--- title: "Email Registration and Password Reset | DreamFactory Docs" source: "https://docs.dreamfactory.com/system-settings/config/email-registration-and-password-reset" canonical_url: "https://docs.dreamfactory.com/system-settings/config/email-registration-and-password-reset" converted_at: "2026-08-31T17:56:23.739Z" format: "markdown" converted_by: "html-to-md-ai" --- Setting passwords by hand for every account does not scale and is not secure. DreamFactory can instead email an invitation and let the person set their own password. The same wiring drives password reset emails. Neither feature works on a fresh install. Both need an email service **and** an email template selected. Configuring the service alone is not enough. ## What you need[​](#what-you-need) Three things, in order: 1. A mail transport DreamFactory can reach. 2. An Email service in DreamFactory that uses it. 3. That service **and** a template selected on the account type you care about. ## Step 1: Choose a mail transport[​](#step-1-choose-a-mail-transport) The recommended path is a dedicated **SMTP** service. It stores its own host, port, credentials, and encryption, so nothing goes in `.env`. See [SMTP](/api-generation-and-connections/api-types/email/smtp) for the fields. A **Local Email Service** is also available. When its `Local Command` field is empty and `MAIL_DRIVER` is `smtp`, it falls back to the Laravel mail settings in your `.env` file. `MAIL_DRIVER` defaults to `sendmail`, so it must be set explicitly: ``` MAIL_DRIVER=smtpMAIL_HOST=smtp.gmail.comMAIL_PORT=587[email protected]MAIL_PASSWORD=YOUR_PASSWORD ``` SMTP is one of several delivery options. Mailgun and other providers are available as their own service types. See [Email Services Overview](/api-generation-and-connections/api-types/email/email-overview). ## Step 2: Create the Email service[​](#step-2-create-the-email-service) In the admin console, go to **API Generation & Connections > API Types > Utility**. Email service types are filed under Utility, alongside Cache, Notification, Log, Source Control and IoT. There is no separate Email entry in the API Types list, which is a common place to get stuck. Create the service and note its ID; you need it in the next step. ## Step 3: Select the service and template[​](#step-3-select-the-service-and-template) This is the step most installs miss. The settings live on the service that owns the account being invited or reset, and there is no global default. Account typeWhere the settings liveFieldsNon-admin usersThe `user` service, **Config** tab`invite_email_service_id`, `invite_email_template_id`, `password_email_service_id`, `password_email_template_id`AdminsThe `system` service, **Config** tabThe same four fields The two are independent. Configuring user invites does not configure admin invites, and configuring invites does not configure password resets. In the admin console, open the `user` service and set these on its Config tab: - **Invite Email Service** and **Invite Email Template** - **Password Email Service** and **Password Email Template** - **Open Reg Email Service** and **Open Reg Email Template**, if you allow self-registration The installer seeds three templates: `User Invite Default`, `User Registration Default`, and `Password Reset Default`. They are not applied automatically. You must select one. By API: ``` curl -X PATCH "https:///api/v2/system/service/" \-H "Content-Type: application/json" \-H "X-DreamFactory-Session-Token: " \-d '{"config":{"invite_email_service_id":12,"invite_email_template_id":1,"password_email_service_id":12,"password_email_template_id":3}}' ``` Admin accounts use the same request against the `system` service instead of the `user` service. Look up its ID with `GET /api/v2/system/service?filter=type='system'`. ## Sending an invitation[​](#sending-an-invitation) Create the user with `send_invite=true` and omit the password. The invited person sets their own. ``` curl -X POST "https:///api/v2/system/user?send_invite=true" \-H "Content-Type: application/json" \-H "X-DreamFactory-Session-Token: " \-d '{"resource":[{"name":"Jane Doe","first_name":"Jane","last_name":"Doe","email":"[email protected]"}]}' ``` In the admin console, the account form offers **Send Email Invite** or **Set Password** as a pair. Choose **Send Email Invite**. See [User Management](/system-settings/the-system-api/user-management) for the full request format. ## Password reset[​](#password-reset) Once the password reset service and template are set, the reset endpoint sends the email: ``` curl -X POST "https:///api/v2/user/password?reset=true" \-H "Content-Type: application/json" \-d '{"email":"[email protected]"}' ``` A configured instance returns `{"success": true}`. Admin accounts use a different endpoint, and unlike the user endpoint it requires a session token or API key: ``` curl -X POST "https:///api/v2/system/admin/password?reset=true" \-H "Content-Type: application/json" \-H "X-DreamFactory-Session-Token: " \-d '{"email":"[email protected]"}' ``` That endpoint reads the `system` service settings, not the `user` service ones. ## Troubleshooting[​](#troubleshooting) Both features fail loudly with HTTP 500 rather than failing silently. The message tells you which of the two settings is missing. MessageCause`No email service configured for user invite.`Invite Email Service is not set`No default email template for user invite.`Invite Email Template is not set`No security question found or email confirmation available for this user. Please contact your administrator.`Password Email Service is not set, and the user has no security question`No data found in default email template for password reset.`Password Email Template is not set If the settings look right but mail still does not arrive, the problem is the transport, not DreamFactory. Send a message directly through the Email service itself to confirm it can reach your mail host before looking further. Fixing this for users and finding that admins still cannot reset is expected. Set the same four fields on the `system` service as well. ## Next Steps[​](#next-steps) - **[SMTP](/api-generation-and-connections/api-types/email/smtp)**: Configure an SMTP email service - **[Email Services Overview](/api-generation-and-connections/api-types/email/email-overview)**: Compare providers and delivery options - **[User Management](/system-settings/the-system-api/user-management)**: Create, update, and delete users through the API