A Mac faxes from the Print dialog only through a multifunction printer that supports faxing. Without that printer, the fastest route is a PDF sent from a browser fax service, which needs no fax machine.
Can a Mac still fax from the Print dialog?
Yes, through a multifunction printer that supports faxing and is connected to the Mac. Apple's guide says that with such a printer, you can fax pages directly from the Mac.
How do you fax from a Mac with a multifunction printer?
On a Mac, you fax from the Print dialog by picking your multifunction printer under Faxes.
- Open the File menu and choose Print.
- In the Printer pop-up, pick the multifunction printer listed under Faxes.
- Enter any outside-line prefix in the Dialing Prefix field, if the phone system requires one.
Apple's guide names no phone line; its only phone reference is the prefix in step 3. Apple's own alternative to faxing is to scan the document and save it as a PDF.
What does a Mac need to fax?
The Print dialog route needs a multifunction printer that supports faxing and is connected to the Mac, and Apple's text does not mention a fax modem. The browser route needs a PDF file and a browser, with no fax machine. The table sets out both routes.
| Route | What it needs | Suits patient documents? |
|---|---|---|
| Print dialog to a multifunction printer | A multifunction printer that supports faxing, connected to the Mac | The Apple pages cited here do not mention HIPAA |
| Save as PDF, then send from a browser | A PDF file and a browser, with no fax machine | Yes: every Fax Pigeon plan includes a signed BAA at signup |
How do you save a Mac document as a PDF for faxing?
On a Mac, the PDF button in the Print dialog saves the document as a PDF by default.
- Choose Print from the File menu.
- Click the PDF button, or open the PDF pop-up menu and choose Save as PDF.
- Enter a name and a location for the file.
Security Options in that save step can add passwords for opening, copying or printing the PDF, which suits files with patient records.
How do you fax a Mac PDF from a browser?
A Mac faxes a saved PDF from a browser, and every Fax Pigeon plan includes a signed BAA at signup, which covers the service that carries the patient record.
- Make the PDF from the Print dialog.
- Sign up for Fax Pigeon and sign the BAA during signup.
- Enter the receiving fax number, and attach the PDF in your browser.
- Look at the delivery proof once the fax is sent.
A Basic plan costs $4.99 a month billed annually, or $59.88 a year, with 200 pages and 10¢ extra pages. Each plan gives a fax number of your own and fax from email. The steps for checking a send are in how to check that a fax was delivered.
Who should switch from faxing on a Mac?
If your Mac has no multifunction printer that supports faxing, a browser fax service is the switch to make. A practice that keeps the printer may use it for documents that hold no patient details, and it sends patient records through a service with a signed BAA. The Fax Pigeon plan prices page lists each plan, and online fax vs a fax machine compares the two.
* Apple's and Microsoft's support pages were read on October 13, 2026. Fax Pigeon prices and plan terms as of October 15, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I fax from a Mac?
- On a Mac, you fax from the Print dialog by choosing File > Print and then picking your multifunction printer under Faxes. The printer must support faxing and be connected to the Mac. Without that printer, save the document as a PDF and send the PDF from a browser fax service such as Fax Pigeon, which needs no fax machine.
- Do I need a fax machine to fax from a Mac?
- You need a multifunction printer that supports faxing to fax from a Mac Print dialog, and that printer must be connected to the Mac. A separate fax machine is not part of Apple's steps. A browser fax service needs no fax machine, and every Fax Pigeon plan includes your own fax number.
- Is it HIPAA compliant to fax from a Mac?
- The Apple pages cited in this article do not mention HIPAA, so they cannot confirm that faxing from a Mac is HIPAA compliant. When the service that transmits a fax handles patient records, HIPAA requires a business associate agreement with that service. Every Fax Pigeon plan includes a signed BAA at signup. A fax from your own multifunction printer leaves the safeguards to your practice.
- How do I know the fax went through?
- Fax Pigeon shows delivery proof for every fax on every plan, so a sender on a Mac can see that the fax was delivered. The Apple pages cited here do not describe a delivery report for a fax sent from the Print dialog. The steps for confirming a fax are in how to tell if a fax went through.
- Can I save a Mac document as a PDF before faxing it?
- Yes, you can save a Mac document as a PDF from the Print dialog before you fax it. Click the PDF button, or open the PDF pop-up menu and choose Save as PDF. Security Options in that save step adds passwords for opening, copying or printing the PDF, which helps when the file holds patient records.
Fax Pigeon
HIPAA-compliant fax with a signed BAA on every plan
Plans start at $4.99 a month, billed annually, for 200 pages, with your own number and unlimited people. Your first fax is free.
- Free porting of your local number
- Fax from your email
- AI summary of every inbound fax
- E-signatures
- Contact management
- Delivery proof
Know a practice that still faxes? Refer it through the referral program and earn 20% of its plan, every month it stays.