Email routing is a setting that determines whether the current server handles your emails.
Local Email Routing
Local email routing refers to a configuration in email hosting where incoming email messages for a specific domain are processed and managed by the mail server associated with the same hosting environment or domain provider. In this setup, the email messages do not travel outside the hosting infrastructure or the domain registrar's servers. See a common scenario below:
Hosting All Services Together: If you're hosting your website and email services on the same server and want to manage both within your control panel, you'd set your email routing to local.
Remote Email Routing
Remote email routing refers to a configuration in email hosting where incoming emails for a particular domain are directed to a mail server located outside the domain's primary email infrastructure. Typically, this setup is used when an organisation or individual wants to manage their email services separately from their web hosting or domain services. See common scenarios below:
Third-Party Email Services: If you're using a third-party email service provider, such as Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) or Microsoft 365, and want them to handle your domain's email services, you'd set your email routing to remote.
Dedicated Email Servers: If you're using a dedicated email server for your domain's email communication, you will set email routing to remote so that your domain's emails are directed to that external server.
Click here for cPanel instructions.
Click here for DirectAdmin instructions.
Follow these steps to access email routing in cPanel:
1. Log in to your cPanel account.
For instructions on how to log in to your cPanel account, please click here.
2. Once logged in, under the Email section, click Email Routing.
3. Select your email routing option.
To handle emails locally, ensure the Local Mail Exchanger radio button is selected, then click the Change button.
To handle emails remotely, ensure the Remote Mail Exchanger radio button is selected, then click the Change button.
Follow these steps to access email routing in DirectAdmin:
1. Log in to your DirectAdmin account.
For instructions on how to log in to your DirectAdmin account, please click here.
2. Once logged in, under Account Manager, click DNS Management.
3. Your DNS Management page will open. On the right-hand side, click the Modify MX Records button.
4. The MX records page will open, where you can access the email routing settings.
To handle emails locally, ensure the tickbox is selected.
To handle emails remotely, ensure the tickbox is not selected.