Why MX Records Matter (And Why Most People Ignore Them)
Email deliverability starts with one thing: MX (Mail Exchange) records. These DNS entries are the postal addresses of the internet — they tell email servers worldwide exactly where to deliver messages for your domain.
Yet over 30% of domains have misconfigured or missing MX records, resulting in: bounced emails, lost client inquiries, failed password resets, and — worst of all — silent delivery failures where you never even know messages were lost.
Want to check your domain right now? Use the free MX record checker →
What Exactly Are MX Records?
MX stands for Mail Exchange. When someone sends an email to you@yourdomain.com, the sending server looks up your domain's MX records via DNS. These records return:
- The hostname of the mail server (e.g.,
aspmx.l.google.comfor Google Workspace) - The priority value (lower number = higher priority — backup servers use higher values)
A healthy domain typically has 1-5 MX records with at least one primary (priority 0-10) and one backup (priority 10-30).
How to Check MX Records in 3 Steps
Step 1: Use the Korpo.Pro MX Checker
Go to korpo.pro, enter your domain, and hit Enter. The tool instantly queries live DNS and returns:
- All MX records with priorities
- Whether email is deliverable
- SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication status
- A deliverability score (0-100)
Step 2: Understand Your Results
Email is deliverable — your DNS is configured correctly.
Your domain cannot receive email. Add MX records immediately.
MX exists but SPF/DKIM/DMARC may be missing — emails may go to spam.
Domain is well-configured. Monitor regularly for changes.
Step 3: Fix Issues Found
If your checker reveals problems, here's what to do:
- No MX records: Add them via your DNS provider (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap). Point to your email provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Proton Mail).
- Missing SPF: Add a TXT record like
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all— prevents spoofing. - Missing DKIM: Generate a DKIM key from your email provider and add it as a TXT record.
- Missing DMARC: Add
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.comfor reporting.
Need a complete audit? Get a professional PDF report (9 EUR) →
MX Record Check for Popular Domains
See how major platforms configure their MX records:
Common MX Record Problems (And Their Fixes)
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No MX records | DNS not configured | Add MX records via DNS provider |
| Wrong priority | Backup server listed first | Reorder — lowest priority first |
| Points to defunct server | Old email provider still listed | Update MX to new provider |
| CNAME instead of MX | DNS misconfiguration | Replace CNAME with proper MX record |
| IP address in MX | Using IP instead of hostname | Use FQDN hostname (RFC 5321) |
Beyond MX: Full Email Authentication
MX records alone guarantee delivery — but they don't guarantee inbox placement. For that, you need all four pillars:
- MX Records — Where email goes ✓
- SPF — Who can send from your domain
- DKIM — Cryptographic signature proving authenticity
- DMARC — Policy for handling unauthenticated emails
The Korpo.Pro checker verifies all four in one scan. Try it free →
Free MX Record Checker Tools Compared
✓ MX + SPF + DKIM + DMARC
✓ Deliverability scoring
✓ No signup required
✓ Blacklist checking
Try it →
✓ MX lookup
✓ SMTP diagnostics
✗ Limited free checks
✗ Ads + signup prompts
✓ Multi-location DNS
✓ A/AAAA/MX/TXT
✗ No deliverability score
✗ No authentication check
FAQ: MX Record Checker
Can I check MX records for any domain?
Yes! MX records are public DNS entries — anyone can query them. Use the free checker for any domain, including competitors and partners.
How often should I check my MX records?
At minimum, check after any DNS change (provider switch, migration). For business-critical email, set up automated monitoring — DNS changes can break deliverability silently.
What's the difference between MX and A records?
A records point to IP addresses (websites). MX records point to mail server hostnames (email). A domain can have both — they're completely independent DNS record types.
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