diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/api/notifications.ts b/frontend-modern/src/api/notifications.ts
index 3ef3f0370..c30c0a3f3 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/api/notifications.ts
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/api/notifications.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export interface Webhook {
 
 export interface NotificationTestRequest {
   type: 'email' | 'webhook';
-  config?: EmailConfig | Webhook;
+  config?: any;  // Backend expects different format than frontend types
   webhookId?: string;
 }
 
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ export class NotificationsAPI {
 
   // Testing
   static async testNotification(request: NotificationTestRequest): Promise<{ success: boolean; message?: string }> {
-    const body: { method: string; config?: EmailConfig | Webhook } = { method: request.type };
+    const body: { method: string; config?: any } = { method: request.type };
     
     // Include config if provided for testing without saving
     if (request.config) {
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx
index a4d00af18..f1400926d 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx
@@ -1372,22 +1372,20 @@ function DestinationsTab(props: DestinationsTabProps) {
       // Get current form values and convert to backend format
       const currentConfig = props.emailConfig();
       
-      // If no recipients specified, use the from address as default recipient
+      // Keep recipients empty if none specified - backend will use from address
       const recipients = currentConfig.to && currentConfig.to.length > 0 
         ? currentConfig.to 
-        : (currentConfig.from ? [currentConfig.from] : []);
+        : [];
       
-      const configToTest: EmailConfig = {
+      const configToTest = {
         enabled: currentConfig.enabled,
-        provider: currentConfig.provider,
-        server: currentConfig.smtpHost,
-        port: currentConfig.smtpPort,
+        smtpHost: currentConfig.smtpHost,
+        smtpPort: currentConfig.smtpPort,
         username: currentConfig.username,
         password: currentConfig.password,
         from: currentConfig.from,
         to: recipients,
-        tls: currentConfig.tls,
-        starttls: currentConfig.startTLS
+        tls: currentConfig.tls
       };
       
       await NotificationsAPI.testNotification({ 
diff --git a/internal/api/notifications.go b/internal/api/notifications.go
index ff86279ba..fa87d7779 100644
--- a/internal/api/notifications.go
+++ b/internal/api/notifications.go
@@ -179,12 +179,23 @@ func (h *NotificationHandlers) DeleteWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 
 // TestNotification sends a test notification
 func (h *NotificationHandlers) TestNotification(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	// Read body for debugging
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+	
+	log.Info().
+		Str("body", string(body)).
+		Msg("Test notification request received")
+	
 	var req struct {
 		Method string                    `json:"method"` // "email" or "webhook"
 		Config *notifications.EmailConfig `json:"config,omitempty"` // Optional config for testing
 	}
 	
-	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil {
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &req); err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
 	}
@@ -206,6 +217,15 @@ func (h *NotificationHandlers) TestNotification(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.R
 	
