Setup

Getting Started with Microsoft 365

This guide walks you through activating your Microsoft 365 subscription, connecting your domain, setting up email, and getting your team online. All steps use the current Microsoft 365 admin centre at admin.microsoft.com.

What You Will Need

• Your Microsoft 365 login credentials (provided by HostDada or purchased directly)
• Access to your domain's DNS settings (via your HostDada cPanel)
• A modern web browser

Step 1 — Sign In to the Admin Centre

1. Go to admin.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in with your Microsoft 365 admin account email and password.
3. If prompted, complete multi-factor authentication (MFA).
4. You will land on the Microsoft 365 admin centre home page.

Step 2 — Add and Verify Your Domain

By default your mailboxes use a *.onmicrosoft.com address. To use your own domain (e.g. yourname@yourdomain.co.uk), you must add and verify it.

1. In the admin centre, go to Settings → Domains.
2. Click Add domain.
3. Enter your domain name and click Use this domain.
4. Choose Add a TXT record to verify ownership.
5. Copy the TXT record value provided by Microsoft.
6. Log in to your HostDada cPanel → Zone Editor and add the TXT record to your domain.
7. Return to the Microsoft admin centre and click Verify. DNS propagation may take up to 30 minutes.

DNS Records Required for Microsoft 365

Once your domain is verified, add the following DNS records in cPanel → Zone Editor:

Note: Your exact MX record value is shown in the Microsoft admin centre under Settings → Domains → your domain → DNS records.

Step 3 — Add Users

1. In the admin centre, go to Users → Active users.
2. Click Add a user.
3. Enter the user's first name, last name, and username (this becomes their email address).
4. Assign a Microsoft 365 licence (e.g. Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, or Premium).
5. Set a temporary password and decide whether to require the user to change it on first sign-in.
6. Click Finish adding.

Repeat for each team member. You can also add multiple users via CSV: go to Active users → Add multiple users and download the CSV template.

Step 4 — Install Microsoft 365 Apps (Optional)

If your plan includes desktop applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.):

1. Users should sign in at office.com with their new account.
2. Click Install apps in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Microsoft 365 apps and follow the installer.
4. Once installed, open Outlook and add the Microsoft 365 account when prompted.

Step 5 — Set Up Outlook for Email

1. Open Outlook (desktop app or web at outlook.office.com).
2. When prompted to add an account, enter the user's Microsoft 365 email address.
3. Outlook will auto-configure the account using the Autodiscover CNAME record you added earlier.
4. Enter the password and complete any MFA prompt.
5. Email will begin synchronising — this may take a few minutes on first launch.

Recommended First-Time Admin Tasks

• Enable MFA for all users: Admin centre → Security → Multifactor authentication
• Set password policies: Admin centre → Settings → Org settings → Security & privacy → Password policy
• Review admin roles: Assign the minimum necessary roles to admin accounts (avoid giving everyone Global Admin)
• Check licence assignments: Admin centre → Billing → Licences

Troubleshooting

Domain verification is failing

• Ensure the TXT record was added to the root of your domain (@), not a subdomain.
• DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate — wait 30 minutes and try again.
• Check the TXT record value is copied exactly with no extra spaces.

MX records not routing email correctly

• Check your cPanel Zone Editor — ensure the old hosting MX record has been removed or given a lower priority than the Microsoft 365 MX record.
• Only one MX record should point to Microsoft; priority should be 0.

Outlook is not auto-configuring

• Confirm the autodiscover CNAME record is correctly set to autodiscover.outlook.com.
• Try signing in manually at outlook.office.com first to confirm credentials are working.

Users not receiving email after domain switch

• Verify the MX record has fully propagated using a tool such as MXToolbox.
• Confirm the user account is active and has a licence assigned in the admin centre.

Related Guides

• Message center
• Release options in Office 365
• Add domain
• Share calendars with external users
• Basic mailbox settings for Outlook and other email clients (POP/IMAP)

Need Help?

Need help setting this up? We can manage your Microsoft 365 for you — from setup to ongoing support.

Find out more about our Microsoft 365 managed service →