How to add, edit or delete an MX record

What is an MX record?

DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It turns a website name into a number that computers understand. Each entry is called a record.

MX stands for Mail Exchanger. An MX record is like a mailing address for your email. When someone writes to you@example.com, their mail system looks up your MX record. It then sends the message to the mail server named there.

Each MX record has two parts:

• Priority: a number. The lowest number is tried first. If that server is down, the next one is used.
• Mail server name: for example mail.example.com.

Your correct mail server name is in your welcome email, or ask Hostvento support. If you use another mail service, use the values it gives you.

Before you start

Edit DNS where your domain's nameservers point. Write down your current MX records first. Wrong MX records mean you may stop receiving email.

Add an MX record

1. Log in to the client area.
2. Open the DNS zone editor for your domain.
3. Choose to add a record.
4. Set Type to MX.
5. In Name, type your domain, or @.
6. In Priority, type a number such as 10.
7. In Destination (or Value), type the mail server name.
8. Click Save.

For a backup server, add a second record with a bigger number such as 20.

Edit or delete

1. Find the MX record in your list.
2. Click Edit, change it and save. Or click Delete and confirm.

Rules to remember

• The destination must be a name, not an IP address.
• The name should have its own A record that points to the mail server.
• Do not point an MX record at a CNAME.

Test it

nslookup -type=MX example.com

This lists the MX records for your domain. Changes can take a few hours to spread.

Quick recap

• MX records say where your email is delivered.
• Lower priority numbers are tried first.
• Use a server name, not an IP.
• Note old records before you change them.
• Test with nslookup -type=MX.