How to set up an Office 365 account

Before you start: You will need to have purchased an Office365 account from us.


Step 1 - Log into your Office 365 management area as shown in this guide.




Step 2 - Click on Admin.




Step 3 - Click Go to setup.




Step 4 - Hit Continue down the bottom of the page. Alternatively, if you purchased a Business Premium plan, you will be given the option to download Microsoft Office applications, then continue.




Step 5 - Add a domain, and click Use this domain down the bottom of the page.




Step 6 - You will be provided with a TXT record to add to your domain management area. Log into the relevant DNS manager and add the required record.

Note: If you already have emails set up elsewhere, you may be prompted to complete these steps in a different order. In this case, we'd recommend reading through the entire guide and then following each step as it becomes relevant.




Step 7 - Click Verify at the bottom of the page.

Note: Sometimes, DNS records take a while to propagate globally. If so, you may get this screen below. In this case, use a tool like Whats My DNS to check the propagation of the record, and Try Again when your Microsoft record is fully propagated.




Step 8 - Add in the required usernames and email address, and select Add users and Assign Licenses.




Step 9 - Unless you would like these details sent to a specific email, add the primary email on file as the Alternate email address. Select Send Email and Continue.



Note: You may get an extra window asking you to 'Install your Office Apps' and 'Migrate Email Messages'. Select 'Don't migrate email messages' then select Next, even if you arranged for email migrations with us. We'll arrange these separately.


Step 10 - If prompted, select 'I'll manage my own DNS records', then select Continue.




Step 11 - For Microsoft Office to work, you will only need to add the three records under Exchange and Exchange Online Protection. You will also have the option of adding additional DNS records for added functionality.

Log into the relevant DNS manager and add the required records. Select Continue once done.





Note: Sometimes, DNS records take a while to propagate globally. If so, you may get this screen below. In this case, use a tool like Whats My DNS to check the propagation of the record, and Try Again when your Microsoft record is fully propagated.



Note: In some cases, Office is extremely sensitive when checking for the correct record. The best SPF record to use is "v=spf1 +a +mx +include:spf.protection.outlook.com +include:spf.mailcluster.com.au -all", but if Outlook doesn't accept this, use this guide to edit the TXT record in your DNS zone.




Step 12 - Setup is now complete. Click Go to Admin centre.



Then click on your name in the top right and select Log Out.



For more information and tutorials on Office 365, see our Getting Started guide.