Microsoft 365 + GoDaddy

Set up Microsoft 365 email on GoDaddy

The records Microsoft 365 needs, written with the field names GoDaddy uses (Name, Value), in the order to add them.

  • 6 steps
  • 7 DNS records

Before you start

  1. Have your Microsoft 365 account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Microsoft 365 admin center .
  2. Open DNS at GoDaddy: Sign in to GoDaddy and open My Products. Under Domains, open the Portfolio tab. Select the three dots (...) next to your domain, then Edit DNS.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Microsoft 365 also publishes its own guide for GoDaddy: Connect your DNS records at GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn) .

Microsoft 365 on GoDaddy: what to know

How long changes take

Microsoft says DNS changes typically take about 15 minutes to take effect, and occasionally longer.

Source: Connect your DNS records at GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn)

Records to add

Copy each value with the button next to it. Rows marked “Copy from Microsoft 365 admin center” are unique to your account.

Domain verification Proves you own the domain Type TXT Name @ Value Copy from Microsoft 365 admin center Looks like: MS=ms followed by digits Priority n/a TTL 3600 (1 h)
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Name @ Value Copy from Microsoft 365 admin center Looks like: <your MX token>.mail.protection.outlook.com, or for domains set up on Microsoft's newer DNSSEC infrastructure <your MX token>.<subdomain>.mx.microsoft Priority 0 TTL 3600 (1 h)
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Name @ Value v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all Priority n/a TTL 3600 (1 h)
DKIM A signature on every message · recommended Type CNAME Name selector1._domainkey Value Copy from Microsoft 365 admin center Looks like: selector1-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<your onmicrosoft prefix>.<letter>-v1.dkim.mail.microsoft (older domains: selector1-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<prefix>.onmicrosoft.com) Priority n/a TTL 3600 (1 h)
DKIM A signature on every message · recommended Type CNAME Name selector2._domainkey Value Copy from Microsoft 365 admin center Looks like: selector2-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<your onmicrosoft prefix>.<letter>-v1.dkim.mail.microsoft (older domains: selector2-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<prefix>.onmicrosoft.com) Priority n/a TTL 3600 (1 h)
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Name _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com Priority n/a TTL Default
Autodiscover Automatic app setup · recommended Type CNAME Name autodiscover Value autodiscover.outlook.com Priority n/a TTL 3600 (1 h)

Step by step in GoDaddy

Verify your domain

Your email provider needs proof that you control this domain before it accepts email for it.

Type
TXT
Name
@
Value
Copy it from Microsoft 365 admin center (see below)

Where to find your value

In the Microsoft 365 admin center go to Settings > Domains and add your domain (or select it and choose Start setup). On Verify you own your domain, choose Add a TXT record to the domain's DNS records and copy the TXT value.

It looks like: MS=ms followed by digits

  • Verification usually takes up to 10 minutes after adding the record, sometimes up to 48 hours.

1 more note from Microsoft 365 on this record

In GoDaddy

  1. Under DNS Records, select Add New Record.
  2. Choose TXT as the type.
  3. Fill in Name and Value, and pick the TTL from the drop-down list. Copy and paste the value so the spacing stays exact.
  4. Select Save.

Point your MX records

MX records tell other mail servers where to deliver your email. How MX works

Type
MX
Name
@
Priority
0
Value
Copy it from Microsoft 365 admin center (see below)

Where to find your value

In the Microsoft 365 admin center go to Settings > Domains, select your domain, then DNS records > Manage DNS. On the Add DNS records page, expand MX Records and copy the value.

It looks like: <your MX token>.mail.protection.outlook.com, or for domains set up on Microsoft's newer DNSSEC infrastructure <your MX token>.<subdomain>.mx.microsoft

  • Remove MX records that point to your previous email provider, or give them a lower priority (a higher number) than the Microsoft 365 record.
  • Add users and mailboxes in Microsoft 365 before switching the MX record so incoming mail keeps flowing.

2 more notes from Microsoft 365 on this record

In GoDaddy

  1. Under DNS Records, select Add New Record.
  2. Choose MX as the type.
  3. Fill in Name, Priority and Value, and pick the TTL from the drop-down list.
  4. Select Save.
  5. Back in the list of DNS records, delete every other MX record that isn't from your new email provider.

Add the SPF record

SPF lists the services allowed to send email as you. How SPF works

Type
TXT
Name
@
Value
v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all
  • If an SPF record already exists, don't create a second one. Add include:spf.protection.outlook.com to the existing record so there is a single SPF record.

2 more notes from Microsoft 365 on this record

In GoDaddy

  1. Under DNS Records, select Add New Record.
  2. Choose TXT as the type.
  3. Fill in Name and Value, and pick the TTL from the drop-down list. Copy and paste the value so the spacing stays exact.
  4. Select Save.

Set up DKIM (recommended)

DKIM signs your mail so receivers can trust it. How DKIM works

Type
CNAME
Name
selector1._domainkey
Value
Copy it from Microsoft 365 admin center (see below)

Where to find your value

In the Microsoft Defender portal open Email authentication settings (security.microsoft.com/authentication), select the DKIM tab and your domain, then copy the two CNAME values. They are also shown in the admin center under Add DNS records > Advanced options > DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM).

