An MX record (Mail Exchange record) is a DNS record that specifies which mail servers are responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a domain. When someone sends an email to [email protected], their mail server looks up the MX records for example.com to find where to deliver the message.
MX Record Format
| Field | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Name | example.com | Domain receiving email |
| Type | MX | Mail exchange record |
| Priority | 10 | Lower number = tried first |
| Value (mail server) | mail.example.com | The hostname of the mail server |
MX Priority (Preference)
Multiple MX records can exist for one domain with different priorities. The sending server tries the lowest-priority number first. If that server is unreachable, it tries the next one. This provides redundancy:
10 mail1.example.com (primary) 20 mail2.example.com (backup)
Common MX Record Values
| Email Provider | MX Records |
|---|---|
| Gmail / Google Workspace | aspmx.l.google.com (priority 1) |
| Microsoft 365 / Outlook | domain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com |
| ProtonMail | mail.protonmail.ch |
How to Check MX Records
Use our DNS Lookup tool and select MX as the record type. You can also run dig example.com MX in Terminal or nslookup -type=MX example.com in Windows.
People Also Ask
What is MX record for Gmail?
If you use Google Workspace (Gmail for your domain), your MX records point to Google's servers, with aspmx.l.google.com as the highest-priority entry.
What does MX record stand for?
Mail Exchange. It identifies which server handles inbound email for a domain.
Related: TXT records | SPF records | DNS Lookup