diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx
index b3dce25c3..a4d00af18 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/pages/Alerts.tsx
@@ -78,6 +78,24 @@ interface Override {
 }
 
 
+// Local email config with UI-specific fields
+interface UIEmailConfig {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  provider: string;
+  smtpHost: string;
+  smtpPort: number;
+  username: string;
+  password: string;
+  from: string;
+  to: string[];
+  tls: boolean;
+  startTLS: boolean;
+  replyTo: string;
+  maxRetries: number;
+  retryDelay: number;
+  rateLimit: number;
+}
+
 export function Alerts() {
   const { state, activeAlerts } = useWebSocket();
   const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = createSignal<AlertTab>('overview');
@@ -89,6 +107,41 @@ export function Alerts() {
   
   const [overrides, setOverrides] = createSignal<Override[]>([]);
   
+  // Email configuration state moved to parent to persist across tab changes
+  const [emailConfig, setEmailConfig] = createSignal<UIEmailConfig>({
+    enabled: false,
+    provider: '',
+    smtpHost: '',
+    smtpPort: 587,
+    username: '',
+    password: '',
+    from: '',
+    to: [] as string[],
+    tls: true,
+    startTLS: false,
+    replyTo: '',
+    maxRetries: 3,
+    retryDelay: 5,
+    rateLimit: 60
+  });
+  
+  // Set up destinationsRef.emailConfig function immediately
+  destinationsRef.emailConfig = () => {
+    const config = emailConfig();
+    return {
+      enabled: config.enabled,
+      provider: config.provider,
+      server: config.smtpHost,
+      port: config.smtpPort,
+      username: config.username,
+      password: config.password,
+      from: config.from,
+      to: config.to,
+      tls: config.tls,
+      starttls: config.startTLS
+    } as EmailConfig;
+  };
+  
   // Load existing alert configuration on mount (only once)
   onMount(async () => {
     try {
@@ -173,6 +226,29 @@ export function Alerts() {
           };
           scheduleRef.setScheduleConfig(scheduleConfig);
         }
+        
+        // Load email configuration
+        try {
+          const emailConfigData = await NotificationsAPI.getEmailConfig();
+          setEmailConfig({
+            enabled: emailConfigData.enabled,
+            provider: emailConfigData.provider,
+            smtpHost: emailConfigData.server,
+            smtpPort: emailConfigData.port,
+            username: emailConfigData.username,
+            password: emailConfigData.password || '',
+            from: emailConfigData.from,
+            to: emailConfigData.to,
+            tls: emailConfigData.tls,
+            startTLS: emailConfigData.starttls,
+            replyTo: '',
+            maxRetries: 3,
+            retryDelay: 5,
+            rateLimit: 60
+          });
+        } catch (emailErr) {
+          console.error('Failed to load email configuration:', emailErr);
+        }
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Failed to load alert configuration:', err);
     }
@@ -370,10 +446,10 @@ export function Alerts() {
                     
                     await AlertsAPI.updateConfig(alertConfig);
                     
-                    // Save email config if on destinations tab
+                    // Save email config if it exists (regardless of active tab)
                     console.log('Active tab:', activeTab());
                     console.log('Has emailConfig:', !!destinationsRef.emailConfig);
-                    if (activeTab() === 'destinations' && destinationsRef.emailConfig) {
+                    if (destinationsRef.emailConfig) {
                       const emailData = destinationsRef.emailConfig();
                       console.log('Saving email config:', emailData);
                       await NotificationsAPI.updateEmailConfig(emailData);
@@ -453,6 +529,8 @@ export function Alerts() {
               ref={destinationsRef}
               hasUnsavedChanges={hasUnsavedChanges}
               setHasUnsavedChanges={setHasUnsavedChanges}
+              emailConfig={emailConfig}
+              setEmailConfig={setEmailConfig}
             />
           </Show>
           