 	// If config is provided, use it for testing (without saving)
 	if req.Method == "email" && req.Config != nil {
+		log.Info().
+			Bool("enabled", req.Config.Enabled).
+			Str("smtp", req.Config.SMTPHost).
+			Str("from", req.Config.From).
+			Int("toCount", len(req.Config.To)).
+			Strs("to", req.Config.To).
+			Bool("hasPassword", req.Config.Password != "").
+			Msg("Testing email with provided config")
+			
 		if err := h.monitor.GetNotificationManager().SendTestNotificationWithConfig(req.Method, req.Config, nodeInfo); err != nil {
 			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
 			return
diff --git a/testing-tools/check-ui-request.js b/testing-tools/check-ui-request.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3b6eab187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/check-ui-request.js
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+const { spawn } = require('child_process');
+
+async function checkUIRequest() {
+  console.log('=== CHECKING UI REQUEST ===\n');
+  
+  console.log('Starting log monitor...');
+  const logProcess = spawn('sudo', ['tail', '-f', '/opt/pulse/pulse.log']);
+  
+  let capturedLogs = '';
+  
+  logProcess.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
+    const output = data.toString();
+    capturedLogs += output;
+    if (output.includes('Test notification request') || output.includes('Testing email with provided config')) {
+      process.stdout.write(output);
+    }
+  });
+  
+  // Wait for log monitor to start
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+  
+  console.log('\nPlease click "Send Test Email" in the UI now...\n');
+  console.log('Waiting for request (30 seconds)...\n');
+  
+  // Wait for user to trigger the test
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 30000));
+  
+  logProcess.kill();
+  
+  // Check if we captured the request
+  if (capturedLogs.includes('Test notification request')) {
+    console.log('\n✅ Found test request in logs');
+    
+    // Extract the request body
+    const bodyMatch = capturedLogs.match(/body=({.*?}) msg=/);
+    if (bodyMatch) {
+      try {
+        const body = JSON.parse(bodyMatch[1]);
+        console.log('\nRequest body:', JSON.stringify(body, null, 2));
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.log('Could not parse body');
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    console.log('\n❌ No test request found in logs');
+    console.log('Make sure you clicked "Send Test Email" in the UI');
+  }
+}
+
+checkUIRequest().catch(console.error);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/intercept-ui-request.js b/testing-tools/intercept-ui-request.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..062ff5966
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/intercept-ui-request.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+const express = require('express');
+const app = express();
+
+app.use(express.json());
+
+// Intercept test requests
+app.post('/api/notifications/test', (req, res) => {
+  console.log('\n=== TEST EMAIL REQUEST ===');
+  console.log('Headers:', req.headers);
+  console.log('\nBody:', JSON.stringify(req.body, null, 2));
+  
+  if (req.body.config) {
+    console.log('\nConfig details:');
+    console.log('  From:', req.body.config.from);
+    console.log('  To:', req.body.config.to);
+    console.log('  Recipients count:', req.body.config.to ? req.body.config.to.length : 0);
+    console.log('  Has password:', !!req.body.config.password);
+    console.log('  SMTP Host:', req.body.config.server);
+    console.log('  SMTP Port:', req.body.config.port);
+  }
+  
+  // Return error to see what frontend shows
+  res.status(400).send('Test intercept - check console output');
+});
+
+// Proxy other requests to backend
+app.use((req, res) => {
+  console.log('Proxying:', req.method, req.url);
+  res.status(404).send('Not implemented in test server');
+});
+
+const PORT = 3001;
+app.listen(PORT, () => {
+  console.log(`Test server listening on port ${PORT}`);
+  console.log('Update frontend to use http://localhost:3001 temporarily');
+  console.log('Or use browser dev tools to intercept the request');
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-frontend-payload.js b/testing-tools/test-frontend-payload.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..92384817c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-frontend-payload.js
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+const { chromium } = require('playwright');
+
+const FRONTEND_URL = 'http://192.168.0.123:7655';
+
+async function testFrontendPayload() {
+  console.log('=== TESTING FRONTEND EMAIL PAYLOAD ===\n');
+  
+  const browser = await chromium.launch({ 
+    headless: true
+  });
+  
+  try {
+    const context = await browser.newContext();
+    const page = await context.newPage();
+    
+    // Intercept the API request to see what's being sent
+    page.on('request', request => {
+      if (request.url().includes('/api/notifications/test')) {
+        console.log('Test email request intercepted:');
+        console.log('  URL:', request.url());
+        console.log('  Method:', request.method());
+        console.log('  Headers:', request.headers());
+        console.log('  Body:', request.postData());
+        
+        if (request.postData()) {
+          try {
+            const body = JSON.parse(request.postData());
+            console.log('\nParsed body:');
+            console.log(JSON.stringify(body, null, 2));
+            
+            if (body.config) {
+              console.log('\nEmail config details:');
+              console.log('  From:', body.config.from);
+              console.log('  To:', body.config.to);
+              console.log('  To length:', body.config.to ? body.config.to.length : 0);
+              console.log('  Has password:', !!body.config.password);
+            }
+          } catch (e) {
+            console.log('Could not parse body as JSON');
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    
+    // Monitor responses
+    page.on('response', response => {
+      if (response.url().includes('/api/notifications/test')) {
+        console.log('\nTest email response:');
+        console.log('  Status:', response.status());
+        response.text().then(text => {
+          console.log('  Body:', text);
+        });
+      }
+    });
+    
+    // Navigate to alerts page
+    console.log('1. Navigating to alerts page...');
+    await page.goto(`${FRONTEND_URL}/alerts`);
+    await page.waitForTimeout(2000);
+    
+    // Click on Notifications tab
+    console.log('2. Clicking Notifications tab...');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Notifications")');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+    
+    // Click Send Test Email
+    console.log('3. Clicking Send Test Email...\n');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Send Test Email")');
+    
+    // Wait for request/response
+    await page.waitForTimeout(3000);
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error:', error.message);
+  } finally {
+    await browser.close();
+  }
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  testFrontendPayload().catch(console.error);
+}
+
+module.exports = { testFrontendPayload };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-with-config.js b/testing-tools/test-with-config.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7cfe0ba3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-with-config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+
+async function testWithConfig() {
+  console.log('=== TESTING EMAIL WITH EXPLICIT CONFIG ===\n');
+  
+  // Test 1: With empty recipients array
+  console.log('Test 1: Empty recipients array');
+  try {
+    const response1 = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+      method: 'email',
+      config: {
+        enabled: true,
+        smtpHost: 'smtp.gmail.com',
+        smtpPort: 587,
+        username: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+        password: 'zlff ruyk bxxf cxch',
+        from: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+        to: [],  // Empty array
+        tls: true
+      }
+    });
+    console.log('✅ Success:', response1.data);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ Failed:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+  
+  // Test 2: With no password
+  console.log('\nTest 2: No password (should fail)');
+  try {
+    const response2 = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+      method: 'email',
+      config: {
+        enabled: true,
+        smtpHost: 'smtp.gmail.com',
+        smtpPort: 587,
+        username: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+        password: '',  // Empty password
+        from: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+        to: [],
+        tls: true
+      }
+    });
+    console.log('✅ Success:', response2.data);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ Failed:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+  
+  // Test 3: Check what frontend sends (server vs smtpHost)
+  console.log('\nTest 3: Using "server" field like frontend');
+  try {
+    const response3 = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+      method: 'email',
+      config: {
+        enabled: true,
+        server: 'smtp.gmail.com',  // Frontend uses 'server'
+        port: 587,
+        username: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+        password: 'zlff ruyk bxxf cxch',
+        from: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+        to: [],
+        tls: true
+      }
+    });
+    console.log('✅ Success:', response3.data);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ Failed:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+}
+
+testWithConfig().catch(console.error);
\ No newline at end of file