How do I configure email routing in cPanel?
cPanel’s Email Routing option lets you configure how the server handles emails for a domain, either by accepting emails locally or routing them to an external provider. This guide explains how to configure Email Routing in cPanel and choose the best routing option for your email setup.
Log in to cPanel
For help, see our article How do I log into cPanel?
Navigate to the Email Routing Feature
In the Email section, click on Email Routing.
Select Your Domain
From the dropdown, select the domain for which you want to configure email routing.
Choose the Appropriate Routing Option
You’ll see the following options. Choose the one that best matches your email setup:
Automatically Detect Configuration: cPanel will set routing based on your MX records, choosing local delivery if the MX points to the hosting server and remote if it points externally.
Local Mail Exchanger: The server accepts and delivers email for the domain locally to a mailbox on the server.
Backup Mail Exchanger: Acts as a backup server, holding emails locally if the primary server is down.
Remote Mail Exchanger: The server will route all email based on MX records and will not accept emails for the domain locally.
Save Changes
Click Change to save the selected routing option.
Automatically Detect Configuration: Use this option if you’re unsure; cPanel will automatically route emails based on the domain’s MX records.
Local Mail Exchanger: Choose this if email accounts are hosted on the cPanel server and MX records point to the server.
Remote Mail Exchanger: Select this if using an external provider (e.g., Google Workspace or Office 365) or if MX records direct emails to a different server.
If a cPanel account is set to "Local" email routing while the MX records point elsewhere, emails from other domains on the server or website contact forms may be incorrectly delivered locally. To prevent this, set routing to “Remote” if using an external provider.
If you need further help, please submit a ticket or email helpdesk@elitehost.co.za.
Steps to Configure Email Routing
Log in to cPanel
For help, see our article How do I log into cPanel?
Navigate to the Email Routing Feature
In the Email section, click on Email Routing.
Select Your Domain
From the dropdown, select the domain for which you want to configure email routing.
Choose the Appropriate Routing Option
You’ll see the following options. Choose the one that best matches your email setup:
Automatically Detect Configuration: cPanel will set routing based on your MX records, choosing local delivery if the MX points to the hosting server and remote if it points externally.
Local Mail Exchanger: The server accepts and delivers email for the domain locally to a mailbox on the server.
Backup Mail Exchanger: Acts as a backup server, holding emails locally if the primary server is down.
Remote Mail Exchanger: The server will route all email based on MX records and will not accept emails for the domain locally.
Save Changes
Click Change to save the selected routing option.
When to Use Each Option
Automatically Detect Configuration: Use this option if you’re unsure; cPanel will automatically route emails based on the domain’s MX records.
Local Mail Exchanger: Choose this if email accounts are hosted on the cPanel server and MX records point to the server.
Remote Mail Exchanger: Select this if using an external provider (e.g., Google Workspace or Office 365) or if MX records direct emails to a different server.
If a cPanel account is set to "Local" email routing while the MX records point elsewhere, emails from other domains on the server or website contact forms may be incorrectly delivered locally. To prevent this, set routing to “Remote” if using an external provider.
If you need further help, please submit a ticket or email helpdesk@elitehost.co.za.
Updated on: 31/10/2024
Thank you!