Add MX Records in Squarespace | MX Record Checker

In 2023, Squarespace acquired Google Domains, and all Google Domains customers were migrated to Squarespace Domains. If you registered your domain through Google Domains and are now managing it at Squarespace, your DNS management interface has changed, but the process for adding MX records is still straightforward. This guide covers everything you need to know.

Google Domains Is Now Squarespace Domains

When Squarespace acquired Google Domains, existing customers were automatically transitioned. Your domain registrar is now Squarespace, and your DNS records are managed through Squarespace's interface rather than the Google Domains dashboard you may remember.

Your existing DNS records (including any MX records you had configured) were migrated automatically. If email was working before the migration, it should still be working. This guide is primarily for:

Users who need to add new MX records (setting up a new email provider)
Users who need to change existing MX records (switching email providers)
Troubleshooting after the migration if something isn't working correctly

Accessing DNS Management in Squarespace

Log into Squarespace at squarespace.com with your account credentials
From the main dashboard, look for Domains in the left sidebar or top navigation
Find your domain in the list and click on it
Select DNS or DNS Settings from the domain management options

You'll see a list of all DNS records currently configured for your domain, organized by record type. Look for any existing MX records before making changes.

Removing Old MX Records

If you're switching email providers, delete your existing MX records before adding new ones.

Find the MX record(s) in the DNS list
Click the Edit or Delete button next to each record
Confirm the deletion
Repeat for all existing MX records

If you see MX records you don't recognize (leftover from the Google Domains migration or from a previous email provider setup), delete those too before adding your new records.

Adding MX Records

Once old records are cleared:

Click Add Record (or the + button in the MX section)
Set the record type to MX (it may already be selected if you're in the MX section)
Fill in the required fields:
- Host: Enter @ to apply the record to your root domain
- Priority: Enter the number provided by your email provider
- Mail Server/Value: Enter the mail server hostname from your email provider
- TTL: Leave as default
Click Save
Repeat for each MX record your provider requires

Adding Google Workspace MX Records in Squarespace

Google Workspace requires five MX records. Add each one separately in the Squarespace DNS panel:

| Priority | Mail Server | |---|---| | 1 | aspmx.l.google.com | | 5 | alt1.aspmx.l.google.com | | 5 | alt2.aspmx.l.google.com | | 10 | alt3.aspmx.l.google.com | | 10 | alt4.aspmx.l.google.com |

After adding all five, they'll all appear in your DNS records list. The Google Workspace setup wizard will verify these records and confirm your domain is configured correctly.

Note: If your domain was previously using Google Workspace and was registered through Google Domains, your MX records were likely already configured correctly before the Squarespace migration. Use mxrecordchecker.com to verify they're still in place.

Adding Microsoft 365 MX Records in Squarespace

Microsoft 365 uses a single MX record. The exact value is unique to your domain and is available in the Microsoft 365 admin center:

Log into admin.microsoft.com
Go to Settings > Domains
Click your domain name and select the DNS records tab
Find the MX record value, which will look like yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com

Then add the record in Squarespace:

| Priority | Mail Server | |---|---| | 0 | yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com |

Use the exact hostname Microsoft provides. The format is your domain name with dots replaced by hyphens, followed by .mail.protection.outlook.com.

Email Forwarding vs. Full MX Records

Squarespace Domains offers built-in email forwarding, which is different from configuring full MX records for an email provider like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

Email forwarding lets you receive emails at [email protected] and have them forwarded to a personal Gmail or other address. It's a simpler option if you don't need a separate business email account. Squarespace provides MX records automatically when you enable forwarding through their interface.

Full MX records for providers like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 give you complete business email functionality: multiple users, calendar, collaboration tools, admin controls, and more.

If you're using Squarespace email forwarding, do not add separate MX records, as it will conflict. If you're switching from forwarding to a full email provider, disable the forwarding first before adding MX records.

Verifying Your MX Records

After adding records, use mxrecordchecker.com to confirm everything is in order. Enter your domain name and look for:

All required MX records are present
Mail server hostnames match exactly what your provider specified
Priority numbers are correct
Servers show as responding

DNS changes from Squarespace typically propagate within 15-60 minutes, though global propagation can take longer. If the checker doesn't immediately show your new records, wait 30 minutes and try again.

Once the records check out, send a test email from an external address to confirm delivery is working end-to-end.

Priority Values in Squarespace

Squarespace accepts standard numeric priority values. Lower numbers mean higher priority and are tried first. Follow your email provider's documentation for the correct values, and don't change them unless your provider instructs you to.

Common Issues

Records from the Google Domains Migration Look Wrong

If you notice MX records you don't recognize, check them against what your email provider should have configured. The migration preserved all existing records, but if your setup wasn't correct before the migration, it won't be correct afterward either. Run a check at mxrecordchecker.com to see what's currently configured.

Squarespace Email Features Conflicting

If you have Squarespace Email Campaigns or email forwarding enabled, there may be MX records already in place for Squarespace's own services. Review what's there before adding records for a third-party provider.

Domain Using External Nameservers

Some domains registered through Google Domains (now Squarespace) were configured to use external nameservers (Cloudflare being common). If your domain uses external nameservers, you need to add MX records at that provider, not in Squarespace. Check your nameserver settings to confirm where DNS is actually managed.

Changes Not Appearing After an Hour

Try a hard refresh on the MX checker, or use a different DNS lookup tool to verify. If records still don't appear, log back into Squarespace and confirm the records are actually saved in the DNS panel.

After Setup: Additional Authentication Records

MX records handle where inbound email is delivered, but you'll also need:

SPF record to authorize your email provider to send on your behalf. Verify at spfrecordcheck.com.
DKIM record: your email provider generates this and you add it as a TXT record in Squarespace DNS.
DMARC record: a policy that ties authentication together. Check at dmarcrecordchecker.com.

Your email provider's setup documentation will give you the exact values for each of these records.

How to Add MX Records in Squarespace (Google Domains) - Step-by-Step Guide