Send notifications from your own domain

By default, Parcel Track shipping notifications are sent from a Parcel Track email address. Connecting your own domain lets emails arrive from an address like shipping@yourstore.com instead. This guide walks you through adding the domain, publishing the DNS records, and verifying everything.

Why use a custom sending domain

• Deliverability. Emails authenticated with your own SPF and DKIM records are far more likely to land in the inbox rather than the spam or promotions folder. Mailbox providers reward mail that is properly signed by the sending domain.
• Branding. Customers see your store’s name and domain in the From line, which builds trust and lifts open rates. Combined with your logo and colors (Customize your shipping notification emails), the entire email is unmistakably yours.
• Reply handling. Replies go to an address you control instead of a shared app address.

Note: You need access to your domain’s DNS settings — usually at your registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, OVH, etc.) or, if your domain was bought through Shopify, under Settings → Domains in the Shopify admin.

Step 1: Add your domain in Parcel Track

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Apps → Parcel Track → Notifications.
2. Open Sender settings.
3. Click Add custom domain and enter the domain you want to send from, e.g. yourstore.com.
4. Choose the From address, e.g. shipping@yourstore.com or orders@yourstore.com.
5. Parcel Track generates a set of DNS records unique to your domain. Keep this page open — you will copy each record in the next step.

Step 2: Add the DNS records at your registrar

Log in to your DNS provider and create the records exactly as shown in Sender settings. They will look similar to this (your actual values will differ):

Type    Host / Name              Value
TXT     yourstore.com            v=spf1 include:mail.parcel-track.com ~all
TXT     pt._domainkey            k=rsa; p=MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GN... (DKIM key)
CNAME   ptrack.yourstore.com     tracking.mail.parcel-track.com

• SPF (TXT) authorizes Parcel Track’s mail servers to send on behalf of your domain. If you already have an SPF record, do not create a second one — add the include: portion to your existing record instead.
• DKIM (TXT) publishes the public key used to cryptographically sign each email.
• CNAME enables branded link and open tracking for Notifications analytics.

Tip: Some registrars automatically append your domain to the Host field. If the record shows as pt._domainkey.yourstore.com.yourstore.com after saving, re-enter the host as just pt._domainkey.

Step 3: Verify the domain

1. Back in Notifications → Sender settings, click Verify.
2. Parcel Track checks each record and marks it Verified or Pending.
3. Once all records are verified, notifications immediately start sending from your custom address. Send yourself a test email from any template editor to confirm.

Troubleshooting DNS propagation

DNS changes are not instant. Most records propagate within 15–60 minutes, but it can take up to 48 hours depending on your provider and the previous record’s TTL.

If verification keeps failing:

1. Wait and retry. Click Verify again after an hour before changing anything.
2. Check for typos. Values must match exactly — a missing character in the DKIM key is the most common cause.
3. Look for duplicate SPF records. A domain must have only one SPF TXT record; merge them if you find two.
4. Confirm you edited the right zone. If your DNS is managed by Cloudflare but you edited the registrar’s panel, the records never went live.
5. Lower the record TTL to 300 seconds while testing so corrections propagate faster.

Still stuck after 48 hours? Send a screenshot of your DNS records to support@parcel-track.com and we will pinpoint the issue.