Open the DNS control panel used by your domain’s authoritative nameservers. Add an MX record, enter your mail provider’s exact server hostname as the target, set the provider’s priority, save it, and verify the public DNS response. For the root domain, the hostname field is usually @ or blank; for a mail subdomain such as support.example.com, enter support.
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What the hostname field in an MX record means
An MX (mail exchanger) record tells sending mail servers which host accepts mail for a domain. DNS returns two essential values: a preference number and a mail-exchange hostname. SMTP then attempts delivery to the host with the most preferred value. RFC 1034 defines MX data as “a 16 bit preference value followed by a host name,” and SMTP’s DNS behavior is specified in RFC 5321.
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The hostname field on the left identifies the domain or subdomain whose mail is being configured. The value, target, answer, or mail-server field on the right identifies the provider’s receiving server. These are different fields and are often labeled differently by each DNS control panel.
| DNS field label | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Type | MX | MX |
| Name, Host, Alias, or Domain | @ or blank for the apex domain; only the subdomain label for a subdomain |
@ for example.com; support for support.example.com |
| Value, Target, Answer, or Mail server | The exact hostname supplied by your email provider | A provider-issued name such as smtp.google.com |
| Priority or Preference | The number specified by the provider | 1 or 0, depending on the service |
| TTL | The provider’s instruction or the DNS host’s default | 3600 seconds where documented |
Do not put an IP address in an MX record. An MX value must be a hostname; the receiving hostname’s A or AAAA record supplies its IP address. Do not invent a hostname based on your domain name, either. Copy the email provider’s value exactly, including any required trailing dot format.
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Find the DNS system that is authoritative for your domain
Edit the zone that answers publicly for your domain, not necessarily the website registrar’s dashboard. A registrar can delegate nameservers to a separate DNS host, and that host is where the MX record must be created. If you add the record in a non-authoritative account, it will not appear on the internet.
- Check the domain’s assigned nameservers at the registrar or with a public WHOIS/DNS lookup.
- Identify the provider operating those nameservers.
- Sign in there and open the domain’s DNS records or zone editor.
- Confirm that you are editing the intended domain and environment, especially if you maintain separate production and staging zones.
The exact buttons and field names vary by DNS provider. AWS notes that the procedure for adding an MX record depends on the DNS or hosting provider.
Prepare the values from your email provider
Before changing DNS, open the provider’s setup instructions and record the exact target hostname, priority, and TTL guidance. Values are not universal, even when two services both use one MX record.
- Some services provide one MX record; others publish several hosts for redundancy.
- Priority numbers are preferences, not quality scores. A lower number is preferred over a higher number.
- A provider may require a particular TTL or may allow the DNS host’s default.
- Provision the mailboxes, aliases, and users before directing new mail to a new service.
Keep the provider’s instructions open while entering the record. A single character or an omitted domain suffix can send mail to the wrong host.
Step-by-step: add an MX record
- Open DNS records. In the authoritative provider’s control panel, choose the domain and select DNS, DNS records, or Zone editor.
- Start a new record. Choose MX as the record type. Do not choose A, CNAME, TXT, or SRV.
- Set the name for the mail domain. For addresses such as
[email protected], use@or leave the field blank, according to that interface. For addresses such as[email protected], entersupport, not the entire domain, unless the interface explicitly requires a fully qualified name. - Enter the target hostname. Paste the mail provider’s exact server name into Value, Target, Answer, or Mail server. Do not replace it with an IP address. If the provider or interface uses a final dot to mark a fully qualified domain name, preserve it as instructed; many panels add or remove that dot automatically.
- Enter priority. Use the number supplied by the provider. If several records are supplied, enter each one with its corresponding priority. The lowest number is attempted first.
- Set TTL. Use the documented TTL when one is specified. Otherwise, the registrar or DNS host’s default is normally acceptable. Microsoft’s Exchange Online example uses 3,600 seconds and supports values below six hours; Google Workspace’s current instructions allow the registrar default.
- Save. Confirm that the record appears in the zone with the intended name, target, and preference.
- Verify publicly. Query the domain’s MX records from outside the DNS provider’s interface and compare the response with the provider’s documented hostname. Then send a test message from an unrelated mailbox.
What to enter for the root domain versus a subdomain
Root domain (apex)
If your normal addresses end in @example.com, the MX owner name is the apex of example.com. DNS panels commonly represent that owner as @ or an empty Name/Host field. Some panels display the resulting record as example.com. even though you entered @.
Mail subdomain
If mail should be delivered to support.example.com, enter only support in a relative-name field. The resulting MX owner is support.example.com. This does not change delivery for example.com; each owner name needs its own MX configuration.
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A few providers ask for a fully qualified domain name instead of a relative label. Follow the field’s help text. Entering support.example.com in a panel that automatically appends example.com can create an unintended name such as support.example.com.example.com.
