DNS · MX
MX Record Lookup
Look up the mail exchange records for any domain. See exactly which servers handle its email and verify the priority settings.
Overview
What is an MX record?
MX stands for Mail Exchange. An MX record is a set of instructions in your DNS that tells the internet where to deliver emails sent to your domain name.
Think of it like a digital postal sorting facility. When someone emails hello@yourwebsite.com, their provider looks up your MX records to find which server is authorized to receive your mail. With no MX records, the email simply bounces back.
How MX priority works
Understanding those numbers next to your mail servers.
Each MX record has a number before the server name — the priority preference.
The key rule: the lowest number gets the highest priority. A sending server tries the lowest number first; if that mail server is broken or offline, it moves down to the next lowest.
Example priority setup
Why check your MX records?
Troubleshoot bounces
If clients say their emails to you bounce back with delivery errors, checking MX records is the very first step.
Verify migrations
Just moved email to a new platform? Confirm the internet has officially recognized your new mail servers.
Confirm providers
Need to know who handles a company's email? A quick lookup reveals Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or a private server.
Setting up Google Workspace? Read Google's official guide to activating Gmail for Google Workspace for the exact values to use.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
What is an MX record?
An MX (Mail Exchange) record is a DNS rule that tells the internet where to send emails addressed to your domain. It points to the specific mail servers responsible for accepting your messages.
What does MX priority mean?
MX priority is a number assigned to a mail server to determine the order servers are used. A lower number means a higher priority — senders try the lowest number first. If the primary is offline, the sending server tries the next lowest.
Can an MX record point to an IP address?
No. According to strict DNS rules, an MX record must always point to a hostname (like mail.example.com), never directly to an IP address.
Why are my emails bouncing?
If your emails are bouncing, the first step is to check your MX records. If they are missing, misspelled, or pointing to an old hosting provider, the internet will not know where to deliver your mail.
How many MX records should a domain have?
Most large email providers recommend at least two MX records for redundancy. Some, like Google Workspace, used to require five records, though they recently simplified it to a single primary record for modern setups.
Email health
Mail routing is only half of it
MX records say where mail goes. Grade your SPF and DMARC, and check your IP's blacklist status, to make sure it actually arrives.