When someone emails [email protected], the sender’s mail server asks DNS one question: “which server handles mail for this domain?” The answer lives in the MX records. Our free MX Record Checker queries any domain’s mail exchangers live and lists them in priority order — lowest number first — so you can see exactly where that domain’s email goes. Free, instant, no signup.
This is the first tool to reach when email breaks: missing or wrong MX records are the most common reason a domain stops receiving mail after a DNS change or host migration. Admins use it to verify a Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 setup picked up correctly, freelancers use it to confirm a client’s mail really points where they think, and investigators use it to identify which provider a competitor or scammer uses for email.
Remember the priority rule: mail always tries the lowest-priority-number server first and only falls back to higher numbers if that server is unreachable. A single MX record is normal for small sites; multiple records mean the domain has mail failover configured.
MX Record Checker
Look up a domain's MX records and see which mail servers handle its email, in priority order.
How to use
- Enter the domain name (e.g. example.com).
- Click “Check MX Records”.
- Review the mail servers in priority order.
- Confirm the top entry matches your expected provider (Google, Microsoft 365, your host).
- If email is broken, compare these records against your provider’s setup instructions.
FAQs
What does the number before each server mean?
It is the priority. Mail is delivered to the lowest-numbered server first; higher numbers are backups used only when the primary is unreachable. Common values are 0 or 1 for the primary and 5 or 10 for backups.
I found no MX records. Is that a problem?
If the domain needs to receive email, yes — mail sent to it will bounce. Add MX records from your email provider at your DNS host. Domains that never receive email (e.g. parked pages) can safely have none.
How long do MX changes take to work?
DNS changes can take minutes to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, though most resolve within a few hours. The checker shows live records, so re-run it to confirm your change has taken effect.