How to Check Email DNS Records

When domain email stops working, the problem is often DNS. The website can load perfectly while email fails, because email uses MX and TXT records that are separate from the website's A record.

If your domain uses TekLan nameservers and TekLan email, the standard records are usually handled for you. If DNS is managed elsewhere, you need to check that the external DNS zone still contains the correct email records.

Check MX Records

MX records tell other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain.

dig example.co.uk MX

If there are no MX records, inbound mail may fail. If the MX records point to an old mail provider, mail may still be going to the old service.

Check SPF

SPF is a TXT record that says which servers are allowed to send mail for your domain.

dig example.co.uk TXT

Look for a TXT value starting with v=spf1. There should normally be one SPF record. Multiple separate SPF records can cause authentication failures.

Check DKIM

DKIM signs outgoing mail so receiving servers can verify it was authorised by your domain. DKIM records usually live on a selector hostname, not directly on the root domain.

The selector depends on the mail platform. If TekLan support gives you a selector, check it like this:

dig selector._domainkey.example.co.uk TXT

If the record is missing, outgoing mail may still send, but authentication can fail or be weaker.

Check DMARC

DMARC tells receiving servers what to do when SPF or DKIM checks fail.

dig _dmarc.example.co.uk TXT

A basic DMARC record may use monitoring mode while you are still checking mail flow. A stricter record can reject mail that does not pass authentication, so do not copy one from another domain without understanding it.

Check the Domain Uses the Right DNS Provider

Before changing records, check which nameservers are active:

dig example.co.uk NS

Edit DNS at the provider shown by the nameservers. A common mistake is adding MX or TXT records in Enhance while the domain is actually using nameservers at another provider.

Check Webmail and Mail Client Settings

If DNS is correct but a mail app fails, test webmail first. In Enhance, open the website, go to Emails, and use the webmail button or SSO icon for a specific mailbox.

If webmail works but Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird does not, check the IMAP and SMTP settings from the TekLan email setup guide.

Common Symptoms

No inbound mail: check MX records first.
Mail goes to the old provider: active MX records still point there.
Mail lands in spam: check SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Only one mailbox fails: check the mailbox password, quota, and mail client settings.
Contact form mail fails: check SMTP configuration inside the website as well as domain DNS.