How to Remove Domain from GoDaddy Office 365

• 20 January 2026
• Migration
• Written by Editorial Team

Many businesses start their Microsoft 365 journey through a web hosting giant like GoDaddy for its convenience. However, as companies grow, they often find the need for more direct control, flexible licensing, or specialized support from a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). This is when the question arises: how to remove a domain from GoDaddy Office 365? The process is more technical than a simple settings change. It involves breaking a unique link that GoDaddy establishes between your domain and Microsoft’s servers.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step path to defederate your Microsoft 365 tenant from GoDaddy. Our method focuses on reclaiming administrative control of your existing environment, allowing you to transfer to direct or CSP licensing while keeping all data, users, and services perfectly intact. This is the ideal approach if your goal is to simply change management and licensing without a complex data move. If your needs involve merging with another company or performing a complete structural overhaul, a full tenant-to-tenant migration would be the appropriate strategy. The defederation process outlined here can be accomplished without contacting GoDaddy support and with minimal disruption to your team.

What Does It Mean to Remove a Domain from GoDaddy Office 365?

Removing a domain from GoDaddy Office 365 is not about deleting your website or email address. It is about changing the fundamental management layer of your Microsoft 365 subscription. When you buy Microsoft 365 from GoDaddy, they act as a middleman. They federate your domain, meaning they set themselves up as the exclusive identity provider. This locks your tenant into their system.

To remove the domain means to break this federation. Technically, you are converting your domain’s authentication from “federated” (controlled by GoDaddy) to “managed” (controlled directly by you or your IT provider). This shift is the essential first step to removing GoDaddy’s administrative layer and taking ownership of your Microsoft 365 services. It is important to distinguish this from a GoDaddy to Office 365 migration, which typically refers to a tenant-to-tenant migration. Defederation reclaims your existing environment; migration moves your data to a new one.

Why Businesses Remove Domains from GoDaddy Office 365

Companies choose to defederate and remove their domain from GoDaddy’s control for several practical reasons. The primary driver is the need for direct administrative access. Through GoDaddy, your access to the native Microsoft 365 admin center is limited. You cannot use PowerShell for advanced management, easily integrate with other IT systems, or leverage features that require full tenant control.

Another common reason is licensing flexibility. Businesses may want to purchase licenses through a Microsoft CSP partner for better pricing, bundled services, and expert support. Some organizations need to consolidate their Microsoft 365 subscriptions under a single, centralized partner for streamlined billing and management. The process to defederate M365 from GoDaddy makes all these scenarios possible.

Key Considerations Before Removing a Domain

Before initiating the process to remove a domain from GoDaddy Office 365, it’s crucial to account for several important factors. Proper planning in these areas will prevent downtime, ensure data security, and create a smooth transition for your team.

• Defederation requires every user to set a new password. Develop a secure method to communicate this change and distribute temporary credentials in advance.
• Identify any third-party services, such as email security. These services require you to update your domain’s MX records to point directly to Microsoft 365 post-migration to avoid email delivery failure.
• Always remove GoDaddy as a delegated administrator from your Microsoft 365 tenant before cancelling your subscription with them. Cancelling first can trigger automated processes that delete user accounts and your domain.

  

What Data Is Migrated During GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 Migration?

A key point of relief is that this process is an administrative transition, not a data migration. All your business data resides on Microsoft’s servers, not GoDaddy’s. This includes every email in Exchange Online, every file in SharePoint and OneDrive, and every chat and channel in Microsoft Teams. When you defederate, you are only changing the management and authentication layer on top of that data. Your emails, documents, and Teams data remain perfectly safe and in place. You are unlocking the cage around your tenant, not moving the tenant itself.

Prepare Users and Data Before Defederation

Successful defederation depends on user preparation. Communicate the schedule clearly. Inform your team that they will need to set a new password on a specific date. Explain that they might see re-authentication prompts in Outlook and Office apps, and provide simple instructions for signing back in.

For administrators, preparation means having a plan for the password reset. Will you set a single temporary password for everyone? Or will you generate unique passwords? Have your distribution method ready, whether it’s a secure password manager, a manual handoff, or a scripted process. This preparation is the cornerstone of a smooth transition when you remove the domain from GoDaddy Office 365.

Ensure Global Admin Access in Microsoft 365

To execute the defederation, you need the highest level of permissions. You might already have an “admin” account in your GoDaddy portal, but this is not a true Microsoft Global Admin. You need access to the hidden administrator account that was created when the tenant was first provisioned.

