This guide explains how to configure MX records and email routing in cPanel.
An MX (Mail Exchanger) DNS record specifies the mail servers that receive messages for your domain. Use Zone Editor to manage records when cPanel hosts the authoritative DNS zone. Email Routing separately controls how the local server handles mail for the domain. This guide explains how to configure MX records and select the routing option that matches your actual mail service.
Open Zone Editor
Sign in to your cPanel.
Scroll to the Domains and click Zone Editor.
Find the domain and click Manage or MX Record next to it.
The DNS records associated with the domain appear.
Manage DNS records
Add or edit MX records
MX records tell other mail servers where to send messages for your domain. Add, edit or remove records according to your mail provider’s instructions. An example local mail hostname is mail.yourdomain.tld. To switch to a third-party mail service, replace the old MX configuration with the complete set of records supplied by that provider, then add an MX record :
Click Add Record and select MX as the record type.
Set the Priority. Lower numbers mean higher priority. A priority of 0 has the highest preference among higher-numbered records.
Enter the Destination, which must be a valid mail-server hostname, such as mail.yourdomain.com or aspmx.l.google.com).
Click Save Record to apply the changes.
To edit an existing MX record, click Edit next to the record, change the priority or destination and save. To delete an unneeded record, click Delete and confirm. Make sure the destination names an active mail server and is a fully qualified hostname; interfaces may display a trailing dot, such as mail.yourdomain.com. For detailed DNS zone instructions, see: How to edit your domain’s DNS zone in cPanel
Edit existing MX records
Configure Email Routing
After configuring MX records, tell cPanel how to handle incoming messages. For locally hosted mail, the appropriate setting is Local . Do not assume every account uses the same default. To configure routing:
Return to the cPanel homepage.
In the Email, click Email Routing.
Choose the domain from the dropdown if requested.
Four routing options are available:
Email routing options
Automatically Detect Configuration : cPanel checks the local DNS zone and chooses a routing mode from it. It does not query an externally hosted authoritative zone, so verify the result when DNS is managed elsewhere.
Local Mail Exchanger : Use this when the local cPanel server should accept mail for the domain.
Remote Mail Exchanger : Use this when mail is hosted elsewhere, such as Google Workspace, Zoho Mail or Microsoft 365. The local cPanel server will not accept the domain’s mail as local delivery.
Backup Mail Exchanger : Use only for a configured backup mail role. The server queues mail and attempts delivery to the primary exchanger when available.
After selecting the appropriate option, click Change to apply the settings.
Match routing to the MX configuration
Routing must match the actual mail service. For example, if Google hosts the domain’s mail, select Remote Mail Exchanger. If this cPanel server is the receiving mail server, select Local Mail Exchanger. A mismatch can cause bounces or failed delivery. Check both DNS and routing when mail does not work as expected.
Verify and test
After updating MX records and routing:
Use a DNS lookup tool such as MXToolbox to check publicly visible MX records.
Send test messages to and from the domain to verify delivery.
DNS changes may remain cached according to their TTL and resolver behavior; there is no universal fixed propagation time.
If mail is still not received, check the authoritative MX records, destination server and cPanel routing setting.
Need help?
If you are unsure which settings to use, contact your host or mail provider for the exact MX records and routing instructions.
Check the configuration to avoid email delivery problems.
Reference documentation:
Sources accessed on October 11, 2026. Available features depend on your hosting version and options.
