Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: Google Workspace (Gmail) with any DNS host

For Gmail in Google Workspace to receive your email, the domain's MX record must point to Google. Until you change it, mail for your domain still goes to your old mail server. This guide gives the exact record and the steps around it. If you bought Google Workspace from Ucartz, your service is listed in the client area under Services › My Services.

The record you need

  • Type: MX
  • Name / Host: leave blank, or @ (your domain itself)
  • Priority: 1
  • Value / Destination: smtp.google.com
  • TTL: the default of your DNS host, or 1 (a short TTL makes changes visible sooner)

Some DNS panels need a dot at the end of the value (smtp.google.com.). Older Google Workspace accounts may still show five aspmx.l.google.com records; those continue to work, and you do not have to change them if mail flows.

Steps

  1. Prepare the mailboxes first. In the Google Admin console create the users (email addresses) that should receive mail. Copy any important old mail before you switch, because new mail will arrive in Google from now on.
  2. Add the MX record at the place where your domain's DNS is managed (the nameservers of the domain decide this). For a domain whose DNS is on your Ucartz cPanel hosting, see How to add Google Workspace DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) in cPanel?.
  3. Remove every other MX record. Google says mail may not work correctly if old or wrong MX records stay.
  4. Activate Gmail for the domain in the Google Admin console, if it is not active yet.
  5. Wait. It can take up to 72 hours until the new record is recognised everywhere. Often it takes minutes.
  6. Check the result. Open the Google Admin Toolbox Dig tool, enter your domain without www, and choose MX. It must show smtp.google.com and no other mail server. You can also run dig +short MX example.com on a computer or server.
  7. Send a test mail to one of the new addresses from an outside account (for example a free webmail address) and check that it arrives.

Next: protect your mail

Add SPF, DKIM and DMARC so that your mail is not marked as spam: How to set up an SPF record for Google Workspace?, How to set up DKIM for Google Workspace? and How to set up DMARC for Google Workspace?.

If mail does not arrive

  • dig +short MX example.com still shows the old server: the change is not saved, or your domain uses other nameservers than the ones you edited (check with dig +short NS example.com).
  • Mail from your own website or server never reaches the Google mailbox: the hosting server delivers messages for your own domain locally. In cPanel set Email › Email Routing to Remote Mail Exchanger (How to add Google Workspace DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) in cPanel?).
  • Gmail is not activated for the domain in the Admin console.
  • Two MX records with different priorities point to different providers: remove all but Google's.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my old emails when I change the MX record?
The change does not delete anything on the old server, but new mail no longer arrives there. Move the old mail to Google before you close the old mailboxes.

Can I keep a website on the same domain?
Yes. MX records only concern email. Your website's A record is not affected.

Do I need this if my DNS is at another company?
Yes, but you add it there. The record itself is the same everywhere.

Official documentation: Google Workspace Admin help: set up MX records.

Need Google Workspace or help with the DNS records?

  • Google Workspace: plans for your business email, calendar, Drive and Meet, available in the Ucartz store.

Prefer a hand with the setup? Our engineers can do it for you: Hire an Expert, or use our on-demand server management.

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