> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dollarlabs.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dollarlabs.io/dollarback-store-credit/notifications/sender-identity-and-custom-domain.md).

# Sender identity & custom domain

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/8f82b1c37bf2df06219d>" %}

*This article's section starts at 3:03 in the video.*

Control who your DollarBack emails appear to come from: set the sender name and reply-to address, and on qualifying plans send from your own domain so emails carry your brand and inherit your domain's reputation.

## Prerequisites

* At least one email template enabled ([Email notifications overview](/dollarback-store-credit/notifications/email-notifications-overview.md)).
* For a custom sending domain: access to your domain's DNS settings (at your registrar or DNS host) and a plan that includes the feature.

## Set the sender name and reply-to

1. Go to **DollarBack admin → Notifications**.
2. In the **Sender** section, set:
   * **Sender name**: the "from" name customers see in their inbox.
   * **Reply-to email**: where customer replies go. This defaults to your store contact email; change it if support mail should land elsewhere.
3. Save your changes.

These apply to all five templates.

## Connect a custom sending domain

{% hint style="info" %}
**Plan:** custom sending domains are available on qualifying plans. If the section is locked, see [Plans, usage and overage billing](/dollarback-store-credit/analytics-data-and-account/plans-usage-and-overage-billing.md).
{% endhint %}

Without a custom domain, emails send from DollarBack's shared sending infrastructure. Connecting your own domain (say `evermail.example.com` on `example.com`) means emails authenticate as genuinely yours, which improves deliverability and removes third-party naming from the "from" address.

### Step 1: Add the domain

1. In the **Custom Sending Domain** section, enter your **Sending domain**: the domain or subdomain you want mail to come from.
2. Set the **From address**: the mailbox part before the `@`.
3. Click **Connect domain**. DollarBack generates the DNS records your domain needs.

### Step 2: Add the DNS records

The page now lists the records to create, with **Name**, **Target**, **Priority**, and **Value** columns. There are two groups:

| Record group    | Type               | Purpose                                                                                               |
| --------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| DKIM            | CNAME records      | Cryptographically signs your emails so inbox providers can verify they really come from your domain   |
| SPF / MAIL FROM | MX and TXT records | Authorizes DollarBack's mail servers to send on behalf of your domain and sets the bounce/return path |

In your DNS provider's dashboard (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Shopify-managed domains, etc.):

1. Open the DNS management page for your domain.
2. Create each record exactly as shown: copy the **Name** and **Target/Value** fields verbatim, and set the **Priority** on the MX record where your provider asks for one.
3. Save the records.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Copy-paste the record values. A single stray character or trailing dot mismatch will keep verification failing. Some DNS providers automatically append your domain to the record name; if verification fails, check whether the name was doubled (e.g. `record.example.com.example.com`).
{% endhint %}

### Step 3: Verify

Back in DollarBack, click **Check status**. DNS changes can take from a few minutes to several hours to propagate, so re-check later if the records don't verify immediately. Once every record shows verified, your emails start sending from your domain.

To stop using the domain, click **Remove sending domain**. Emails fall back to the default sender.

## The deliverability pre-send guard

Before every send, DollarBack checks the recipient address:

* **Syntax**: malformed addresses are rejected.
* **Disposable domains**: throwaway-email domains are skipped.
* **MX check**: if the recipient's domain has no mail server, the email is not sent.

This protects your sender reputation, but it also means some "missing" emails were never sent at all, which is worth knowing before you debug templates. See [Emails aren't arriving](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/emails-arent-arriving.md).

## Verify it works

Open any template and use **Send Test Mail** to your own address. Check the received email's from address and, in your mail client's "show original"/headers view, confirm DKIM and SPF pass for your domain.

## Common issues

* Verification keeps failing: re-check each record's name and value against the table, wait for DNS propagation, then **Check status** again.
* Emails still send from the default address: the domain isn't fully verified yet; all records must pass.
* A specific customer never receives emails: their address may be failing the pre-send guard; see [Emails aren't arriving](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/emails-arent-arriving.md).

## Related articles

* [Email notifications overview](/dollarback-store-credit/notifications/email-notifications-overview.md)
* [Customize email templates](/dollarback-store-credit/notifications/customize-email-templates.md)
* [Emails aren't arriving](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/emails-arent-arriving.md)
* [Plans, usage and overage billing](/dollarback-store-credit/analytics-data-and-account/plans-usage-and-overage-billing.md)