Skip to main content

Office 365 Gmail Setup

How to Move Business Email from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace Using GoDaddy

If your business domain is registered with GoDaddy and your email is currently hosted on Microsoft 365, you can move your company email to Google Workspace and use Gmail with your custom domain.

For example, instead of using Microsoft 365 mailboxes such as info@yourcompany.com, you can create Google Workspace Gmail accounts like:

  • admin@yourcompany.com
  • info@yourcompany.com
  • hr@yourcompany.com
  • support@yourcompany.com
  • sales@yourcompany.com
Important: You do not need to move your domain away from GoDaddy. You can keep the domain at GoDaddy and simply change the DNS records so email is delivered to Google Workspace instead of Microsoft 365.

Does Google Workspace Include Email?

Yes. Google Workspace Business Starter includes business email with your own domain. You do not need to pay separately for Gmail or custom domain email.

If the plan shows $4.60 per user per month and you need 5 separate users, the estimated cost is: 

$4.60 × 5 users = $23.00/month

Taxes and final pricing may vary depending on your country, promotion, billing plan, and whether you choose monthly or annual billing.

Can You Buy Only Email Without Google Workspace?

For custom domain Gmail, Google generally sells email as part of Google Workspace. That means you are paying for the user account, which includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Meet, and other Google services.

If all you need is business email, the cheapest practical Google option is usually Google Workspace Business Starter.

Do You Really Need 5 Paid Users?

Not always. This depends on how your company wants to use the email addresses.

Situation Best Setup
5 different people need their own inbox and password Create 5 paid Google Workspace users
One person manages several addresses Create 1 paid user and use aliases such as info@, support@, and sales@
Multiple people need access to a shared address Use a Google Group or Collaborative Inbox

For example, instead of paying for five separate users, a small business may choose:

Paid User Free Aliases
admin@yourcompany.com info@yourcompany.com, support@yourcompany.com, sales@yourcompany.com
hr@yourcompany.com careers@yourcompany.com
Tip: If different people need private inboxes, use separate paid users. If one person or one team is managing multiple addresses, aliases can save money.

Recommended Setup Order

The safest way to move from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace is to set up Google first, test everything, and only then cancel Microsoft 365.

  1. Create the Google Workspace account.
  2. Use your existing domain.
  3. Create the first admin account.
  4. Verify domain ownership through GoDaddy DNS.
  5. Create your users or aliases.
  6. Change MX records from Microsoft to Google.
  7. Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  8. Test sending and receiving email.
  9. Migrate old Microsoft emails if needed.
  10. Cancel Microsoft 365 only after Google email is working.

Step 1
Create Your Google Workspace Account

Start by going to the official Google Workspace website and choosing a plan. For most small businesses, Business Starter is enough.

During signup, Google will ask whether you already have a domain. Choose: 

Use a domain I already own

Then enter your business domain, for example: 

yourcompany.com

Step 2
Create the First Admin Email

The first user you create becomes your Google Workspace administrator. It is best to use something like: 

admin@yourcompany.com

Avoid making a shared address like info@yourcompany.com the main admin account, especially if multiple people may access that inbox.

Step 3
Verify Your Domain in GoDaddy

Google will ask you to prove that you own the domain. This is usually done by adding a TXT record in GoDaddy DNS.

In Google Workspace

  1. Go to the domain verification step.
  2. Copy the TXT record Google provides.
  3. The value usually looks similar to this:
google-site-verification=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In GoDaddy

  1. Log in to GoDaddy.
  2. Go to My Products.
  3. Find your domain.
  4. Click DNS or Manage DNS.
  5. Click Add New Record.
  6. Select type TXT.
  7. For host/name, enter @.
  8. Paste the TXT value from Google.
  9. Save the record.
  10. Return to Google Workspace and click Verify.
Adding the TXT verification record does not switch your email yet. It only proves to Google that you own the domain.

Step 4
Create Users or Aliases

After the domain is verified, go to the Google Admin console: 

admin.google.com

Then go to: 

Directory → Users → Add new user

Create each user account you need. For example:

User Email Address
Admin admin@yourcompany.com
Info info@yourcompany.com
HR hr@yourcompany.com
Support support@yourcompany.com
Sales sales@yourcompany.com

If some addresses should be aliases instead of separate inboxes, create the main user first, then add aliases under that user.

