# Activate email sender verification

Start email sender domain verification after completing DNS setup.

Source: https://statusdashboard.com/docs/api/status-dashboards/dashboards/branding/email-sender/activate

`POST /app/dashboards/{id}/branding/email-sender/activate`

Starts domain verification after the customer has created the required DKIM CNAME records.

This endpoint is only valid when the dashboard email sender status is `pending_dns` or `unverified`. Calling it transitions the status to `verifying` and enrolls the domain in the scheduled validation worker (checks every 15 minutes). The 72-hour timeout starts at activation.

Requires the **Custom Branding** feature entitlement and **admin** role.

***

## Email sender lifecycle
| Status        | When                                                                                                   |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `pending_dns` | Sender saved; add the DKIM CNAME records shown in the UI. Times out after 72 hours if never activated. |
| `verifying`   | Customer confirmed DNS; verification in progress (up to 72 hours from activation).                     |
| `verified`    | Domain verified; custom sender is active for notification emails.                                      |
| `unverified`  | Verification was lost (e.g. DKIM records removed). Restore DNS and activate again.                     |
| `failed`      | Verification timed out after 72 hours or was rejected. Remove the sender and retry.                    |
| `removing`    | Domain cleanup in progress after a remove request.                                                     |

***

## Path parameters
| Parameter | Description                |
| --------- | -------------------------- |
| `id`      | The UUID of the dashboard. |

***

## Request
See [API Basics](/docs/api) for required headers.

This endpoint takes no request body.

***

## Sample request
```bash
curl -X POST https://api.statusdashboard.com/app/dashboards/a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890/branding/email-sender/activate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bcf847abf5c6:def456"
```

## Sample response
**Status: `200 OK`**

```json
{
  "message": "Email sender verification started",
  "address": "support@acme.com",
  "domain": "acme.com",
  "status": "verifying",
  "dnsRecords": [
    {
      "type": "CNAME",
      "name": "abc123._domainkey.acme.com",
      "value": "abc123.dkim.amazonses.com"
    }
  ]
}
```

***

## Error responses
| Status | When                                                                                            |
| ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `400`  | No sender configured, DNS records not ready yet, or status is not `pending_dns` / `unverified`. |
| `403`  | Insufficient permissions, or the Custom Branding feature is not enabled.                        |
| `404`  | Dashboard not found or does not belong to the caller's organization.                            |