MX Record Lookup
Enter a domain to find its mail exchange (MX) records, sorted by priority.
| Priority | Mail Server | TTL |
|---|---|---|
What are MX records?
MX (Mail Exchange) records tell the internet where to deliver email for a domain. Each record points to a mail server hostname and carries a priority number. When someone sends you an email, the sending server queries your domain's MX records, then connects to the server with the lowest priority value first. If that server is unreachable, it tries the next one in order.
A single domain can have multiple MX records — most do. Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and other providers typically set up two or more with staggered priorities so mail delivery has a fallback path. This MX record lookup tool lists every mail server, its priority, and how long resolvers cache the record (TTL).
Why priority order matters
Priority isn't just a label — it controls the actual routing path for every inbound message. A misconfigured priority can send all traffic to a backup server while your primary sits idle, or worse, route mail through a server you no longer control. Common issues we see:
- Two MX records with the same priority causing uneven load distribution across providers
- Stale records pointing to decommissioned servers, leading to delayed or bounced mail
- Missing backup MX entries, meaning one server failure stops all delivery
If you spot something unexpected here, cross-check the full DNS configuration with our DNS lookup tool to see whether A records, SPF, and DKIM align with your mail provider's requirements.
From lookup to monitoring
A one-time check tells you what your records look like right now. It won't catch the moment a record disappears after a DNS migration, or when a provider changes hostnames without warning. That gap between "checked once" and "always watching" is where mail delivery problems hide for hours before anyone notices a bounce.
WatchCron's uptime monitoring watches your mail servers continuously and alerts you through Slack, email, or SMS when something goes wrong — before your users start asking why their emails aren't arriving.