Use branded link for GDPR double opt-in confirmation emails

When you enable double opt-in in STOQ, customers receive a confirmation email with a link to verify their back-in-stock alert registration. By default, this link uses the STOQ domain (app.restockrocket.io). With the branded link for GDPR double opt-in feature, you can replace that with your own store's domain so the confirmation link looks like https://yourstore.com/apps/restock/confirm-optin/... — giving customers a familiar, trustworthy URL.

This guide explains what the feature does, how to enable it, and how to configure the app proxy settings it relies on.

Overview

GDPR and similar privacy regulations in many countries require merchants to confirm that a customer intentionally signed up for notifications. STOQ's double opt-in feature handles this by sending a confirmation email with a verification link.

By default, the confirmation link points to a STOQ-hosted page:

https://app.restockrocket.io/intents/confirm/xxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxx

When you enable Use store domain in confirmation link, the link changes to use your store's own domain via the Shopify app proxy:

https://yourstore.com/apps/restock/confirm-optin/xxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxx

This makes the link more recognizable for your customers, reduces the chance of them treating it as spam, and keeps your brand consistent across all customer-facing communications.

Before You Begin

Make sure the following are in place before enabling this feature.

• You have an active paid STOQ plan. The branded confirmation link is a paid feature.
• Double opt-in is already enabled in STOQ. You cannot use branded links without double opt-in turned on.
• You have access to your Shopify admin's app proxy settings for the STOQ app. You may need to verify or configure the app proxy URL there.

How to Enable a Branded Confirmation Link

Follow these steps to switch the confirmation link from the STOQ domain to your store's domain.

Step 1: Open the Double Opt-In Settings

1. In your Shopify admin, open the STOQ app.
2. Go to Back in Stock > Design.
3. Click Customize widget to open the signup widget editor.
4. In the editor sidebar, click the Double opt-in icon (shield icon) to open the double opt-in settings panel.

Step 2: Enable Double Opt-In (If Not Already Enabled)

1. Toggle Double opt-in to on.
2. When enabled, customers will receive a confirmation email after signing up for a back-in-stock alert. They must click the link in that email to verify their registration.

Step 3: Enable "Use Store Domain in Confirmation Link"

1. Scroll down to the Use store domain in confirmation link checkbox.
2. Check the box to enable it.
3. STOQ automatically detects your app proxy settings. You will see a Link preview showing how the confirmation link will appear to customers.

Step 4: Verify the App Proxy Configuration

When you enable the branded link, STOQ attempts to auto-detect your app proxy settings and verify them. You will see one of the following status messages:

• "App proxy verified." (green checkmark) — The app proxy is correctly configured and the branded link will work.
• "Link suffix doesn't match your app proxy settings — check settings." (warning) — The app proxy URL in STOQ does not match your Shopify admin settings. Follow the setup instructions shown on screen to fix it.
• "Store has password protection — can't verify automatically. Link will work once the store is live." — Your store is password-protected (development mode), so STOQ cannot verify the proxy. The link will work correctly once you remove the password.

If the app proxy is not verified, follow the on-screen setup instructions:

1. Go to STOQ's settings in your Shopify admin. A direct link is provided in the STOQ interface.
2. Find the app proxy section and click Customize URL.
3. Match the URL prefix shown in Shopify with the Prefix and Suffix fields in the STOQ double opt-in settings.

Edit the Prefix and Suffix

STOQ lets you customize the prefix and suffix of the branded confirmation link to match your Shopify app proxy configuration. This is useful if your app proxy path is different from the default.

Understanding Prefix and Suffix

The branded link follows this structure:

https://yourstore.myshopify.com + prefix + suffix + /confirm-optin/xxxxx

• Prefix — The first part of the app proxy path. Choose from:
• • /apps/ (default)
  • /a/
• Suffix — The second part of the app proxy path. This is the app-specific identifier (e.g., restock, restockrocket-production).

