How do I test my MX records?
Running the lookup
On most computers, dig MX yourdomain.com shows the mail servers and their priority values. Lower numbers are preferred. On Windows, nslookup with the MX type shows similar results. Online tools give a quick view if you do not want to use a terminal.
Compare the results with your provider's instructions. A common error is a typo in the host name, a missing trailing dot in some tools, or an old record that still exists after you changed providers.
- dig MX yourdomain.com
- nslookup -type=MX yourdomain.com
- Compare priorities with the provider's list
- Check again after DNS has had time to update
Confirming it works
After the lookup matches, send a test email to an account you control and check that it arrives. Look at the message headers to confirm the sending and receiving servers. If mail is missing, review old records and any forwarding rules.
Keep a note of the original MX values so you can restore them if a change causes trouble.
Keep the lookup results in a note with the date you checked them, so you can compare later. If your provider has a status page or support article for mail records, use it to confirm the expected values.
Common mistakes
- Testing right after a change and assuming the record is wrong when it has not spread yet.
- Forgetting to remove old MX records from a previous provider.
