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