Microsoft 365 + Porkbun

Set up Microsoft 365 email on Porkbun

The records Microsoft 365 needs, written with the field names Porkbun uses (Host, Answer), 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 Porkbun: Open Domain Management (ACCOUNT, then Domain Management). Click the DNS button under your domain, or Details and then the edit icon under DNS RECORDS.
  3. 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.

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 Default
Autodiscover Automatic app setup · recommended Type CNAME Host autodiscover Value autodiscover.outlook.com Priority n/a TTL 3600 (1 h)

Step by step in Porkbun

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 Porkbun

  1. Choose TXT as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank for your bare domain (or enter the subdomain name), and paste the value in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

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 Porkbun

  1. Choose MX as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank, enter the mail server in Answer and the Priority your provider gives you. Leave TTL at its default.
  3. Click Add.

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 Porkbun

  1. Choose TXT as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank for your bare domain (or enter the subdomain name), and paste the value in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

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 Porkbun

  1. Choose CNAME as the Type.
  2. Enter the Host (it can't be empty) and the target in Answer.
  3. Click Add.
  4. 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 Porkbun

  1. Choose TXT as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank for your bare domain (or enter the subdomain name), and paste the value in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

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 Porkbun

  1. Choose CNAME as the Type.
  2. Enter the Host (it can't be empty) and the target in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

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 Porkbun’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Microsoft 365 on Porkbun

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.

Porkbun: CNAME hosts must be unique

A CNAME's Host can't be empty and can't be shared with any other record on the domain.

2 more Microsoft 365 mistakes to avoid

Visit Microsoft 365 Visit Porkbun

Microsoft 365 on Porkbun: questions

Where do I add Microsoft 365 DNS records in Porkbun?

Open Domain Management (ACCOUNT, then Domain Management). Click the DNS button under your domain, or Details and then the edit icon under DNS RECORDS. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Host field at Porkbun?

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. Porkbun adds your domain automatically.

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

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 Porkbun?

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 on other hosts

Other email providers on Porkbun