What is the default MX record?

This article is intended for customers who need to know the default MX server settings for their cPanel hosting account.

What is the Default MX Server?

The default MX (mail exchange) technical record on a cPanel hosting account typically follows this format:

MX Record:

• Zone Name: example.com.

• Priority: 0

• Record: mail.example.com.

The corresponding A record for mail.example.com is typically set up as:

A Record for Mail Subdomain:

• Zone Name: mail.example.com.

• Type: A

• Record: 123.123.123.123 (your server's IP address)

How It Works

• Priority: The 0 in the MX record indicates priority. Lower numbers have higher priority, meaning this mail server will be used first.

• Mail Server: The mail.example.com. part directs email traffic to the mail subdomain of your website, which typically resolves to the same server that hosts your website.

• A Record Dependency: The mail.example.com hostname needs an A record pointing to the server’s IP address to function correctly.

How to Check Your MX Records in cPanel

1. Log in to your cPanel account.

   • If you need help logging in, refer to our guide: Accessing your hosting control panel (cPanel)

2. Navigate to Zone Editor (under the Domains section).

3. Find your domain and click Manage.

4. Look for MX Records in the list of DNS records.

   • You can use the filter buttons or search box for easier identification.

For more information on how to edit the DNS records, please refer to this article: Managing the DNS Zone Records for Your Domain.

Custom MX Records

If you configure an external email service such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, you will need to update your MX records accordingly. cPanel allows you to modify these records and other related DNS entries.

You can manage email routing settings in cPanel via the Email Routing page. It is recommended to select Automatically Detect Configuration to determine the ideal routing method. If the detected routing is incorrect, your MX records or other related DNS settings may need to be adjusted.

Using the Remote MX Wizard

Our Remote MX Wizard tool can be used to configure various email services such as Google Workspace, OX App Suite, MailGun, and Zoho Mail. This tool simplifies the process of setting up custom MX records, the related DNS entries, and the email routing.

For a step-by-step guide, please visit: How to Use the Remote MX Wizard in cPanel.

If you need further assistance, please contact support.

Updated by SP on 03/03/2025