> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.giftcardfactory.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.giftcardfactory.app/misc/app-emails/sending-domain/domain-ownership-validation.md).

# Domain Ownership Validation

DNS Validation lets you send app emails from your own store domain without having to bring your own SendGrid or Postmark account. Behind the scenes, Gift Card Factory provisions a sender for you and gives you two DNS records (DKIM and Return-Path) to add to your domain.

### 1. Generate the DNS records

1. Open **Settings → App Emails Sending** in the Gift Card Factory app.
2. Select **DNS Validation**.
3. In **Custom outbound email**, enter the address you want emails to come from (for example `hello@yourstore.com`).
4. Click **Generate DNS Records**.<br>

The page will populate two records:

* a **DKIM** record (type `TXT`)
* a **Return-Path** record (type `CNAME`)

Each record shows the host (name) and value you'll need to copy into your DNS provider, together with a status badge (**Not found** / **Verified**).

{% hint style="info" %}
A domain can be verified by **one store**. If you run several stores that should send from the same domain, verify it on one of them and contact us at <support@code57.pl> — we'll enable it for the others.
{% endhint %}

### 2. Add the records to your DNS provider

Log in to your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Route 53, GoDaddy, Shopify-managed DNS, etc.) and add both records exactly as shown — the host and value must match.

{% hint style="info" %}
DNS changes can take up to a few hours to propagate, although most providers update within 15–30 minutes.
{% endhint %}

### 3. Verification happens automatically

You don't need to keep the page open or click anything. Gift Card Factory checks your DNS records every few minutes and, once both are found, switches your sending to the custom outbound email automatically. The settings page shows a green **Your domain is verified** banner and the badges change to **Verified**.

If you'd rather not wait, click **Check now** to run the check immediately. The **Last checked** time next to the button tells you when the records were last looked up.

#### Get notified when it's done

The person adding the DNS records is often not the store owner. Click **Get notified** under the records and enter an email address — we'll send a confirmation to it as soon as the domain is verified. If you leave it empty, the notification goes to the store's admin email from **Settings → General**.

You'll also receive an email from us:

* after **24 hours** if the records still can't be found — with the records to add, in case they got lost;
* if the records are **removed later** — emails then fall back to the default app domain until the records are restored, and switch back automatically once they are.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If the records aren't found within **14 days**, we stop checking and remove the pending sender. Add the records and click **Generate DNS Records** to start again.
{% endhint %}

### Changing the outbound email

To send from a different address, enter it in **Custom outbound email** and click **Generate DNS Records** again. If the new address is on the same domain, it's verified immediately; a different domain gets a fresh set of records to add.

If you need help setting up the records, contact us at <support@code57.pl>.