{"id":11423,"date":"2025-05-17T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/?p=11423"},"modified":"2025-09-30T20:47:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:47:18","slug":"how-to-manage-mx-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up and Manage MX Records"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Introduction_Understanding_MX_Records_and_Their_Role_in_Email_Routing\" >Introduction: Understanding MX Records and Their Role in Email Routing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#What_are_MX_Records_Definition_and_Purpose\" >What are MX Records: Definition and Purpose<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Why_Managing_MX_Records_Matters\" >Why Managing MX Records Matters<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Common_Scenarios_Requiring_MX_Record_Management\" >Common Scenarios Requiring MX Record Management<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Key_Components_of_an_MX_Record_Breaking_Down_the_Essentials\" >Key Components of an MX Record: Breaking Down the Essentials<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Host_Name\" >Host \/ Name<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Priority\" >Priority<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Value_Exchange\" >Value \/ Exchange<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#TTL_Time_to_Live\" >TTL (Time to Live<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Step-by-Step_Guide_to_Managing_MX_Records_Practical_Implementation\" >Step-by-Step Guide to Managing MX Records: Practical Implementation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Accessing_DNS_Management\" >Accessing DNS Management<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Adding_an_MX_Record\" >Adding an MX Record<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Editing_an_MX_Record_Modifying_Existing_Entries\" >Editing an MX Record: Modifying Existing Entries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Deleting_an_MX_Record_Removing_Unnecessary_Configurations\" >Deleting an MX Record: Removing Unnecessary Configurations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#MX_Record_Management_Best_Practice\" >MX Record Management Best Practice<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Use_more_than_one_MX_record\" >Use more than one MX record<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Set_smart_TTL_values\" >Set smart TTL values<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Keep_an_eye_on_things\" >Keep an eye on things<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Dont_forget_security_stuff\" >Don\u2019t forget security stuff<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Automate_if_things_get_big\" >Automate if things get big<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#FAQs_Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#What_will_become_of_it_when_I_do_not_have_an_MX_record\" >What will become of it when I do not have an MX record?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Is_it_possible_to_have_more_than_a_single_MX_record\" >Is it possible to have more than a single MX record?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#What_is_the_working_time_of_MX_changes\" >What is the working time of MX changes?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Should_I_remove_the_old_MX_when_switching_email_providers\" >Should I remove the old MX when switching email providers?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Whats_a_safe_TTL_value_to_use\" >What&#8217;s a safe TTL value to use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#I_got_changes_made_and_I_still_did_not_receive_emails_What_now\" >I got changes made, and I still did not receive emails. What now?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-manage-mx-records\/#Should_I_edit_MX_records_whenever_I_make_a_new_email_address\" >Should I edit MX records whenever I make a new email address?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_Understanding_MX_Records_and_Their_Role_in_Email_Routing\"><\/span><strong>Introduction: Understanding MX Records and Their Role in Email Routing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Email is among those things that work, until they do not. And when all of a sudden your messages are not received or some other person claims they have never received your email, it can be frustrating in no time. The thing is, most people don\u2019t think twice about how email actually finds its way from one inbox to another. But behind the scenes, there\u2019s something called an MX record quietly doing its job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MX stands for \u201cMail Exchange\u201d and it tells the internet where your domain\u2019s email should go. When it is not configured correctly, or is altered inadvertently, the emails may either end up being bounced, lost or not reaching their destination at all. It is like getting the wrong address on your mail box, although the house is the correct one, the mailman will not know where to place the letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process of changing or administering MX records is very technical, however, it is not so bad once you get used to it. All you have to do is learn where to find and what not to crash up. And, also, it is better to have a basic idea of it to avoid panicking in case something goes wrong. A few simple tweaks can fix a lot of common email problems \u2014 you just have to know what to check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_MX_Records_Definition_and_Purpose\"><\/span><strong>What are MX Records: Definition and Purpose<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>MX records might sound complicated, but they\u2019re basically just instructions that help email know where to go. MX stands for Mail Exchange, and it\u2019s part of something called DNS\u2014which is like the internet\u2019s version of a contact list for websites and email systems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every domain (like yourwebsite.nl) has DNS settings, and one part of that is the MX record. That record tells the world which mail server should handle the email for that domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say someone sends you an email to info@yourdomain.com. When they check the MX record of your domain, their email server will determine where to deliver the mail. It is as though you are asking, where ought I to leave this letter? And the MX record replies, \u201cSend it to mail.yourprovider.com.\u201d If that record is missing or wrong, emails will just float around and never land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also this thing called priority. If you\u2019ve got more than one mail server set up, each MX record gets a number\u2014lower numbers mean higher priority. So the email will try the lowest number first. If that one doesn\u2019t respond, it tries the next one. It\u2019s like a backup plan in case something goes down, quite handy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"max-width:600px; margin:40px auto; padding:30px; background:linear-gradient(135deg, #1f1c2c, #928dab); border-radius:12px; color:white; font-family:'Segoe UI', sans-serif; box-shadow:0 10px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.4); text-align:center;\">\r\n  <p style=\"font-size:24px; margin-bottom:10px;color:white\">Remote Work Made Easy<\/p>\r\n  <p style=\"font-size:16px; margin-bottom:25px;color:silver\">Secure &#038; Fast Window VPS by ARZ Host\u2013 Start for Just $18\/month with Our Limited-Time Offer.