MXroute MX Records: Complete Setup Guide for Custom Domains
The correct MX record values for MXroute email hosting, with step-by-step DNS configuration instructions and setup tips.
MXroute is an independent email hosting provider that has built a loyal following among developers, self-hosters, and small business owners looking for affordable, reliable email without the overhead of Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. If you have signed up for MXroute and want to use it with your custom domain, the first step is configuring your MX records.
This guide covers the exact MX records you need, how to add them at your domain registrar, and how to verify that everything is working correctly.
What Is MXroute?
MXroute is a niche email hosting service that focuses specifically on email: no bundled office suites, no cloud storage, no video conferencing. You get email hosting, and MXroute does it well. The service is popular for its straightforward pricing (typically a one-time or annual payment for generous mailbox limits), cPanel/DirectAdmin-based management, and IMAP/SMTP access that works with any email client.
Because MXroute is a smaller, specialized provider, the setup process is a bit different from the big platforms. Your MX record values depend on which server your account is assigned to, and you will find your specific values in your welcome email or control panel.
Finding Your MXroute MX Records
Unlike Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 where everyone uses the same MX records, MXroute assigns different mail servers based on your account. Your specific MX records depend on which server you were provisioned on.
Check your welcome email. When you signed up for MXroute, you received a welcome email containing your server hostname and the MX records to use. This is the most reliable source for your specific values.
Check your control panel. Log into your MXroute control panel (either cPanel or DirectAdmin, depending on your account). Look for the email or DNS configuration section, which will list the MX records for your server.
The MX records typically follow this pattern:
| Priority | Mail Server |
|---|---|
| 10 | your-server.mxrouting.net |
| 20 | your-server-backup.mxrouting.net |
The exact hostnames vary by server. Common examples include server names like arrow.mxrouting.net, echo.mxrouting.net, or similar, but you must use the specific values assigned to your account. Do not copy someone else's MXroute MX records, as your email would be routed to the wrong server.
Always use your assigned server hostname
MXroute operates multiple servers. The MX records in your welcome email or control panel are specific to your account. Using the wrong server hostname means email will not reach your mailbox, even though the MX records technically resolve.
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Gather Your MXroute Details
Before touching your DNS, collect the following from your MXroute welcome email or control panel:
- The primary MX record hostname and priority
- The secondary/backup MX record hostname and priority (if provided)
- Any SPF, DKIM, or DMARC values MXroute recommends
Step 2: Add Your Domain in MXroute
Log into your MXroute control panel and add your domain. This tells MXroute's servers to accept email for your domain. Without this step, even if your MX records point to MXroute correctly, the server will reject incoming messages because it does not know it should handle your domain.
In cPanel, navigate to Email Accounts or Domains to add your domain and create mailboxes. In DirectAdmin, look under E-Mail Manager or Domain Setup.
Create at least one email account (e.g., info@yourdomain.com) so you have a mailbox ready to receive test messages.
Step 3: Remove Old MX Records
Log into your domain registrar or DNS provider (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.) and navigate to the DNS management section for your domain.
Find and delete any existing MX records. If your registrar has default email forwarding or placeholder MX records, remove those too. Having MX records from multiple providers causes email to be split unpredictably between servers.
Step 4: Add MXroute MX Records
Add the MX records from your MXroute welcome email. For each record:
- Host/Name:
@(represents your root domain) - Type: MX
- Value/Mail Server: The hostname from your MXroute details
- Priority: The priority number from your MXroute details
- TTL: Leave at default or set to 3600
Save each record. If MXroute provided two MX records (primary and backup), add both.
Step 5: Add SPF Record
MXroute recommends adding an SPF record to authorize their servers to send email from your domain. The typical SPF record for MXroute is:
v=spf1 include:mxrouting.net ~all
Add this as a TXT record at @ for your domain. You can verify it is set up correctly at spfrecordcheck.com.
If you also send email through other services (a website contact form, a transactional email provider, etc.), you will need to include those in your SPF record as well. For example: v=spf1 include:mxrouting.net include:other-provider.com ~all.
Step 6: Add DKIM Records
MXroute supports DKIM signing for your domain. The DKIM keys are generated in your control panel. Look for DKIM settings under the email configuration section, copy the DNS record values, and add them at your DNS provider. Verify your DKIM setup at dkimtest.com.
Step 7: Wait for Propagation
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate fully, though most changes take effect within one to four hours.
Verifying Your Setup
After allowing time for propagation, verify your MX records are live by going to mxrecordchecker.com and entering your domain. You should see your MXroute server hostnames with the correct priorities.
Send a test email from an external account (a personal Gmail, Outlook, or other address outside your domain) to one of the mailboxes you created in MXroute. If the email arrives, your MX records are working.
Check your control panel for the test message. Log into webmail through your MXroute control panel, or connect an email client via IMAP using the server settings from your welcome email.
Connecting an Email Client
One of MXroute's strengths is full IMAP and SMTP support, meaning you can use any email client (Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a mobile app). Your connection settings will be in your welcome email, but they generally follow this pattern:
- IMAP Server: Your assigned server hostname (same as the MX record, or a specific IMAP hostname)
- IMAP Port: 993 (SSL/TLS)
- SMTP Server: Your assigned server hostname
- SMTP Port: 465 (SSL/TLS) or 587 (STARTTLS)
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: The password you set when creating the mailbox
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Email bouncing with "relay not permitted" or similar. Your domain may not be added in MXroute's control panel, or the email address does not exist as a mailbox. Log in and verify that the domain is listed and the destination mailbox is created.
Email going to old provider. Old MX records may still exist in your DNS. Use mxrecordchecker.com to check what is actually live. Remove any records that do not belong to MXroute.
Wrong server hostname. If you used MX record values from a blog post or forum instead of your own welcome email, you may be pointed at someone else's server. Double-check that the hostnames match what MXroute assigned to your specific account.
Outgoing email flagged as spam. Make sure your SPF record is correct and DKIM is configured. Missing authentication records are the most common reason outgoing email from any provider gets flagged. Verify your setup at spfrecordcheck.com and dkimtest.com.
Cannot connect email client. Verify you are using the correct IMAP/SMTP server hostname, port, and encryption method from your MXroute welcome email. Also confirm you are using your full email address as the username, not just the part before the @.
MXroute-Specific Considerations
Storage and quotas. MXroute offers generous storage, but it is not unlimited. Monitor your mailbox size through the control panel, especially if you receive large attachments frequently.
Multiple domains. MXroute plans typically allow multiple domains on a single account. You can host email for several domains; just add each one in the control panel and set up MX records for each at their respective DNS providers.
No webmail by default on some plans. MXroute provides webmail access (usually Roundcube or similar) through the control panel, but the primary expectation is that you will use a desktop or mobile email client via IMAP.
Community-driven support. MXroute is a small operation. Support is available, but response times may be longer than with larger providers. The MXroute community forums and knowledge base are valuable resources for troubleshooting.