Create DNS records at Network Information Center (NIC) for Office 365

Check the Domains FAQ if you don't find what you're looking for.

If Network Information Center (NIC) is your DNS hosting provider, follow the steps in this article to verify your domain and set up DNS records for email, Skype for Business Online, and so on.

These are the main records to add. (Need more help? Get support.)

• Add a TXT record for verification

• Add an MX record to route email

• Add six CNAME records

• Add a TXT record for SPF to help prevent email spam

• Add two SRV records

After you add these records at NIC, your domain will be set up to work with Office 365 services.

To learn about webhosting and DNS for websites with Office 365, see Use a public website with Office 365.

Note:  Typically it takes about 15 minutes for DNS changes to take effect. However, it can occasionally take longer for a change you've made to update across the Internet's DNS system. If you're having trouble with mail flow or other issues after adding DNS records, see Troubleshoot issues after changing your domain name or DNS records.

Add a TXT record for verification

Before you use your domain with Office 365, we have to make sure that you own it. Your ability to log in to your account at your domain registrar and create the DNS record proves to Office 365 that you own the domain.

Note:  This record is used only to verify that you own your domain; it doesn't affect anything else. You can delete it later, if you like.

1. To get started, go to your domains page at NIC by using this link. You'll be prompted to log in.

   

2. On the Domain Admin page, in the Domains row, choose Manage.

   

3. On the Domains page, choose the Settings icon, and then choose Manage DNS for the domain that you want to edit.

   

4. On the DNS Management page, in the Records section, choose Add.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

5. Choose TXT from the Type drop-down list.

   

6. In the boxes for the new record, type or copy and paste the values from the following table.

   (Select the TTL value from the drop-down list.)

   TYPE	HOST	TXT VALUE	TTL
   TXT	@	MS=msXXXXXXXX Note: This is an example. Use your specific Destination or Points to Address value here, from the table in Office 365. How do I find this?	1 Hour

   

7. Choose Save.

   

8. Wait a few minutes before you continue, so that the record you just created can update across the Internet.

Now that you've added the record at your domain registrar's site, you'll go back to Office 365 and request Office 365 to look for the record.

When Office 365 finds the correct TXT record, your domain is verified.

1. Choose Setup > Domains.

2. On the Domains page, choose the domain that you are verifying.

   

3. On the Setup page, choose Start setup.

   

4. On the Verify domain page, choose Verify.

   

Note:  Typically it takes about 15 minutes for DNS changes to take effect. However, it can occasionally take longer for a change you've made to update across the Internet's DNS system. If you're having trouble with mail flow or other issues after adding DNS records, see Troubleshoot issues after changing your domain name or DNS records.

Add an MX record so email for your domain will come to Office 365

1. To get started, go to your domains page at NIC by using this link. You'll be prompted to log in.

   

2. On the Domain Admin page, in the Domains row, choose Manage.

   

3. On the Domains page, choose the Settings icon, and then choose Manage DNS for the domain that you want to edit.

   

4. On the DNS Management page, in the Records section, choose Add.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

5. Choose MX from the Type drop-down list.

   

6. In the boxes for the new record, type or paste the values from the following table.

   (Select the TTL value from the drop-down list.)

   TYPE	HOST	POINTS TO	PRIORITY	TTL
   MX	@	<domain-key>.mail.protection.outlook.com Note: Get your <domain-key> from your Office 365 portal account. How do I find this?	1 For more information about priority, see What is MX priority?	1 Hour

   

7. Choose Save.

   

8. If there are any other MX records, delete them all in the MX section of the Domain Details page.

   First, choose the pencil Edit icon for each record.

   

   Then choose the trash can Delete Record icon.

   

9. Choose Delete.

   

Add the CNAME records that are required for Office 365

1. To get started, go to your domains page at NIC by using this link. You'll be prompted to log in.

   

2. On the Domain Admin page, in the Domains row, choose Manage.

   

3. On the Domains page, choose the Settings icon, and then choose Manage DNS for the domain that you want to edit.

   

4. On the DNS Management page, in the Records section, choose Add.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

5. Choose CNAME from the Type drop-down list.

   

6. Add the first CNAME record.

   In the boxes for the new record, type or paste the values from the first row in the following table.

   (Select the TTL value from the drop-down list.)

   TYPE	HOST	POINTS TO	TTL
   CNAME	autodiscover	autodiscover.outlook.com	1 Hour
   CNAME	sip	sipdir.online.lync.com	1 Hour
   CNAME	lyncdiscover	webdir.online.lync.com	1 Hour
   CNAME	msoid	clientconfig.microsoftonline-p.net	1 Hour
   CNAME	enterpriseregistration	enterpriseregistration.windows.net	1 Hour
   CNAME	enterpriseenrollment	enterpriseenrollment.manage.microsoft.com	1 Hour

   

7. Choose Save.

   

8. Add the other five CNAME records.

   Use the same process, but use the values from each of the other five rows in the table.

Add a TXT record for SPF to help prevent email spam

Important: You cannot have more than one TXT record for SPF for a domain. If your domain has more than one SPF record, you'll get email errors, as well as delivery and spam classification issues. If you already have an SPF record for your domain, don't create a new one for Office 365. Instead, add the required Office 365 values to the current record so that you have a single SPF record that includes both sets of values. Need examples? Check out these details and sample SPF records. To validate your SPF record, you can use one of these SPF validation tools.

1. To get started, go to your domains page at NIC by using this link. You'll be prompted to log in.

   

2. On the Domain Admin page, in the Domains row, choose Manage.

   

3. On the Domains page, choose the Settings icon, and then choose Manage DNS for the domain that you want to edit.

   

4. On the DNS Management page, in the Records section, choose Add.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

5. Choose TXT from the Type drop-down list.

   

6. In the boxes for the new record, type or paste the values from the following table.

   (Select the TTL value from the drop-down list.)

   TYPE	HOST	TXT VALUE	TTL
   TXT (Text)	@	v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all Note: We recommend copying and pasting this entry, so that all of the spacing stays correct.	1 Hour

   

7. Choose Save.

   

Add the two SRV records that are required for Office 365

1. To get started, go to your domains page at NIC by using this link. You'll be prompted to log in.

   

2. On the Domain Admin page, in the Domains row, choose Manage.

   

3. On the Domains page, choose the Settings icon, and then choose Manage DNS for the domain that you want to edit.

   

4. On the DNS Management page, in the Records section, choose Add.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

5. Choose SRV from the Type drop-down list.

   

6. Create the first SRV record.

   In the boxes for the first new record, type or copy and paste the values from the first row in the following table.

   (Select the TTL values from the drop-down list.)

   TYPE	NAME	TARGET	PROTOCOL	SERVICE	PRIORITY	WEIGHT	PORT	TTL
   SRV (Service)	@	sipdir.online.lync.com	_tls	_sip	100	1	443	1 Hour
   SRV (Service)	@	sipfed.online.lync.com	_tcp	_sipfederationtls	100	1	5061	1 Hour

   

7. Choose Save.

   

8. Add the second new record, using the values from the second row in the table.

Note:  Typically it takes about 15 minutes for DNS changes to take effect. However, it can occasionally take longer for a change you've made to update across the Internet's DNS system. If you're having trouble with mail flow or other issues after adding DNS records, see Troubleshoot issues after changing your domain name or DNS records.

Still need help?