diff --git a/app/Helpers/EmailHelper.php b/app/Helpers/EmailHelper.php
index c1206b1..508c5aa 100644
--- a/app/Helpers/EmailHelper.php
+++ b/app/Helpers/EmailHelper.php
@@ -120,6 +120,14 @@ class EmailHelper
             $emailSettings = self::getEmailSettings();
             $appSettings = self::getAppSettings();
             $mail = self::createMailer();
+
+            // Always capture SMTP dialog for test emails (no env flag needed)
+            $mail->SMTPDebug = PHPMailer::DEBUG_SERVER; // verbose for diagnostics
+            $mail->Debugoutput = function($str, $level) {
+                $lvlMap = [1 => 'CLIENT', 2 => 'SERVER', 3 => 'CONN', 4 => 'LOW'];
+                $label = $lvlMap[$level] ?? (string)$level;
+                self::getLogger()->debug('SMTP ' . $label . ': ' . trim($str));
+            };
             
             // Set sender
             $mail->setFrom($emailSettings['mail_from_address'], $emailSettings['mail_from_name']);