Why is email not arriving at my custom domain?

What should I check first?

Check the MX records first, because they decide where every message for the domain is delivered. An MX record names a mail server and a priority; senders try the lowest number first. If the list is empty, mail has nowhere to go. If it names the old provider, mail keeps arriving there.

Two commands show the answer. Replace yourname.com with your domain.

What should the MX answer look like?

It should list only the hosts of your current provider. The expected answer for Proton Mail is two lines: mail.protonmail.ch at priority 10 and mailsec.protonmail.ch at priority 20. For Fastmail it is in1-smtp.messagingengine.com at 10 and in2-smtp.messagingengine.com at 20. The method for reading every record is in how to check MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records.

Why does mail still go to my old provider?

Because the old MX records are still in the zone, or because resolvers still hold them in cache. According to Postelva's index of 12 November 2026, three of the providers with documented MX setups, Proton Mail, Mailbox.org and Fastmail, tell you to remove the MX records that point elsewhere or to give the new ones the lowest priority number. Leaving both sets in place sends mail to either server unpredictably.

The time a change needs is about the old TTL on the record at the moment you changed it. A TTL of 3600 seconds means up to an hour of cached answers; a TTL of 86400 means up to a day. Proton Mail says to allow up to a day for MX changes, and Mailbox.org says synchronisation of its verification record can take up to 48 hours. If you are planning a move rather than repairing one, move email to a new provider without losing mail explains how to lower the TTL beforehand.

Can an expired domain stop my email?

Yes: once the domain is past expiry and its DNS stops resolving, incoming mail bounces or is lost. ICANN's Expired Registration Recovery Policy lets the owner renew from the day of expiry. After deletion, gTLD registries offer a 30-day redemption period during which DNS resolution is disabled, transfers are blocked and the registrar can restore the name for an extra fee. The exact day DNS stops varies by registrar.

A second, less known trigger is the registrant email. ICANN requires the registrar to verify it within 15 days of registration, transfer or change of registrant, and a domain whose owner never answers can be suspended. Postelva states it plainly: the registrant email is verified after registration, as ICANN rules require (within 15 days). Answer the verification mail and switch on automatic renewal, which here is automatic renewal from your balance, switched on or off for each domain. The full timeline is in what happens to email when a domain expires.

Can SPF, DKIM or DMARC make mail disappear?

They affect mail you send much more than mail you receive, but a strict DMARC policy can make receivers reject your messages outright. A domain may publish only one SPF record: a second record, or an SPF record that needs more than 10 DNS lookups (RFC 7208), returns a permanent error and receivers treat the check as failed. Add the new provider's include to the existing record instead of creating a new one.

For DMARC, start at p=none with a report address, confirm SPF and DKIM pass on all legitimate mail, then move to quarantine and finally reject. Mailbox.org warns that a strict policy set too early can bounce legitimate mail. The records are explained in how to create an SPF record.

Where does Postelva fit in this?

Postelva hosts the DNS of the domain, so every record in this guide is edited in the client area. The DNS includes free DNS hosting with A, AAAA, CNAME, ALIAS, MX, TXT, NS, SRV and CAA records, DNSSEC, and your own nameservers if you prefer (2 to 13). One-click templates cover Proton Mail, Fastmail and Zoho Mail; for Tuta, Mailbox.org, iCloud+ and Migadu the records are typed in the DNS editor. If a template and a hand-typed record disagree, the zone shows both, so read the full list before you wait for propagation. Support replies by email: email replies within 12 hours, 7 days a week, including help with MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records.