Directions

• 1). Choose an Internet fax service. Select the service that fits your needs, is within your budget and that allows you to open the emails with your email account. Read over the terms and conditions. Register and pay for the service.
  
  
• 2). Pass on the fax number assigned to you to your friends and business associates.
  
  
• 3). Set up the fax service to receive faxes through your email account. Open the fax service account on your computer. Select "Preferences" from the tools menu. Find and click "Fax Options." Locate and select 'fax file format." Select the desired format for viewing faxes. PDF and TIFF formats are the most common.
  
  
• 4). Download Adobe Acrobat Reader software for free from the Adobe website. Follow the directions to install the program to your computer. This will allow you to view PDF files.
  
  
• 5). Check your computer to see if it is set up to view "TIFF" files as most computers are. Go to "My Computer," select "Tools," then "Folder Options," and finally, "File Types." Scroll down until you see "TIFF -- TIFF" file. Highlight it and click the "Change" icon. A new window will appear with two options. Choose the second option to select programs from a list. Windows will offer several recommended programs for viewing "TIFF" files. Select one and click "OK." Repeat the process for "TIFF --TIFF" files.
  
  
• 6). Check your AOL email account for incoming faxes. The fax itself will appear as an attachment in the email. Select an emailed fax and open it. Save the attachment to a folder on your computer. Open the fax from the folder to which it was saved once it downloads.