MX (Mail Exchanger) records are entries in your domain's DNS zone that tell the internet which server should receive emails sent to @yourdomain.com. Without a correctly configured MX record, no external email will reach your inbox — even if your email account is set up perfectly on your device.
This guide explains what MX records are, how to edit them, and how to confirm everything is working, step by step.
What Is an MX Record and How Does It Work?
When someone sends a message to [email protected], the sending server queries your domain's DNS to find out where to deliver it. It looks specifically for records of type MX.
An MX record has two components:
- Priority: a whole number. The lower the number, the higher the priority. If you have multiple MX records, the sending server tries the lowest-priority value first.
- Mail server (Exchange): the hostname of the server that will receive messages, e.g.
mail.yourdomain.com.
That hostname in turn needs an A record (or AAAA for IPv6) pointing to an IP address. DNS chains everything together automatically.
Typical MX Values by Provider
The values you need to enter depend on who manages your email. The table below covers the most common scenarios:
| Email provider | MX record (host) | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Own hosting (cPanel) | mail.yourdomain.com |
0 (local delivery) |
| Google Workspace | aspmx.l.google.com |
1 |
| Google Workspace (backup) | alt1.aspmx.l.google.com |
5 |
| Microsoft 365 | yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com |
0 |
| Zoho Mail | mx.zoho.com |
10 |
| Zoho Mail (backup) | mx2.zoho.com |
20 |
Always check the official documentation of your provider — exact values can change over time.
How to Edit MX Records in cPanel
If your domain and hosting are on the same cPanel account (the most common setup with shared hosting plans), follow these steps:
- Log in to cPanel and find the Email → MX Entry section.
- Select the domain you want to configure.
- Under Email Routing, choose the correct option:
- Local Mail Exchanger: the mail server lives on the same hosting account. This is the default and most common choice.
- Remote Mail Exchanger: email is handled by an external provider (Google Workspace, Zoho, etc.).
- Automatically Detect Configuration: cPanel detects the setup — useful but less predictable.
- Below that you'll see a table of current MX records. Click Add New Record.
- Enter the priority and the destination (mail server hostname). Click Add.
- Delete the old MX records if they pointed to a different server.
Tip: add the new record before deleting the old one
Add the new MX record with a higher priority (lower number) first, verify it's working, then remove the old one. This prevents losing email during the transition.
How to Edit MX Records in Cloudflare
If your domain uses Cloudflare's nameservers — common when the domain is registered in one place and hosted in another — DNS is managed from the Cloudflare dashboard:
- Log in at dash.cloudflare.com and select the relevant domain.
- Click the DNS → Records tab.
- Click Add record.
- In the Type field, choose MX.
- Fill in the fields:
- Name:
@(represents the root domain). - Mail server: the MX host your provider specifies.
- Priority: the number your provider specifies.
- TTL: leave it as Auto, or set 300 seconds if you need fast propagation.
- Name:
- Click Save.
Important: MX records in Cloudflare must NOT be proxied (orange cloud). Make sure the cloud icon next to the mail server is gray (DNS only).
How Long Does MX Record Propagation Take?
DNS propagation is the time it takes for servers around the internet to recognize your change. The TTL you set controls how quickly that happens:
- TTL 300 s (5 min): changes visible within 15–30 minutes in most regions.
- TTL 3600 s (1 hour): changes visible within 1–4 hours.
- TTL 86400 s (24 hours): up to 48 hours in extreme cases.
During propagation, some email may still arrive at the old server. This is why keeping both servers active until propagation is complete is critical.
How to Verify Your MX Records Are Working
Once you've saved the changes, confirm they're correct with these tools:
From the command line (Linux / macOS)
dig MX yourdomain.com +shortThe output should display the MX records you just configured, along with their priorities.
From Windows
nslookup -type=MX yourdomain.comOnline tools
- MXToolBox (
mxtoolbox.com/MXLookup.aspx): the industry standard for checking MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. - Google Admin Toolbox (
toolbox.googleapps.com/apps/checkmx): particularly useful if you're using Google Workspace. - DNS Checker (
dnschecker.org): shows propagation status by geographic region.
For a complete overview of the business email ecosystem — including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC — explore the business email resource section on this site.
Key Takeaways
- MX records tell the internet which server should receive email for your domain; without them, no external messages arrive.
- Every provider (cPanel, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho) has its own MX values — always check their official docs.
- In cPanel, use the MX Entry editor; in Cloudflare, the DNS → Records tab.
- Add the new record before deleting the old one to avoid losing email during the transition.
- Verify with
dig,nslookup, or MXToolBox and allow time for TTL-based propagation.
Looking for hosting that automatically configures MX records and includes professional email from day one? Check out the plans at elenlace.com and start receiving email on your own domain today.
FAQ
Can I have more than one MX record?
Yes, and it's recommended. Having at least two MX records with different priorities ensures that if the primary server is unavailable, email is rerouted to the backup server rather than bouncing.
Why aren't emails arriving after I changed my MX records?
DNS propagation is likely still in progress. Wait 15 minutes to 4 hours depending on your TTL. If it still isn't working after 24 hours, use MXToolBox to confirm the record shows exactly the values your provider specifies.
Do MX records affect the emails I send?
Not directly. MX records control incoming email. For outbound email, what matters are your SPF and DKIM records and your server's SMTP configuration. That said, a correctly configured MX does influence your domain's overall deliverability reputation.
Should I use the root domain or a subdomain in the "name" field of an MX record?
To receive email at @yourdomain.com, the name field must be @ or left blank (the root domain), depending on your provider's interface. If you enter mail.yourdomain.com, only that subdomain would receive mail — not the main domain.
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