Preparing Fax Machine to Receive a Fax

When someone wants to send me a fax is there anything I need to do on the machine before they send it? Do I need to have it on FAX for me to receive it? I didn’t think so, but I have not been receiving the faxes lately when they are being sent.


Most fax machines do require that you put them in “answer mode” in order to receive faxes. Some people switch answer mode on and off for fear that a fax will interfere with a landline phone call, but generally this is not a concern, even if the fax machine is sharing a line with a telephone.

Go ahead and put your fax machine in answer mode (probably labeled “Fax/Tel”; choosing “Fax Only” will prevent you from receiving voice calls) and you should begin receiving faxes again.

Do you have a question about faxing? Send me your fax question.