diff --git a/app/Filament/Pages/Settings.php b/app/Filament/Pages/Settings.php
index 1521e53..e5be94e 100644
--- a/app/Filament/Pages/Settings.php
+++ b/app/Filament/Pages/Settings.php
@@ -502,11 +502,28 @@ class Settings extends Page implements HasForms
     private function testIMAP($imap): bool
     {
         try {
+            // First check if IMAP extension is available
+            if (!function_exists('imap_open')) {
+                Notification::make()
+                    ->title('IMAP Extension Not Available')
+                    ->body('The PHP IMAP extension is not loaded in your web server. Please check your Herd PHP configuration or restart your server.')
+                    ->danger()
+                    ->send();
+                return false;
+            }
+
             ZEmail::connectMailBox($imap);
             return true;
         } catch (\Exception $exception) {
+            $errorMessage = $exception->getMessage();
+
+            // Provide more helpful error messages
+            if (str_contains($errorMessage, 'IMAP extension must be enabled')) {
+                $errorMessage = 'IMAP extension is not properly loaded in the web server. Try restarting Herd or check your PHP configuration.';
+            }
+
             Notification::make()
-                ->title('Imap Error : '.$exception->getMessage())
+                ->title('IMAP Error: ' . $errorMessage)
                 ->danger()
                 ->send();
             return false;