How to send fax from a Windows file/printer using an HP OfficeJet multi-function printer

[DrorHarari]

I have an HP OfficeJet printer and I want to use its built-in fax to send documents from Windows using my ordinary phone line.

HP does a great  job of hiding the answer to this  question. The so-called HP Smart app has a feature called "Mobile FAX" that offers a way to send fax via their servers -- the terms of this feature are unclear and the link to the pages which describe the service result in "Page not found". HP do not tell you how much the service costs, they don't tell you where in the world would your potentially sensitive fax be sent to (on the way the designated recipient fax number) and where and for how long it will be stored.

I want to send a fax from my PC using my local phone line. I don't want a web service - for that, I do not need a fax machine.

[DrorHarari · Accepted solution]

After much futile search in HP's web sites and after too many irrelevant YouTube videos, I have found the answer:

1. Download and install "HP-OfficeJet-6500-Universal-Fax-Driver-UFD_JEDI-2.0.135-HPUFDDriver.exe" (you can find the latest version at https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-universal-fax-driver-series-for-windows/7529318 but HP keeps moving it around so you might need to use Google to find it).
2. In your Windows Printers & Scanners screen you will see a new printer called "HP Universal Fax Driver"
3. Use the Print option in the program for the document you want to fax and select the "HP Universal Fax Driver" printer
4. In the first time you may need to locate the HP printer through which you want to fax (it should be connected to the phone line). Select your HP printer
5. Now press Print - a dialog would pop up where you can fill in the recipient fax numbers and add a front page. Then you can press the Send button and the fax will be sent (and will retry on failure few times).

Good luck!

Dror


p.s., it is very disappointing that HP does not make this feature simpler to find and use, it could easily have made it possible to send fax from any mobile using one's local HP printer as those printers are connected to the internet