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MFC-J285DW

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

MFC-J285DW

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Date: 02/14/2023 ID: faq00002728_007

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. (For applicable models, Network PC-FAX Receiving only)
    Click the Network Settings button and specify your Brother machine by the IP Address or Node Name. And then click OK.

     

    • For the Node Name, you can click the Browse button and choose your Brother machine from the list.
       
    • In the Display Your PC Name field, you can specify your computer name that will appear on the machine's display.

      PC-Fax Receive Network settings

     

  7. Click OK to save your settings and exit the dialog box.

 

ENABLE PC-FAX RECEIVING WITHIN THE BROTHER MACHINE:

 

*If your Brother machine has a touchscreen, follow the steps under "For Touchscreen models" below.

 

  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 Setup Receive. Press OK.
     
  4. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Memory Receive. Press OK.
     
  5. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose PC Fax Receive. Press OK.
     
  6. The machine's display shows a reminder to start the PC-FAX Receiving program on your computer. If you have started the PC-FAX Receiving program, press OK. If not, click here to see how to start the PC-FAX Receiving program.
     
  7. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose where the faxes should be sent.

     

    • If the machine is connected through USB choose USB and press OK.
       
    • If the machine is installed over a network choose the computer's name. Once you have made your selection, press OK.
       
  8. Press Backup Print: On or Backup Print: Off.

     

    • 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.

     

  9. Press Stop/Exit.

<For Touchscreen models>

  1. Press Settings(Settings).
     
  2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Fax.
     
  3. Press Fax.
     
  4. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Setup Receive.
     
  5. Press Setup Receive.
     
  6. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Memory Receive.
     
  7. Press Memory Receive.
     
  8. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display PC Fax Receive.
     
  9. Press PC Fax Receive.
     
  10. The machine's display shows a reminder to start the PC-FAX Receiving program on your computer. If you have started the PC-FAX Receiving program, press OK. If not, click here to see how to start the PC-FAX Receiving program.
     
  11. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose where the faxes should be sent.

     

    • If the machine is connected through USB choose USB and press OK.
       
    • If the machine is installed over a network choose the computer's name. Once you have made your selection, press OK.

     

  12. Press Backup Print: On or Backup Print: Off.

     

    • 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.

     

  13. Press Home(Home).

 

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.

Related Models

MFC-J285DW, MFC-J450DW, MFC-J470DW, MFC-J475DW

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

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