How do I change my sites MX record to point mail to another server or domain?
An MX Record is used by a mail server to route incoming email. Changing your MX record is usually done to redirect email to a remote server. It can also be used as a temporary backup in case the local mail server goes down.
If you wish to just point it to another domain do the following:
- Log into your Cpanel.
- Click the MX Entry icon.
- Select the problematic domain name from the drop-down list.
- Here are the rules for Local, Backup, and Remote. If you do not know, choose Automatically Detect Configuration and hit the Change button.
- Under "Add New Record", enter mail.thedomainname.com (or whatever you were provided by the host) for the Destination value. Priority will normally stay equal to 0 [zero].
- Click the "Add New Record" button.
Tip: Setting the value back is just as easy. Just save the Destination value as the domain name you select from the drop-down (no http or www).
If you wish to point it to another server using the same domain:
- Log into your Cpanel.
- Click the MX Entry icon.
- Select the problematic domain name from the drop-down list.
- Here are the rules for Local, Backup, and Remote. If you do not know, choose Automatically Detect Configuration and hit the Change button.
- Under "Add New Record", enter mail2.thedomainname.com (or whatever you were provided by the host) for the Destination value. Priority will normally stay equal to 0 [zero].
- Click the "Add New Record" button.
- Go to the cPanel Home and click the Simple DNS Editor icon.
- Select the same domain from the drop-down.
- Under "Add an A Record", enter mail2.thedomainname.com (or whatever you put for the MX Destination) in the "Name" field.
- In the "Address" field, enter the other server's IP address.
- Click the "Add A Record" button.
- Done.
