Change your sender (From) address

Use this guide to change who a back-in-stock email appears to come from: the From name customers see, and whether it sends from STOQ’s default address or your own custom domain.

Before you begin

You’ll need	Why
Email alerts sent through STOQ’s built-in sender	If you send through Klaviyo or Shopify Flow instead, the sending address is managed in that platform, not here
A paid plan, for a custom address	Free plans can only send from the default STOQ address

What customers will see

On the default address, the email preview and inbox display show your From name with a “(STOQ)” label appended, for example “Big Great Future shop (STOQ)”. Switching to your own custom address, once it’s DKIM authenticated, removes the “(STOQ)” label so the email appears to come purely from your brand.

Set it up

On a phone, this menu is collapsed. In the Shopify mobile app, tap the STOQ logo at the top of the screen to open it, then choose the section named below. There is no hamburger icon. See Finding the STOQ menu.

1. Open the Address panel

   1. In the left menu bar of the STOQ app, click Back in stock alerts.
   2. Click the Settings tab.
   3. Open the Notifications sub-tab.
   4. Select the notification you want to edit and choose Customize email.
   5. In the editor’s sidebar, click Address.

   

   

2. Set the From name

   Enter the sender name customers see in the From name field.

   

3. Choose the sending address

   Select Default address to keep sending from STOQ’s shared address, or select Use your own email to send from a custom domain address instead. Use your own email requires a paid plan; on a free plan it’s disabled with an upgrade prompt.

   STOQ sends from your own address only while Use your own email is selected and DKIM is authenticated. If you select Default address, emails go from STOQ’s address even if your domain is already authenticated.

   

4. Enter your custom address, if used

   With Use your own email selected, enter the address in the From address field.

Authenticate your custom address (DKIM)

A custom address must complete DKIM authentication before STOQ sends from it. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature that proves your emails genuinely come from your domain, which is what lets them reach the inbox at Gmail, Yahoo, and other providers. Since February 2024, Google and Yahoo require it for bulk senders. Until authentication finishes, emails keep sending from the default STOQ address and show the “(STOQ)” label.

Which email addresses work

Your custom address must:

• Use a custom domain you own, for example hello@yourstore.com.
• Not be a free provider address (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook, iCloud, and similar are not allowed).
• Be a valid address on a domain that can receive email.

If the address isn’t eligible, STOQ shows an Email address ineligible for sending banner and keeps using the default address until you change it.

Download your DNS records

1. Find the DKIM section

   After you enter a custom address and save, a DKIM authentication required section appears in the Address panel, below the From address field.

2. Download the records

   Click Download records. STOQ generates a CSV file containing three CNAME records specific to your domain. Save it, you’ll need it for the next steps. Click Read instructions any time to reopen the setup guide.

   

Understanding the DKIM record format

The CSV contains three CNAME records in this format:

Name	Type	Value
xxxxxxxx._domainkey.yourdomain.com	CNAME	xxxxxxxx.dkim.amazonses.com
yyyyyyyy._domainkey.yourdomain.com	CNAME	yyyyyyyy.dkim.amazonses.com
zzzzzzzz._domainkey.yourdomain.com	CNAME	zzzzzzzz.dkim.amazonses.com

You must add all three. A partial setup will not authenticate.

Adding DKIM records to your DNS

Add each record at whichever provider hosts your domain’s DNS (your domain registrar or host, for example GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap).

1. Open your DNS settings

   Go to your domain’s DNS management page and choose to add a new record, with the record type set to CNAME.

2. Enter the Name

   Copy the value from the Name column of the CSV (for example myc2hajp4qreukhgkr6fvoidt6ilnd47._domainkey.yourdomain.com) and paste it into the Name, Host, or Label field.

3. Enter the Value

   Copy the matching value from the Value column (for example myc2hajp4qreukhgkr6fvoidt6ilnd47.dkim.amazonses.com) and paste it into the Value, Target, or Destination field.

4. Save and repeat

   Save the record, then repeat for all three CNAME records. DNS changes can take up to 72 hours to take effect, though they often propagate much sooner.

Provider-specific DNS setup

Some hosts want only the part before your domain in the Name field. Enter just the _domainkey portion, not the full yourdomain.com:

Google Domains

In the Name column, enter only xxxxxxxx._domainkey (leave off yourdomain.com).

Namecheap

In the Host field, enter only xxxxxxxx._domainkey (leave off yourdomain.com).

Shopify

In the Name field, enter only xxxxxxxx._domainkey (leave off yourdomain.com).

