To change your MX record, access the MX Entry tool in your hosting control panel, select your domain, set the priority number (0-10, lower is higher priority), enter the destination mail server address, and click Change. MX records control where your incoming emails are delivered, making them essential for redirecting email to external services or setting up backup mail servers.
What Are MX Records and Why Change Them?
MX (Mail Exchange) records are DNS entries that tell other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain. When someone sends an email to your address, their mail server looks up your MX records to find the correct destination server.
Common reasons to change MX records include:
- Switching to a third-party email service
- Setting up professional email hosting separate from your website
- Configuring backup mail servers for redundancy
- Redirecting email during server maintenance or migration
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing MX Records
Follow these steps to update your MX records through your hosting control panel:
Step 1: Access the MX Entry Tool
Log into your hosting control panel and locate the MX Entry icon, typically found under the Mail or Email section. Click this icon to open the MX record management interface.
Step 2: Select Your Domain
If you manage multiple domains, choose the specific domain for which you want to modify the MX records from the dropdown menu or domain list.
Step 3: Set the Priority Value
Enter a priority number between 0 and 10 for your MX record. The priority determines the order in which mail servers are contacted when delivering email. Lower numbers indicate higher priority, so an MX record with priority 0 will be tried before one with priority 10.
Important: If you enter a priority number that already exists, it will replace the existing MX entry with that priority. This allows you to update records without creating duplicates.
Step 4: Enter the Mail Server Address
Type the fully qualified domain name of the destination mail server. This should be the complete server address provided by your email service, such as mail.example.com. Make sure to enter this exactly as provided to avoid delivery issues.
Step 5: Save Your Changes
Click the Change or Add button to save your new MX record configuration. Your changes are now submitted to the DNS system.
Understanding MX Record Priority
MX record priority is crucial for proper email delivery and redundancy. When multiple MX records exist for a domain, sending mail servers attempt delivery in priority order.
For example, if you have two MX records with priorities 0 and 10, mail servers will always try the priority 0 server first. Only if that server is unavailable will they attempt the priority 10 server. This setup allows you to configure primary and backup mail servers for improved reliability.
Using the same priority for multiple MX records creates a round-robin situation where mail servers choose randomly among them, distributing the email load.
DNS Propagation Time
After changing your MX records, allow time for DNS propagation. Changes typically take effect within a few hours, but can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate across the internet. During this period, some emails may be delivered to your old mail server while others reach the new destination.
To minimize disruption, keep your old mail server active for at least 24-48 hours after making MX changes, or coordinate the change during a low-email-volume period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have multiple MX records for one domain?
Yes, you can configure multiple MX records with different priorities to create backup mail servers. If the primary server (lowest priority number) is unavailable, email will automatically be routed to the next available server in priority order.
What happens if I delete all my MX records?
Without MX records, incoming email to your domain will fail to deliver. Most systems will fall back to trying your domain's A record, but this is unreliable. Always ensure at least one valid MX record exists for your domain if you need to receive email.
Do MX record changes affect outgoing email?
No, MX records only control incoming email routing. Outgoing email settings are configured separately in your email client and depend on your SMTP server settings, not your MX records.
How can I verify my MX records are correct?
You can verify your MX records using DNS lookup tools available online or command-line tools like nslookup or dig. These tools query DNS servers and show which MX records are currently published for your domain.
Need help configuring your MX records or email settings? The OBHost support team is available 24/7 to assist you. Visit our contact page or email support@obhost.org for expert guidance.
