DNS Tools

MX Record Lookup

See which mail servers accept email for a domain and in what priority order.

Not sure what to enter? Try an example: gmail.com

Free & instant No signup How to use FAQ

Enter a domain to list its MX records and priorities - the settings that decide where email for that domain is delivered.

How do I look up a domain's MX records?

Enter the domain in the box above and click Look Up MX. The lookup queries the domain's DNS and lists each MX record: a priority number and the hostname of a mail server that accepts email for the domain. Lower numbers are tried first, and the hostnames usually reveal which email provider the domain uses.

MX records published by common email providers
Provider	Typical MX hostname	Priority
Google Workspace	smtp.google.com (older setups: aspmx.l.google.com plus alt1-alt4)	1 (older setups: 1, 5, 10)
Microsoft 365	yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com	0
Zoho Mail	mx.zoho.com, mx2.zoho.com, mx3.zoho.com	10, 20, 50

How to read MX lookup results

Sort the records by priority - the lowest number is the primary mail server.
Match the hostnames against your email provider's setup instructions; a leftover record from a previous provider can send some mail to the wrong place.
Each record must point to a hostname, not an IP address, and that hostname must itself resolve to an address.
No MX records at all means the domain is not set up to receive email.

Related checks

Check the same records from an email-security angle with the MX Record Checker.
See the IP address and reverse DNS of each mail server with Mail Server Lookup.
Just changed your MX records? Watch the update spread with the DNS Propagation Checker.

Each MX record includes a priority number (also called "preference") and a mail server hostname. Lower priority numbers are tried first - a record with priority 10 is preferred over one with priority 20. If the lowest-priority server doesn't respond, mail servers automatically fall back to the next one, which is why many domains have 2 or more MX records for redundancy. A domain with no MX record at all cannot receive email - some services fall back to the A record in that case, but this isn't guaranteed and is considered misconfigured. JustChecker tracks your DNS records continuously and alerts you the moment something changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

New Google Workspace setups use a single record, smtp.google.com with priority 1; older setups list aspmx.l.google.com plus backups. Whatever your provider gives you should match exactly what you see here.

Changing nameservers to a new host often replaces your DNS zone, and the old MX records are lost. Add your email provider's MX records again at the new DNS host.

No. An MX record must point to a hostname that has its own A record. Pointing it straight at an IP address is invalid and some senders will refuse to deliver.

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