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:

  1. Log into your Cpanel.
  2. Click the MX Entry icon.
  3. Select the problematic domain name from the drop-down list.
  4. Here are the rules for Local, Backup, and Remote. If you do not know, choose Automatically Detect Configuration and hit the Change button.
  5. 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].
  6. 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:

  1. Log into your Cpanel.
  2. Click the MX Entry icon.
  3. Select the problematic domain name from the drop-down list.
  4. Here are the rules for Local, Backup, and Remote. If you do not know, choose Automatically Detect Configuration and hit the Change button.
  5. 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].
  6. Click the “Add New Record” button.
  7. Go to the cPanel Home and click the Simple DNS Editor icon.
  8. Select the same domain from the drop-down.
  9. Under “Add an A Record”, enter mail2.thedomainname.com (or whatever you put for the MX Destination) in the “Name” field.
  10. In the “Address” field, enter the other server’s IP address.
  11. Click the “Add A Record” button.
  12. Done.