How do I connect my domain email to Microsoft 365?
In this article, we will guide you through configuring your domain’s DNS records in cPanel to connect your email to Microsoft 365 (Office 365). Since these DNS records are account-specific, you’ll need to retrieve them from your Microsoft 365 account.
Before setting up DNS records in cPanel, you need to verify your domain in Microsoft 365. Follow these steps:
Log in to your Office 365 account.
Navigate to Setup > Domains.
Select the domain you want to connect and click Start Setup. This will display the verification details.
Go to the Verify Domain page.
Choose Add a TXT record instead and click Next.
Copy the TXT value displayed, which should look like MS=msXXXXXXXX.
Adding the TXT Record in cPanel
Log in to cPanel.
Navigate to Zone Editor under the Domains section.
Click Manage next to your domain.
Add a TXT record with the copied value from Microsoft 365.
Return to your Microsoft 365 account and verify the domain.
After verifying your domain, retrieve the necessary DNS records for configuration:
Log in to your Microsoft 365 account.
Go to Setup > Domains.
Select your verified domain.
In the Required DNS Settings section, locate the DNS records you need to configure in cPanel.
1) Modify the MX Record
To ensure uninterrupted email delivery, create your email accounts in the Microsoft 365 admin center before modifying the MX record.
Log in to Microsoft 365 admin center and navigate to Settings > Domains.
Select your domain, click Manage DNS, and choose Add your own DNS to view the required DNS records.
Log in to cPanel and open the Zone Editor.
Click Manage next to your domain.
Filter by MX and click Edit next to the current record.
Replace the existing MX record with the one from Microsoft 365 (e.g., exampledomain-co-za.mail.protection.outlook.com).
Click Save Record.
2) Modify the SPF Record
In the Zone Editor, filter by TXT.
Locate the SPF record (starts with v=spf1) and click Edit.
Add the Microsoft SPF include value: include:spf.protection.outlook.com
Example: spf1 +a +mx include:spf.zamailgate.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all
Click Save Record.
3) Modify the Autodiscover Record
In the Zone Editor, filter by All and search for autodiscover
Delete the SRV record that starts with _autodiscover._tcp
Edit the autodiscover A record and replace it with autodiscover.outlook.com
Click Save Record.
4) Set Email Routing to Remote
The last step is to ensure that the Email Routing is set to Remote.
Go back to the cPanel main page.
Search for the Email Routing icon under the Email section.
Select your domain from the dropdown menu at the top.
Click Remote Mail Exchanger under the Configure Email Routing section.
Click Change to save your settings.
Once all DNS records have been updated in cPanel, allow up to 48 hours for DNS propagation. After propagation, your domain email should successfully connect to Microsoft 365.
If you need assistance with any of these steps, feel free to reach out to our support team or email helpdesk@elitehost.co.za
Verifying your domain with Microsoft 365
Before setting up DNS records in cPanel, you need to verify your domain in Microsoft 365. Follow these steps:
Log in to your Office 365 account.
Navigate to Setup > Domains.
Select the domain you want to connect and click Start Setup. This will display the verification details.
Go to the Verify Domain page.
Choose Add a TXT record instead and click Next.
Copy the TXT value displayed, which should look like MS=msXXXXXXXX.
Adding the TXT Record in cPanel
Log in to cPanel.
Navigate to Zone Editor under the Domains section.
Click Manage next to your domain.
Add a TXT record with the copied value from Microsoft 365.
Return to your Microsoft 365 account and verify the domain.
Pointing DNS records to Microsoft 365
After verifying your domain, retrieve the necessary DNS records for configuration:
Log in to your Microsoft 365 account.
Go to Setup > Domains.
Select your verified domain.
In the Required DNS Settings section, locate the DNS records you need to configure in cPanel.
1) Modify the MX Record
To ensure uninterrupted email delivery, create your email accounts in the Microsoft 365 admin center before modifying the MX record.
Log in to Microsoft 365 admin center and navigate to Settings > Domains.
Select your domain, click Manage DNS, and choose Add your own DNS to view the required DNS records.
Log in to cPanel and open the Zone Editor.
Click Manage next to your domain.
Filter by MX and click Edit next to the current record.
Replace the existing MX record with the one from Microsoft 365 (e.g., exampledomain-co-za.mail.protection.outlook.com).
Click Save Record.
2) Modify the SPF Record
In the Zone Editor, filter by TXT.
Locate the SPF record (starts with v=spf1) and click Edit.
Add the Microsoft SPF include value: include:spf.protection.outlook.com
Example: spf1 +a +mx include:spf.zamailgate.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all
Click Save Record.
3) Modify the Autodiscover Record
In the Zone Editor, filter by All and search for autodiscover
Delete the SRV record that starts with _autodiscover._tcp
Edit the autodiscover A record and replace it with autodiscover.outlook.com
Click Save Record.
4) Set Email Routing to Remote
The last step is to ensure that the Email Routing is set to Remote.
Go back to the cPanel main page.
Search for the Email Routing icon under the Email section.
Select your domain from the dropdown menu at the top.
Click Remote Mail Exchanger under the Configure Email Routing section.
Click Change to save your settings.
Once all DNS records have been updated in cPanel, allow up to 48 hours for DNS propagation. After propagation, your domain email should successfully connect to Microsoft 365.
If you need assistance with any of these steps, feel free to reach out to our support team or email helpdesk@elitehost.co.za
Updated on: 21/11/2024
Thank you!