@@ -1264,96 +1342,18 @@ interface DestinationsTabProps {
   ref: DestinationsRef;
   hasUnsavedChanges: () => boolean;
   setHasUnsavedChanges: (value: boolean) => void;
-}
-
-// Local email config with UI-specific fields
-interface UIEmailConfig {
-  enabled: boolean;
-  provider: string;
-  smtpHost: string;
-  smtpPort: number;
-  username: string;
-  password: string;
-  from: string;
-  to: string[];
-  tls: boolean;
-  startTLS: boolean;
-  replyTo: string;
-  maxRetries: number;
-  retryDelay: number;
-  rateLimit: number;
+  emailConfig: () => UIEmailConfig;
+  setEmailConfig: (config: UIEmailConfig) => void;
 }
 
 function DestinationsTab(props: DestinationsTabProps) {
-  const [emailConfig, setEmailConfig] = createSignal<UIEmailConfig>({
-    enabled: false,
-    provider: '',
-    smtpHost: '',
-    smtpPort: 587,
-    username: '',
-    password: '',
-    from: '',
-    to: [] as string[],
-    tls: true,
-    startTLS: false,
-    replyTo: '',
-    maxRetries: 3,
-    retryDelay: 5,
-    rateLimit: 60
-  });
-  
-  // Expose emailConfig to parent (convert to API format)
-  // Use createEffect instead of onMount to ensure it's always set
-  createEffect(() => {
-    if (props.ref) {
-      props.ref.emailConfig = () => {
-        const config = emailConfig();
-        return {
-          enabled: config.enabled,
-          provider: config.provider,
-          server: config.smtpHost,
-          port: config.smtpPort,
-          username: config.username,
-          password: config.password,
-          from: config.from,
-          to: config.to,
-          tls: config.tls,
-          starttls: config.startTLS
-        } as EmailConfig;
-      };
-    }
-  });
   
   const [webhooks, setWebhooks] = createSignal<Webhook[]>([]);
   const [testingEmail, setTestingEmail] = createSignal(false);
   const [testingWebhook, setTestingWebhook] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
   
-  // Load email config on mount
+  // Load webhooks on mount (email config is now loaded in parent)
   onMount(async () => {
-    try {
-      const config = await NotificationsAPI.getEmailConfig();
-      // Map API config to local format
-      setEmailConfig({
-        enabled: config.enabled,
-        provider: config.provider,
-        smtpHost: config.server,
-        smtpPort: config.port,
-        username: config.username,
-        password: config.password || '',
-        from: config.from,
-        to: config.to,
-        tls: config.tls,
-        startTLS: config.starttls,
-        replyTo: '',
-        maxRetries: 3,
-        retryDelay: 5,
-        rateLimit: 60
-      });
-    } catch (err) {
-      console.error('Failed to load email config:', err);
-    }
-    
-    // Load webhooks
     try {
       const hooks = await NotificationsAPI.getWebhooks();
       // Map to local Webhook type
@@ -1370,7 +1370,7 @@ function DestinationsTab(props: DestinationsTabProps) {
     setTestingEmail(true);
     try {
       // Get current form values and convert to backend format
-      const currentConfig = emailConfig();
+      const currentConfig = props.emailConfig();
       
       // If no recipients specified, use the from address as default recipient
       const recipients = currentConfig.to && currentConfig.to.length > 0 
@@ -1430,9 +1430,9 @@ function DestinationsTab(props: DestinationsTabProps) {
           <label class="relative inline-flex items-center cursor-pointer">
             <input 
               type="checkbox" 
-              checked={emailConfig().enabled}
+              checked={props.emailConfig().enabled}
               onChange={(e) => {
-                setEmailConfig({...emailConfig(), enabled: e.currentTarget.checked});
+                props.setEmailConfig({...props.emailConfig(), enabled: e.currentTarget.checked});
                 props.setHasUnsavedChanges(true);
               }}
               class="sr-only peer" 
@@ -1441,11 +1441,11 @@ function DestinationsTab(props: DestinationsTabProps) {
           </label>
         </div>
         
