Microsoft 365 + Name.com
Set up Microsoft 365 email on Name.com
The records Microsoft 365 needs, written with the field names Name.com uses (Host, Answer), in the order to add them.
- 6 steps
- 7 DNS records
Before you start
- Have your Microsoft 365 account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Microsoft 365 admin center .
- Open DNS at Name.com: Log in to name.com and click MY DOMAINS (top right). Click your domain, then Manage DNS Records.
- Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.
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.
| Record | Type | Host | Value | Priority | TTL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain verification Proves you own the domain | Type | TXT | Host | Leave empty | 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 | Host | Leave empty | 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 | Host | Leave empty | 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 | Host | 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 | Host | 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 | Host | _dmarc | Value | v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com | Priority | n/a | TTL | 300 |
| Autodiscover Automatic app setup · recommended | Type | CNAME | Host | autodiscover | Value | autodiscover.outlook.com | Priority | n/a | TTL | 3600 (1 h) |
Step by step in Name.com
Verify your domain
Your email provider needs proof that you control this domain before it accepts email for it.
- Type
- TXT
- Host
- Leave this field empty
- Answer
- 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 Name.com
- Select TXT from the Type drop-down menu.
- Enter a Host only if your provider gives one, and paste the value in Answer.
- Click Add Record.
Point your MX records
MX records tell other mail servers where to deliver your email. How MX works
- Type
- MX
- Host
- Leave this field empty
- Priority
- 0
- Answer
- 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 Name.com
- Select MX from the Type drop-down menu.
- Leave Host blank, enter the mail server in Answer, leave TTL at 300, and enter the Priority (10, 20, 30 for several).
- Click Add Record.
Add the SPF record
SPF lists the services allowed to send email as you. How SPF works
- Type
- TXT
- Host
- Leave this field empty
- Answer
-
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 Name.com
- Select TXT from the Type drop-down menu.
- Enter a Host only if your provider gives one, and paste the value in Answer.
- Click Add Record.
Set up DKIM (recommended)
DKIM signs your mail so receivers can trust it. How DKIM works
- Type
- CNAME
- Host
-
selector1._domainkey - Answer
- 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
- Host
-
selector2._domainkey - Answer
- 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 Name.com
- Select CNAME from the Type drop-down menu.
- Enter the name in Host (never leave it blank) and the target in Answer.
- Click Add Record.
- 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
- Host
-
_dmarc - Answer
-
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 Name.com
- Select TXT from the Type drop-down menu.
- Enter a Host only if your provider gives one, and paste the value in Answer.
- Click Add Record.
Add the Autodiscover record (recommended)
Autodiscover lets Outlook and other mail apps find your account settings without manual setup.
- Type
- CNAME
- Host
-
autodiscover - Answer
-
autodiscover.outlook.com
- Optional but highly recommended: lets Outlook and other apps set up mailboxes automatically.
In Name.com
- Select CNAME from the Type drop-down menu.
- Enter the name in Host (never leave it blank) and the target in Answer.
- Click Add Record.
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 Name.com’s words.
Common mistakes with Microsoft 365 on Name.com
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.
Name.com: Never leave a CNAME Host blank
A CNAME without a Host can overwrite other records such as MX and break email.
Microsoft 365 on Name.com: questions
Where do I add Microsoft 365 DNS records in Name.com?
Log in to name.com and click MY DOMAINS (top right). Click your domain, then Manage DNS Records. Add each record there, one at a time.
What goes in the Host field at Name.com?
Leave it empty for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter only the part before your domain, for example autodiscover. Name.com adds your domain automatically.
Do I need to delete my existing MX records at Name.com?
Remove MX records that point to your previous email provider, or give them a lower priority (a higher number) than the Microsoft 365 record.
How long until Microsoft 365 email works on Name.com?
DNS changes typically take about 15 minutes to take effect, 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.
Microsoft 365 records
- Add a custom domain to Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn)
- Connect DNS records at Namecheap to Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn)
- Connect your DNS records at GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn)
- Connect your domain by adding DNS records (Microsoft Learn)
- External Domain Name System records for Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn)
- How SMTP DANE works (Microsoft Learn)
- How to use DKIM for email in your custom domain (Microsoft Learn)
- RFC 9989: DMARC (IETF)
- Set up DMARC to validate email in Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Learn)
- Set up SPF to identify valid email sources for your Microsoft 365 domain (Microsoft Learn)
Microsoft 365 on other hosts
- Microsoft 365 on Bluehost
- Microsoft 365 on Cloudflare
- Microsoft 365 on GoDaddy
- Microsoft 365 on Hostinger
- Microsoft 365 on Namecheap
- Microsoft 365 on Squarespace Domains
- Microsoft 365 on Amazon Route 53
- Microsoft 365 on DreamHost
- Microsoft 365 on IONOS
- Microsoft 365 on Network Solutions
- Microsoft 365 on OVHcloud
- Microsoft 365 on Porkbun
- Microsoft 365 on SiteGround
- Microsoft 365 on Wix
- Microsoft 365 on WordPress.com