How To Add A Domain To Office 365: A Step-by-Step Guide

December 28, 2024
Pankaj Kumar
Microsoft 365
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Adding a custom domain to Office 365 is essential for branding and professional email communication. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, ensuring a seamless setup. Follow these steps to integrate your domain with Office 365 efficiently.

Step 1: Prepare Your Domain

Before adding your domain to Office 365, ensure the following:

Domain Ownership: Verify that you own the domain you plan to add.
DNS Access: Ensure you can modify DNS records with your domain registrar.
Compatibility: Confirm that your domain’s settings comply with Office 365 requirements.

Tools You’ll Need

An active Office 365 subscription.
Global Administrative access to your Office 365 account.
Domain registrar login credentials.

Step 2: Log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Portal with GA Admin

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Log in using your global administrator credentials.
From the left-hand navigation pane, select Settings > Domains.

Step 3: Add Your Domain

Click the Add domain button.
Enter your custom domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com) in the provided field.

Click Use this domain to proceed.
Click on Add a TXT record to the domain’s DNS records and Continue.

Step 4: Verify Domain Ownership (Connect Hostinger domain to office 365 tenant)

Microsoft requires you to verify ownership of the domain. Choose one of the following methods:

1: TXT Record Verification

Copy the TXT record provided by Microsoft.

Log in to your domain registrar’s DNS management portal (For demo Purpose I’m using Hostinger).
In the DNS management portal goto domain section, Select the domain and click on the Manage DNS records.
In the left side Click on the DNS/Nameservers.

Add a new TXT record with the following details:
- Host: @
- Value: The TXT record value provided by Microsoft.
- TTL: Set to the default value or 3600 seconds.

Save the changes and return to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Click Verify to confirm ownership. (It may take some time to propagate the changes).
Choose the Add your own DNS records and click continue.

Step 5: Configure DNS Records

Once ownership is verified, set up DNS records for Office 365 services like email, Teams, and OneDrive. Microsoft provides the required records:

2: MX Record Verification

Copy the MX record details provided.

Add an MX record in your DNS settings with these parameters:
- Priority: High (or the highest available setting).
- Value: The Microsoft-provided destination address.
Similar method copy the CNAME records and TXT Records.

Add these records to the DNS Management (For me its Hostinger)

Return to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and verify the records.

Essential DNS Records

MX Record: Routes email to Microsoft 365.
CNAME Records: Supports services like Autodiscover and SPF.
TXT Record: Ensures email security and delivery (SPF).
SRV Records: Configures protocols like SIP and federation.

Automatic vs. Manual Configuration

Automatic Setup: Some registrars allow automatic configuration. Select this option if available.
Manual Setup: For unsupported registrars, enter records manually.

Step 6: Finalize Setup

After entering DNS records, click Finish in the Admin Center.
Test your domain’s functionality by sending and receiving emails.
Use Microsoft’s diagnostic tools to troubleshoot any issues.

Step 7: Additional Domain Management

You can add multiple domains to your Office 365 account. Repeat the above process for each domain. Ensure that each domain has distinct DNS records to avoid conflicts.