This article explains how to add a new Mail Exchanger (MX) entry in cPanel, allowing you to control which server receives email for your domain.
Prerequisites
- Access to your cPanel account.
- Understanding of MX records and their importance in email routing.
Why Set a Custom MX Entry?
Setting a custom MX entry is beneficial if you want to handle your email through another server or establish a backup email server.
Steps to Add a New MX Entry
- Log in to cPanel: Start on the cPanel home screen.
- Select Domain: From the "Choose a Domain to Edit" menu, select the domain for which you wish to configure MX entries.
- Click Edit: This will open the MX entry configuration interface.
- Select Email Routing: Choose the desired Email Routing setting that fits your needs.
- Enter MX Entry Settings: Input the desired settings for each MX entry in the MX Entries section.
- Click Save: Confirm your changes to add the new MX record.
Understanding MX Entry Settings
- TTL (Time to Live): This value specifies how long the record remains in memory before refreshing, defaulting to 14400 seconds.
- Priority: Indicates the order of mail servers. Lower values have higher priority. The default is set to 10 higher than the highest existing MX entry's priority.
- MX Destination: Enter the name of the mail server (e.g., ‘mail.example.com’).
Additional Resources
The procedures for creating an MX record may vary based on your DNS provider. Below are links to documentation for some popular DNS providers:
| DNS/Hosting Provider Name | Documentation Link (external links) |
|---|---|
| Amazon Route 53 | Creating Records by Using the Amazon Route 53 Console |
| GoDaddy | Add an MX Record |
| DreamHost | How do I change my MX records? |
| Cloudflare | How do I add or edit mail or MX records? |
| HostGator | Changing MX Records - Windows |
| Namecheap | How can I set up MX records required for mail service? |
| Names.co.uk | Changing your domain's DNS settings |
| Wix | Adding or Updating MX Records in Your Wix Account |
Adding a new MX entry in cPanel is a straightforward process that allows you to manage your email routing effectively. Ensure all settings are correctly configured for optimal email delivery.
