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MX lookup

Enter a domain to see which mail servers receive its email. No MX record usually means the domain cannot receive mail.

The check reads public DNS records only. No email is sent and the address is not stored.

An MX (mail exchanger) record tells the world which server accepts email for a domain. When you send a message, your server looks up the MX records of the recipient domain and connects to the one with the lowest priority number first. If it is down, it tries the next.

When to use an MX lookup

  • A message bounced with "domain not found" or a connection timeout and you want to know whether the domain can receive mail at all.
  • You are cleaning a list and want to check suspicious domains by hand.
  • You moved to a new mail provider and want to confirm the records are live.

How to read the result

  • Lower priority numbers are tried first. Equal numbers share the load.
  • Hostnames should belong to your mail provider, for example a Google or Microsoft server.
  • No MX but an address record: mail may still be delivered, but explicit MX records are safer.
  • A single "null" MX with a dot means the domain deliberately accepts no email.

Frequently asked questions

What does MX stand for?

Mail exchanger. It is a DNS record type that names the server accepting email for a domain.

Does an MX record prove an address exists?

No. It proves the domain can receive mail. To check a specific mailbox you need email verification.

Why do some domains have several MX records?

For backup and load sharing. The server with the lowest priority number is tried first.

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