-        <div class={`${!emailConfig().enabled ? 'opacity-50 pointer-events-none' : ''}`}>
+        <div class={`${!props.emailConfig().enabled ? 'opacity-50 pointer-events-none' : ''}`}>
           <EmailProviderSelect
-            config={emailConfig()}
+            config={props.emailConfig()}
             onChange={(config) => {
-              setEmailConfig(config);
+              props.setEmailConfig(config);
               props.setHasUnsavedChanges(true);
             }}
             onTest={testEmailConfig}
diff --git a/internal/notifications/notifications.go b/internal/notifications/notifications.go
index acb4a162f..cc90e3bcd 100644
--- a/internal/notifications/notifications.go
+++ b/internal/notifications/notifications.go
@@ -249,10 +249,8 @@ func (n *NotificationManager) sendGroupedAlerts() {
 func (n *NotificationManager) sendGroupedEmail(alertList []*alerts.Alert) {
 	config := n.emailConfig
 	
-	if len(config.To) == 0 {
-		log.Warn().Msg("No email recipients configured")
-		return
-	}
+	// Don't check for recipients here - sendHTMLEmail handles empty recipients
+	// by using the From address as the recipient
 	
 	// Generate email using template
 	subject, htmlBody, textBody := EmailTemplate(alertList, false)
@@ -267,10 +265,8 @@ func (n *NotificationManager) sendEmail(alert *alerts.Alert) {
 	config := n.emailConfig
 	n.mu.RUnlock()
 	
-	if len(config.To) == 0 {
-		log.Warn().Msg("No email recipients configured")
-		return
-	}
+	// Don't check for recipients here - sendHTMLEmail handles empty recipients
+	// by using the From address as the recipient
 	
 	// Generate email using template
 	subject, htmlBody, textBody := EmailTemplate([]*alerts.Alert{alert}, true)
@@ -283,9 +279,18 @@ func (n *NotificationManager) sendEmail(alert *alerts.Alert) {
 func (n *NotificationManager) sendHTMLEmail(subject, htmlBody, textBody string, config EmailConfig) {
 	boundary := fmt.Sprintf("===============%d==", time.Now().UnixNano())
 	
+	// Use From address as recipient if To is empty
+	recipients := config.To
+	if len(recipients) == 0 && config.From != "" {
+		recipients = []string{config.From}
+		log.Info().
+			Str("from", config.From).
+			Msg("Using From address as recipient since To is empty")
+	}
+	
 	// Compose multipart message
 	msg := fmt.Sprintf("From: %s\r\n", config.From)
-	msg += fmt.Sprintf("To: %s\r\n", strings.Join(config.To, ", "))
+	msg += fmt.Sprintf("To: %s\r\n", strings.Join(recipients, ", "))
 	msg += fmt.Sprintf("Subject: %s\r\n", subject)
 	msg += fmt.Sprintf("Date: %s\r\n", time.Now().Format(time.RFC1123Z))
 	msg += "MIME-Version: 1.0\r\n"
@@ -316,16 +321,27 @@ func (n *NotificationManager) sendHTMLEmail(subject, htmlBody, textBody string,
 	}
 	
 	addr := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", config.SMTPHost, config.SMTPPort)
-	err := smtp.SendMail(addr, auth, config.From, config.To, []byte(msg))
+	
+	log.Info().
+		Str("smtp", addr).
+		Str("from", config.From).
+		Strs("to", recipients).
+		Bool("hasAuth", auth != nil).
+		Msg("Attempting to send email via SMTP")
+	
+	err := smtp.SendMail(addr, auth, config.From, recipients, []byte(msg))
 	