Step 1: Gain Tenant Admin Access from GoDaddy

1. Navigate to the Azure portal.
2. Sign in using the primary admin credentials you use for your current GoDaddy Office 365 account.
3. Open the menu and select Azure Active Directory.
4. Go to Users.
5. Look for the user account that ends in @yourdomain.onmicrosoft.com. This is your true Global Admin.
6. Select this user and click Reset password. Copy the temporary password provided.
7. Open a new private or incognito browser window and go to office.com.
8. Sign in with the onmicrosoft.com admin username and the temporary password. You will be forced to create a new, permanent password.
9. You now possess credentials with full Global Admin rights, capable of performing the defederation.

Step 2: Defederate GoDaddy from Microsoft 365

This step severs the authentication link. You will use PowerShell with the Microsoft Graph module.

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an Administrator.
2. Install and connect to the required module by running:

   Install-Module Microsoft.Graph.Identity.DirectoryManagement -Force

   Connect-MgGraph -Scopes “Directory.Read.All”,”Domain.Read.All”,”Domain.ReadWrite.All”

   Sign in with the Global Admin credentials when prompted.

3. Run Get-MgDomain to list your domains. Identify the one marked as Federated.
4. To convert it to managed, run:

   Update-MgDomain -DomainId “yourdomain.com” -Authentication Managed

   Replace yourdomain.com with your actual federated domain name.

5. Run Get-MgDomain again to confirm its Authentication type now shows as Managed.

Step 3: Reset User Passwords After Defederation

Once the domain is managed, users cannot log in with their old passwords. You must reset them.

Reset Password for a Single User

For a few users, the admin portal is simplest.

1. Log into the Microsoft 365 admin center with your Global Admin account.
2. Go to Users > Active users.
3. Select a user and click Reset password.
4. Choose to auto-generate a password or set your own, then complete the reset.

Reset Password for a Single User

For larger teams, a bulk operation is necessary. You have two main options.

Using CSV Bulk Password Reset

You can create a CSV file with two columns: UserPrincipalName and NewPassword. Import this file into the admin center under Users > Active users > More > Import multiple users.

Using PowerShell Script:

PowerShell is faster and more controlled for bulk resets. After connecting to Microsoft Graph with Connect-MgGraph -Scopes “User.ReadWrite.All”, you can use a loop with the Update-MgUser cmdlet for each user in your CSV, setting their new password.

Step 4: Migrate Emails from GoDaddy to Office 365

As stated earlier, there is no email migration because your emails are already in Office 365. The critical task here is ensuring email flow continuity. If GoDaddy provided advanced email security (like Proofpoint), you must update your domain’s MX records.

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Settings > Domains and select your domain.
2. Find the required MX record value provided by Microsoft.
3. Log into your GoDaddy Domain Control Center.
4. Navigate to DNS Management.
5. Locate and edit the existing MX records. Replace them with the MX record value from Microsoft 365. Delete any obsolete MX records pointing to third-party filters.
6. DNS propagation can take up to 72 hours globally, though updates often occur much faster.

Step 5: Assign Microsoft 365 Licenses Directly

With the tenant defederated, you can now bring in new licenses.

• Through a CSP Partner: Your partner will provide a delegated admin link. Sign in with your Global Admin account to establish the partnership. They can then provision licenses directly to your tenant.
• Direct from Microsoft: In the admin center, go to Billing > Purchase services to buy subscriptions.

Once licenses are in the tenant, go to Users > Active users, select your users, and assign the new licenses. Remember to remove the old GoDaddy-issued licenses from each user.

Email Flow & Security Considerations After Domain Removal

Post-defederation, your primary security consideration is email. Without GoDaddy’s optional security layer, your email protection defaults to Microsoft Defender for Office 365, which is included with licenses like Business Premium. Evaluate if this meets your needs, or plan to implement a new third-party email security solution and configure its required DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC).

Step 6: Remove GoDaddy as Delegated Admin

Before cancelling anything with GoDaddy, you must revoke their admin access.

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Settings > Partner relationships.
2. You will see GoDaddy listed as a partner.
3. Select GoDaddy and click Remove partner relationship. Confirm the action.

Step 7: Remove GoDaddy Enterprise Application

GoDaddy may retain access through an embedded application. To eliminate this backdoor:

1. Go to the Entra admin center.
2. Navigate to Identity > Applications > Enterprise applications.
3. Remove any filter and search for Partner Center Web App.
4. Select the application, go to its Properties, and click Delete.

Step 8: Cancel GoDaddy Office 365 Subscription

Now you can safely cancel with GoDaddy.

