MX (Mail Exchanger) records tell the internet which mail server handles email for your domain. If you want to use KapsuleHost mailboxes for your domain, you need to ensure your domain's MX records point to KapsuleHost's mail servers.
When Is This Needed?
- You registered your domain elsewhere and want to use KapsuleHost email
- You are switching from another email provider to KapsuleHost
- Your MX records were changed and email is no longer arriving (see Troubleshooting Email Not Arriving)
How you add these records depends on where your domain's DNS is hosted.
If your domain uses KapsuleHost's nameservers, the MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are created automatically when you add your first mailbox. There is nothing to add by hand.
If your DNS is hosted elsewhere (at an external registrar or DNS provider), KapsuleHost cannot write records into DNS it does not control, so you add them yourself. First verify you own the domain: in KPanel go to Email, select (or start adding) a mailbox for the domain, open the Deliverability tab, and add the _kapsule-verify TXT record it shows you, then click Verify. This unlocks mailbox creation. Once a mailbox exists, the same Deliverability tab lists every record to copy, including your domain's DKIM keys (which are unique to your domain and only exist after the mailbox is created).
KapsuleHost's MX Records
Add this MX record to your domain's DNS:
| Type | Priority | Value |
|---|---|---|
| MX | 10 | mail.kapsulehost.com |
You will find the exact records to add, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, in KPanel:
- Log in to KPanel
- Go to Email and select your mailbox
- Open the Deliverability tab
- Copy each record shown (use the DKIM values from KPanel, since they are generated per domain) and add them at your DNS provider, then use Check propagation to confirm they are live
Adding MX Records at an External Registrar
The steps vary by provider, but generally:
- Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider
- Go to the DNS management section for your domain
- Delete any existing MX records pointing to your old mail provider
- Add a new MX record with priority
10and valuemail.kapsulehost.com - Save the changes
Deleting your old MX records before the new ones have propagated may cause a brief period where email cannot be delivered. If your domain is actively receiving mail, consider leaving the old records in place until the new ones are verified as working.
How Long Does It Take?
DNS changes typically propagate within a few hours, though it can take up to 48 hours. You can check the current MX records for your domain using MXToolbox.
Verifying the Change
Once propagation is complete:
- Send a test email to an address at your domain from an external account (for example, from Gmail)
- Check your KapsuleHost mailbox in KPanel or your email client
After updating MX records, make sure your SPF record is also updated to authorise KapsuleHost's mail servers. See SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Explained.