How to Set Up an SPF Record for Office 365: Step-By-Step Guide

If you’re doing sales outreach through the Office 365 interface, you need SPF.

Why?

SPF adds a layer of security to your emails, directly leading to better open rates.

And with more eyeballs on your emails, you’ll generate more revenue for your business.

After reading this post, you’ll know exactly how to set up an SPF record for Office 365.

SPF Explained

If you Google “SPF,” most results will be related to sunscreen. As you already figured out, that’s not what this is about. ;-)

Instead, SPF is an email authentication protocol that stands for: Sender Policy Framework.

SPF allows you to authorize email servers that can send email on your domain’s behalf.

Most of the time, you’d authorize the sending server of your email service provider to send through your domain. In this case, Office 365.

So, how does SPF work in practice?

When an email claims to come from your domain, the receiving server checks your domain’s SPF record.

The email will pass authentication if the sending server is indeed in your SPF record. If it's not, the SPF authentication will fail, and the email will get sent to spam or not be delivered at all.

SPF Record Example

Let’s take a look at the standard SPF record for Office 365:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all

Here’s what it all means:

• 💡 The V stands for version. There’s only one SPF version in use currently

• 💡 The Include tag holds the authorized sending server

• 💡 The All tag defines the result that should be returned when an email fails authentication. The record above states that emails failing authentication should be rejected outright.

Can you have multiple SPF records?

No, SPF only supports one record per domain.

If your domain has multiple SPF records, it will cause errors when authenticating emails.

The good news is that you can authorize multiple sending servers (or IPs).

How?

By adding multiple Include tags to your SPF record, like this:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all

Setting up an SPF Record for Microsoft Office 365 - Instructions

You can set up an SPF for Office 365 easily by following the instructions below.

We'll first show you the general steps to setting up your record on any domain provider. Then, we'll share more detailed instructions for specific domain providers like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others.

An SPF record is a type of DNS record, so you'll need access to your domain’s DNS settings. You can usually manage these settings through your domain provider’s account.

If you purchased a domain through your hosting provider, you'll find your domain's DNS settings there.

Set up an Office 365 SPF record on any domain provider

1. ➡️ Log in to your domain provider account

2. ➡️ Look for a page or tab called DNS settings, DNS, or Advanced

3. ➡️ First, check if there’s an existing SPF record

4. ➡️ If there’s none, add a new record

5. ➡️ Choose TXT as the record’s Type

6. ➡️ Add @ to the Host or Name field (unless you’re setting up an SPF for a subdomain)

7. ➡️ Paste the Office 365 record in the Value or Target field:

   v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all

   (If your domain already has an SPF record, simply add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g.:

   v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

8. ➡️ Save your SPF record

How to set up an Office 365 SPF record on Namecheap

1. ➡️ Log in to your Namecheap account

2. ➡️ Click on Domain List

3. ➡️ Select your domain

4. ➡️ Click on Advanced DNS

5. ➡️ Check for an existing SPF record

6. ➡️ If there’s none, click on Add

7. ➡️ Select TXT as the record’s Type

8. ➡️ Put @ in the Host field (Unless you want to set up SPF for a subdomain)

9. ➡️ Add the Office 365 SPF record to the Value field: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all (If your domain already has an SPF record, simply add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g.: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

10. ➡️ Click the checkmark to save your record

How to Configure an SPF Record for Office 365 on GoDaddy

1. ➡️ Go to your GoDaddy account

2. ➡️ Go to My Products

3. ➡️ Pick your domain

4. ➡️ Go to DNS

5. ➡️ Check if your domain has an existing SPF record

6. ➡️ Click on Add if there’s no SPF record

7. ➡️ Choose TXT as the Type

8. ➡️ Put @ in the Name field (Unless when setting up SPF for a subdomain)

9. ➡️ Add the Office 365 SPF record to the Value field:

   v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all (Does your domain already have an SPF record? Simply add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g.: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

10. ➡️ Save your SPF record

Setting up an Office 365 SPF on Cloudflare

1. ➡️ Log in to Cloudflare and click on your domain on the dashboard

2. ➡️ Click on DNS

3. ➡️ Check if there’s an existing SPF record configured for your domain

4. ➡️ If there isn’t, create a new DNS record

5. ➡️ Choose TXT as the record’s Type

6. ➡️ Put @ in the Name field (Unless setting up an SPF record for a subdomain)

7. ➡️ Add the Office 365 SPF record to the Value field:

   v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all (Does your domain already have an SPF record? Add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g.: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

8. ➡️ Save your SPF record

How to configure an SPF record for Office 365 on Dreamhost

1. ➡️ Log in to Dreamhost and click on Manage Websites

2. ➡️ Select your domain

3. ➡️ Go to DNS Settings

   1. ➡️ In Grid view: Click the three vertical dots below your domain, then click DNS Settings

   2. ➡️ In List view: Click the three vertical dots to the right of your domain, then click DNS Settings

4. ➡️ Check for an existing SPF record

5. ➡️ No existing SPF? Click on Add Record

6. ➡️ Hover over the TXT record section and click on Add

7. ➡️ Leave the Host field blank (Unless setting up an SPF record for a subdomain)

8. ➡️ Add the Office 365 SPF record to the Value field: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all (Does your domain already have an SPF record? Simply add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g., v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

9. ➡️ Hit the Add Record button to save

Setting up an Office 365 SPF record on OVHcloud

1. ➡️ Log in to the OVHcloud control panel and go to My Products and Services

2. ➡️ Click on See All and then select your domain

3. ➡️ Go to the DNS Zone

4. ➡️ Check for an existing SPF record

5. ➡️ If there’s none, add an entry

6. ➡️ Choose TXT as the record’s Type

7. ➡️ Add the Office 365 SPF record to the Value field: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all (Does your domain already have an SPF record? Add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g.: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

8. ➡️ As OVHcloud doesn’t automatically append your domain to the SPF records, you will have to add it manually. If you’ve done it correctly, it should look something like this: yourdomain.com TXT v=spf1 include:zoho.com -all

9. ➡️ Click Save

How to add an Office 365 SPF record to Bluehost

1. ➡️ Log in to Bluehost and go to My Domains

2. ➡️ Select your domain

3. ➡️ Go to DNS

4. ➡️ Check if your domain has an existing SPF record

5. ➡️ If not, click on Add New Record if it doesn’t

6. ➡️ Choose TXT as the record’s Type

7. ➡️ Put @ in the Name or Host field (unless you’re setting up SPF for a subdomain)

8. ➡️ Add the SPF record to the Value field:

   v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all

   (Does your domain already have an SPF record? Simply add another Include to the record for Zoho Mail, e.g.:

   v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org -all)

9. ➡️ Click save

The Hidden Step: Validating Your SPF Record

After saving your record, it won’t be active immediately.

In fact, it can take up to 72 hours for your record to become visible.

But don’t worry, typically your record will propagate in a few hours.

To check the status of your SPF record, use MXToolbox. Just enter your domain and select the SPF Record Lookup option.

Work Not Done Yet

While setting up your SPF is a big step toward better open rates, SPF alone is not enough.

The SPF protocol works best in combination with two other email authentication methods: DKIM and DMARC.

Together, these three email authentication tools can boost your sales email engagement and, ultimately, your revenue.

Make sure to set up all three before you start your outreach.