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How the target and priority interact
The owner name answers “for which domain should this rule apply?” The target answers “which receiving host should accept the message?” Priority answers “which target should a sender try first?” They do not replace one another. A correct target under the wrong owner name affects a different mail domain, while a correct owner name with an invalid target still fails delivery.
When a provider gives multiple MX records, publish every record exactly as documented. A lower preference number is tried before a higher number. Equal preferences allow senders to choose among those hosts, so do not leave an old provider at the same preference as the new service unless the provider’s migration plan specifically calls for that behavior. Never lower a number merely because it looks more reliable; use the provider’s assigned values.
MX targets must be DNS hostnames. The target is looked up separately for its A or AAAA records, which provide the address used for the SMTP connection. An IP literal, web URL, or arbitrary alias is not an MX target. A CNAME-style web alias is also inappropriate: Cloudflare specifies that MX records are DNS-only and that the target must resolve to a DNS-only hostname.
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These examples show the shape of current provider instructions, not universal values for every account or region. Always use the values shown in your provider’s own setup screen if they differ.
| Service | Name/Host | Target | Priority | TTL guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace | Blank or @ for the root domain; the subdomain label for a subdomain |
smtp.google.com in Google’s current single-record instruction |
1 |
Registrar default accepted |
| Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online | @ in Microsoft’s documented example |
The provider-supplied target shown for your tenant | Typically 0 |
3600 seconds in the example; values below six hours are supported |
| Amazon SES receiving | The mail domain, shown in AWS’s example as example.com.; some panels call this Host, Domain, or Mail Domain |
The MX hostname AWS supplies for the receiving configuration | Use the value AWS specifies | Follow the DNS provider’s or AWS’s instruction |
Google’s setup guidance also instructs administrators to remove other MX records when switching the root domain. Microsoft’s fields and values are tenant-specific even though the documented pattern uses @, a supplied target, priority 0, and a 3,600-second TTL.
Compare providers before choosing an MX setup
If you are selecting an email service rather than simply following an existing setup screen, compare the practical DNS requirements. Check the exact MX value or values and whether the service uses one record or several. Confirm whether its instructions expect @, a blank apex field, or a fully qualified name, because your DNS interface may handle those formats differently.
Also compare the required priorities and TTL guidance, the provider’s migration tools, and the time and steps needed to provision users, aliases, shared mailboxes, and forwarding rules. Good setup documentation should explain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC as well as MX, provide a way to inspect delivery logs, and identify how to test inbound mail. A simple record is not necessarily a simpler migration if the provider leaves mailbox creation or authentication to you.
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Switching providers without losing mail
An MX change affects where new inbound messages are delivered. It does not create mailboxes or copy existing mail. Plan the account migration before changing DNS.
- Create destination accounts. Provision every user, alias, shared mailbox, and forwarding rule at the new provider.
- Record the existing zone. Save the current MX records and related mail-authentication records so you can restore them if necessary.
- Choose a cutover strategy. Follow the new provider’s migration procedure if it offers one, and schedule the DNS change when administrators can monitor delivery.
- Replace competing MX records. Remove the old records when the provider instructs you to do so, or assign them a deliberately lower delivery priority during a staged transition. Leaving old and new records at equal or unintended priorities can split delivery between services.
- Test both directions. Send messages to several destination accounts and reply from them. Check spam and quarantine folders as well as the inbox.
- Keep the old service available as planned. DNS resolvers cache answers until their TTL expires, so some senders may continue using the former response temporarily.
Do not delete the old mailboxes before the transition is complete if you need to retrieve messages delivered under cached DNS answers.
Verify the record and diagnose failures
Query public MX data
Use a third-party MX lookup or command-line DNS query from a network outside your DNS provider. The answer should show the intended owner name, target hostname, and preference. Cloudflare recommends third-party MX lookups when troubleshooting because the provider’s own editor may show unsaved or non-authoritative data.
Compare the result with the provider’s documentation character for character. If the public answer differs from the DNS editor, you are likely editing the wrong zone, using the wrong nameservers, or still seeing cached data.
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Check the target hostname
Resolve the MX target separately. It should have an A or AAAA record and should not be an IP literal. If the target does not resolve, the receiving service cannot be reached even though the MX record itself exists.
Allow for caching and TTL
DNS changes are not globally instantaneous. Recursive resolvers can retain the previous answer for the configured TTL and may also apply provider-specific caching behavior. Check again after the TTL has elapsed, then test from more than one network. Do not repeatedly change the record while waiting; each change can make diagnosis harder.
Review mail-server responses
A successful MX lookup proves only that DNS points to a host. The receiving service can still reject mail because a mailbox is missing, the domain is not verified, the sender is blocked, or the message fails policy checks. Read the bounce text or provider delivery log to distinguish a DNS problem from an account or policy problem.
