This article discusses the MX DNS record in detail. For general instructions on DNS records and how to set them up in the Customer Administration, see the article DNS – Domain Records.
In this article you will learn:
- When to use this guide
- What MX records are for
- How to find the MX mail server addresses
- How to enter MX records correctly
- Examples of MX record usage
- Common problems
- Frequently Asked Questions
When to use this guide
- You created a mailbox, emails can be sent from it, but none arrive. See Mail is not arriving.
- After a DNS change (for example, because of a mailing service), email stopped arriving. See After a DNS change, email stopped arriving.
- When saving, the system reports “Invalid MX record value”. See Unable to save the MX record.
- You want to use email of Webhosting, WebSite or Mailhosting from VEDOS and need to know their MX records. See Finding the MX mail server addresses.
- Your email is with another provider (for example, with an e-shop) and you do not know which MX records to enter. See Frequently Asked Questions.
What MX records are for
You use MX records to specify the domain addresses of the servers that process incoming email. You usually want to have several such servers, so that if one fails, another can take over. Most email service providers offer 2-3 addresses for MX records. By entering all of the provider’s MX records and adding an SPF record you will do everything possible to keep your mail running smoothly.
Create a separate record for each MX mail server address.
If you are having a problem where emails are sent but not received, the cause may be a missing or incorrectly entered MX record.
Finding the MX mail server addresses
WEDOS provides email services with Webhosting and the WebSite service (except the Free variant) and separately as the Mailhosting.
Webhosting and WebSite
The mail server addresses for MX records are the same for these services. Including the recommended priorities, they are:
1 wes1-mx1.wedos.net 1 wes1-mx2.wedos.net 10 wes1-mx-backup.wedos.net
You can also find these addresses in the Customer Administration ⧉ in the service detail, in the table Service addresses.
Mailhosting
The mail server addresses for MX records of the Mailhosting service differ from the Webhosting ones. If you use email of the Webhosting or WebSite service, do not use these records. Including the recommended priorities, they are:
10 mx1.wedos.email 10 mx1.wedos.global 10 mx1.wedos.com 10 mx1.wedos.mx 20 mx1.wedos.online
You can also find these addresses in the Customer Administration ⧉ in the service detail, in the table Service addresses.
Your own mail server
If you use your own mail server to receive mail, you need to enter its domain address, because MX records do not support IP addresses. So first create, using an A or AAAA record a suitable (sub)domain with the IP address of that server. Then enter this (sub)domain as the address of the MX record (see the example).
Services outside WEDOS
If the service whose MX record address you want to find is not with WEDOS, look up the help for that service or contact its provider’s support.
Entering MX records
For general instructions on setting up DNS records in the Customer Administration, see the article DNS – Domain Records.
If the domain uses third-party DNS servers, neither automatic nor manual changes to WEDOS records will have any effect on its behavior.
When entering MX records, follow these basic rules:
- Leave the Name field empty, unless you want to receive emails on a subdomain (for example: info@sub.domain.tld).
- Always enter one number and one address in the Data field (for example: 1 wes1-mx1.wedos.net).
A general MX record looks like this:
Name TTL Type Data (empty, or subdomain) 300 MX (priority) (MX mail server address)
The number before the address is the so-called priority. The higher the number you enter, the more the system treats the server as a backup.
MX records of VEDOS services
Correctly entered VEDOS MX records for Webhosting, WMS and WebSite look like this:
Name TTL Type Data
300 MX 1 wes1-mx1.wedos.net
300 MX 1 wes1-mx2.wedos.net
300 MX 10 wes1-mx-backup.wedos.net
And for the Mailhosting service:
Name TTL Type Data
300 MX 10 mx1.wedos.email
300 MX 10 mx1.wedos.global
300 MX 10 mx1.wedos.com
300 MX 10 mx1.wedos.mx
300 MX 20 mx1.wedos.online
Automatic MX record setup
Under certain circumstances, you can have MX records set up automatically. Our system sets the DNS records on WEDOS DNS servers.
