Forum Discussion
GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 Email Account Transfer
Hi all, I'm working with a small company that just updated its business name. They want to update their Microsoft 365 licences to the new domain, which is currently registered with GoDaddy.
As they weren't ready to change this straight away, some 365 (essential) Email accounts were set up in GoDaddy. Now they are ready to make the 365 update, but the email situation seems really confusing, and the two options seem to be:
1) delete the accounts and set them up again,
2) use GoDaddy to manage the changeover - but the tech support seemed a little vague on this and the timings.
Has anyone used the GoDaddy managed change and was it successful? Or would you recommend doing it manually? (Or another option?)
Sorry, I know versions of this have been asked before, but I'd really appreciate some up-to-date advice if possible. Thanks very much!
3 Replies
Hey hillhiker ,
No need to migrate from one tenant to another—we can actually do something much better: it’s called Defederation.
Defederation allows us to remove GoDaddy’s control over the tenant and bring it fully under Microsoft’s management without changing accounts, data, or emails. Here’s how it works:
GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 – Defederation Overview
1- Disconnect GoDaddy
- Access the hidden Microsoft admin panel
- Remove GoDaddy’s federation and regain control
2- Assign Microsoft Licenses
- Purchase new licenses directly from Microsoft (GoDaddy licenses can't be transferred)
- Use shared mailboxes where possible to optimize cost
3- Update, Secure & Adapt - Reset all user passwords
- Update DNS to Microsoft for better email security
- Change SharePoint URL to a new, Microsoft-managed domain (optional but recommended)
4- Verify & Finalize - Seamless transition with zero downtime
- Full access to Microsoft 365 admin features, security tools, and no GoDaddy restrictions
Result: Native Microsoft 365 tenant with full control and better long-term scalability.
Let me know if you'd like to proceed—I’ve helped many businesses through this exact process smoothly.
Best,
Ahmed Masoud
Hi Ahmed_Masoud97 , how do I access the hidden Microsoft admin panel and do step 1?
Thanks for the great question!
You're absolutely right—Microsoft’s official documentation doesn't clearly explain how to defederate from GoDaddy, which is why it’s been such a common pain point for many users.
The good news is:
👉 You don’t need to contact GoDaddy, and
👉 You can keep your domain registered with them—we’re just removing their control over your Microsoft 365 tenant (that’s the key part).
To answer your questions briefly:
🔐 Accessing the hidden Microsoft admin panel
- Go to https://portal.azure.com
- Sign in with your admin account (you’ll likely need the original email address removed for privacy reasons account)
- From there, you’ll gain access to Azure Active Directory and can reset the password for the true Global Admin
🧩 How to remove GoDaddy’s federation:
- You’ll use Microsoft Graph PowerShell to change the domain authentication from Federated to Managed
- This allows you to bypass GoDaddy’s redirection and fully manage your Microsoft 365 tenant
I’ve written a step-by-step guide (with PowerShell examples) and all the details you need to do this safely in my latest blog post here:
👉 Break Free from GoDaddy – The Smarter Way
Let me know if you want a quick visual walkthrough or need help running the commands—I offer 1:1 support for this as well if you prefer to have it handled professionally.
Hope this helps!
