> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.roadmap.so/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.roadmap.so/loyalty-and-rewards/getting-started/program-status-start-date-and-tester-domains.md).

# Program status, start date, and tester domains

Activate, schedule, or deactivate your loyalty program, set the date customers start earning, and let tester accounts try rules before you go live.

The **Program Status** card is the master switch for your loyalty program. It controls whether the program is live, the date customers start earning, and which accounts can test the program before launch.

### Where to find it

In the Roadmap admin, open **Membership Settings**. The **Program Status** card shows your program's current state as a badge (**active**, **scheduled**, or **inactive**), with an **Activate** or **Deactivate** button beside it.

Click **Save** after changing anything on this card.

<figure><img src="https://393112916-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJ8asLD4FVCFagK40xEr4%2Fuploads%2FpkK7HKYVt1IAfIBk95U9%2FScreenshot%202026-09-04%20at%205.21.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=14213e57-dcf7-4892-b37c-172e0a767ed7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://393112916-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJ8asLD4FVCFagK40xEr4%2Fuploads%2FF4qZiFcuAuXQVe747vFj%2FScreenshot%202026-09-04%20at%205.20.12%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=96bb7879-4b98-4f57-a247-b074a8cd2033" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://393112916-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJ8asLD4FVCFagK40xEr4%2Fuploads%2FY102sL2NNmWEzoPjz8hu%2FScreenshot%202026-09-04%20at%205.20.32%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=bee1e9c6-6ebb-48b3-883e-affcc289ab41" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### The three program states

| State         | What it means                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **active**    | The start date has arrived. Customers earn points, progress through tiers, and redeem rewards per your rules.                                                                                          |
| **scheduled** | The start date is in the future. Real customers don't earn yet, but accounts on your tester email domains experience the program as if it's active.                                                    |
| **inactive**  | The program is switched off. Nothing is awarded or redeemed. The card collapses to the status line with an **Activate** button; activate the program to see the start date and tester domain settings. |

{% hint style="info" %}
Some settings are locked while the program is active. For example, [membership eligibility](/loyalty-and-rewards/getting-started/loyalty-membership-eligibility-settings.md) can only be changed after you deactivate the program.
{% endhint %}

### Program Start Date

Customers start earning loyalty points and levelling up based on their activity **from this date**. Orders placed before the start date never earn points retroactively.

Setting a **future** start date puts the program into the **scheduled** state: your storefront stays unchanged for real customers while you finish preparing, and the program goes live for everyone on the date itself.

If you want existing customers rewarded for activity before the start date, that has to be done manually: see [managing customer points](/loyalty-and-rewards/getting-started/overview-of-the-loyalty-program-dashboard.md).

### Tester email domains

Add one or more email domains (for example `yourstore.com`) and any account created with a matching email can **earn and redeem points even before the program start date**.

This is how you test the program before going live, and it works hand in hand with the scheduled state: **the program must be scheduled to test it**. While scheduled, accounts on a tester domain experience the full active program (earning, tiers, redemptions) while real customers remain unaffected.

### Recommended launch sequence

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Activate the program with a future Program Start Date

Pick your launch day. With a future date set, the program status shows **scheduled**, so no real customer earns points before you're ready.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Add your team's email domain to Tester email domains

Accounts on that domain now experience the program as active.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Test your rules while scheduled

Place test orders and redemptions with a tester account, and confirm points, tiers, and coupons behave the way you configured them.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Let the start date arrive

On the start date the program becomes **active** and goes live for all eligible customers. Double-check the date and click **Save** once your testing is done.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Customers aren't earning points yet?

The Program Status card is the first thing to check:

* **Is the program inactive?** An inactive program awards nothing.
* **Is the program still scheduled?** Real customers only start earning on the start date; before it, only tester-domain accounts earn.
* **Was the order placed before the start date?** Points are never awarded retroactively.

If the card checks out, work through the full checklist in [Customers not earning loyalty points](/loyalty-and-rewards/troubleshooting/customers-not-earning-loyalty-points.md).

### Related guides

* [Loyalty membership eligibility settings](/loyalty-and-rewards/getting-started/loyalty-membership-eligibility-settings.md)
* [How to configure your point settings](/loyalty-and-rewards/getting-started/how-to-configure-your-point-settings.md)
* [Customers not earning loyalty points](/loyalty-and-rewards/troubleshooting/customers-not-earning-loyalty-points.md)


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