Managing Mail Exchanger (MX) Records in cPanel

MX records define how email for a domain is routed. By default, cPanel handles email delivery using the local mail server, but MX records can be adjusted to route mail to external providers when required.

Understanding MX records and risks

Changing MX records transfers email handling away from the local server. This should only be done when the destination mail servers are confirmed and reachable. Incorrect MX configuration can stop email delivery entirely.

These controls are available on standard cPanel hosting environments.

Adding an MX record

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Open the Tools page.
3. In the Domains section, click Zone Editor.
4. Locate the target domain and click MX Record.
5. Enter a Priority value. Lower numbers indicate higher priority.
6. Enter the mail server Destination as a fully qualified domain name.
7. Click Add an MX Record.

[Screenshot placeholder: Add MX Record dialog]

Only fully qualified domain names are accepted. IP addresses cannot be used for MX destinations.

Editing an MX record

1. Log in to cPanel and open Zone Editor.
2. Locate the domain and click Manage.
3. Filter the record list by MX if needed.
4. Click Edit next to the MX record.
5. Update the priority or destination value.
6. Click Save Record.

[Screenshot placeholder: Edit MX record screen]

Deleting an MX record

1. Log in to cPanel and open Zone Editor.
2. Click Manage for the domain.
3. Filter by MX to show only mail records.
4. Click Delete next to the record.
5. Confirm the deletion.

[Screenshot placeholder: Delete MX record confirmation]

Configuring email routing in cPanel

MX records and email routing must align. Routing settings determine whether the server accepts mail locally or routes it elsewhere.

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Open the Tools page.
3. In the Email section, click Email Routing.
4. Select the domain.
5. Choose the appropriate routing option:
   • Automatically Detect Configuration for domains using the same name servers
   • Local Mail Exchanger to force local delivery
   • Backup Mail Exchanger to act as a secondary mail server
   • Remote Mail Exchanger when mail is handled by an external provider
6. Click Change to apply.

[Screenshot placeholder: Email Routing configuration]

Deliverability considerations

When routing mail to third party services, ensure proper DNS alignment and spam controls. Dedicated filtering platforms such as SpamExperts can improve delivery accuracy. For complex mail infrastructures or multiple domains, scalable environments like cloud servers provide greater