Easy Tech TutsHow to Add MX Record in Cloudflare, Set up Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Getting incoming email working for your domain means pointing an MX record at your mail provider's server. This guide covers adding and configuring that record correctly inside Cloudflare's DNS panel.
01Open your DNS Records panel
Select your active domain in Cloudflare and open the DNS Records grid view.
02Click Add Record
Click '+ Add Record' to launch the configuration form for a new entry.
03Select MX as the type
Change the record type to MX (Mail Exchange) from the dropdown.
04Enter the root symbol and mail server details
Type '@' for the root domain, enter your mail server's hostname, and set the numeric priority value.
05Confirm DNS Only mode and save
Verify the record is set to DNS Only (not proxied), click Save, and review your zone for any conflicting legacy mail entries.
Frequently asked questions
Why should an MX record use the root symbol '@'?
The '@' symbol tells Cloudflare the record applies to your apex domain rather than a subdomain, which is standard for mail routing.
What does the priority number on an MX record do?
Lower priority numbers are tried first, so if you have multiple mail servers, the one with the lowest number acts as the primary.
Can I proxy an MX record through Cloudflare?
No, MX records must stay on DNS Only mode since mail servers need to resolve them directly rather than through Cloudflare's web proxy.
How do I know if my MX record is working?
You can check propagation with an external MX lookup tool or send a test email to confirm delivery.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