<\/p>\r\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/rdps\/\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:12px 28px; background-color:#ff4081; color:#fff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold; border-radius:6px; font-size:16px;\">Click Here<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Managing_MX_Records_Matters\"><\/span><strong>Why Managing MX Records Matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Email is a big part of daily life, whether you run a business or just use it for personal stuff. When your messages no longer come, or still worse, when they tell you they never received your messages, it can be a real problem. In case of businesses, it may translate to lost orders or frustrated customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For regular users, it might be job offers or school updates that never show up. Either way, email needs to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things go wrong. Servers experience downtime. Internet hiccups happen. That\u2019s why using more than one MX record is smart. You can set up a backup mail server that kicks in if the main one stops working. Most of the time, you won\u2019t even notice it\u2014but it\u2019s there doing its job, keeping your emails flowing when it matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Scenarios_Requiring_MX_Record_Management\"><\/span><strong>Common Scenarios Requiring MX Record Management<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few times when you\u2019ll have to deal with MX records. Nothing dramatic, but worth knowing:&nbsp; You\u2019re setting up a new email service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Switching <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/best-email-service-providers\/\">email providers<\/a><\/strong> or moving servers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adding a backup mail server, just in case<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attempting to understand why emails are not being sent in the correct manner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It will make life a lot easier in case something goes wrong or even before it happens, as you know how to check and adjust your MX records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Components_of_an_MX_Record_Breaking_Down_the_Essentials\"><\/span><strong>Key Components of an MX Record: Breaking Down the Essentials<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you start changing anything, it helps to actually know what you&#8217;re looking at. MX records are not that difficult when they are broken. They consist of a handful of parts and each part has its work. One out of place part can make emails begin to behave strangely&#8211;or disappear entirely. So, it can save you a great deal of frustration later on to be aware of what each piece does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a brief description of what you are likely to find in an MX record:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Host_Name\"><\/span><strong>Host \/ Name<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This is just the domain or subdomain you\u2019re setting the MX record for. Most of the time it\u2019s just the main domain, like example.com.However, in some cases, you may also be using a subdomain such as mail.example.com, which depends on how it is configured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Priority\"><\/span><strong>Priority<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This bit informs the system of the first mail server to be attempted. The lower the numbers the better the priority. Then given two records with priority 10 and 20, email will always attempt 10 first. When that is down, it will proceed to the next one. It\u2019s basically the order in which servers are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Value_Exchange\"><\/span><strong>Value \/ Exchange<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the actual address of the mail server. It\u2019s usually something like mail.provider.com. It tells the internet where to send your email. And when this is wrong, the mail is not going anywhere&#8211;that is as plain as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"TTL_Time_to_Live\"><\/span><strong>TTL (Time to Live<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It sounds rather dramatic but it only implies the duration of waiting time of the other DNS servers before trying to obtain information again. Shorter TTLs imply faster adoption of a change, however, it also generates more DNS traffic. The longer TTLs make things more stable, but the changes spread slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Article: <a href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/451-all-mx-servers-are-unavailable-for-domain\/\">451 All MX Servers are Unavailable for Domain<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step-by-Step_Guide_to_Managing_MX_Records_Practical_Implementation\"><\/span><strong>Step-by-Step Guide to Managing MX Records: Practical Implementation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Changes to MX records may be technically a bit difficult, however, once you get to know where you need to click and what you need to fill in, it is not that bad. You just need to take it step by step and you will be okay. The most frequent MX record tasks are easy to deal with in this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Accessing_DNS_Management\"><\/span><strong>Accessing DNS Management<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can touch anything with MX records, you\u2019ve got to know where your DNS is managed. That\u2019s not always super obvious\u2014especially if someone else set things up for you ages ago. At times it may be with your domain registrar, at times it may be your web hosting provider or it may be a third party service such as Cloudflare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where you log in will be determined by where your nameservers point. In the event of doubt, you can find out by using a WHOIS tool or by enquiring with whoever got your domain set up. When you have located the right place, you are most of the time in search of something called DNS Settings, Zone Editor, or DNS Management Panel..