I only want my .txt records to updated and not my mx records because I use Microsoft is this possible?

Hi Peter Flynn

According to my research, this is fully supported and is a standard Microsoft 365 configuration. You can update or add TXT records (such as domain verification, SPF, DKIM, or DMARC) without changing your MX records. Updating TXT records does not affect mail flow.

Email routing is controlled exclusively by MX records. As long as your MX record continues to point to <domain-com>.mail.protection.outlook.com, inbound email will continue to flow to Exchange Online (Microsoft 365).

Based on my understanding, Google will not take over your email unless Google MX records are added to your DNS settings. Simply adding TXT records for verification or authentication, whether requested by Google or another service does not move email away from Microsoft 365.

Note that if you are updating your SPF record to include another service, ensure Microsoft 365 remains included in a single SPF TXT record (for example: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:_spf.google.com ~all) and do not create multiple SPF records, as this will cause authentication issues.

For more information, you can refer to:

External Domain Name System records for Microsoft 365 - Microsoft 365 Enterprise | Microsoft Learn

Set up SPF identify valid email sources for your Microsoft 365 domain - Microsoft Defender for Offi…

Connect your domain by adding DNS records - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn

I hope this information helps and if you have any question, please feel free to ask via comment section.

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Yes, it is possible to update only TXT records (for example, for verification or SPF) without changing MX records so that email continues to use Microsoft 365.

Key points:

1. MX records control where email is delivered.
   • For Microsoft 365, the MX record typically points to <domain-key>.mail.protection.outlook.com.
   • As long as this MX record remains in place and other MX records are removed, email will continue to flow to Microsoft 365 and not to Google.
2. TXT records can be added or updated independently.
   • TXT records are used for domain verification and SPF.
   • For Microsoft 365, a typical SPF TXT record looks like: v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all
   • Domain verification TXT records look like MS=msXXXXXXXX and are used only to prove ownership.
3. When using another provider’s DNS (for example, Namecheap, Cloudflare, or IONOS), only change what is required:
   • Leave the existing Microsoft 365 MX record in place.
   • Add or edit TXT records as instructed by Microsoft 365 (for verification or SPF) or by other services, but do not add a Google MX record if the goal is to keep email on Microsoft 365.
4. If DNS is managed by Microsoft 365 (nameservers set to Microsoft), any DNS changes must be made in the Microsoft 365 admin center under Settings → Domains → Manage DNS. In that case, TXT and MX records are still managed independently; updating TXT does not force MX to change.

If the MX record continues to point to Microsoft 365 and no Google MX records are added, Google will not take over email delivery.

References:

• Connect DNS records at Namecheap to Microsoft 365
• Connect your DNS records at Cloudflare to Microsoft 365
• Connect your DNS records at IONOS to Microsoft 365
• Connect your DNS records at Amazon Web Services (AWS) to Microsoft 365
• Find and fix issues after adding your domain or DNS records