How to fax a Gmail attachment

Download the attachment from Gmail

On a computer, open the email and hover over the attachment preview at the bottom. Click the download arrow and the file saves to your Downloads folder. If the file is stored in Google Drive instead, click the Drive link, open the file, and choose File, then Download.

On a phone, open the email in the Gmail app and tap the download icon on the attachment, or open the attachment and use the share or save option to store it on your device. On iPhone, saving it to the Files app makes it easy to find later.

Look at the file before you send it

Open the downloaded file and page through it. Gmail attachments are often longer than they need to be, such as a full insurance policy when the recipient wants only the declarations page. Send only the pages that are needed.

Check that the pages are upright and readable in black and white. Light gray text and colored backgrounds can become hard to read on a fax. If the document is a phone photo, make sure the whole page is in the frame and nothing is cut off at the edges.

Reply to the sender

If the person who emailed you needs to know the fax went through, tell them the date and time from the delivery receipt rather than forwarding a copy of the document back. If the document contains personal information, delete the downloaded copy from your Downloads folder when you are done, and empty your computer's trash if your office policy calls for it.