Configuring Email Routing in cPanel

Knowledgebase Article

Configuring Email Routing in cPanel

Email routing in cPanel controls where your domain’s emails are delivered. Whether you're using cPanel email hosting, a third-party provider like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, or a backup mail server, selecting the right option ensures emails reach their intended destination.

⚙️ The Four Email Routing Options in cPanel

📍 Local Mail Exchanger – "Emails Stay Here"

Use this if you host your emails on your cPanel account.

✅ Emails sent to you@yourdomain.com are stored on your hosting server.
✅ No need to configure external mail services—this is the default setting for most cPanel users.

📍 Remote Mail Exchanger – "Send Emails Elsewhere"

Use this if you’re using an external email provider like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Zoho Mail.

✅ Emails do not get stored in cPanel; they are delivered to your external provider instead.
✅ Your cPanel server ignores incoming mail and sends all email traffic according to your MX records.

📌 If Using a Third-Party Email Provider:

📌 Obtain your MX records from your provider (Google, Microsoft, Zoho, etc.).
📌 Your provider may also require additional records:
- ✔️ SPF – Prevents email spoofing.
- ✔️ DKIM – Verifies email authenticity.
- ✔️ DMARC – Reduces email fraud.
📌 These records must be added in cPanel → Zone Editor.
📌 If unsure, check your email provider’s setup guide.

📍 Backup Mail Exchanger – "Standby Mode"

Use this if your hosting account should act as a backup mail server.

✅ If your primary mail provider goes down, your cPanel server temporarily holds emails.
✅ Once the primary mail server is back online, emails get delivered to it.

📍 Automatically Detect Configuration (Not Recommended)

This option attempts to automatically choose between Local or Remote Mail Exchanger based on your MX records.

⚠️ Not always reliable. Manually set your routing to avoid delivery issues.

📡 MX Records – The Traffic Cops of Email Routing

Your MX records tell mail servers where to send emails for your domain.

📌 Local Mail Exchanger → MX records point to your cPanel server.
📌 Remote Mail Exchanger → MX records point to your third-party provider.
📌 Backup Mail Exchanger → MX records include both your primary provider and your backup (cPanel) mail server.

🛠️ Where to Find and Update Your MX Records

Go to cPanel → Zone Editor → Find the "MX" records section.

⚠️ Why Choosing the Right Email Routing Option Matters

Picking the wrong option can cause:

❌ Emails bouncing or getting rejected.
❌ Messages disappearing because they’re delivered to the wrong server.
❌ Outgoing mail getting flagged as spam or blocked.

To ensure seamless email delivery, always:

✅ Set the correct email routing option in cPanel.
✅ Check and update your MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records when using third-party email services.
✅ Test your email setup to ensure everything is working properly.

💡 Need Help?

Not sure what settings to choose? We’re here 24/7 to help! Just open a ticket and we'll get you sorted.