1. Log into your GoDaddy account.
2. Go to your Subscriptions or Billing page.
3. Locate your Microsoft 365/Office 365 subscription.
4. Turn off Auto-renew or select the option to cancel at the end of the billing period. Do not delete the account.

Step 9: Remove Domain from GoDaddy Office 365 Tenant

In the Microsoft 365 admin center under Settings > Domains, you can remove the domain. However, for most businesses completing a defederation, the goal is to keep the domain in the tenant under new management, not remove it entirely.

Common Errors While Removing Domain and How to Fix Them

While removing a domain from GoDaddy Office 365, you may encounter specific technical hurdles. Identifying these common errors and knowing how to resolve them quickly will keep your transition on track.

• Error: “You must be a Global Administrator.”
  • Cause & Fix: This error confirms you are not using the true global administrator account. Return to Step 1 in the guide to properly gain access to this hidden admin account via the Azure portal.
• Error: PowerShell Cmdlet Not Recognized.
  • Cause & Fix: The required Microsoft Graph module is not installed or loaded. Ensure you are running Windows PowerShell as an Administrator and have installed the correct module using: Install-Module Microsoft.Graph.Identity.DirectoryManagement.
• Error: Emails Stop Flowing.
  • Cause & Fix: This almost always indicates unresolved MX records. If your GoDaddy plan included third-party email security (like Proofpoint), you must update your domain’s DNS settings. Log into your GoDaddy Domain Control Center and verify the MX records point directly to Microsoft 365, not to a third-party service.
• Error: Users Cannot Activate Office Apps.
  • Cause & Fix: This typically means the new Microsoft 365 licenses have not been correctly assigned. After provisioning licenses through a CSP or directly from Microsoft, you must assign them to each user. Go to Users > Active users in the Microsoft 365 admin center, select your users, and assign the new licenses.

How Long Does the GoDaddy Domain Removal Process Take?

The technical process to remove a domain from GoDaddy Office 365, or defederation, can be completed in under an hour for most small to mid-sized businesses. The overall project timeline is driven by non-technical factors. User communication and preparation may take a few days. Planning for the password reset distribution is crucial. The only external delay is DNS propagation if you had to change MX records, which can take up to 72 hours to fully complete worldwide.

Remove Your Domain from GoDaddy Office 365 with Apps4Rent Assistance

Learning how to remove a domain from GoDaddy Office 365 empowers you to take full control of your digital workspace. The process to defederate M365 from GoDaddy is systematic and relies on careful preparation, particularly concerning user passwords and email security settings. By following the outlined steps, you can transition your tenant smoothly to direct or partner-managed control without data loss or disruption. These steps include securing true admin access, breaking the federation, managing credentials, updating DNS, and methodically revoking access.

For businesses seeking expert guidance, partnering with a certified provider can streamline this technical transition. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, Apps4Rent assists organizations in managing complex cloud migrations and administration, including GoDaddy defederation and full-scale Office 365 migration projects. Our deep expertise across leading platforms such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud ensures we can help you navigate your cloud environment with precision. We provide support whether you are reclaiming control of Microsoft 365 or optimizing a broader cloud strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I remove a domain from GoDaddy Office 365?

   You remove the domain by first defederating it. This involves using PowerShell as a Global Admin to change your domain’s authentication from federated to managed. After this, you remove GoDaddy’s administrative partnerships and cancel their subscription.

2. Will removing GoDaddy affect my emails or users?

   Your email data and user accounts remain untouched. The effect is on access: users will need new passwords, and you must ensure email DNS records are correct to maintain mail flow.

3. Do I lose emails during GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 migration?

   No. This process is an administrative defederation, not a data migration. All historical and current emails remain securely in your Exchange Online mailbox throughout the entire process.

4. How long does it take to defederate GoDaddy Office 365?

   The core technical steps can be executed in an hour or two. The total project time depends on your preparation, user communication, and any required DNS changes, potentially spanning a few days.

5. Can I keep the same domain after removing GoDaddy?

   Absolutely. The primary goal of defederation is to keep using your exact same domain and all associated data, but under your own or a new partner’s direct management.

6. Is PowerShell required to remove GoDaddy federation?

   Yes. The specific action of converting a domain from federated to managed authentication must be done using PowerShell with the Microsoft Graph module. There is no graphical button in the admin center for this.

7. Will this impact Teams, OneDrive, or SharePoint data?

   No. Your data in all Microsoft 365 services is preserved. The change is purely at the authentication and management layer.