---
title: "Debug outgoing emails"
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://contribute.freecodecamp.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Debug outgoing emails

Some email workflows require the back-end API server to send outgoing emails. [Mailpit](https://github.com/axllent/mailpit) is a developer tool for email testing that catches messages sent by the local API server instead of delivering them through a real email provider.

## Scenarios that send emails

- **Update email**: Users changing their email address
- **Report user**: Abuse reports that notify moderators
- **Certification**: Congratulations email when a user claims the Full Stack Developer v9 certification

## Using Mailpit

Mailpit needs no installation. It starts with the rest of the services in every setup.

- **Your own machine**: `docker compose -f docker/docker-compose.yml -f docker/docker-compose.ports.yml up -d` starts it.
- **Dev Container**: it starts with the container.
- **GitHub Codespaces**: it starts with the codespace.

Once the containers run, open `http://localhost:8025` to reach the Mailpit web interface. It shows every email that your local freeCodeCamp instance sends.

In a codespace, open port `8025` from the **Ports** panel instead.

## Troubleshooting

**Emails not appearing?**

1. Check the API logs for email errors.
2. Check that `MAILPIT_HOST` in `.env` is `localhost`. This is correct in every setup.
3. On your own machine only, check that the containers run with `docker ps`, then restart Mailpit:

   ```bash
   docker compose -f docker/docker-compose.yml -f docker/docker-compose.ports.yml restart mailpit
   ```

   The Dev Container and Codespaces images carry no Docker CLI. Rebuild the container instead.

**Can't access the UI?**

- Make sure that no other service uses port 8025
- Try `http://127.0.0.1:8025` instead of localhost

## Useful Links

- [Mailpit repository](https://github.com/axllent/mailpit) for documentation and advanced features

Source: https://contribute.freecodecamp.org/how-to-catch-outgoing-emails-locally/index.mdx