ClouDNS: Set up MX records

Tip! Only Google Workspace customers who want to use Gmail must change their MX records. You can skip this procedure and continue to use your current email provider with Google Workspace.

A Beginner's Guide to Signing up for Google Workspace

You’re now ready to set up Gmail as your business email for your domain (and, if you haven’t already, verify your domain).

To do this, you need to sign in to your domain host and direct the email for your domain to the Google Workspace servers. It’s like registering your new address with the post office when you move so that your mail gets delivered to the right place. We’ll walk you through the steps.

Before you begin

• Verify that you own your domain.

  Or, you can verify now with an MX record. We’ll show you how while you're setting up the MX records.

• Create user accounts in Google Workspace for your team.

  If your team members already use email with your domain (their email address ends with your domain), you have to create their user accounts in Google Workspace before you change any MX record settings. Otherwise, they won't be able to send or receive messages with their business address in Gmail.

Change your MX records

Step 1: Sign in to your domain host

1. Leave the Google Admin console setup instructions open.
2. Open a new tab or browser window and go to the ClouDNS website.
3. Log in to ClouDNS.

4. If you don’t know your username and password, you can reset your password or contact ClouDNS support.

Step 2: Go to the ClouDNS DNS records

1. Under DNS Zones, click the domain where you want to update the MX records.
2. Click the MX tab.

Step 3: Delete existing MX records

1. Click the Delete icon next to all existing MX records.
2. Click OK to confirm for each record.

Step 4: Add new MX records

1. Click Add new record.
2. Leave the Host field blank.
3. In the Priority field, enter the priority value 1.
4. In the Points to field, enter SMTP.GOOGLE.COM Include the period at the end of the MX record.
5. Click Save.

Step 5: Tell Google to find your new MX records

1. Return to the browser tab where you have the Google Workspace setup tool open. (You can reopen the tool if you closed it.)

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Activate Gmail.

   Important! Some registrars may require additional time to publish your MX records. If the Google Workspace setup tool can't find your new records, wait an hour before you try again.

   If you need additional help with your DNS settings, please contact your registrar. They are experts in managing your domain and are eager to help you. 

_{Google, Google Workspace, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.}