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MX Record Lookup

Q: What does MX priority mean?

Lower numbers are tried first. If the server at priority 10 doesn't answer, senders move to the next one, say priority 20. Records with the same number share the incoming mail between them.

Q: How do I find my email provider from MX records?

Read the host names. google.com means Google Workspace, mail.protection.outlook.com means Microsoft 365, zoho.com means Zoho Mail, and so on. This tool names the provider for you, which is handy when you want to know what a prospect's company uses before you email them.

Q: What are the Google Workspace MX records?

New Workspace domains use a single record: smtp.google.com with priority 1. Older setups use aspmx.l.google.com plus alt1 to alt4 at priorities 1, 5 and 10. Both work, so there's no need to switch an older setup.

Q: How long do MX changes take?

Usually minutes to a few hours, depending on the TTL. The TTL in the results shows how long resolvers can keep the current record cached.

Q: Can an MX record point to an IP address?

No. MX records must point to a host name, and that host name needs its own A or AAAA record.

Q: Does my MX record affect email deliverability?

Indirectly. MX handles incoming mail, but some spam filters check whether the sender's domain can receive replies and bounces. A sending domain with no working MX looks like a throwaway, and those messages get more suspicion.

Q: Can I keep MX records for two providers at once?

Technically yes, but mail then goes to whichever server answers first by priority, and part of it can land in an inbox nobody checks. During a migration keep both only for the short switchover window, then remove the old provider's records.

Q: What happens if a domain has no MX record?

Sending servers fall back to the domain's A record and try to deliver there. That's usually a web server that doesn't accept mail, so the message bounces after a few retries.

See your domain's MX records, priority order and mail server setup in one free lookup.

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How it works

See exactly where your email goes

01
Enter a domain
Any domain, yours or one you're about to email.
02
See the mail servers
Every MX host with its IP addresses and TTL.
03
Check the priority
Know which server is tried first and which is the backup.
04
Fix what's broken
Missing or unreachable servers are flagged with a fix.

How to read your MX record lookup results

MX records tell every mail server on the internet where to deliver email for your domain. The MX lookup above lists them in the order senders try them, with the IP address behind each host. The notes below explain what the result means and how to spot a broken setup.

MX record format and priority

Each MX record has two parts: a priority number and a mail server hostname. Lower numbers are tried first. A domain with two records at priority 10 and 20 sends everything to the first server and uses the second only when the first doesn't answer. Two records with the same number share the load. Every MX value must be a hostname, never a bare IP address, and that hostname must have its own A or AAAA record.

MX records for popular email providers

Provider	Typical MX host	Priority
Google Workspace (new setups)	smtp.google.com	1
Google Workspace (older setups)	aspmx.l.google.com plus alt1 to alt4	1, 5, 10
Microsoft 365	yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com	0
Zoho Mail (US)	mx.zoho.com, mx2.zoho.com, mx3.zoho.com	10, 20, 50

Providers update these values from time to time, so confirm them in the admin console when you set up a domain. The lookup is also a fast way to find which provider handles mail for any company domain: the MX host gives it away. For Outlook specifics, see our guide on Outlook MX records and rDNS setup.

Common MX record problems

A domain with no MX records falls back to its A record, which usually points to a web server that doesn't accept mail, so messages bounce. MX records that point to a CNAME or an IP address break the standard and some senders refuse them. Leftover records from an old provider are another frequent issue: after a migration, part of your mail can still go to the server you stopped using. A host that resolves but doesn't respond on port 25 also shows up here as unreachable. One special case is a null MX, a single record with priority 0 and a dot as the host, which tells senders the domain accepts no mail at all. It's correct for parked domains and a mistake on any domain you send from. More background in what DNS MX, A and rDNS records do.

Does an MX record affect email deliverability?

MX records handle incoming mail, but they matter for sending too. Many spam filters check that the sender's domain can receive replies and bounces, and a domain with broken MX looks like a throwaway.

Next step after the MX lookup

Mail servers in order? Check the records that decide whether your outgoing mail is trusted. The DNS Record Checker reviews SPF, DKIM, DMARC and MX in one pass, and the Blacklist Checker shows whether your mail server IPs are listed. Warmy keeps an eye on all of it daily and warms up your mailboxes so they land in the inbox.

Mail servers look good? Make sure your emails reach the inbox. Try Warmy free for 7 days or book a demo.

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