Add Email » Add Email through Outlook.com
Contents
- Create an Account on Outlook.com
- Add Your Domain Name to Outlook.com
- Set Up Custom DNS
- Verify Custom DNS with Outlook.com
- Set Up Your Email Accounts
Related
If you have a custom domain powering your WordPress.com blog (say mydomain.com) and you would like to have an email address that is customized for that domain (like me@mydomain.com), you can create this type of email address using Microsoft’s Outlook.com service and a few changes to your domain settings. We’ll show you how.
Create an Account on Outlook.com
First, you’ll need to create an account on Outlook.com. To do so, visit http://outlook.com/. If you are not currently signed in to a Microsoft account, you’ll see this screen:
If you already have a Microsoft account, you should sign in using that information. (You already have a Microsoft account if you use it for an existing Outlook.com or Hotmail account, or for related services like Xbox Live.) If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one by following the steps provided.
Add Your Domain Name to Outlook.com
Now, you need to tell Outlook.com which domain you want to use for your email. To do this, you’ll need to go to http://domains.live.com/. You will need to be logged in to your Microsoft Account—and you will be prompted if you aren’t. You’ll see this screen:
Click on the link that says Get started under Custom Domains. Enter your domain name into the field provided in the next step and then click Continue.
You’ll be asked to review your settings for the domain, including which Microsoft Account will be the owner of the domain. Double-check to make sure these settings are correct and then click the I Accept button.
The next thing you see will be a screen that has information you will need to finish connecting Outlook.com to your domain here at WordPress.com.
Set Up Custom DNS
Now, you need to take those domain settings and apply them to your WordPress.com domain. In your blog’s Dashboard, go to Store > Domains, which should contain this:
For the domain you want to configure, select Edit DNS.
Then, you will need the records you were provided when you connected the domain. You’ll use a few of these records one will enter them into the Custom DNS option on WordPress.com. For example, these are the records that were provided for our test domain. Look for the options for Mail Setup and Server Trust:
These two settings are the ones you will need. (WordPress.com does not support the records necessary for Windows Live Messenger integration.)
Here’s what they look like when you enter them into your WordPress.com Custom DNS:
Make sure you enter the records that were provided for your domain and not the records from the example above. Once you have done that, click Save DNS Records to make the change.
Verify Custom DNS with Outlook.com
For this step, you way need to wait a short time. DNS changes can take a while to take effect across the internet, so you’ll need to take a pause here while the changes propagate. In most cases, it will take place within about an hour, but in rare cases it can take a day or so.
After you have given the change some time, go back to http://domains.live.com/ and at the top of the domain verification page (where the settings were displayed), click the Refresh button. You will know you have done this correctly if you go to your domain on http://domains.live.com/ and see this:
Set Up Your Email Accounts
Now, you’ll need to set up the email accounts for your domain. You can get started doing this by clicking the Add button on the domain management screen. For more information on how to use these accounts, please see the Help link that is located at the top of the Windows Live Admin Center.
Your domain on WordPress.com and the Outlook.com service are now fully connected.