Step 5
Switch MX Records from Microsoft to Google

MX records control where incoming email is delivered. This is the step that actually moves email delivery from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace.

Important: Do not change MX records until your Google Workspace account is created, your domain is verified, and your users are ready.

In GoDaddy DNS, remove the old Microsoft 365 MX records. They may look something like: 

yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com

Then add Google’s MX record:

Type Name/Host Priority Value
MX @ 1 smtp.google.com

DNS changes can take some time to fully update. During this period, some email may still go to the old Microsoft mailbox while some may begin arriving in Gmail.

Step 6
Add SPF Record

SPF helps receiving mail servers know that Google is allowed to send email for your domain.

In GoDaddy DNS, add or update this TXT record:

Type Name/Host Value
TXT @ v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
Important: Do not create two SPF records. If you already have an SPF TXT record, edit the existing one instead of adding another.

Step 7
Set Up DKIM

DKIM adds a digital signature to outgoing email and helps prevent your messages from going to spam.

In Google Admin console:

  1. Go to Apps.
  2. Go to Google Workspace.
  3. Go to Gmail.
  4. Open Authenticate email.
  5. Select your domain.
  6. Generate a new DKIM record.
  7. Choose 2048-bit if available.
  8. Add the TXT record in GoDaddy DNS.
  9. Return to Google Admin and click Start authentication.

Step 8
Add a Basic DMARC Record

DMARC tells other mail servers what to do if an email claiming to be from your domain fails authentication.

Start with a safe monitoring policy:

Type Name/Host Value
TXT _dmarc v=DMARC1; p=none

Later, after everything is working properly, you can strengthen DMARC to quarantine or reject.

Step 9
Test Email

After changing MX records, test every account.

Email Testing Checklist

  • Send an email from a personal Gmail account to your new business email.
  • Reply from the business email back to Gmail.
  • Test from Outlook, Yahoo, or iCloud if possible.
  • Confirm each mailbox can send and receive email.
  • Check spam folders during the first few tests.

Step 10
Add Google Workspace Email to iPhone Gmail App

Once your email is hosted on Google Workspace, adding it to the Gmail app is easy.

  1. Open the Gmail app on iPhone.
  2. Tap your profile picture.
  3. Tap Add another account.
  4. Choose Google.
  5. Enter your business email address.
  6. Sign in with the Google Workspace password.
  7. Repeat for any other users if needed.

This avoids the Microsoft 365 IMAP login problem because the account is now a real Google Workspace Gmail account.

Step 11
Migrate Old Microsoft 365 Emails

If you already have important emails in Microsoft 365, migrate them before cancelling Microsoft 365.

You can use Google’s data migration tools from the Google Admin console to import mail from Microsoft 365 into Google Workspace.

A typical migration looks like this:

  1. Open Google Admin console.
  2. Go to data migration or import tools.
  3. Select Microsoft 365 or Exchange Online as the source.
  4. Connect the Microsoft account.
  5. Map old mailboxes to new Google mailboxes.
  6. Start the migration.
  7. Confirm old emails appear in Gmail.

Step 12
Cancel Microsoft 365 After Google Email Works

Once Google Workspace email is fully working and any old emails have been migrated, you can contact GoDaddy to cancel Microsoft 365.

Refund eligibility depends on when the Microsoft 365 email plan was purchased or renewed and GoDaddy’s refund policy. If it was purchased recently, contact GoDaddy as soon as possible.

You can say: 

I purchased Microsoft 365 email through GoDaddy for my domain, but I am moving my email to Google Workspace. Please cancel the Microsoft 365 email plan and check whether I am eligible for a refund.

Final Recommendation

If your business wants Gmail-style email with your own domain, Google Workspace Business Starter is usually the best starting point.

Use separate paid users if different people need separate inboxes. Use aliases if one person manages multiple addresses such as info@, support@, and sales@.

Best setup for most small businesses: Keep the domain at GoDaddy, create Google Workspace Business Starter accounts, verify the domain, switch MX records to Google, add SPF/DKIM/DMARC, test email, migrate old mail if needed, and then cancel Microsoft 365.