How to Change MX Records for Website WordPress? (Step by Step)

July 18, 2024

How to Change MX Records for Website WordPress?

Change MX records (mail exchange records) is an entry in your DNS zone file that specifies a mail server to manage a domain’s email.

You need to set up an MX record (mail Exchange records) is a record in DNS that specifies which server manages and handles email messages to receive an email to your domain.

In this article, I will show you easy steps: How to change MX records for your WordPress domain name?

What Are MX Records and Why Need Change Them?

MX records (Mail Exchange records) tell the internet servers where to send emails coming to and from your website domain name. You could say MX records (Mail Exchange records) are a special type of DNS record.

As an illustration, if you are using an email service to create your business email address with your domain name, then you will need to change MX records.

For example that is to say, if you want to use Google Workspace to create a professional email address with your domain name (like yourname@yoursite.com), then you need to route all your emails through Gmail’s servers.

Likewise, if you want to use an SMTP service provider to send WordPress emails, you will need to add MX records to send your emails using SMTP.

Important: Before you start, you need the details for your new MX records. The business email service provider should be able to supply these.

For example, the image below shows Google Workspace MX records Values:

Google workspace MX records values

Meanwhile, Let’s look at how simple it is to change MX records for your WordPress website.

You can go directly to the section you need quickly through the table of contents because this guide is a comprehensive tutorial.

Change MX Records Using Domain.com

Let’s start with Domain.com is the best domain name registrar on the market.

You can follow the instructions below if your domain name registered with Domain.com

First, sign in to your Domain.com account and click the DNS & Nameservers link on the left-hand side.

DNS & nameservers in Domain.com

Make sure the correct domain is chosen in the breadcrumb navigation at the top of the screen if you have multiple domains.

Choose the correct domain

Now, scroll down the list of DNS records to find the MX entries for your domain. Next you need to click the “3 vertical dots” next to the first MX record and then click the “Edit link”.

Editing an MX record in Domain.com

You will see a popup where you can edit your MX record. Just enter your new MX record in the content box. Here we are using a G Suite MX record.

You can leave the Name and Type fields set to their default values.

This time, you need to enter the Content, TTL (Time To Live), and Priority as specified by your email host or Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). Then, click the Update DNS button.

Changing and updating an MX with Domain.com

In this step, you will need to repeat the process for the other MX entry using the same MX record. In our case, it is ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.

After entering the MX, you should see the changed MX records in the list.

MX records in the Domain.com list

Congratulations! Your domain name’s MX records on Domain.com successfully updated.

Change MX Records Using SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the most popular and rated hosting providers in the WordPress community. SiteGround provides unique in-house WordPress speed and security solutions to make your site as fast and secure as possible.

The steps listed below can be followed to change your MX records if your domain is registered with SiteGround.

First, log in to your SiteGround account and go to the “Websites” tab. Then, click the “cPanel” button next to your domain.

SiteGround page

SiteGround login page

The cPanel button SiteGround login page

Now, scroll down to the Mail section of your cPanel and click the “Advanced MX Editor” button.

Mail section opening cPanel Advanced MX Editor button

In this step, you need to select your chosen domain from the dropdown list.

Select your domain from the dropdown list

In this step, you need to select the Remote Mail Exchanger option. Then, you can enter the priority and destination as specified by G Suite or your email service provider.Now, with ease, click on the “Add New Record” button, and your MX record will be added.

Adding MX records in SiteGround

Change MX Records Using HostGator

HostGator is a great hosting company that many WordPress websites use. If you want to set up an account, the monthly plan fee plus a free domain and SSL certificate is only $2.64.

Note: To update your MX records, you must have a hosting account with HostGator. If you only have a domain registered there, then you may not be able to change your MX records.

If you registered your domain and have a hosting account with HostGator, you can follow the instructions below to update your MX records.

First, you need to log in to your HostGator account. Then, click the “Hosting” tab in your sidebar.

After that, click on the “cPanel” link below your domain name, as seen in the image below.

Clicking on the cPanel link below your domain name

Now at this time, cPanel will load in a new tab. Click on the “Email” link on the left-hand side. Then will jump you down to the Email section of the page, where you need to click on the “MX Entry” button.

The email section of the page clicks on the MX Entry button

Next, navigate the MX Records section by scrolling down the MX Records page. Just select “Edit” next to the current record.

MX Records section page select Edit to MX for domain

Here, you can change the “priority” to 1 and the “destination” to ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM in the boxes that appear below the original record. Click the “Edit” button to save those changes.

The changed MX Records for the domain

At this point, you will then see the new record listed. You can also add new MX records using the “Add New Record” button above this.

Add new MX records in Hostgator

Change MX Records Using GoDaddy

GoDaddy is a popular web hosting and domain name company. It is the biggest domain registrar in the world. They also offer managed WordPress hosting. Their hosting is super fast and secure, with firewalls and automatic updates.

If you registered your domain with GoDaddy, then you can follow the instructions below to update your MX records.

First, log in to your GoDaddy account. Then, click the “DNS” dropdown in the navigation menu and select “Manage Zones”.

Clicking in the DNS menu

Now, you need to search for the domain you’ve already registered with GoDaddy

After choosing your domain, scroll down the page to see a list of records. Here, you need to find and edit your MX records. If you don’t have any MX records, just select “Add” from the list’s bottom.

MX records on Godaddy

This step: select MX from the “Type” drop-down list. You should then enter the details of your first MX record. Those details are for G Suite:
    Host: @
    Points to: ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
    Priority: 1
After that, click the “Save” button to save your MX record.

Enter the details of your MX record

Now you will see your record in the list. To add another MX record, only click the “Add” button again.

Add MX record click the Add button

Change MX Records Using Namecheap

Namecheap is another domain name registration company offering great value domains.

To update your MX records, simply follow the instructions below if you registered your domain with Namecheap.

Start by login into your Namecheap account. After that, you need to go to “Domain list” and then “Advanced DNS”.

Go to Domain list then Advanced DNS in Namecheap

Next, scroll down the page to the Mail Settings section. Here, you need to click the dropdown link and select “Custom MX”.

Custom MX Option in Namecheap

At this time, you can enter the details for your MX record. Those are for G Suite:

    Host: @
    Mail Server: ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
    Priority: 1
    TTL: 60

Then, click the “Save All Changes” button to save your new MX record.

Enter the details for your MX record in Namecheap

Now, you can go ahead and add more records too, using the “Add New Record” button.

Adding a New Record in Namecheap

Final Steps After Setting Up Your MX Records

Make sure to correctly complete any additional setup instructions for your email or SMTP account after setting your MX records. For help with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), check out our step-by-step guide on setting up a professional email address with Google Workspace.

I hope this article helped you learn how to change MX records for your WordPress site. You might also like our article on How to Create a Free Business Email By Zoho Mail.