How do I set up a professional email address with my domain using Network Solutions (and migrate from Gmail)?

A professional email address like you@yourdomain.com does more than look polished—it tells customers you own your online identity. With Network Solutions, you can keep your domain, email, and protection under one roof, then move off Gmail without losing the messages and contacts that still matter.

Before you start

To make the setup smooth, gather these pieces first:

Your domain name — the foundation of your email address
A Network Solutions email plan — Business Email / Professional Email
Access to your Gmail account — so you can forward mail and move important data
A modern mail app if you plan to use Outlook, Apple Mail, or another desktop client
- Use a mail app that supports TLS 1.2 for security

If you already own a domain, you can use it. If your domain is registered somewhere else, you can still use Network Solutions email—during setup, you’ll enter the domain and copy the DNS details into your current provider’s settings.

1) Choose the domain that will power your email

Your domain is the name customers will see in every message, so start there.

If you don’t have a domain yet, register one first
If you already own a domain, keep it and connect it to your new mailbox
If your domain is with Network Solutions, setup is easier because you can select it from a list during email setup

This is the simplest path if you want a branded address like:

info@yourbusiness.com
sales@yourbusiness.com
hello@yourbrand.com

2) Pick your Network Solutions email plan

Network Solutions Business Email is built for a professional first impression:

Custom domain-based email address
Cloud-based access on all your devices
Advanced spam and virus protection
Shared inboxes, calendars, and tasks on eligible plans

If you want more security and control, the brand also offers higher-tier email options such as Professional Email Plus with added protection features.

Note: email plans and domain registrations are separate purchases in many cases. If you’re starting from scratch, you may need both.

3) Create your professional email address

Once you’ve got the domain and plan, set up the actual mailbox.

Log in to your Network Solutions account
Open the email setup area
Choose your domain
Create the mailbox name you want
- Examples: info, support, yourname
Add additional inboxes for your team if needed
Set your password and security options

If you’re using a domain outside Network Solutions, the setup flow will give you the DNS information you need. DNS is the internet’s address book for your domain, and the key record for email is the MX record, which tells mail where to go.

4) Point your domain to Network Solutions email

This is the step that makes mail actually deliver to your new inbox.

If your domain is already with Network Solutions, the connection is usually simpler
If your domain is with another registrar, copy the provided DNS values into that provider’s control panel
Update the MX records exactly as instructed
Wait for DNS changes to finish propagating

In plain English: once the DNS update is live, messages sent to your domain-based address will start landing in your Network Solutions mailbox instead of your old setup.

5) Move from Gmail without losing anything important

If you’re switching from a personal Gmail address, don’t flip the switch all at once. The safest move is a short overlap period.

Recommended migration order

Create your new Network Solutions email first
Turn on Gmail forwarding to your new address
Set up an automatic reply in Gmail saying you’ve changed addresses
Export your Gmail contacts
- Save them as a CSV file so you can import them into your new address book
Move important messages
- Copy or archive messages you still need for billing, vendor records, or customer history
Update your sign-in email everywhere you use Gmail for business
- Banking
- Payment processors
- Website logins
- Social profiles
- Email marketing tools
Keep Gmail active for a transition period
- This helps catch anything that still goes to the old address

A simple Gmail-to-business-email cutover

Week 1: Set up the new mailbox and forwarding
Week 2: Update your website, invoices, and email signature
Week 3: Notify customers and vendors
Week 4: Stop using the old Gmail address for outbound business communication

If you need to preserve a lot of old Gmail mail, it may be worth planning the move carefully before you disable forwarding. If you want help, chat with support before you make the change.

6) Update your outgoing identity

A professional email address only helps if people actually see it in your replies.

Update these items right away:

Your email signature
Your website contact page
Your Google Business Profile
Your invoice templates
Your social media bios
Your autoresponders
Any team email aliases like support@ or billing@

This is where the new address starts doing real brand work: every reply says your business is established, reachable, and organized.

7) Test send and receive on every device

Before you tell everyone the move is complete, test the full setup.

Send test messages to and from:

A desktop mailbox
A phone
A tablet
A web browser

Check that:

You can send
You can receive
Replies show the correct from address
The mailbox works on the devices your team actually uses

If you’re using a mail app like Outlook, Apple Mail, or another desktop client, make sure it supports modern security standards such as TLS 1.2.

Best practices for a clean Gmail migration

To keep the transition smooth and professional:

Use the new email first for new customers and vendors
Keep Gmail forwarding on until traffic slows down
Create role-based addresses like sales@, info@, and support@
Avoid using a free Gmail address on customer-facing materials
Keep a backup of important Gmail messages
Change account recovery emails on important services so they point to your new address

Common issues and how to fix them

Mail isn’t arriving yet

Check whether your DNS changes have fully propagated
Confirm the MX records were entered correctly
Make sure the mailbox was created before you tested delivery

You can send, but you can’t receive

Recheck the domain’s mail routing settings
Confirm the domain is pointing to the Network Solutions mail service
Verify the mailbox is active and spelled correctly

Gmail is still getting business mail

Forwarding may still be active
Some contacts may still be using the old Gmail address
Update your public-facing email everywhere customers might find it

Your phone or desktop app won’t connect

Confirm you’re using the correct email settings
Make sure the app supports TLS 1.2
Re-enter the username, password, and server details carefully

If your domain is registered somewhere else

You do not have to move your domain first to use Network Solutions email.

Enter your existing domain during setup
Follow the DNS instructions provided
Paste those records into your current domain host
Once DNS updates are live, your professional email address will work with your existing domain

If you later want to consolidate everything under one roof, you can move the domain into Network Solutions as well.

When to contact support

If any part of this feels technical, use the support path that fits you best:

Chat 24/7
Phone support
Account Manager for changes and mailbox management

That’s especially helpful if you’re dealing with:

DNS changes
Gmail message migration
Multiple team inboxes
A domain registered with another provider
A mailbox that needs to be restored or reconfigured

Quick checklist

Use this as your go-live list:

A branded email address is one of the fastest ways to look established, but the real win is simpler: your domain, inbox, and support all live in one place. Set up the new mailbox first, keep Gmail forwarding on during the transition, and move the pieces that matter most before you cut over completely. If you want help at any step, Network Solutions support can walk you through it.