Add MX Records in IONOS | MX Record Checker

IONOS, formerly known as 1&1, is one of Europe's largest web hosting and domain registrar companies with millions of customers worldwide. If your domain is registered or hosted with IONOS and you want to set up a third-party email service like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, you will need to add MX records through the IONOS control panel.

IONOS has a few quirks worth knowing before you start, particularly around its built-in email product, which can conflict with custom MX records if you are not careful.

Before You Start

Make sure your domain is actually using IONOS's DNS. If you have pointed your domain to external nameservers (Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, etc.), you will need to manage DNS at that provider instead.

Also gather the MX record values from your email provider before starting. You will need the mail server hostname and priority number. Your email provider's documentation will have these exact values.

Finding the DNS Settings in IONOS

IONOS uses a control panel that has gone through several redesigns over the years. The current path to DNS settings is:

Log into your IONOS account at ionos.com
Click the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left
Go to Domains & SSL
Click DNS next to the domain you want to configure

You will see your current DNS records listed. This is where you will add your new MX records.

If you do not see a DNS option, you may need to select your domain first and then look for a Manage DNS or DNS Settings link.

Disabling IONOS Built-In Email First

This is the most important IONOS-specific step. IONOS includes built-in email with many hosting plans, and it sets up its own MX records automatically. If you add custom MX records without disabling the built-in email system, you will have conflicting records and some of your email will go to IONOS instead of your intended provider.

Before adding MX records, check whether IONOS built-in email is enabled for your domain:

From the Domains & SSL section, look for an Email option
If you have an active IONOS email product, you will need to either cancel it or disable email routing through it
Contact IONOS support if you are unsure. They can confirm whether built-in email is active for your domain and help you disable it

Alternatively, look at your current DNS records on the DNS management page. If you see MX records pointing to IONOS servers (like mx00.ionos.com or mx01.ionos.com), those are the built-in email records you need to remove.

Removing Default IONOS MX Records

Before adding new MX records:

In the DNS management page, locate any existing MX records
Select each one and click Delete (or the trash can icon)
Confirm the deletion for each record

Once all old MX records are removed, you are ready to add your new provider's records.

Adding MX Records in IONOS

With old records cleared, add your new MX records:

Click Add Record on the DNS management page
Select MX as the record type
In the Host Name field, enter @ for your root domain (some IONOS versions show the full domain name here instead; use whichever option represents your root domain)
In the Points to or Value field, enter your mail server hostname
Enter the Priority value your provider specifies
Leave TTL at the default (3600 is fine)
Click Save

Repeat for each MX record your provider requires.

Adding Google Workspace MX Records in IONOS

Google Workspace requires five separate MX records. Add each one using the steps above:

Host: @  |  Points to: aspmx.l.google.com       |  Priority: 1
Host: @  |  Points to: alt1.aspmx.l.google.com  |  Priority: 5
Host: @  |  Points to: alt2.aspmx.l.google.com  |  Priority: 5
Host: @  |  Points to: alt3.aspmx.l.google.com  |  Priority: 10
Host: @  |  Points to: alt4.aspmx.l.google.com  |  Priority: 10

After adding all five, your DNS page should show five MX records for your domain. Google uses the priority 1 record as the primary and the others as backups.

Adding Microsoft 365 MX Records in IONOS

Microsoft 365 uses a single MX record that is unique to your domain:

Host: @  |  Points to: yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com  |  Priority: 0

Replace yourdomain-com with your actual domain name, substituting a hyphen for the dot. For example.com, the value would be example-com.mail.protection.outlook.com.

Find the exact value in your Microsoft 365 admin center under Settings > Domains. Always copy it directly rather than constructing it by hand.

Priority Configuration in IONOS

IONOS accepts standard MX priority values. Enter the numeric value your provider specifies. Lower numbers mean higher priority. If your provider gives you only one MX record, priority 10 is a conventional choice. If they give you multiple records, use the priorities they specify exactly.

IONOS does not have any unusual priority requirements; standard values work fine.

Verifying Your MX Records

After saving your records, verify they are publishing correctly. Go to mxrecordchecker.com and enter your domain name. The tool will show you what MX records are currently visible in DNS for your domain.

If you see your new provider's records listed correctly, the DNS change has taken effect. If you still see old IONOS records, one of two things is happening: either you did not successfully delete the old records, or DNS propagation is still in progress.

IONOS DNS propagation is generally complete within a few hours, though in some cases it can take up to 48 hours for changes to be visible everywhere on the internet.

Common IONOS-Specific Issues

New records not visible after several hours

IONOS DNS can be slower to propagate than some other providers. If records are not visible after 2-3 hours, first confirm the records saved correctly in the IONOS control panel. Log back in, go to DNS management, and verify the records are listed as you entered them.

Email is still going to IONOS mailboxes

If email is still arriving in IONOS webmail instead of your new provider, you likely still have the IONOS built-in email product active. Even if you added new MX records, the IONOS email system may be intercepting messages before they reach the public MX records. Contact IONOS support to confirm and disable the built-in email routing.

Conflicting MX records appearing

If the MX checker shows both your new provider's records and IONOS records, the old records were not fully removed. Go back to DNS management and delete any records that belong to IONOS. You should only see your new provider's records after a successful switch.

"Host Name" field confusion

Depending on which version of the IONOS control panel you have, the host name field may behave differently. Some versions show the full domain name for @, others show just @. If your record is being saved with the domain name doubled (like example.com.example.com), try entering nothing (blank) in the host field instead of @.

Saved records disappear after some time

This occasionally happens in IONOS when there is a conflict with another product. If records keep disappearing, contact IONOS support, as there may be an automated system re-applying default records.

After Adding MX Records

Once email is flowing to your new provider, complete the full email authentication setup:

SPF record: Add a TXT record at @ with your provider's SPF value. This authorizes their servers to send email on your behalf.

DKIM: Your email provider will give you a CNAME or TXT record to add. This is typically added at a subdomain like google._domainkey or selector1._domainkey.

DMARC: Add a TXT record at _dmarc with a basic policy to start. Your provider's documentation will have a recommended starting value.

These records protect your outgoing email from being marked as spam and build your domain's sending reputation over time.

How to Add MX Records in IONOS (1&1) - Step-by-Step Guide