For example, with prefix /apps/ and suffix restock, the full link becomes:

https://yourstore.myshopify.com/apps/restock/confirm-optin/xxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxx

Step 6: Save Your Changes

Click Save in the editor to apply your changes. All future double opt-in confirmation emails will use your store's branded link.

How the Branded Confirmation Link Works

When a customer signs up for a back-in-stock alert and double opt-in is enabled, STOQ sends them a confirmation email. The email body contains a {{request.activation_link}} variable that resolves to the confirmation URL.

• Without branded link: https://app.restockrocket.io/intents/confirm/xxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxx
• With branded link: https://yourstore.com/apps/restock/confirm-optin/xxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxx

When the customer clicks the branded link, Shopify's app proxy routes the request through your store's domain to STOQ's servers. STOQ confirms the registration and displays the success message you configured in the double opt-in settings.

The customer sees your store's URL in their browser throughout this process, keeping the experience on-brand.

Known Limitations

Keep these constraints in mind when using branded confirmation links.

• Paid plan required — The "Use store domain in confirmation link" option is only available on paid STOQ plans. On free plans, the checkbox is disabled.
• Double opt-in must be enabled — The branded link checkbox is disabled unless double opt-in is turned on. You must enable double opt-in first.
• App proxy must be configured in Shopify — The branded link relies on Shopify's app proxy feature. If the app proxy is not set up or is misconfigured, the link will not work. STOQ verifies this for you automatically.
• Password-protected stores — STOQ cannot verify the app proxy automatically if your store has password protection enabled. The link will work once the password is removed.
• Shared app proxy path with SMS — The app proxy path prefix setting (app_proxy_path_prefix) is shared between the branded confirmation link and branded SMS purchase links. Changing the prefix or suffix in one place affects both features.
• Translations supported — The confirmation email subject, body, and success message support translations through STOQ's multi-language feature. The branded link itself does not change based on language.

Troubleshooting

Use this table to resolve common issues with branded confirmation links.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to change my confirmation email template after enabling the branded link?

A: No. The {{request.activation_link}} variable in your email template automatically uses the branded URL when "Use store domain in confirmation link" is enabled. You do not need to edit your email template.

Q: What happens if I disable the branded link after enabling it?

A: The confirmation link reverts to the default STOQ domain (https://app.restockrocket.io/intents/confirm/...). Any previously sent branded links will still work because Shopify's app proxy continues to route those requests. New emails will use the default link.

Q: Does the branded link affect SMS confirmation links?

A: No. The "Use store domain in confirmation link" setting only affects the double opt-in confirmation email link. SMS purchase links have their own separate "Use store domain in purchase link" setting in the SMS template editor.

Q: Can I use a custom domain instead of my Shopify domain?

A: The branded link uses whatever domain your Shopify store is set up with. If you have a custom domain (e.g., yourstore.com) configured as the primary domain in Shopify, the confirmation link will use that domain. If you are using the default .myshopify.com domain, the link will use that instead.

Q: What is the app proxy and why does it need to be configured?

A: The Shopify app proxy allows STOQ to serve content through your store's domain. When a customer clicks https://yourstore.com/apps/restock/confirm-optin/..., Shopify forwards that request to STOQ's servers behind the scenes. This is a built-in Shopify feature that does not require any code changes on your part — you just need to make sure the URL prefix and suffix match between Shopify and STOQ.

Q: Will changing the app proxy prefix/suffix break my existing SMS branded links?

A: Yes, the app proxy path prefix is shared between the double opt-in confirmation link and SMS branded links. If you change the prefix or suffix, make sure to update it in both the double opt-in settings and the SMS content settings, and verify that the new value matches your Shopify app proxy configuration.

Q: How do I know if the branded link is working correctly?

A: After enabling the feature, check for the green "App proxy verified" status message in the double opt-in settings. You can also send yourself a test signup by signing up for a back-in-stock alert on your storefront, then checking the confirmation email to verify the link uses your store's domain.

Updated on: 14/04/2026