It looks like: selector1-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<your onmicrosoft prefix>.<letter>-v1.dkim.mail.microsoft (older domains: selector1-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<prefix>.onmicrosoft.com)

  • After both CNAME records resolve, turn on Sign messages for this domain with DKIM signatures in the Defender portal.
Type
CNAME
Name
selector2._domainkey
Value
Copy it from Microsoft 365 admin center (see below)

Where to find your value

Same place as selector1: Defender portal > Email authentication settings > DKIM tab > your domain.

It looks like: selector2-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<your onmicrosoft prefix>.<letter>-v1.dkim.mail.microsoft (older domains: selector2-yourdomain-com._domainkey.<prefix>.onmicrosoft.com)

  • Add both selector records. Microsoft rotates between them.

1 more note from Microsoft 365 on this record

In GoDaddy

  1. Under DNS Records, select Add New Record.
  2. Choose CNAME as the type.
  3. Fill in Name and Value, and pick the TTL from the drop-down list.
  4. Select Save.
  5. Repeat for each CNAME record above.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

DMARC tells receivers what to do with mail that fakes your domain. How DMARC works

Type
TXT
Name
_dmarc
Value
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
  • Replace the report address with a shared mailbox or group, not a personal inbox.

3 more notes from Microsoft 365 on this record

In GoDaddy

  1. Under DNS Records, select Add New Record.
  2. Choose TXT as the type.
  3. Fill in Name and Value, and pick the TTL from the drop-down list. Copy and paste the value so the spacing stays exact.
  4. Select Save.

Add the Autodiscover record (recommended)

Autodiscover lets Outlook and other mail apps find your account settings without manual setup.

Type
CNAME
Name
autodiscover
Value
autodiscover.outlook.com
  • Optional but highly recommended: lets Outlook and other apps set up mailboxes automatically.

In GoDaddy

  1. Under DNS Records, select Add New Record.
  2. Choose CNAME as the type.
  3. Fill in Name and Value, and pick the TTL from the drop-down list.
  4. Select Save.

Check your setup

Once the records are saved, run a live check. We look up your domain in public DNS and tell you what is right, missing or wrong, with the fix in GoDaddy’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Microsoft 365 on GoDaddy

Switching MX before adding mailboxes

Add users and mailboxes in Microsoft 365 before changing the MX record, or incoming mail has nowhere to go.

Adding a second SPF record

Microsoft says not to create a new SPF record if one exists. Add include:spf.protection.outlook.com to the existing record so there is a single SPF record.

GoDaddy: Delete old MX records and keep one SPF record

Remove every MX record left from your previous email service, including GoDaddy's own email if you used it. A leftover MX record can still receive your mail. For SPF, keep a single TXT record that starts with v=spf1: if one is already there, edit it instead of adding a second, because two SPF records break the SPF check.

GoDaddy: Type only the part before your domain

GoDaddy adds your domain to the Name automatically. Enter _dmarc or google._domainkey, not _dmarc.yourdomain.com, or the record ends up at a doubled name.

2 more Microsoft 365 mistakes to avoid

Visit Microsoft 365 Visit GoDaddy

Microsoft 365 on GoDaddy: questions

Should I use Domain Connect at GoDaddy or add the records myself?

Microsoft suggests Domain Connect only if your domain isn’t set up with another email provider yet: you sign in to GoDaddy, select Authorize, and the records are added for you. If you already use email on the domain, the manual steps let you choose when the MX record changes.

Where do I start Domain Connect for GoDaddy?

In the Microsoft 365 admin center go to Settings > Domains, select your domain, then the three dots > Start setup. Select Continue, then Add DNS records, and sign in to GoDaddy to authorize.

Where do I add Microsoft 365 DNS records in GoDaddy?

Sign in to GoDaddy and open My Products. Under Domains, open the Portfolio tab. Select the three dots (...) next to your domain, then Edit DNS. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Name field at GoDaddy?

Enter @ for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter only the part before your domain, for example autodiscover. GoDaddy adds your domain automatically.

Do I need to delete my existing MX records at GoDaddy?

Remove MX records that point to your previous email provider, or give them a lower priority (a higher number) than the Microsoft 365 record. Remove every MX record left from your previous email service, including GoDaddy's own email if you used it. A leftover MX record can still receive your mail. For SPF, keep a single TXT record that starts with v=spf1: if one is already there, edit it instead of adding a second, because two SPF records break the SPF check.

Can Microsoft 365 add the records at GoDaddy for me?

GoDaddy supports Domain Connect. Microsoft 365 and Zoho Mail can add the records for you after you sign in to GoDaddy and authorize. Use the manual steps if you want to control exactly when your MX records change.

How long until Microsoft 365 email works on GoDaddy?

Microsoft says DNS changes typically take about 15 minutes to take effect, and occasionally longer.

Sources

Every value and step on this page comes from these official pages. Dashboards change, so if something doesn’t match what you see, tell us.

GoDaddy steps and tips

Some of these are other email providers' official guides for GoDaddy. They describe the same GoDaddy dashboard.

Microsoft 365 on other hosts

Other email providers on GoDaddy