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How To Add a Custom MX Record in Namecheap Domain Settings

Introduction

Adding a custom MX (mail exchange) record in Namecheap allows you to route emails for your domain to a third-party email service provider instead of using Namecheap’s default email service. Configuring MX records properly is crucial for enabling email delivery for your domain.

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to add a custom MX record for your domain in Namecheap’s domain management settings.

I have over 5 years of experience managing domains and DNS records with various registrars including Namecheap. Follow this guide to successfully set up custom MX records for your Namecheap domain.

Prerequisites

Before you set up a custom MX record, make sure:

  • You have purchased the domain from Namecheap
  • The domain uses Namecheap’s BasicDNS or PremiumDNS nameservers
  • There are no existing CNAME records set for the bare domain that could conflict with the MX records[1]

Step 1: Access Advanced DNS Settings

  1. Log in to your Namecheap account
  2. Go to your Dashboard and click Manage next to the domain
  3. Select the Advanced DNS tab at the top

This will open Namecheap’s advanced DNS management console where you can configure DNS records.

Step 2: Configure MX Records

Under the Mail Settings section:

  1. Select Custom MX
  2. Click the Add New Record button
  3. Enter the following details:
    • Type: MX Record
    • Host: @
    • Value: your_email_provider’s_MX_server
    • Priority: 10
    • TTL: Automatic
  4. Click Save Changes

Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add a second MX record for redundancy, but with the same priority value. [2]

Here is an example MX record configuration:

Type: MX Record
Host: @
Value: mx1.mailprovider.com
Priority: 10 

Type: MX Record 
Host: @
Value: mx2.mailprovider.com
Priority: 10

This configures mx1.mailprovider.com and mx2.mailprovider.com as the primary and backup MX servers.

Step 3: Recheck DNS Propagation

After changing MX records, you need to wait for the DNS changes to propagate before email routing will work properly.

To check propagation status:

  1. Click the Recheck DNS button
  2. Wait for the domain status to show “Active” and “MX records set”

Propagation can take up to 48 hours, so be patient. [3]

Step 4: Configure DKIM Record

To enable email authentication, you also need to add a DKIM TXT record.

Under Host Records:

  1. Click Add New Record
  2. Enter the DKIM details provided by your email provider
  3. Set TTL to Automatic
  4. Click Save Changes

For example:

Type: TXT Record
Host: dkim._domainkey
Value: v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=[DKIM public key] 
TTL: Automatic

That completes the MX and DKIM configuration! Email routing should now work successfully.

Alternative: Automated Setup

Namecheap also provides an automated DNS setup option: [4]

  1. In Advanced DNS, go to Mail Settings
  2. Select your email provider from the dropdown menu
  3. Click Automatic Setup

This will automatically configure the required MX and DKIM records. Allow up to 48 hours for propagation.

Troubleshooting Checks

If emails are not being delivered correctly after changing MX records, try these troubleshooting steps:

  • Use a DNS lookup tool to check that your MX records are configured correctly
  • Check if there are any conflicting mail-related DNS records
  • Verify that your DKIM TXT record is valid
  • Check if your domain has any DNS propagation issues
  • Ensure your email provider has added your domain properly

Conclusion

Configuring custom MX records in Namecheap is straightforward once you understand the steps. The key things to remember are:

  • Use Namecheap’s Advanced DNS settings
  • Add MX records pointing to your email provider’s servers
  • Set the priority value to 10 for all MX records
  • Make sure to add the DKIM TXT record
  • Allow up to 48 hours for global DNS propagation

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!

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