For a new Google Workspace setup, publish one MX record: destination smtp.google.com, priority 1. If your domain already receives mail through a working legacy Google configuration with MX values beginning aspmx, Google says you do not need to replace it. The right choice depends on whether you are setting up Gmail for the first time or maintaining an older working setup.
Which Google Workspace MX record should you use?
Google’s current instructions for a new setup specify a single MX record. The destination is smtp.google.com and the priority is 1. The other fields depend on your DNS provider’s form and on whether you are configuring the root domain or a subdomain.
| DNS field | Value for a new setup |
|---|---|
| Type | MX |
| Host, name, or alias | Leave blank or enter @ for the root domain; for a subdomain, enter its label. |
| Priority | 1 |
| Destination or value | smtp.google.com; some providers require a final dot, as in smtp.google.com., or offer a preset. |
| TTL | Use the provider default or enter 1, as Google’s setup instructions allow. |
Provider dashboards do not all use the same labels or formatting. Check the DNS host’s instructions before saving so the priority and destination go into the correct fields. Google says to remove other MX records that conflict with a new setup.
Should you change a working legacy MX setup?
Not solely to match the newer single-record format. Google says domains that began using Workspace before 2023 may have legacy MX values beginning with aspmx. If mail is already working with those records, Google says no change is required and that the legacy values remain supported. Avoid replacing a functioning setup without a separate reason to change it.
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How to add the record and activate Gmail
Publishing the MX record in DNS and activating Gmail in Google Admin are separate steps. Complete both for a new setup:
- Verify ownership of the domain if you have not already done so.
- Sign in to the service that manages the domain’s DNS. Add the MX record using the values above and the provider’s conventions for the host and destination.
- Save the DNS change.
- In the Google Admin console, go to Account > Domains > Manage domains and activate Gmail for the domain. You need an administrator account with the relevant domain settings privilege.
- Allow time for Google to recognize the new record. Google says recognition can take up to 72 hours.
What to check if Gmail will not activate or mail is missing
If activation or delivery fails, check the published DNS record before repeatedly changing values. Google’s MX setup guide recommends checking the record’s spelling, priority, host/name, trailing-dot convention, and any conflicting MX records.
- Open Admin Toolbox Dig and look up the domain without
www. Confirm that the published MX record matches the intended setup. - If the provider’s DNS form is unclear, ask the registrar or DNS host how it expects the host/name and destination to be entered.
- For missing messages, consult Google’s receiving-email troubleshooting guide. It says MX records must point to Google mail servers before Workspace users can send and receive mail; it also directs administrators to check service status and use Email Log Search.
How TTL affects DNS changes
TTL is the number of seconds a DNS record can be cached before subsequent changes take effect. Google’s DNS basics recommends a TTL of 3600 seconds when you want a shorter interval for checking record updates, and 86400 seconds once records are configured correctly. A shorter TTL does not clear copies already cached under the previous TTL; the prior period must expire first. Google illustrates that an 86400-second TTL can mean up to 24 hours before a change takes effect. These are Google’s guidance figures, not a promise that every DNS change will be visible everywhere at a particular time.
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