Microsoft 365 + SiteGround

Set up Microsoft 365 email on SiteGround

The records Microsoft 365 needs, written with the field names SiteGround uses (Name, Destination, Value, Resolves to), 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 SiteGround: Open Site Tools for your site. Go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor.
  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 Name 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 Name 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 Name 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 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 SiteGround

Verify your domain

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

Type
TXT
Name
Leave this field empty
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Name
Leave this field empty
Priority
0
Destination
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the MX tab and choose Add your own MX records.
  2. Leave Name empty, enter the Priority and the Destination.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Under Manage DNS Records, delete SiteGround's default MX records.

Add the SPF record

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

Type
TXT
Name
Leave this field empty
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Set up DKIM (recommended)

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

Type
CNAME
Name
selector1._domainkey
Resolves to
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
Resolves to
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the CNAME tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name and the target in Resolves to.
  3. Click Create.
  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
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Add the Autodiscover record (recommended)

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

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

In SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the CNAME tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name and the target in Resolves to.
  3. Click Create.

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 SiteGround’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Microsoft 365 on SiteGround

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.

SiteGround: Delete SiteGround's default MX records

New sites start with three MX records for SiteGround's own mail: mx10, mx20 and mx30.antispam.mailspamprotection.com. Remove them when you use another provider.

SiteGround: SPF lives under Email > Authentication

SiteGround manages SPF in Site Tools > Email > Authentication. Edit the Include List there instead of adding a second SPF record in the DNS Zone Editor.

2 more Microsoft 365 mistakes to avoid

Visit Microsoft 365 Visit SiteGround

Microsoft 365 on SiteGround: questions

Where do I add Microsoft 365 DNS records in SiteGround?

Open Site Tools for your site. Go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Name field at SiteGround?

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. SiteGround adds your domain automatically.

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

Remove MX records that point to your previous email provider, or give them a lower priority (a higher number) than the Microsoft 365 record. New sites start with three MX records for SiteGround's own mail: mx10, mx20 and mx30.antispam.mailspamprotection.com. Remove them when you use another provider.

How long until Microsoft 365 email works on SiteGround?

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 SiteGround