# Free MX Record Lookup & Mail Server Check

> Free MX record lookup and mail server tester. Query DNS mail exchangers, check server priorities, detect invalid CNAME targets, and fix delivery routing.

MX records tell other servers where to deliver mail addressed to your domain. They govern receiving, not sending — but a broken MX means bounce notifications and replies never reach you, which makes sending problems invisible.

## Checks Performed
- MX records exist and resolve to real hosts
- Priorities are distinct and ordered sensibly
- No MX points at a CNAME, which is invalid
- Every target resolves to an A or AAAA record

## Sample Verification (example.com)
Healthy — three exchangers with distinct priorities, all resolving.

| Check | Verdict | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Records found | PASS | 3 |
| Primary | PASS | 10 · aspmx.l.google.com |
| Backups | PASS | 20 · alt1 · 30 · alt2 |
| CNAME targets | PASS | none |

## Frequently Asked Questions
### Do MX records affect whether my email is delivered?

Not directly — MX governs mail coming in, not going out. But bounce notifications and replies arrive over MX, so a broken configuration hides delivery failures from you.

### What does the priority number mean?

Lower is preferred. Sending servers try the lowest number first and fall back to higher ones if it is unreachable. Identical priorities distribute load between hosts.

### Can an MX record point at a CNAME?

No. The specification requires MX targets to resolve to an address record directly. Some servers tolerate it, others reject the mail outright.