What MX record means
MX records route your business email. Mistakes during a website or DNS move are a classic cause of lost mail. Always confirm MX records are carried over when changing nameservers or hosts.
Why it matters for your website
If your MX records are wrong, customer emails and leads can bounce or vanish without you knowing. They often break during website moves or DNS changes when someone forgets to copy them. Getting them right keeps your business email working when you change hosts.
Example
A contractor moves his website to a new host and switches nameservers. Because the MX records weren't copied over, his business email stops receiving messages for two days.
Tips
- Copy all your MX records before changing nameservers or DNS providers.
- Use the exact MX values your email provider gives you, including priority numbers.
- Send test emails from an outside account after any DNS change.
Common mistakes
- Leaving old MX records in place after switching email providers.
- Pointing an MX record at an IP address instead of a hostname.
Questions about MX record
What is MX record?
A DNS record that tells the internet which servers receive email for your domain.
What does MX priority mean?
Each MX record has a priority number, and lower numbers are tried first. Backup servers get higher numbers so they're used only when the main ones aren't available.
Does changing my web host affect my email?
It can if you move your DNS or nameservers. If only your website's A record changes and your MX records stay the same, email keeps working.