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error().
 			Err(err).
+			Str("smtp", addr).
+			Strs("recipients", recipients).
 			Msg("Failed to send email notification")
 	} else {
 		log.Info().
-			Strs("recipients", config.To).
-			Msg("Email notification sent")
+			Strs("recipients", recipients).
+			Int("recipientCount", len(recipients)).
+			Msg("Email notification sent successfully")
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/testing-tools/check-saved-email.js b/testing-tools/check-saved-email.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..feaefceb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/check-saved-email.js
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const { exec } = require('child_process');
+const util = require('util');
+const execPromise = util.promisify(exec);
+
+async function checkSavedEmail() {
+  console.log('=== CHECKING SAVED EMAIL CONFIGURATION ===\n');
+  
+  try {
+    // 1. Get via API (decrypted)
+    console.log('1. Getting email config via API...');
+    const response = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    const config = response.data;
+    
+    console.log('\nEmail Configuration:');
+    console.log('  Enabled:', config.enabled);
+    console.log('  Provider:', config.provider);
+    console.log('  SMTP Host:', config.smtpHost);
+    console.log('  SMTP Port:', config.smtpPort);
+    console.log('  From:', config.from);
+    console.log('  Username:', config.username);
+    console.log('  Password:', config.password ? '[REDACTED]' : '(empty)');
+    console.log('  Recipients:', config.to);
+    console.log('  Recipients count:', config.to ? config.to.length : 0);
+    
+    if (config.to && config.to.length > 0) {
+      console.log('\n  Recipients list:');
+      config.to.forEach((recipient, i) => {
+        console.log(`    ${i + 1}. ${recipient}`);
+      });
+    } else {
+      console.log('\n  ❌ No recipients configured!');
+    }
+    
+    // 2. Test what happens when we save with recipients
+    console.log('\n2. Testing save with recipients...');
+    
+    const testConfig = {
+      ...config,
+      to: ['test1@example.com', 'test2@example.com']
+    };
+    
+    console.log('   Saving config with 2 test recipients...');
+    await axios.put('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email', testConfig);
+    
+    // 3. Read back
+    console.log('   Reading back saved config...');
+    const saved = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    
+    console.log('   Recipients after save:', saved.data.to);
+    console.log('   Recipients count:', saved.data.to ? saved.data.to.length : 0);
+    
+    // 4. Restore original
+    console.log('\n3. Restoring original config...');
+    await axios.put('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email', config);
+    console.log('   ✅ Original config restored');
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  checkSavedEmail().catch(console.error);
+}
+
+module.exports = { checkSavedEmail };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/debug-email-save.js b/testing-tools/debug-email-save.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..913102b7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/debug-email-save.js
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+const { chromium } = require('playwright');
+
+const FRONTEND_URL = 'http://192.168.0.123:7655';
+
+async function debugEmailSave() {
+  console.log('=== DEBUGGING EMAIL SAVE PROCESS ===\n');
+  
+  const browser = await chromium.launch({ 
+    headless: false,  // Show browser
+    slowMo: 500       // Slow down actions
+  });
+  
+  try {
+    const context = await browser.newContext();
+    const page = await context.newPage();
+    
+    // Monitor console logs
+    page.on('console', msg => {
+      if (msg.text().includes('email') || msg.text().includes('recipient')) {
+        console.log('[Browser]:', msg.text());
+      }
+    });
+    
+    // Navigate to alerts page
+    console.log('1. Navigating to alerts page...');
+    await page.goto(`${FRONTEND_URL}/alerts`);
+    await page.waitForTimeout(2000);
+    
+    // Click on Destinations tab
+    console.log('2. Clicking Destinations tab...');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Destinations")');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+    
+    // Check current recipients
+    console.log('3. Checking recipients field...');
+    const recipientsField = await page.locator('textarea').filter({ hasText: /leave empty|recipients/i });
+    const currentRecipients = await recipientsField.inputValue();
+    console.log('   Current recipients:', currentRecipients || '(empty)');
+    
+    // Add a test recipient
+    console.log('4. Adding test recipient...');
+    await recipientsField.fill('test@example.com');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(500);
+    
+    // Save changes
+    console.log('5. Clicking Save Changes...');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Save Changes")');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(2000);
+    
+    // Navigate away and back
+    console.log('6. Navigating to Overview tab...');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Overview")');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+    
