Some of the email workflows, like updating a user's email, requires the back-end api-server to send emails out. While developing, you can use a tool to catch these emails locally instead of having to use an email provider to send an actual email. MailHog is an email testing tool for developers that will catch the emails your local freeCodeCamp instance is sending.
How you install and run MailHog is dependent upon your OS
- [Installing MailHog on macOS](#installing-mailhog-on-macos)
- [Installing MailHog on Windows](#installing-mailhog-on-windows)
- [Installing MailHog on Linux](#installing-mailhog-on-linux)
### Installing MailHog on macOS
Here is how to set up MailHog on macOS with [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/):
```bash
brew install mailhog
brew services start mailhog
```
This will start a mailhog service in the background.
Next, you can go to [using MailHog](#using-mailhog).
### Installing MailHog on Windows
Download the latest MailHog version from [MailHog's official repository](https://github.com/mailhog/MailHog/releases). Click on the link for your Windows version (32 or 64 bit) and .exe file will be downloaded to your computer.
Once it finishes downloading, click on the file. You will probably get a Windows firewall notification where you will have to allow access to MailHog. Once you do, a standard Windows command line prompt will open with MailHog already running.
To close MailHog, close the command prompt. To run it again, click on the same .exe file. You don't need to download a new one.
Next, you can go to [using MailHog](#using-mailhog).
Next, you can go to [using MailHog](#using-mailhog).
## Using MailHog
Once you have installed MailHog and started it running you need to open your MailHog inbox in your browser, open a new tab or window and navigate to [http://localhost:8025](http://localhost:8025).
You should now see a screen like below:
![MailHog Screenshot 1](images/mailhog/1.jpg)
When your freeCodeCamp installation sends an email you will see it appear here. Like below:
![MailHog Screenshot 2](images/mailhog/2.jpg)
Open the mail and you should see two tabs where you can view the content - plain text and source. Make sure you are on the plain text tab.
- For any other questions related to MailHog or for instructions on custom configurations, check out the [MailHog](https://github.com/mailhog/MailHog) repository.