Configuring MX Records in Namecheap

Modified on Fri, 13 Sep at 10:53 AM

This guide will walk you through the process of configuring MX records in your Namecheap account.

If your domain is using BasicDNS, PremiumDNS, or FreeDNS, you can set up your email services and manage MX records directly through your Namecheap account.

Important: Before you proceed, ensure that there is no CNAME record associated with the root domain (for example, yourdomain.tld) in the Host Records section. CNAME records have higher precedence than other DNS records, including MX records, which manage email delivery. If a CNAME record exists for the root domain, your email service may not function correctly.

To set up MX records for your domain, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Namecheap account from the top-left section of the homepage.

2. In the left-hand menu, click Domain List:

Domain List Example

3. Click Manage next to the domain for which you want to update the DNS settings:

Manage Domain Example

4. Go to the Advanced DNS tab, and look for the Mail Settings section (unable to edit Host Records?):

Advanced DNS Example

In this section, you’ll be able to select one of several mail service options based on your requirements:

No Email Service: Choose this if you don’t need email services. No MX records will be applied.
Email Forwarding: If you want to create custom email addresses that forward to another inbox, select this option. The MX records will automatically configure after selection:

Email Forwarding Example

MXE Record: This option forwards your email to a specified mail server's IP address:

MXE Record Example

Custom MX: Use this option for integrating third-party mail services like cPanel webmail, Zoho Mail, or Outlook.com:

Custom MX Example

Additionally, you can designate your domain as the mail server address (e.g., mail.domain.tld). To ensure proper routing, an A record with the mail server’s IP must also be configured in your DNS settings:

A Record Setup Example

Private Email: For Namecheap's Private Email service, MX records are set up automatically upon selecting this option:

Private Email Example

Gmail: If you’re subscribed to G Suite, choose the Gmail option to apply the necessary settings for this service:

Gmail Setup Example

After selecting the appropriate settings for your domain, remember to save your changes. Newly created records usually take around 30 minutes to propagate.