Step-By-Step Guide On How To Setup MX Records

Setting MX records manually can be useful if you want to host your site on one server but handle email via another server or hosting company.  If you have access to WHM (Web Host Manager – the interface you typically get with a cPanel-based hosting provider on a multi-site plan), you can usually set MX records yourself.  If you do not, submit a support ticket to your hosting provider.

6 Steps To Setting Up MX Records (General)

MX (Mail Exchange) records are used to direct email for a domain to the correct server. To set up MX records, you will need access to the DNS (Domain Name System) settings for your domain. Here is a general overview of the steps to set up MX records:

1. Log in to your domain registrar’s website and find the DNS management page.
2. Locate the MX record section, which may be under a heading such as “Mail” or “Email.”
3. Enter the hostname or IP address of the mail server that will handle email for your domain. This is typically provided by your email hosting provider.
4. Set the priority (also known as the “preference”) for the MX record. Lower numbers indicate a higher priority.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for any additional MX records you want to set up.
6. Save your changes and wait for the DNS updates to propagate. This can take up to 48 hours.

Keep in mind that the MX records should point to the server which will handle the email for your domain. Additionally, if you are using a third-party email service, you may need to consult their documentation for specific instructions on setting up MX records.

Adding And Setting MX Records In WHM (Web Host Manager)

1. Log into WHM (via your website, i.e. example.com/whm)
2. Under “DNS Functions,” click on “Edit DNS Zone”
3. Choose the domain name for which you wish to set MX records and click “edit”
4. Add new records (usually two) pointing to the server (domain name) that is hosting your email, in the following format:
   domain name | TTL | Record Type | Priority | MX Record
example.com. | 14400 | MX | 0 | mx1.example.com.

Important – remember to place periods after the domain name and MX record entries!

Lastly, erase the values for your old MX entry and click “save.”

You have successfully created new MX record entries, setting your email to be handled by another server. Post any questions or comments below!

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Were you able to setup your MX record? Let us know in the comments!