How to Use a Custom Domain with Exchange Online Plan 1
Question details
The user needs to configure a custom business domain for email addresses instead of using the default tenant domain.
- Product
- Exchange Online Plan 1
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up professional email addresses by attaching a company-owned domain to an Exchange Online Plan 1 subscription.
- Observed behavior
- A customized business email infrastructure properly routing emails using the verified custom domain.
Ensure you have active Exchange Online Plan 1 licenses and possess the administrator login credentials for both your Microsoft 365 admin center and your domain registrar's DNS settings.
Add and Verify the Custom Domain via Microsoft 365 Admin Center
This standard administrative process connects your custom domain to your Exchange Online environment so you can assign personalized email addresses to users.
To use a company domain, you must prove ownership of the domain by updating your DNS records. After verification, Microsoft will provide the specific DNS records (MX, TXT, CNAME) needed to route emails correctly.
Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using your Global Administrator credentials.
Navigate to 'Settings' in the left-hand menu, click on 'Domains', and then click the 'Add domain' button. Enter your custom domain name and click 'Use this domain'.
Follow the on-screen instructions to verify your domain. Usually, this requires copying a specific TXT record provided by Microsoft and adding it to your domain host's DNS settings.
Once verified, Microsoft will display the MX, CNAME, and TXT (SPF) records required for Exchange Online. Add these records to your domain host to enable email routing.
Go to 'Users' > 'Active users'. Select a user, click 'Manage username and email', and change their primary email address to utilize the newly added custom domain.
Enhance Your Business Productivity with WPS Office
While you manage your business email infrastructure with Exchange Online, consider equipping your workforce with WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and cost-effective office suite for handling all your document needs.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick on-screen setup instructions.
- 3. Start Creating: Open WPS Office to instantly begin creating and editing Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple custom domains with a single Exchange Online Plan 1 subscription?
Yes, you can add and verify multiple custom domains within your Microsoft 365 admin center. You can then assign different domains to different users, or set them up as aliases for existing mailboxes.
Do I need to purchase a full Microsoft 365 subscription to use Exchange Online?
No. Exchange Online Plan 1 can be purchased and used as a standalone email hosting service, although it is also included in many broader Microsoft 365 business plans.
What happens to the default 'onmicrosoft.com' domain after I add my custom domain?
The default tenant domain (e.g., yourcompany.onmicrosoft.com) remains active in the background. It serves as an underlying routing domain and cannot be removed or renamed, but your users will send and receive emails using your newly set custom domain.
Why are my emails not arriving after adding the custom domain?
This is typically caused by incorrect or missing MX records, or simply because the DNS changes have not fully propagated yet. Ensure you have added the correct MX record provided in the Microsoft 365 admin center to your domain's DNS host.
