MX explained
MX: where replies to your domain go
MX records tell the world which servers receive email for your domain. Without them, nobody can reply to you.
Where it lives
One or more MX records on your domain, each with a priority number.
MX 1 smtp.google.comWhat to know
Lower number, higher priority
Mail goes to the lowest priority number first and falls back to the others.
Point at hostnames
MX records must name a server, never an IP address.
A sending domain needs them too
Receivers trust a domain that can also receive. A domain with no MX looks throwaway.
Common mistakes
- A secondary sending domain with no MX records
- Old MX records left over from a previous provider
- MX pointing at a CNAME