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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# Send test email alerts from STOQ

STOQ lets you send a test email to any address so you can preview exactly what your customers will receive when a product is back in stock. The test email uses a sample product from STOQ's demo store and applies all your current template settings -- subject line, header, description, button, images, footer, and branding. This lets you review the full email experience in a real inbox without triggering an alert to actual customers.

The **Send test email** button is located below the email preview in the template editor. STOQ automatically saves your current template changes before sending the test.

### Why Send a Test Email

Sending a test email before going live helps you catch issues and confirm your template looks right.

* **Catch formatting issues.** Spot broken layouts, missing images, or clipped text before customers see them.
* **Verify brand consistency.** Confirm colors, fonts, logo size, and button styles match your store's brand.
* **Check email client rendering.** Open the test in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or mobile to see how each client renders it.
* **Review copy and links.** Proofread the subject, header, description, and footer text in context.
* **Validate sender details.** Confirm the "From" name and address appear as expected.
* **Test across devices.** View the email on desktop and mobile to ensure the responsive layout works correctly.

### Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure the following are in place.

* Your email provider is set to **STOQ** (the built-in email provider). Test emails are not available when using Klaviyo or Shopify Flow as the email provider.
* You are editing the **standard template** (not a custom HTML template). The **Send test email** button does not appear when the custom HTML template is enabled.
* The test email feature is available for **back-in-stock alert templates** (primary notification and reminder notifications).

|| Note: Test emails are currently available for back-in-stock alert templates only. Preorder email templates show an in-app preview but do not have the Send test email button.

### How to Send a Test Email Alert

Follow these steps to send a test email.

1. Open the STOQ app from your Shopify admin.
2. Click **Back in stock alerts** in the left menu.
3. Click the **Settings** tab.
4. Click the notification you want to test (e.g., **Back In Stock - Notification** or a reminder notification).
5. Click **Customize email**. This opens the template editor in full-screen mode.
6. Switch to the **Email template** tab at the top if the SMS tab is selected.
7. Below the email preview on the right side, click **Send test email**.
8. In the modal that appears, enter the email address you want to send the test to. The field defaults to your **Reply-to** address.
9. Click **Send**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/f/6/9/b/f69b1402a211d800/image_1uqvp2f.png)


STOQ saves your current template changes automatically before sending the test email. A toast notification confirms "Sent to {email}" once the email is dispatched.

| Tip: Open the test email on both desktop and mobile to check responsive rendering. Try multiple email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) for the most thorough review.

### What the Test Email Contains

The test email uses a **sample product from STOQ's demo store** (a "Floral Shirt" image). It applies all your current template settings:

* **From name and address** -- Your configured sender details.
* **Subject line** -- Your customized subject with Liquid variables rendered as sample values.
* **Header and description** -- Your customized text.
* **Button** -- Your configured button text, colors, and border radius.
* **Product image** -- A sample product image (not from your store).
* **Footer** -- Your customized footer text including unsubscribe link.
* **Social links** -- Any social media icons you have configured.
* **Branding** -- "Powered by STOQ" watermark if enabled.

|| Note: The test email uses a sample product, not a product from your store. To see an email with your own product, create a signup from Reports > Add Requests and then send the alert manually.

### How to Test a Reminder Notification

If you have reminder notifications enabled, you can send a test email for each one separately.

1. In the **Settings** tab, click the reminder notification (e.g., **Back In Stock - Reminder Notification 1**).
2. Click **Customize email**.
3. Follow the same steps above to send a test email.

Each notification template is independent. Changes to the primary notification do not affect reminders, and vice versa.

### Rate Limiting

STOQ limits test emails to **one every 2 minutes** per store. If you try to send another test email before the cooldown period ends, you will see an error: "Test email already sent". Wait 2 minutes and try again.

## When the Test Email Button Is Not Available

The **Send test email** button does not appear in these situations.

| Situation | Reason |
| ---- |
| Email provider is set to **Klaviyo** | Emails are sent through Klaviyo. Preview and test in Klaviyo instead. |
| Email provider is set to **Shopify Flow** | Emails are sent through your connected platform. Set up the template there. |
| **Custom HTML template** is enabled | No in-app preview is available for custom HTML. Send a manual alert to test. |
| Viewing a **preorder** email template | Preorder templates show an in-app preview but the send test button is not shown. |

### Known Limitations

* Test emails use a **sample product** from STOQ's demo store, not your own products.
* Only **one email address** can be entered per test. Comma-separated or semicolon-separated addresses are not allowed.
* Test emails are **rate-limited to one every 2 minutes** per store.
* The test email feature is only available when using **STOQ as the email provider** with the standard (non-custom-HTML) template.
* Test emails are not available for **preorder email templates**.
* Liquid variables in the test email render with sample data (e.g., "Floral Shirt" for product name, "John" for customer name).

### Troubleshooting

If the test email feature is not working as expected, use this table to find a fix.

| Problem | Solution |
| ---- |
| **Send test email** button is missing | Confirm your email provider is set to **STOQ** and the custom HTML template is not enabled. The button only appears for back-in-stock standard templates. |
| "Test email already sent" error | Wait 2 minutes before sending another test email. STOQ rate-limits to one test per 2 minutes. |
| "Only one email address is allowed" error | Enter a single email address. Remove any commas or semicolons. |
| Test email not received | Check your spam or junk folder. Verify the email address is correct. If using a custom sender domain, ensure DKIM records are verified. |
| Test email looks different from the preview | Email clients (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) may render HTML differently. The in-app preview is an approximation. Always test in the target email client. |
| Test email shows sample product, not my product | This is expected behavior. To test with your own product, create a signup from **Reports** > **Add Requests** and send the alert manually. |

## FAQs

**Q : Can I send a test email to multiple addresses at once?** 
A : No. STOQ allows only one email address per test. Send separate test emails to each address you want to review.

**Q : Does the test email count toward my plan's email limits?** 
A : Test emails are sent using STOQ's email infrastructure but are rate-limited to one per 2 minutes. They do not count toward your back-in-stock notification limits.

**Q : Can I test preorder email templates?** 
A : Preorder email templates include an in-app preview where you can select a specific offer to preview, but the Send test email button is not available for preorder templates. Use the in-app preview to review preorder email content.

**Q : Can I test custom HTML email templates?** 
A : The Send test email button is not available when the custom HTML template is enabled because there is no in-app preview for custom HTML. To test a custom HTML template, create a signup from Reports > Add Requests and send the alert manually.

**Q : Why does the test email show a "Floral Shirt" instead of my product?** 
A : Test emails use a sample product from STOQ's demo store. This lets you review the template design without requiring an actual signup. To see your own product in an email, create a signup and send a manual alert.

**Q : Does sending a test email save my template changes?** 
A : Yes. STOQ automatically saves your current template changes before sending the test email. Any unsaved edits are applied before the email is dispatched.

**Q : Can I send a test email for a reminder notification?** 
A : Yes. Navigate to the reminder notification template (e.g., Back In Stock - Reminder Notification 1), click Customize email, and use the Send test email button below the preview. Each template is tested independently.

**Q : What email address is pre-filled in the test email modal?** 
A : The modal pre-fills with your Reply-to email address from the email template settings. You can change it to any valid email address before sending.