How to Setup MX Records in Google Workspace
If your emails aren't reaching Gmail inboxes, there's a high chance your MX records are either missing or wrongly configured.
Most founders and teams miss this part during setup, thinking the domain email will just work once Google Workspace is live.
Truth is, without proper MX records, your domain has no clue where to send or receive emails through Gmail.
This guide will show you how to complete your Google Workspace MX Records Setup from start to finish, even if you're not technical.
And, it basically requires 10 to 15 minutes (to fully setup) if you already have access to your DNS and Google Admin Console.
Additionally, I will demonstrate how to set this up in just 2 minutes using Primeforge.
So, let’s set up emails that work properly and land in the right inbox.
TL;DR
Step-By-Step Guide To Set Up MX Records in Google Workspace (Quick View):
- Sign in to your domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.).
- Go to DNS settings or DNS Records section.
- Remove all existing MX records.
- Now, add a new MX record, with the following values:
- Type: MX
- Name/Host: Leave blank or use @
- TTL: 1 or your registrar’s default
- Priority: 1
- Value: smtp.google.com
- Type: MX
- Save the new MX record.
- Sign in to admin.google.com as an admin.
- Go to Menu > Account > Domains > Manage Domains.
- Click Activate Gmail for your domain and follow the on-screen steps.
- Wait up to 72 hours for changes to take effect.
What Are MX Records and Why Do They Matter?
MX (Mail Exchange) records are DNS entries that tell the internet where to deliver emails for your domain.
If MX records aren’t set up correctly, your Gmail account won't receive any emails, even if everything else looks fine.
These records are critical in Google Workspace DNS configuration and help route your messages safely and reliably.
Here’s what a basic Gmail MX record looks like:
The priority value tells mail servers which server to try first. A lower number means higher priority.
But why does setting up correct MX records matter?
Here’s why setting MX records right actually impacts your email:
- Without them, Gmail cannot receive domain-based emails.
- Wrong entries lead to email failures and delivery errors.
- They're required for routing your domain's email to Gmail.
- Cold outreach and client replies can silently fail.
- They signal that your domain is ready to send and receive securely.
If your MX records are missing or misconfigured, your domain email simply won’t work.
Requirements to Start Your Google Workspace MX Records Setup
Before you begin, make sure you have access to a few key tools and settings. Otherwise, you’ll get stuck midway and your emails won’t go anywhere.
You’ll need these 3 things ready:
- Google Admin Console Access: You must be logged in as a super admin to manage domain-level settings.
- DNS Provider Access: Whether you're using Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or others, you need access to your DNS dashboard to add records.
- A Verified Domain in Google Workspace: Your domain should already be verified inside the Admin Console before adding MX records.
Quick Tip: To check the verified domain in Google Workspace, Go to Admin Console > Domains > Manage Domains and check if your domain says “Verified”.
If you don’t have one of these, pause here and get access. Without all three, your setup won’t work.
How to Setup MX Records in Google Workspace (Step-by-Step)
Setting up MX records in Google Workspace is simple if you follow each step properly.
You only need to do two things:
- Add Google’s MX record to your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc)
- Activate Gmail inside your Google Admin Console
Let’s break it down so you don’t miss anything:
Step 1: Add Google's MX Record to Your Domain
You need to tell your domain where to deliver incoming emails. Here’s how to do that:
- Sign in to your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.)
- Go to your DNS settings or DNS Records section
- Find the existing MX records and remove all of them
- Now, add a new MX record with these exact values:style
- Save the new record
- Wait up to 72 hours for DNS changes to fully propagate.
Tip: Some registrars need a dot at the end like smtp.google.com. Follow their required format.
Step 2: Activate Gmail in Google Admin Console
Once the MX record is added, you need to switch on Gmail from the backend.
- Sign in to admin.google.com using your super admin account
- Go to Menu > Account > Domains > Manage Domains
- Find your domain and click Activate Gmail
- Follow the on-screen steps and complete the setup
- Again, give it up to 72 hours for everything to sync
Once done, your domain will be fully connected to Gmail, and your emails will start landing where they should.
