Create DNS records at DomainExplorer.com for Office 365

Contributors:

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

If DomainExplorer.com 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 DomainExplorer.com, 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 DomainExplorer.com by using this link. You'll be prompted to login.

   

2. Under Domain Manager, choose the name of the domain that you want to edit.

   

3. In the Host Records section, choose Edit.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

4. In the Standard Host Names section, in the boxes for the new record, type or copy and paste the values from the following table.

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

   Host Name	Type	Address
   @	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?

   

5. Choose Save Changes.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

6. 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 DomainExplorer.com by using this link. You'll be prompted to login.

   

2. Under Domain Manager, choose the name of the domain that you want to edit.

   

3. In the MX Records section, choose Try It Now.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

4. In the MX Record Settings section, in the boxes for the new record, type or copy and paste the values from the following table.

   Host Name	Address	Pref
   @	<domain-key>.mail.protection.outlook.com. This value MUST end with a period (.) Note: Get your <domain-key> from your Office 365 portal account. How do I find this?	0 For more information about priority, see What is MX priority?

   

5. Choose Save Changes.

   

6. If there are any other existing MX records, delete them all by choosing delete for each record.

   

7. If you have deleted any records, choose Save Changes again.

   

Add the CNAME records that are required for Office 365

1. To get started, go to your domains page at DomainExplorer.com by using this link. You'll be prompted to login.

   

2. Under Domain Manager, choose the name of the domain that you want to edit.

   

3. In the Host Records section, choose Edit.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

4. In the Custom Host Names section, in the boxes for the new records, type or copy and paste the values from the following table.

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

   Host Name	Type	Address
   autodiscover	CNAME	autodiscover.outlook.com. This value MUST end with a period (.)
   sip	CNAME	sipdir.online.lync.com. This value MUST end with a period (.)
   lyncdiscover	CNAME	webdir.online.lync.com. This value MUST end with a period (.)
   msoid	CNAME	clientconfig.microsoftonline-p.net. This value MUST end with a period (.)
   enterpriseregistration	CNAME	enterpriseregistration.windows.net. This value MUST end with a period (.)
   enterpriseenrollment	CNAME	enterpriseenrollment.manage.microsoft.com. This value MUST end with a period (.)

   

5. Choose Save Changes to add rows, and then type or copy and paste the remaining values in the boxes for the new records.

   

6. When you have added the last CNAME record, choose Save Changes.

   

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 DomainExplorer.com by using this link. You'll be prompted to login.

   

2. Under Domain Manager, choose the name of the domain that you want to edit.

   

3. In the Host Records section, choose Edit.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

4. In the Standard Host Names section, in the boxes for the new record, type or copy and paste the values from the following table.

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

   Host Name	Type	Address
   @	TXT	v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all Note: We recommend copying and pasting this entry, so that all of the spacing stays correct.

   

5. Choose Save Changes.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

Add the two SRV records that are required for Office 365

1. To get started, go to your domains page at DomainExplorer.com by using this link. You'll be prompted to login.

   

2. Under Domain Manager, choose the name of the domain that you want to edit.

   

3. In the SRV Records section, choose Try It Now.

   (You may have to scroll down.)

   

4. In the boxes for the two new records, type or copy and paste the values from the following table.

   Service	Protocol	Priority	Weight	Port	Target
   _sip	_tls	100	1	443	sipdir.online.lync.com
   _sipfederationtls	_tcp	100	1	5061	sipfed.online.lync.com

   

5. Choose Save Changes.

   

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?