You can enable automatic DNS record setup by:
- Ticking the DNS records setup option when creating and renaming Webhosting, the WebSite service, or Mailhosting or when setting up an alias.
- Pointing the domain to the service according to the guide Domains – Pointing to Services.
Examples of MX records
Example: Correctly entered MX records for the VEDOS Webhosting or WebSite services:
Example: Correctly entered MX records for the VEDOS Mailhosting service:
Example: MX record for your own mail server at IP address 46.28.108.1:
Common problems
Common problems with entering MX records include:
Unable to save the MX record
Problem: When saving an MX record, the error message appears: Invalid MX record value.
Cause: You must enter MX records in the format number + space + domain address of the MX server, e.g. 1 mx.domain.tld. The number is the priority of the record. You cannot enter IP addresses in an MX record, nor several mail servers at once.
Solution: Edit the record data so that it matches the pattern in the error message. Enter each mail server as a separate record; do not put them under each other in one field.
Mail is not arriving
Problem: Mail is not arriving after creating or editing an MX record.
Cause: The error may be in the record itself, but also in many other places.
Solution: Check that the domain really uses WEDOS DNS servers and that the MX records have had enough time to propagate (typically 1 hour). If you are sending emails to the main domain, make sure the Name field is empty.
The VEDOS service with email does not set the domain’s MX records by itself unless you tick automatic DNS setup. If the domain is missing the records, enter them according to the chapter MX records of VEDOS services, or point the domain according to the guide Domains – Pointing to Services.
If the records are fine, check that you have an active Webhosting, a mailbox created and enough space.
After a DNS change, email stopped arriving
Problem: After editing DNS records, for example to introduce a mailing service, emails stopped arriving or being sent.
Cause: When editing DNS, a record important for email may have been removed or changed, most often MX or SPF.
Solution: Compare the domain’s records with the chapter MX records of VEDOS services and check the SPF record. Re-create any deleted records.
Frequently Asked Questions
My web hosting provider did not give me any MX records. What should I do?
Find out whether the provider offers an email service at all. If not, look for an email service provider that meets your requirements.
My email is with a provider other than VEDOS. Which MX records should I enter for the domain at VEDOS?
Enter the MX records of your email provider, not VEDOS records. You will find their addresses in the provider’s help, or its customer support will tell you. Use the VEDOS records from the chapter Finding the MX mail server addresses only for services at VEDOS.
The domain uses DNS servers of another provider, for example an e-shop. Where do I set the MX records?
With the provider whose DNS servers the domain uses. Changes to DNS records in the VEDOS Customer Administration will not take effect for a domain with third-party DNS servers .
How long after entering an MX record does email start to be delivered?
Typically within 1 hour. If email still does not arrive after that, follow the problem Mail is not arriving.
Do I need to order Mailhosting additionally for email for a domain with VEDOS Webhosting?
No. Email services are part of Webhosting; create mailboxes following the guide Email – Mailboxes. For Webhosting, use the MX records for Webhosting.
If I have VEDOS Webhosting, can I use another email service provider?
Yes, you just need to enter that provider’s MX records correctly.
Which records should I use if I have both Webhosting and Mailhosting on a domain?
You cannot have both the Webhosting and Mailhosting services for one domain. If you have Webhosting, mail services are included and you use the MX records for Webhosting.
If you have one of these services on a subdomain, you set the corresponding records for that subdomain.
Can I keep the WEDOS MX servers as a backup in case my provider has an outage?
We generally do not recommend combining MX records of different providers. It is better to choose a provider with a sufficient number of backup mail servers and enter all of their addresses into the DNS records following the provider’s guide.
Are these addresses universal for all WEDOS mail servers?
These addresses work for MX type DNS records. The mail servers for SMTP, POP and IMAP are different, and addresses containing mx will not work.