+    console.log('7. Navigating back to Destinations...');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Destinations")');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+    
+    // Check if recipients persisted
+    console.log('8. Checking if recipients persisted...');
+    const recipientsAfter = await recipientsField.inputValue();
+    console.log('   Recipients after save:', recipientsAfter || '(empty)');
+    
+    if (recipientsAfter.includes('test@example.com')) {
+      console.log('   ✅ Recipients persisted correctly!');
+    } else {
+      console.log('   ❌ Recipients were not saved!');
+    }
+    
+    console.log('\nPress Ctrl+C to close the browser...');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(60000); // Keep browser open
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error:', error.message);
+  } finally {
+    await browser.close();
+  }
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  debugEmailSave().catch(console.error);
+}
+
+module.exports = { debugEmailSave };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/decrypt-check.js b/testing-tools/decrypt-check.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b5e548d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/decrypt-check.js
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+const fs = require('fs');
+const crypto = require('crypto');
+const path = require('path');
+
+// This is a test to see if password is in the encrypted file
+// We can't actually decrypt without the key, but we can check file size
+
+const encFile = '/etc/pulse/email.enc';
+const stats = fs.statSync(encFile);
+
+console.log('Encrypted email file info:');
+console.log('  Size:', stats.size, 'bytes');
+console.log('  Modified:', stats.mtime);
+
+// A config with password should be larger than one without
+// Typical empty config ~200 bytes, with password ~250+ bytes
+if (stats.size < 200) {
+  console.log('  ⚠️  File seems too small to contain full config');
+} else if (stats.size > 250) {
+  console.log('  ✅ File size suggests it may contain password');
+} else {
+  console.log('  🤔 File size is in between - uncertain');
+}
diff --git a/testing-tools/monitor-email-send.js b/testing-tools/monitor-email-send.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..12af4b1e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/monitor-email-send.js
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+const { spawn } = require('child_process');
+
+async function monitorEmailSend() {
+  console.log('=== MONITORING EMAIL SEND ===\n');
+  
+  // Start log monitoring
+  console.log('Starting log monitor...\n');
+  const logMonitor = spawn('sudo', ['tail', '-f', '/opt/pulse/pulse.log']);
+  
+  logMonitor.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
+    const lines = data.toString().split('\n');
+    lines.forEach(line => {
+      if (line.includes('email') || line.includes('notification') || line.includes('smtp') || line.includes('test')) {
+        console.log('[LOG]', line);
+      }
+    });
+  });
+  
+  // Wait a moment for log monitor to start
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+  
+  // Send test email
+  console.log('\n=== SENDING TEST EMAIL ===\n');
+  try {
+    const response = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+      method: 'email'
+    });
+    console.log('API Response:', response.data);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('API Error:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+  
+  // Keep monitoring for a few seconds
+  console.log('\nMonitoring logs for 5 seconds...\n');
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
+  
+  // Kill log monitor
+  logMonitor.kill();
+  console.log('\nDone monitoring.');
+}
+
+monitorEmailSend().catch(console.error);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/save-user-password.js b/testing-tools/save-user-password.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d27e02334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/save-user-password.js
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+
+async function saveUserPassword() {
+  console.log('=== SAVING USER\'S EMAIL CONFIG WITH PASSWORD ===\n');
+  
+  try {
+    // Get current config
+    const response = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    const config = response.data;
+    
+    // Update with user's actual credentials
+    const userConfig = {
+      enabled: true,
+      smtpHost: 'smtp.gmail.com',
+      smtpPort: 587,
+      username: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+      password: 'zlff ruyk bxxf cxch',  // User's app password
+      from: 'courtmanr@gmail.com',
+      to: [],  // Empty as user wants
+      tls: true
+    };
+    
+    console.log('Saving user config with password...');
+    await axios.put('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email', userConfig);
+    console.log('✅ Config saved');
+    
+    // Test sending
+    console.log('\nTesting email send...');
+    try {
+      const testResponse = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+        method: 'email'
+      });
+      console.log('✅ Test email sent:', testResponse.data);
+    } catch (testError) {
+      console.error('❌ Test email failed:', testError.response?.data?.error || testError.message);