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adding_an_MX_Record\"><\/span><strong>Adding an MX Record<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Alright, so you\u2019ve figured out where your DNS is managed, great start. Now it\u2019s time to actually add an MX record. It doesn&#8217;t take long if you know what to fill in. Here\u2019s how it usually goes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/manager.arzhost.com\/login\"><strong>Log in to your account<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find your domain. When you have more than one, be sure you are editing the correct one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find something that has the words Add Record or perhaps a small + button. Choose MX Record from the list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now fill in the fields:<br>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Host\/Name: for the main domain , just put \u201c@\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Priority: Use a number. Lower number means higher priority. If this is your only one, something like 10 is fine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Value\/Exchange: This is the actual mail server address. Your email provider should give you this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TTL (Time to Live): normally you can leave this as default such as 3600 seconds (1 hour)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hit Save or Apply.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Editing_an_MX_Record_Modifying_Existing_Entries\"><\/span><strong>Editing an MX Record: Modifying Existing Entries<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes you just need to update your MX record. Maybe you\u2019re switching email providers or moving things to a new server. Whatever the reason, editing an existing record is usually pretty straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 First, log into your DNS settings and find the domain you want to update.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Scroll through your list of DNS records until you spot the MX one or use the search bar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Click edit or whatever option lets you change it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modify the mail server address (the value), or the priority in case it is that which changes. Also, make sure to check the spelling again&#8211;a misplaced letter and you are sending your email back to spam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lower the TTL. When you configure it to say 300 seconds (5 minutes), the update will be made live faster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After it is all set up, then you can boost it back up to a more stable level, such as 3600.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save and allow some time to change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch your email traffic just to make sure that everything is falling into its place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deleting_an_MX_Record_Removing_Unnecessary_Configurations\"><\/span><strong>Deleting an MX Record: Removing Unnecessary Configurations<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>At some point, you might come across an old MX record that&#8217;s no longer being used. Maybe it&#8217;s from a previous email setup, or it was You may come across an old MX record which is no longer in use at some point. Perhaps it was in an earlier email arrangement or it was incorporated in some experiment, and forgotten. In case you are cleaning things, and you really know are not used anymore, it is perfectly okay to take them away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 Go into your DNS settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Find the MX record you want to remove<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Hit delete. You will be required to confirm on most platforms, just in case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When handling more than one record, you need to make sure you are not deleting the active record which is actually processing your mail.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Critical: removing a record that is still in use can cause your email to break. No bounce message, no warning, only silence. That is why, when you are not sure enough about what a record does, it is better to ask somebody, or forget about it until you are certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" title=\"Best Practices for MX Record Management\" src=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"Best Practices for MX Record Management\" class=\"wp-image-11426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management-150x79.jpg 150w, https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management-450x236.jpg 450w, https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Best-Practices-for-MX-Record-Management.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MX_Record_Management_Best_Practice\"><\/span><strong><strong>MX Record Management Best Practice<\/strong><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You do not need to make it sound complex but some smart habits can prove helpful in taking care of your MX records. And this is what is worth remembering to make your email reliable and hassle free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_more_than_one_MX_record\"><\/span><strong>Use more than one MX record<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Always good to have a backup. The lowest priority number must be assigned to a primary mail server, and a second one with a higher number. In case the primary one fails, the backup one will ensure that things do not go down. It\u2019s just a bit of insurance you\u2019ll be glad you set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Set_smart_TTL_values\"><\/span><strong>Set smart TTL values<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>TTL controls how fast changes to your records spread. . When updating something or trying something new, TTL should remain low (at least 300 or 600 seconds) to bring the change online sooner. When all is fine you can bring it to around 3600 or above to prevent additional DNS traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_an_eye_on_things\"><\/span><strong>Keep an eye on things<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Check your MX records now and then. Make sure everything still points where it should. Use a test email tool once in a while just to confirm mail is arriving the way it\u2019s supposed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_forget_security_stuff\"><\/span><strong>Don\u2019t forget security stuff<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>MX records are just part of the picture. Also make sure your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are set up right to help protect your domain from spoofing and spam issues. And it\u2019s smart to check if your domain ended up on any blacklists\u2014it happens more than you\u2019d think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Automate_if_things_get_big\"><\/span><strong>Automate if things get big<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re managing a bunch of domains or things are changing often, look into ways to automate your record management. It saves time and avoids silly mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"max-width:600px; margin:40px auto; padding:30px; background:linear-gradient(135deg, #1f1c2c, #928dab); border-radius:12px; color:white; font-family:'Segoe UI', sans-serif; box-shadow:0 10px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.4); text-align:center;\">\n  <p style=\"font-size:24px; margin-bottom:10px;color:white\">Next-Gen Hosting Starts Here<\/p>\n  <p style=\"font-size:16px; margin-bottom:25px;color:silver\">Join thousands who trust ARZ Host for blazing speed and unbeatable uptime.