Setting up a custom email address through Microsoft 365 (formerly Office or Office 365) is an essential step for any business looking to improve its professional image.
With Microsoft 365, you not only get a custom email address that uses your domain but also access to the full Microsoft Office suite that consists of powerful tools that you can use across your entire business.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up a custom email with Microsoft 365, from connecting your domain to adding your team members.
Looking to create a custom email address with Gmail instead? Check out our guide on setting up a custom email with Google Workspace to get started with a Gmail inbox.
Step 1: Sign-up for Microsoft 365
To begin, visit the Microsoft 365 website and choose between Buy now or Try free for one month.
The steps will vary slightly based on your choice, but the overall process is similar.
First, enter the business email address you plan to use. This lets Microsoft detect if a new account needs to be created or if you’ve already got an existing account.
Next, provide personal information to set up your Microsoft 365 account and click then click Next.
On the next screen you’ll then be asked to verify your phone number via a phone call or text message.
Once verified, create your Microsoft account by setting up a username and password.
You’ll then need to enter your payment details to complete the sign-up process.
After the sign-up is complete, click the Start using Microsoft 365 button to proceed.
Step 2: Verify your domain name
After signing up, your Microsoft 365 dashboard will prompt you to invite team members to your organisation.
However, before adding users, click on the Set up custom domain button.
Enter your custom domain name, and you’ll be guided through verifying ownership.
Verification can be done automatically by logging into your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Crazy Domains).
Alternatively, you can manually add a TXT or MX record to your DNS settings or upload a text file to your website.
Step 3: Add other users (optional)
Once your custom domain is verified, you’ll return to the Add Users page.
Here, you can create additional email inboxes / Microsoft 365 accounts for other team members by entering their full name and a username for their personal email address.
If you don’t need any other inboxes, you can click Skip and proceed.
Step 4: Connect your domain to Microsoft 365
To connect your domain to Microsoft 365, you need to add the following DNS records to your domain registrar’s DNS settings which is the website you bought your domain through (GoDaddy, Crazy Domains, etc).
Unfortunately, we can’t provide a guide for every domain name registrar in this post but thankfully Microsoft already has a solution for most uses that use a domain registrar with Domain Connect.
This step is crucial to ensure your emails are correctly routed through Microsoft 365.
MX Record
| Name / Host / Alias * | Value / Answer / Destination | Priority | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| @ (or Blank) | [yourdomain].mail.protection.outlook.com | 0 | 3600 (or Default) |
Note: The value for the MX record will be customised to your domain name, so be sure to copy it directly from the Microsoft 365 setup wizard.
CNAME Record
| Name / Host / Alias * | Value / Answer / Destination | TTL |
|---|---|---|
| autodiscover | autodiscover.outlook.com | 3600 (or Default) |
* Domain hosts use different labels for the name and value fields. Some hosts also require a period at the end of autodiscover.outlook.com.
TXT Record
| Name / Host / Alias * | Value / Answer / Destination | TTL |
|---|---|---|
| @ (or Blank) | v=spf1 include.protection.outlook.com -all | 3600 (or Default) |
Alternatively, you can update your nameservers to point your entire domain to Microsoft 365.
However, if you already have other services connected to your domain we would recommend you update the DNS records manually as outlined above.
You’re All Set Up!
Now that your setup is complete, you gain access to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, where you can manage your email and other services.
With your Microsoft 365 custom email in place, you may also want to explore additional tools like Microsoft Teams or SharePoint to further enhance your business productivity.
If you have any other questions about Microsoft 365 or custom email addresses please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Brisbane web design agency.
To your success,
Jackson
