When a product sells out, your traffic doesn’t slow down. Shoppers still visit the page, still want the item, and many are willing to buy the moment it comes back. The problem is simple: if they can’t get notified, you lose that sale forever.
That is why adding a Shopify “Notify when back in stock” feature is one of the smartest upgrades a merchant can make. It captures demand automatically, alerts shoppers instantly, brings customers back to your store, and recovers revenue that would otherwise disappear.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to set up Shopify notify back in stock feature the easy way using the Essential Shopify Preorder App, how to customize your waitlist experience, and how to turn out of stock products into reliable conversion generators.
Why You Need a Back in Stock Notification Feature on Shopify
When an item goes out of stock, most shoppers leave and rarely return. A simple waitlist button fixes that in three ways.
You capture demand you would have lost
Instead of losing the sale, you collect an email from a motivated shopper who wants exactly that item.
You turn restocks into guaranteed revenue
When the item returns, the app sends an instant, automated email to everyone on the waitlist. These emails often convert extremely well because intent is already high.
You improve your product forecasting
A large waitlist lets you see demand before you reorder inventory or plan your next run. Many brands use this feature to determine how aggressively they should restock.
And when paired with preorders, you aren’t just notifying customers. You are giving them options: buy now as a preorder, or join the waitlist if they prefer an alert.
The Essential Back in Stock Preorder App lets you run both at the same time without conflict.
The Best Way to Add “Notify Me When Back in Stock” on Shopify
Shopify does not include built-in back-in-stock alerts. The easiest and most flexible way to add them is with the Essential Back in Stock Preorder App. There is no coding needed, and everything follows your theme’s styling automatically.
The app lets you:
- Show a Shopify Notify When Back In Stock button on sold out products
- Collect emails with a branded pop up
- Send automatic back in stock emails when inventory rises
- Customize button, pop up, and email designs
- Run multiple campaigns for different languages or regions
- Combine back in stock with preorders or show only one
How to Add a Shopify “Notify When Back in Stock” Button
Adding back in stock notifications may sound tricky, but with our Essential Shopify Back in Stock Preorder app, the process is rather quick. Follow the steps below and add your back in stock notification in minutes.
Step 1: Create a Back in Stock Campaign
Inside the Essential Back in Stock Preorder app, go to Back in stock and click Create campaign. Follow the tabs from left to right.
Step 2: Configure Notification Settings
Choose the inventory threshold that triggers emails.
Example:
1 means notify instantly when one unit is available.
3 to 5 works better for high traffic stores, so shoppers don’t get disappointed during micro restocks.
Give the campaign an internal name so you can identify it later.
Step 3: Customize Your “Notify Me” Button
You can use your theme’s default button styling or customize colors, borders, and text.
Examples of effective button text:
- Notify when back in stock
- Email me when it is back
- Let me know when available
Translations can also be added here for multilingual stores.
Step 4: Design Your Back in Stock Pop Up
When a shopper clicks Notify me, a popup appears. You can customize:
- Headline and description with {product} variable
- Fonts
- Background, border, padding
- Input styling
- Success message
- Translations
A clean version might look like:
- “Want us to email you when {product} is back in stock?”
- “We only email once for this product.”
Step 5: Customize the Back in Stock Email
You can edit:
- Subject line: “It is back: {product}”
- Description: “The item you wanted is available again.”
- Button text and destination
- Brand fonts and colors
- Sender domain settings
If you need double opt-in for GDPR, enable Confirm subscription.
Step 6: Choose Where the Notify Me Button Appears
Apply the campaign to:
- All products
- Specific collections
- Specific products
If a product is in multiple campaigns, the app will notify you.
If a product is both preorder and back in stock, choose:
- Show both Preorder and Notify me
- Show only Preorder
Publish when done.
Step 7: Test Your Setup
- Open a sold out product
- Join the waitlist
- Increase inventory above your threshold
- Check that the alert email arrives
Everything should work instantly.
If anything seems to be out of order or you have any doubts, we’re always here to help. Our support team is praised for a reason – reach out and see it yourself.
Best Practices for Back in Stock Notifications
In order to make you back in stock notifications bring the most value, make sure to follow the best practices from our clients, partners, and other ecommerce professionals.
Keep thresholds realistic
If you restock in tiny batches, set your threshold to 2–5.
Use your own email domain
Authenticated sending improves inbox placement and brand trust.
Keep the email short
Back in stock emails convert because trust and intent are already high.
Combine with preorders
Let shoppers preorder items that will take longer to restock.
Track conversions
Add UTM parameters to your product button links.
Key Benefits of Using Essential Preorder for Back in Stock Alerts
Unlike many basic apps, the Essential Back in Stock Preorder App gives you:
- A combined dashboard for preorders and back in stock alerts
- Fully theme-matched styling
- Multiple campaigns for multilanguage stores
- Flexible button and popup customization
- Custom domain email support
- A support team ready to help with custom solutions
Your Shopify Notify When Back In Stock feature can look and work exactly how you want, on every product.
FAQs
No. You need an app to collect subscribers and send alerts. The Essential Preorder and Back in Stock App is the easiest option.
Install Essential Shopify preorder app, create a campaign, customize the popup and email, and publish it on selected products. No code needed.
Yes. You can show both buttons or only Preorder depending on your strategy.
Yes. They convert extremely well because shoppers requested them and already want the product.
Yes. Every customer facing message can be translated per campaign.