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:12px 28px; background-color:#ff4081; color:#fff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold; border-radius:6px; font-size:16px;\">Click Here<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Email is a thing you hardly ever think much about, until it breaks down. And when it does it is often something little behind the scenes, such as an MX record, that causes the trouble. The good news? Making things work with MX records is not as difficult as it appears as soon as you know how they work and their locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MX records simply instruct the internet on where to forward your email. In case that information is not correct, your inbox has nothing. Adding, editing, or deleting MX entries can save you a lot of stress whether you are configuring a brand new email service, changing providers, or simply cleaning a few old records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember- errors in this case will lead to mail bouncing or disappearance. However, when you do it step by step, check twice what you are modifying and allow DNS the time to store your modification, you will be all right. Such things as setting an appropriate TTL or maintaining a backup mail server should also be remembered. Those are little details that make the background keep running smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MX record management may not be glamorous, but it is one of the components of making your digital stuff concrete and reliable. And after you have done it a couple of times it becomes natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get amazing deals and offers on website hosting services and solutions at <a href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/\"><strong>ARZ Host!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><strong>FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_will_become_of_it_when_I_do_not_have_an_MX_record\"><\/span><strong>What will become of it when I do not have an MX record?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Failure to have a MX record of your domain means that email messages addressed to you would not be delivered. In most cases, they will be sent back to the sender. It is as though there is no mail-box in your house&#8211;mail has nowhere to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_possible_to_have_more_than_a_single_MX_record\"><\/span><strong>Is it possible to have more than a single MX record?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, and you should. It is a good idea to have a backup (or second) MX record. In case your primary mail server becomes unavailable, the backup can be used to ensure that things do not run amok. It is just to ensure that the priorities are established properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_working_time_of_MX_changes\"><\/span><strong>What is the working time of MX changes?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It relies on the TTL (Time to Live) setting. When it is configured to a low value (such as 300 seconds), a few minutes can be spent on changes. However, occasionally it can take a maximum of 24 hours before all things update around the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_remove_the_old_MX_when_switching_email_providers\"><\/span><strong>Should I remove the old MX when switching email providers?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You must, but not until the new one is tried and successful. It may be confusing or the mail may arrive in the wrong destination by leaving the old one active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_a_safe_TTL_value_to_use\"><\/span><strong>What&#8217;s a safe TTL value to use?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>3600 seconds (1 hour) is quite normal to be used regularly. When you are making some changes or troubleshooting, you can lower it to 300 (5 minutes) to update faster and then put it back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_got_changes_made_and_I_still_did_not_receive_emails_What_now\"><\/span><strong>I got changes made, and I still did not receive emails. What now?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Check twice everything, spelling, priorities, host name, and value. Another thing to remember is that your domain should not lack other significant resources such as SPF or DMARC. There are other times when it is something small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_edit_MX_records_whenever_I_make_a_new_email_address\"><\/span><strong>Should I edit MX records whenever I make a new email address?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nope. MX records operate on the domain level. After being configured properly, any address within the domain (such as info@, support@, etc.) will be subject to the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Latest Posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-fix-403-forbidden-error-wordpress\/\">How To Fix 403 Forbidden Error WordPress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-claude-ai\/\">How To Get The Most Out Of Claude Ai<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/bad-gateway-error-502-the-ultimate-guide-to-quick-fixes\/\">Bad Gateway Error (502): The Ultimate Guide to Quick Fixes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/a-deep-dive-into-todays-best-linux-distros\/\">A Deep Dive Into Today\u2019s Best Linux Distros<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/domain-investor-terms-powerful-strategy\/\">Domain Investor Terms: Expert Insight on Powerful Strategy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction: Understanding MX Records and Their Role in Email Routing Email is among those things that work, until they do not. And when all of a sudden your messages are not received or some other person claims they have never received your email, it can be frustrating in no time. The thing is, most people [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"class_list":["post-11423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11423"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14278,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11423\/revisions\/14278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11423"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arzhost.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=11423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}