But if you don’t want to spend 15 minutes clicking around DNS panels and admin consoles, there’s a faster way to do it, fully automated and error-free.
Use Primeforge to Set Up Google Workspace MX Records in 2 Minutes
Primeforge takes all the manual work out of the process.
No copying, no guessing, no jumping between tools. Just one simple workflow that sets everything up in under 2 minutes.
Here’s what Primeforge automates for you:
- Adds the correct smtp.google.com MX record with proper priority and TTL
- Deletes old or incorrect MX records
- Verify your domain in the Google Admin Console
- Activates Gmail automatically
- Monitors propagation and confirms once it’s live
- Also checks SPF, DKIM, and DMARC status post-setup
And, this is what you need to do to automatically setup with Primeforge (by following these 3 steps):
- Go to Primeforge
- Select “Google Workspace MX Setup” from the template list
- Connect your domain registrar and Google Admin account
That’s it. Primeforge will run the entire setup in the background and notify you when it’s done.
If you want emails delivered without ever touching DNS settings again, this is your shortcut.
Fixing Email Delivery Issues After MX Setup
Even if your MX records are correct, emails might still not hit your inbox. That usually means something else in your setup is broken or incomplete.
Most people skip this part and assume Gmail will work immediately. Let’s fix the common mistakes that silently block your emails.
1. Check If MX Records Are Live
Go to MXToolbox and run an MX lookup for your domain. If all 5 Gmail servers show up, your MX records are active.
If any entry is missing or mismatched, go back to your DNS and double-check the spelling and priorities.
2. Make Sure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Are Configured
MX records only tell Gmail where to receive mail. To send properly and avoid spam, you need these three:
These improve trust and inbox placement. If you’re doing cold email, this is non-negotiable.
3. Is Your Domain Verified?
Double-check your domain is verified inside Google Admin Console.
Go to Domains > Manage Domains and confirm it shows "Verified" in green.
If not, emails might get rejected even if MX records look fine.
4. Avoid Conflicting DNS Records
Make sure you don’t have other MX records from old providers. Even one leftover can break your email routing.
Also, check if your domain has multiple SPF records. There should only be one.
5. Test Email Delivery with a Tool
If you’ve tried everything but still face issues, then we recommend using tools like:
They’ll show you red flags like missing records, blacklist issues, or spam triggers.
Once you’ve fixed these, your Gmail should start receiving and sending emails with no delivery failures.
Best Practices for Email Deliverability After Setup
Getting your MX records right is just the start. For real inbox placement, you need to go a step further and build domain trust.
Most people who ignore these best practices see their emails end up in spam or blocked completely. Here’s what you should do after setup.
1. Always Set Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
These three records make sure your emails are trusted, not spoofed, and less likely to be flagged as spam.
If you need help, tools like Mailforge offer instant SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checkers for free.
How to Set Up DKIM in Google Workspace
2. Monitor Your Deliverability Regularly
Run monthly checks on MXToolbox or Google Postmaster Tools. Look out for any sudden drop in inbox rates or warnings about authentication.
3. Warm Up Your Inbox if Sending Cold Emails
If you plan to do outreach or cold email, always warm up your new inbox first. Start with a few daily sends and gradually increase over weeks.
Tools like Primeforge can automate the entire deliverability process for Google Workspace and Office 365, so your emails look natural.
If you want to know more about cold email warmup checklist (for newer domains), get it here.
4. Avoid Spam Triggers in Your Content
Write natural subject lines and avoid spammy phrases like "free," "act now," or "guaranteed." Personalize your content for better results.
Follow these best practices and your emails will reach more inboxes and fewer spam folders, even as your volume scales.
How to Set Up DMARC for Google Workspace (2025 Guide)
Final Checklist: Is Your Gmail Domain Setup Done Right?
Before you hit send on your first email, let's make sure everything is configured properly. Here's a quick checklist to confirm your setup:
If all boxes are checked, your Gmail domain setup is complete and optimized for email deliverability.