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Common mistakes and their fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The new MX record never appears publicly | The record was added at the wrong DNS provider or to a non-authoritative zone | Check the domain’s delegated nameservers and edit that provider’s zone. |
| The panel rejects the value or mail cannot be delivered | An IP address was entered instead of a hostname | Replace it with the exact MX target supplied by the email provider. |
| Some mail reaches the old service | Old MX records remain active, often with equal or unintended priority | Remove them or assign the migration priority specified by the provider, then wait for cached answers to expire. |
| The target resolves through a web proxy | The MX target is being proxied or treated like a web alias | Use a DNS-only target. Cloudflare states that MX records are DNS-only and the target must also resolve to a DNS-only hostname. |
| The record is created under the wrong name | A full domain was entered where the panel automatically appends the zone name | Use @, blank, or the relative subdomain label required by that interface. |
| Delivery still fails after DNS looks correct | Mailbox provisioning, domain verification, filtering, or authentication is incomplete | Check the provider’s admin console and delivery logs, then test with a newly provisioned mailbox. |
MX records are only one part of domain email
MX controls where inbound mail is delivered. It does not authorize your outbound senders or tell receiving systems how to handle suspicious messages. After the MX cutover, follow the provider’s separate instructions for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Keep those TXT records aligned with the service that actually sends mail; changing MX alone does not update them.
Likewise, an MX record is not a web redirect and cannot be used to publish a website address. A CNAME-style alias, HTTP proxy, or URL in the target field is not a substitute for the provider’s mail hostname.
Questions to ask when an interface looks different
Different DNS hosts may use different labels for the same data. “Name,” “Host,” “Alias,” and “Mail domain” generally describe the owner name; “Value,” “Answer,” “Target,” and “Mail server” generally describe the receiving hostname. If a panel offers both a host field and a domain field, read its help text before entering a full name.
Some interfaces automatically add the zone name, append a final dot, or display an apex as the full domain after saving. Those presentation differences are harmless when the public lookup shows the intended owner and target. The important test is the published DNS answer, not whether the entry form looked identical to the provider’s screenshot.
Pre-publish checklist
- You identified the nameservers authoritative for the domain.
- You have the provider’s exact MX target, preference, and TTL instructions.
- The owner name is
@or blank for the apex, or the correct relative label for a subdomain. - The target is a hostname, not an IP address, URL, or web-proxy alias.
- All destination mailboxes and aliases exist before a provider migration.
- Stale MX records have been removed or assigned an intentional priority.
- A public MX lookup shows the intended record.
- Inbound test messages arrive in the correct mailbox, and bounce messages have been checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I put in the hostname field for an MX record?
For mail sent to the root domain, enter @ or leave the field blank if that DNS panel uses a blank apex. For a subdomain such as support.example.com, enter support in a relative-name field. Use the provider’s help text if it specifically requests a fully qualified name.
Should the MX hostname be @ or my domain?
The left-side owner field is commonly @ or blank for example.com. Some interfaces accept or display the full domain instead. Do not enter the domain in a panel that automatically appends the zone name, or you may create a duplicated name.
Can an MX record use an IP address?
No. MX data consists of a preference and a hostname. Enter the mail provider’s hostname; DNS then resolves that hostname to an A or AAAA address. An IP literal, URL, or web alias is not a valid replacement.
How do I point my domain email to Google Workspace?
Open the DNS host authoritative for the domain, remove competing MX records as Google instructs, and add the current Google target smtp.google.com with priority 1. Use blank or @ for the root-domain name, or the relevant subdomain label. Google allows the registrar’s default TTL.
How do I point my domain email to Microsoft 365?
Use the Exchange Online target shown for your tenant, commonly with @ as the host, priority 0, and a 3600-second TTL in Microsoft’s documented pattern. Tenant-specific values take precedence over the example.
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The panel may not be authoritative, the public record may still be cached, the target may not resolve, or the destination mailbox or domain may not be provisioned. Check the delegated nameservers, run a third-party MX lookup, resolve the target hostname, and read the provider’s bounce or delivery log.
Should I delete old MX records during a migration?
Follow the new provider’s cutover instructions. Remove stale records or give them a deliberately lower delivery priority when a staged transition is required. Leaving old and new records at equal or unintended priorities can split delivery. Keep old mailboxes available until cached DNS responses are no longer a concern.
How long will an MX change take to appear?
Visibility depends on recursive DNS caching and the configured TTL. Check the public response after the TTL has elapsed and test from more than one network. A successful lookup does not by itself prove that every mailbox, verification step, or mail policy is configured correctly.
The Bottom Line
Use the authoritative DNS provider, put @ or a blank name at the root (or the relative label for a subdomain), paste the provider’s exact MX hostname, and follow its priority and TTL values. Remove competing records as directed, provision mailboxes before cutover, then confirm the public MX response and test delivery.
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