Squarespace

In the Host field, enter only xxxxxxxx._domainkey (leave off yourdomain.com).

Verifying DKIM setup

1. Wait for the records to propagate

   After adding all three CNAME records, give DNS time to update, usually 15 minutes to 2 hours (up to 72 hours in some cases).

2. Refresh the Address panel

   Return to the Address panel and refresh the page. STOQ checks your DNS automatically, no manual verify button is needed.

3. Confirm it’s authenticated

   When it’s done, the status changes from DKIM not authenticated to DKIM authenticated. Emails then send from your custom address and the “(STOQ)” label is removed.

If DKIM isn’t authenticated within 48 hours, contact STOQ support from the chat in the app, they can check your records and restart verification with the email provider (AWS).

Records STOQ does not need

DKIM is the only authentication STOQ sets up, so the three CNAME records are all you add. STOQ does not ask you to add an SPF record, an MX record, A or AAAA records, a DMARC record, or a separate sending subdomain such as bis.yourdomain.com. Your emails are sent and signed through Amazon SES, which is why the three records point at dkim.amazonses.com.

If you’re cleaning up your DNS, keep the three CNAME records whose values end in .dkim.amazonses.com. Remove any of them and DKIM stops authenticating, so STOQ sends from its default address with the “(STOQ)” label until all three are back in place.

Troubleshooting

Emails still show the (STOQ) label after switching to a custom address

DKIM authentication hasn’t completed yet. Emails keep sending from the default address, with the “(STOQ)” label, until the 3 CNAME records are verified. Click Download records in the DKIM authentication required section and confirm they’re added at your domain host.

Use your own email is disabled

This requires a paid plan. Upgrade to unlock a custom sending address.

Email address ineligible for sending banner

The custom address you entered can’t be used to send emails. Use an address on a custom domain, not a free email provider, or switch back to Default address. Emails keep sending from the default address until you fix this.

DKIM isn't authenticating after you added the records

STOQ re-checks your DNS every time you reopen the Address panel, so refresh it after each change. If the status still reads DKIM not authenticated, check these common causes:

1. All three CNAME records were added, not just one or two.
2. Each record’s Name and Value match the CSV exactly, with no extra dot, space, or character pasted in. Some hosts want only the _domainkey part, see Provider-specific DNS setup above.
3. On Cloudflare, set each record’s proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud), not Proxied (orange cloud). A proxied CNAME won’t resolve for verification.
4. Enough time has passed for DNS to propagate (up to 72 hours).

If it still hasn’t authenticated after 48 hours, contact STOQ support from the chat in the app so they can check your records and restart verification.

FAQ

Why does my email say '(STOQ)' after my shop name?

It’s appended automatically whenever you’re sending from the default STOQ address, so customers can tell the alert came through STOQ. It’s removed once you switch to your own custom address and complete DKIM authentication.

Does changing the From name or address affect emails already sent?

No. It only applies to emails sent after you save; any alert already delivered keeps the sender details it was sent with.

What happens to my custom address if I move to the Free plan?

STOQ switches you back to Default address and emails send from STOQ’s address with the “(STOQ)” label. If you upgrade again, select Use your own email, enter your address, and save. If the status shows DKIM not authenticated, follow the DKIM steps above again.

Can I use any email address as my custom From address?

It needs to be on a domain you control, not a free provider address, and it must complete DKIM authentication. If the address is ineligible, STOQ shows a banner and keeps sending from the default address until you fix it.

Is the From name shared with the SMS channel?

No, SMS alerts don’t use the From name or address, only email does.

Do I need to add an SPF or MX record for STOQ?

No. STOQ only asks you to add the three DKIM CNAME records. Emails are sent and signed through Amazon SES, so there are no SPF, MX, A, AAAA, or subdomain records to add on your side.

Do I need a DMARC record for STOQ?

No. STOQ doesn’t ask you to add a DMARC record to authenticate your sending address. Only the three DKIM CNAME records are required.

Can I download the DNS records again later?

Yes, while your address is still unverified: the Download records button stays in the DKIM authentication required section of the Address panel, so you can reopen it any time before authentication completes. Once DKIM is authenticated the section is replaced by a DKIM authenticated status and the button no longer appears, so contact STOQ support from the chat in the app if you need the records again.

Related guides

Customize the back in stock email notificationThe full email hub: subject, content, styling, and sending.

Back in stock SMS alertsSet up the text message version of the restock notification.

Back in stock email delivery channelsChoose between the built-in sender and third-party providers.

Test back in stock alertsSend yourself a real restock alert before going live.