+    }
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+}
+
+saveUserPassword().catch(console.error);
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-email-detailed.js b/testing-tools/test-email-detailed.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30fe7870d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-email-detailed.js
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+const { spawn } = require('child_process');
+
+async function testEmailDetailed() {
+  console.log('=== DETAILED EMAIL TEST ===\n');
+  
+  // Start monitoring backend logs
+  console.log('Starting backend log monitor...\n');
+  const logMonitor = spawn('sudo', ['tail', '-f', '/opt/pulse/pulse.log']);
+  
+  let logOutput = '';
+  logMonitor.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
+    const output = data.toString();
+    logOutput += output;
+    // Show all logs for debugging
+    process.stdout.write(output);
+  });
+  
+  logMonitor.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
+    console.error('[ERROR]', data.toString());
+  });
+  
+  // Wait for log monitor to start
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+  
+  // Send test email
+  console.log('\n=== SENDING TEST EMAIL ===\n');
+  try {
+    const response = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+      method: 'email'
+    });
+    console.log('\nAPI Response:', JSON.stringify(response.data, null, 2));
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('\nAPI Error:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+  
+  // Wait for any SMTP errors
+  console.log('\nWaiting for SMTP logs...\n');
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 3000));
+  
+  // Kill log monitor
+  logMonitor.kill();
+  
+  // Check if we got any SMTP errors
+  if (logOutput.includes('Failed to send email')) {
+    console.log('\n❌ Email send failed - check logs above for details');
+  } else if (logOutput.includes('Email notification sent')) {
+    console.log('\n✅ Email appears to have been sent successfully');
+    console.log('   Check your email at: courtmanr@gmail.com');
+  } else {
+    console.log('\n🤔 Could not determine email status from logs');
+  }
+}
+
+testEmailDetailed().catch(console.error);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-email-direct.js b/testing-tools/test-email-direct.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3295657df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-email-direct.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+
+async function testEmailDirect() {
+  console.log('=== TESTING EMAIL SEND DIRECTLY ===\n');
+  
+  try {
+    // Get current config
+    const response = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    const config = response.data;
+    
+    console.log('Current email config:');
+    console.log('  From:', config.from);
+    console.log('  Recipients:', config.to);
+    console.log('  Password:', config.password ? 'SET' : 'EMPTY');
+    
+    // Try to send test email
+    console.log('\nSending test email...');
+    const testResponse = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+      method: 'email'
+    });
+    
+    console.log('Response:', testResponse.data);
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('\nError details:');
+    console.error('  Status:', error.response?.status);
+    console.error('  Message:', error.response?.data?.error || error.message);
+    
+    if (error.response?.data) {
+      console.error('  Full response:', JSON.stringify(error.response.data, null, 2));
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+testEmailDirect().catch(console.error);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-email-send.js b/testing-tools/test-email-send.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7694db9c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-email-send.js
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+
+async function testEmailSend() {
+  console.log('=== TESTING EMAIL SEND FUNCTIONALITY ===\n');
+  
+  try {
+    // 1. Get current email config
+    console.log('1. Getting current email configuration...');
+    const configResponse = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    const emailConfig = configResponse.data;
+    
+    console.log('   Email enabled:', emailConfig.enabled);
+    console.log('   SMTP Host:', emailConfig.smtpHost);
+    console.log('   SMTP Port:', emailConfig.smtpPort);
+    console.log('   From:', emailConfig.from);
+    console.log('   Recipients:', emailConfig.to);
+    
+    // 2. Test sending email
+    console.log('\n2. Testing email send...');
+    
+    try {
+      const testResponse = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+        method: 'email'
+      });
+      
+      console.log('   Response:', testResponse.status);
+      console.log('   Data:', testResponse.data);
+      
+      if (testResponse.data.success) {
+        console.log('   ✅ Test email sent successfully!');
+      } else {
+        console.log('   ❌ Test email failed:', testResponse.data.message);
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.log('   ❌ Error sending test email:');
+      console.log('   Status:', error.response?.status);
