Verify a domain at Network Solutions

1. Gather your domain information
   
2. Create a DNS record at Network Solutions
   
3. Verify your domain with Office 365
   

You’ll need some information about your domain so that you can create the DNS record that will be used for verification.

1. In Office 365, in the header, click Admin.

2. Under Management, click Domains. Follow the instructions to add a domain to Office 365.

   Note:
   If you have already added a domain to Office 365, on the Domains page, in the list of domain names, find the domain that you are verifying. In the Status column, click Click to verify domain.

3. On the Verify domain page, in the See instructions for performing this step with: drop-down list, choose your DNS hosting provider. If your provider doesn’t appear in the list, choose General instructions.

4. In the Select a verification method: drop-down list, choose Add a TXT record (preferred method) or Add an MX record (alternate method).

   Not sure which verification method to choose? See Verify your domain by using a TXT record or an MX record?.

5. From the table, copy or record the Destination or Points to Address information.

You’ll need this information when you create the new DNS record at Network Solutions in the next section.

Office 365 uses a DNS record that you create at Network Solutions to confirm that you own the domain. Use the instructions below to create a TXT record (or, if you prefer, an MX record) for a domain that is registered at Network Solutions.

Note:
You may notice differences between the Network Solutions website and the website described in these instructions.

To add a TXT record to verify your domain in Office 365, do the following.

1. Go to Network Solutions and click Manage My Domain Names.

2. Click Log in, and then type your user ID and password.

3. In the Log in to: drop-down list, select Manage My Domain Names, and then click Login.

4. Select the domain name that you are verifying, and then go to the Domain Names page.

5. On the Domain Names page, click Edit Advanced DNS Records.

6. On the Update Advanced DNS page, under Text (TXT) Records), click Edit TXT Records.

7. In the first empty row, in the Host box, type the following: @

8. In the TTL box, type 1 to set TTL to one hour.

9. In the Text box, type or paste the Destination or Points to Address that you recorded in Step 1. Gather your domain information.

10. Click Continue.

11. In the Confirm Your Request dialog box, review the record that you created, and then click Save Changes.

If you prefer, you can instead create an MX record to verify your domain in Office 365. To create an MX record to enable Office 365 to verify your domain, do the following.

1. Go to Network Solutions and click Manage My Domain Names.

2. Click Log in, and then type your user ID and password.

3. In the Log in to: drop-down list, select Manage My Domain Names, and then click Login.

4. Select the domain name that you are verifying, and then go to the Domain Names page.

5. On the Domain Names page, click Edit Advanced DNS Records.

6. On the Update Advanced DNS page, under Mail Servers (MX Records), click Edit MX Records.

7. In the first empty row, in the Priority box, type a number that is larger than the number you’ve specified for existing MX records. This can help prevent the new MX record from interfering with mail routing for the domain.

8. In the TTL box, type 1 to set TTL to 1 hour.

9. In the Mail Server box, type or paste the Destination or Points to Address that you recorded in Step 1. Gather your domain information.

10. Click Continue.

11. In the Confirm Your Request dialog box, review the record that you created, and then click Save Changes.

After you create either the TXT record or the MX record and sign out of the website, return to Office 365 to verify the domain as described in Step 3. Verify your domain with Office 365.

Note:
Typically it takes about 15 minutes for your changes to take effect. But it can take up to 72 hours for the record that you created to propagate through the DNS system.

After the record that you created for your domain has propagated successfully through the DNS system, do the following to finish verifying your domain with Office 365.

1. In Office 365, in the header, click Admin.

2. Under Management, click Domains.

3. In the Domains list, find the domain that you’re verifying, and then, in the Status column, click Click to verify domain.

4. On the Verify domain page, click Verify.

   • If domain verification succeeds, a dialog box appears to let you know that your domain has been added to your account.
     
   • If domain verification fails, then the changes that you made at the domain registrar might need more time to propagate. Cancel the verification in Office 365, and return later to try domain verification again.
     

   Note:
   If it has been more than 72 hours since you made the changes to your Network Solutions account, sign in to the Network Solutions website and verify that you entered the DNS record information correctly. If you entered the information incorrectly, you must remove the incorrect record and create a new one with the correct information by using the procedures in this topic.

5. Click Finish. Your domain status is now listed as Verified in the list of domains.

After you’ve verified your domain, you can configure your domain to work with Microsoft Exchange Online, Lync Online, and SharePoint Online in Office 365.

Concepts