If you plan to move your organization to Google Workspace, you may wonder what MX (mail exchange) records to use in DNS to connect your domain to Google’s mail servers.
MX records are a type of DNS record used to identify which servers are responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a domain.
New MX Record
Google has simplified the process for organizations that signed up for Google Workspace after April 1, 2023.
The only MX record needed is as follows:
| Priority | Value/Answer/Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | smtp.google.com |
The TTL (time to live) value should be 1 hour.
If you register a new domain with Google Domains during the Google Workspace sign-up process, the MX record will be configured for you.
Legacy MX Records
Before April 1, the following five MX records were required. If you currently use these MX records in your DNS, Google recommends that you do not change them to the new format.
Why? Because changing them could result in a temporary disruption of email delivery. In other words, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
| Priority | Value/Answer/Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | aspmx.l.google.com |
| 2 | alt1.aspmx.l.google.com |
| 3 | alt2.aspmx.l.google.com |
| 4 | alt3.aspmx.l.google.com |
| 5 | alt4.aspmx.l.google.com |
If you have been using Google Workspace since before the change and you move your organization’s domain to a new domain registrar, it would make sense to use the new, simplified record.