> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.hosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Managing cPanel Mail Exchanger (MX) records

> Learn to manage MX records in cPanel with our step-by-step guide and visual aids.

This article describes how to manage the Mail Exchanger (MX) records for your web site in cPanel.

## About cPanel MX (Mail Exchanger) Records

cPanel manages your e-mail using its own mail server. However, you can modify Mail Exchanger (MX) DNS entries to route your web site's e-mail to other mail servers if necessary.

<Warning>
  **️ Warning**

  * If you change your MX entry settings, cPanel no longer handles your e-mail settings. Only advanced users who fully understand the effects of changing MX entries should do so.

  * In addition to MX entries, you may also need to configure e-mail routing in cPanel. For more information, please see **Configuring email routing** below.
</Warning>

## Adding an MX record entry

To add an MX entry in cPanel, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see [this article](/docs/accessing-cpanel).

2. On the **Tools** page, in the **Domains** section, click **Zone Editor**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-jupiter-zone-editor-icon.png)

3. Locate the domain for which you want to add an MX record, and then click **MX Record**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-paper-lantern-zone-editor-mx-record.png)

4. In the **Add an MX Record** dialog box, in the **Priority** text box, type a priority.

   > 📘 Note
   >
   > Lower numbers represent higher priorities. Zero (0) is the highest priority.

5. In the **Destination** text box, type the fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) of the mail server.

   > 📘 Note
   >
   > You must enter a FQDN. You cannot enter an IP address.

6. Click **Add an MX Record**. cPanel adds the MX record.

## Editing an MX record entry

To edit an MX entry in cPanel, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see [this article](/docs/accessing-cpanel).

2. On the **Tools** page, in the **Domains** section, click **Zone Editor**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-jupiter-zone-editor-icon.png)

3. Locate the domain you want to modify, and then click **Manage**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-paper-lantern-zone-editor-manage.png)

4. Locate the MX record entry that you want to edit, and then click **Edit**.

   > 👍 Tip
   >
   > To view only MX records in the list, next to **Filter** , click **MX** .

5. In the **Priority** text box, type the priority.

   > 📘 Note
   >
   > Lower numbers represent higher priorities. Zero (0) is the highest priority.

6. In the **Destination** text box, type the fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) of the mail server.

   > 📘 Note
   >
   > You must enter a FQDN. You cannot enter an IP address.

7. Click **Save Record**. cPanel modifies the MX record.

## Deleting an MX record entry

To delete an MX entry in cPanel, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see [this article](/docs/accessing-cpanel).

2. On the **Tools** page, in the **Domains** section, click **Zone Editor**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-jupiter-zone-editor-icon.png)

3. Locate the domain you want to modify, and then click **Manage**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-paper-lantern-zone-editor-manage.png)

4. Locate the MX record entry that you want to delete, and then click **Delete**.

   > 👍 Tip
   >
   > To view only MX records in the list, next to **Filter** , click **MX** .

5. Click **Continue** to confirm the deletion. cPanel deletes the MX record.

## Configuring email routing

You should configure e-mail routing settings in cPanel if either of the following scenarios applies to your account:

* **Third-party DNS:** If your site uses a third party's name servers, cPanel cannot automatically detect your e-mail settings. You must manually configure e-mail routing in cPanel as described below.

* **Troubleshooting:** If your site uses hosting.com's name servers, cPanel's automatic configuration detection normally works correctly. However, if your e-mail is not working correctly, you can manually select routing settings as described below to help troubleshoot your configuration.

To configure email routing in cPanel, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see [this article](/docs/accessing-cpanel).

2. On the **Tools** page, in the **Email** section, click **Email Routing**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-jupiter-email-routing-icon.png)

3. In the **Domain** list box, select the domain you want to configure.

4. Under **Configure Email Routing**, select the setting you want:

   * **Automatically Detect Configuration**: This is the default and recommended setting if your site uses hosting.com name servers.

   * **Local Mail Exchanger**: If your site uses hosting.com name servers and you are experiencing problems with e-mail, you can manually select this setting to help troubleshoot the configuration.

   * **Backup Mail Exchanger**: This setting enables the server to function as a backup mail exchanger for your domain.

   * **Remote Mail Exchanger**: If your site does **not** use hosting.comname servers, you must select this setting.

5. Click **Change**. cPanel updates your e-mail routing settings.

## More information

For more information about MX records, please visit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MX\_record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MX_record).

## Related articles

* [E-mail Accounts](/docs/e-mail-accounts)

* [Accessing webmail through cPanel](/docs/accessing-webmail-through-cpanel)

* [E-mail forwarders](/docs/e-mail-forwarders)

* [Mailing Lists](/docs/mailing-lists)

* [Autoresponders](/docs/cpanel-auto-responders)

* [Unwanted email (spam)](/docs/unwanted-e-mail-spam)

* [Accessing cPanel](/docs/accessing-cpanel)