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Free MX record checker and mail server lookup
MX records tell other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain. Enter a domain to see its mail servers, priorities, and IP addresses.
Mail routing
Lower numbers are tried first. Servers with the same priority can share the load.
| Priority | Mail server | IP addresses | TTL |
|---|
Background
What is an MX record?
An MX (mail exchanger) record is a DNS record that tells other servers where to deliver email for a domain. Each record names a mail server hostname and a priority number. Senders try the server with the lowest number first and fall back to the others if it is unavailable.
How to read the result
Lower numbers have higher priority. Senders try the lowest-numbered server first and move to the next one if it is unavailable. Servers with the same priority share the load.
Coverage
What this tool checks
- The MX records published for the domain
- Each receiving mail server’s hostname and IP addresses
- Priority values and the order senders try servers in
- Record TTLs
- Whether the domain publishes a null MX record to refuse mail
Troubleshooting
Common problems and how to fix them
- No MX record
- If the domain should receive email, publish the MX records your email provider supplies. Without them, some senders fall back to the domain’s A record.
- MX points to an IP address
- MX records must point to a hostname. Point the record at the mail server’s hostname, and make sure that hostname has an A or AAAA record.
- Old provider still listed
- After a migration, remove the previous provider’s MX records once the new provider is receiving mail.
- Unexpected priority
- Compare the values with your provider’s instructions. A backup server with a lower number receives mail before the intended primary.
Example
10 mx1.example.net
20 mx2.example.netmx1.example.net first and use mx2.example.net only if the first server is unavailable.FAQ
Questions about MX records
- What does MX priority mean?
- Priority tells senders which mail server to try first. Lower numbers are tried first.
- Can a domain have more than one MX record?
- Yes. Several records provide redundancy, and servers with equal priority share incoming mail.
- Can an MX record point to an IP address?
- No. An MX record must point to a hostname that resolves through A or AAAA records.
- What is a null MX record?
- A single MX record with priority 0 and a target of
.tells senders that the domain does not accept email. Use it for domains that only send. - How can I tell which email provider a domain uses?
- MX hostnames usually include the provider’s domain, such as
google.comoroutlook.com.
Keep checking
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