MFC-1816

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

Receive faxes on the computer for Windows (PC-FAX Receive)

If you turn on the PC-fax receive feature your machine will store received faxes into memory and send them to your computer automatically. You will then be able to view the received faxes on the computer.

 

Even if you have turned off your computer (at night or on the weekend, for example), your machine will receive and store your faxes in its memory. The number of received faxes that are stored in the memory will appear on the machine's display.

 

To setup PC-fax receiving you must turn on PC-fax receiving at the machine and through the Brother software.

 

Click the link for steps:

 

ENABLE PC-FAX RECEIVING WITHIN THE SOFTWARE:

 

  1. (Windows 7)
    On the computer, click Start => (All) Programs => Brother => [model name] => PC-Fax Receiving => Receive.

    (Windows 8)
    1. On the Start screen, click DownArrow. If DownArrow is not on the Start screen, right-click somewhere on an empty spot, and then click, All Apps from the bar.
    2. Click Brother Utilities.
    3. Choose your model name from the pulldown list.
    4. Choose PC-FAX Receive and then click Receive.
    (Windows 10, Windows 11)
    1. On the computer, click Start => (All apps =>) Brother => Brother Utilities.
    2. Choose your model name from the pulldown list.
    3. Choose PC-FAX Receive and then click Receive.

     

  2. If you receive a statement about how to configure PC-Fax Receiving, you may read the instructions, and then click OK.

    PC-Fax Receive reminder
     
  3. The PC-FAX Receive icon will now appear in your computer task tray indicating that the PC-FAX Receiving program is active.

    PC-FAX Receive

 

CONFIGURE THE PC-FAX RECEIVING SETTINGS:

 

  1. On the computer, right-click the PC-FAX Receive(PC-FAX Receive) icon in your computer task tray, and then select the PC-Fax Rx Setup option. The PC-Fax RX Setup dialog box appears.

    PC-Fax Receive settings
     
  2. In the Save file to field, click the Browse button if you want to change the path where PC-Fax files are saved.
     
  3. In the File Format section, choose .tif or .pdf as the received document format. The default format is .tif.
     
  4. To play a wave file (audio file) when receiving a fax check Play wave file when receiving FAX. Click the Browse button to locate the wave file you want to play.
     
  5. To automatically start the PC-Fax receiving software when you start your computer, click the box next to Add to Startup folder.
     
  6. Click OK to save your settings and exit the dialog box.

 

ENABLE PC-FAX RECEIVING WITHIN THE BROTHER MACHINE:

 

  1. Press Menu.
     
  2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Fax. Press OK.
     
  3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Remote Fax Opt. Press OK.
     
  4. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose PC Fax Receive. Press OK.
     
  5. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose On. Press OK.
     
  6. Confirm the message. Press OK.
     
  7. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Backup Print: On or Backup Print: Off. Press OK.

     

    • Backup Print: On = The Brother machine will also print the fax so you will have a printed copy.
       
    • Backup Print: Off = The Brother machine will not print a copy of the received fax.

     

  8. Press Stop/Exit.

 

VIEW NEW PC-FAX MESSAGES:

 

  1. Each time your computer receives a fax, the icon will alternate between Image and Image. Once the fax has been received, the icon will change to Image. This Image icon will change to Image once the received fax has been viewed.
     
  2. To view faxes that have been received to the computer double click the Image icon in your computer task tray.
     
  3. Open the Fax Received folder.
     
  4. Double-click any new faxes to open and view them.
    The name of your unread faxes will be based on the date and time that the faxes were received (for example: Fax 2-20-2013 16;40;21.tif) until you assign each fax a file name.

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

MFC-1813, MFC-1816, MFC-1818, MFC-1819

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