Custom domains
Send proof emails from your own address and serve proof links on your own subdomain. Covers DNS records, verification statuses, and fixes for common setup mistakes.
On Studio and above, Proofed can send customer emails from your own address (say info@yourstore.com instead of proofs@lubbelabs.com) and serve proof links on your own subdomain (https://proofs.yourstore.com). Together with white-label emails, your customers never see Proofed at all: just your brand.
Both are set up in Settings > Custom sending domain. You'll add a few DNS records at your domain host; this guide walks through exactly what to add and what every status means.
The records Proofed asks for sit on their own subdomains (like send.yourstore.com), so your existing email keeps working exactly as it is. Nothing here touches your current mail setup.
Part 1: Custom sending domain#
Connect your address#
In the Custom sending domain card, enter the full email address customers should see and reply to, usually your main store email, e.g. info@yourstore.com, and click Connect. You choose the exact address, not just the domain: hello@, studio@, whatever fits your brand.
Until verification completes, emails keep sending from the default Proofed address, so nothing breaks mid-setup.
Add the DNS records#
Proofed shows the records to add, typically three:
| Record | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| SPF | TXT on send.yourdomain | Authorises Proofed to send for you |
| SPF | MX on send.yourdomain | Routes bounce feedback |
| DKIM | TXT on resend._domainkey.yourdomain | Cryptographically signs your emails |
Each record has copy-to-clipboard Name / Host and Value fields. Add them at wherever your DNS is actually hosted. Proofed detects and names your DNS provider for you, which may differ from where you registered the domain.
The three mistakes that cause almost every failed setup:- Merging values into an existing record: create these as new records, especially the SPF one. Don't append the value to an SPF record you already have.
- Cloudflare's proxy toggle: set every record to "DNS only" (the grey cloud), not proxied.
- The name form: some hosts auto-append your domain (enter just
send), others want the full name (send.yourstore.com). Proofed shows both forms under each record.
Verification#
After connecting, Proofed watches your DNS live: the card re-checks automatically every few seconds for a couple of minutes, and every time you open Settings. Under each record you'll see either "✓ Record found on public DNS — waiting for it to be confirmed" or "Not visible on public DNS yet", so you know exactly which record still needs attention. You can also click Check verification any time.
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending DNS | Waiting for you to add the record, or for DNS to propagate |
| Re-checking | A temporary blip during verification. Normal, just wait |
| Verification failed | A record is wrong: compare against the values shown |
| Verified | Done. Customer emails now send from your address |
DNS changes usually show within minutes but can take a few hours. A record briefly dropping back to "Pending DNS" during a re-check is normal.
Part 2: Proof link domain#
Once your sending domain is connected, a Proof link domain section appears in the same card. This makes the proof links inside your emails use your domain too. Some inboxes flag emails whose links point somewhere other than the sender's domain, so matching them helps deliverability.
Connect the subdomain#
Proofed prefills a suggestion, proofs. on your sending domain, so links and sender match. Change it if you prefer, then click Connect.
Use a dedicated, unused subdomain. Proofed refuses your main domain, www., and any hostname that already points at a live website: connecting one of those would take that site offline, so the app won't let you.
Add one CNAME#
This part needs a single record: a CNAME from your chosen subdomain to proofed.fly.dev. Once it's in place, a security certificate is issued automatically:
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending DNS | Add the CNAME at your DNS host |
| Issuing certificate | CNAME found: the certificate is being issued (usually under a minute) |
| Verified | Live: new proof links use https://proofs.yourstore.com |
Links you already sent keep working on the default address: old links never break, on either domain.
Good to know#
- One of each per shop: one sending domain and one link domain; remove the current one to switch.
- Removing is safe: emails and new links simply fall back to the Proofed defaults, and previously sent links keep working.
- "One quick step to activate": if you see this notice, nothing is wrong on your side. Custom domains need a one-time activation for your store: email info@lubbelabs.co.za with the domain you'd like to use and we'll switch it on.
Related guides#
- Emails & Notifications: white-label emails, styles, and font pairings
- Plans & Billing: custom domains are included from Studio
- Troubleshooting: if a record won't verify
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