+      console.log('   Error:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+      
+      // If 400, might be missing config
+      if (error.response?.status === 400) {
+        console.log('\n3. Checking what the backend expects...');
+        console.log('   The backend might be expecting different fields or format');
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // 3. Try with full config in request
+    console.log('\n4. Testing with config included in request...');
+    try {
+      const testWithConfig = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+        method: 'email',
+        config: emailConfig
+      });
+      
+      console.log('   Response:', testWithConfig.status);
+      console.log('   Data:', testWithConfig.data);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.log('   Error with config:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+    }
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Failed to get email config:', error.message);
+  }
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  testEmailSend().catch(console.error);
+}
+
+module.exports = { testEmailSend };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-save-with-password.js b/testing-tools/test-save-with-password.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea69a6483
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-save-with-password.js
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+const axios = require('axios');
+
+async function testSaveWithPassword() {
+  console.log('=== TESTING EMAIL SAVE WITH PASSWORD ===\n');
+  
+  try {
+    // 1. Get current config
+    console.log('1. Getting current email config...');
+    const response = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    const currentConfig = response.data;
+    
+    console.log('   Current password:', currentConfig.password ? 'SET' : 'EMPTY');
+    
+    // 2. Save with test password
+    console.log('\n2. Saving config with test password...');
+    const testConfig = {
+      ...currentConfig,
+      password: 'test-password-123',
+      to: ['test@example.com']
+    };
+    
+    await axios.put('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email', testConfig);
+    console.log('   ✅ Saved successfully');
+    
+    // 3. Read back
+    console.log('\n3. Reading back saved config...');
+    const savedResponse = await axios.get('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email');
+    const savedConfig = savedResponse.data;
+    
+    console.log('   Password after save:', savedConfig.password ? 'SET' : 'EMPTY');
+    console.log('   Recipients:', savedConfig.to);
+    
+    // 4. Test email send
+    console.log('\n4. Testing email send...');
+    try {
+      const testResponse = await axios.post('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/test', {
+        method: 'email'
+      });
+      console.log('   Response:', testResponse.data);
+    } catch (testError) {
+      console.error('   Test email failed:', testError.response?.data?.error || testError.message);
+    }
+    
+    // 5. Restore original (without password)
+    console.log('\n5. Restoring original config...');
+    await axios.put('http://localhost:3000/api/notifications/email', currentConfig);
+    console.log('   ✅ Original config restored');
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error:', error.response?.data || error.message);
+  }
+}
+
+testSaveWithPassword().catch(console.error);
diff --git a/testing-tools/test-ui-email.js b/testing-tools/test-ui-email.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..38f39df6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing-tools/test-ui-email.js
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+const { chromium } = require('playwright');
+
+const FRONTEND_URL = 'http://192.168.0.123:7655';
+
+async function testUIEmail() {
+  console.log('=== TESTING EMAIL VIA UI ===\n');
+  
+  const browser = await chromium.launch({ 
+    headless: true
+  });
+  
+  try {
+    const context = await browser.newContext();
+    const page = await context.newPage();
+    
+    // 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...');
+    await page.click('button:has-text("Send Test Email")');
+    
+    // Wait for response
+    await page.waitForTimeout(3000);
+    
+    // Check for success notification
+    const toasts = await page.locator('.toast-notification, .notification, [role="alert"]').allTextContents();
+    if (toasts.length > 0) {
+      console.log('4. Notifications received:', toasts);
+    }
+    
+    // Check console for errors
+    const errors = [];
+    page.on('console', msg => {
+      if (msg.type() === 'error') {
+        errors.push(msg.text());
+      }
+    });
+    
+    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+    
+    if (errors.length > 0) {
+      console.log('\n❌ Console errors:', errors);
+    } else {
+      console.log('\n✅ No console errors detected');
+    }
+    
+    console.log('\n✅ Test completed - check your email at courtmanr@gmail.com');
+    
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error:', error.message);
+  } finally {
+    await browser.close();
+  }
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  testUIEmail().catch(console.error);
+}
+
+module.exports = { testUIEmail };
\ No newline at end of file