diff --git a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts
index 85eef9b2..5beba48c 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ describe('Electron IPC capabilities', () => {
 
   it('rejects channels outside the desktop host contract', () => {
     expect(isElectronIpcChannel(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetVersion)).toBe(true)
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannel(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference)).toBe(true)
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannel(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference)).toBe(true)
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannel(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages)).toBe(true)
     expect(isElectronIpcChannel('ipcRenderer:send-anything')).toBe(false)
   })
 
@@ -74,6 +77,8 @@ describe('Electron IPC capabilities', () => {
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.updateCheck, { proxy: 'http://127.0.0.1:7890' })).toBe(true)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.updateCheck, { proxy: '' })).toBe(false)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.updateCheck, { proxy: 'http://127.0.0.1:7890', extra: true })).toBe(false)
+    expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference, 'zh-TW')).toBe(true)
+    expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference, 'fr')).toBe(false)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsList, undefined)).toBe(true)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsList, {})).toBe(false)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsCreateFromImage, {
@@ -199,6 +204,15 @@ describe('Electron IPC capabilities', () => {
   })
 
   it('gives the pet renderer only runtime bootstrap and companion controls', () => {
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference,
+    )).toBe(true)
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference,
+    )).toBe(false)
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages,
+    )).toBe(true)
     expect(isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(
       ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetServerUrl,
     )).toBe(true)
diff --git a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts
index c5149016..01ed590a 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts
@@ -203,8 +203,18 @@ const updateCheckOptions: Validator = value => {
   return value.proxy === undefined || (typeof value.proxy === 'string' && value.proxy.trim().length > 0)
 }
 
+const localePreference: Validator = value =>
+  value === 'en'
+  || value === 'zh'
+  || value === 'zh-TW'
+  || value === 'jp'
+  || value === 'kr'
+
 export const ELECTRON_IPC_VALIDATORS = {
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetVersion]: noPayload,
+  [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference]: noPayload,
+  [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference]: localePreference,
+  [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages]: noPayload,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetServerUrl]: noPayload,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetLocalAccessToken]: noPayload,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetPetAccessToken]: noPayload,
@@ -274,6 +284,8 @@ const allowedChannels = new Set<ElectronIpcChannel>(
 )
 
 const petWindowChannels = new Set<ElectronIpcChannel>([
+  ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference,
+  ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages,
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetServerUrl,
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetPetAccessToken,
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsList,
diff --git a/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts b/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts
index 4fd0d036..eecb2a2c 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 export const ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS = {
   appGetVersion: 'desktop:app:get-version',
+  appGetLocalePreference: 'desktop:app:get-locale-preference',
+  appSetLocalePreference: 'desktop:app:set-locale-preference',
+  appGetPreferredSystemLanguages: 'desktop:app:get-preferred-system-languages',
   runtimeGetServerUrl: 'desktop:runtime:get-server-url',
   runtimeGetLocalAccessToken: 'desktop:runtime:get-local-access-token',
   runtimeGetPetAccessToken: 'desktop:runtime:get-pet-access-token',
@@ -66,6 +69,7 @@ export const ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS = {
 
 export const ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS = {
   event: 'desktop:event',
+  appLocaleChanged: 'desktop:app:locale-changed',
   webviewDragDrop: 'desktop:webview:drag-drop',
   notificationAction: 'desktop:notification:action',
   updateDownloadEvent: 'desktop:update:download-event',
diff --git a/desktop/electron/main.ts b/desktop/electron/main.ts
index bc671ad2..0f86247f 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/main.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/main.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ import {
   writePetWindowPosition,
   type PetWindowDragPayload,
 } from './services/petWindow'
+import {
+  readLocalePreference,
+  writeLocalePreference,
+} from './services/localePreference'
+import type { Locale } from '../src/i18n/locale'
 import {
   createCustomPetCatalogLoader,
   createCustomPetFromAtlas,
@@ -378,6 +383,13 @@ function emitNotificationAction(payload: unknown) {
   mainWindow?.webContents.send(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.notificationAction, payload)
 }
 
+function broadcastLocaleChanged(locale: Locale) {
+  for (const window of BrowserWindow.getAllWindows()) {
+    if (window.isDestroyed()) continue
+    window.webContents.send(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.appLocaleChanged, locale)
+  }
+}
+
 async function handleCommandInvoke(payload: unknown): Promise<unknown> {
   const { command, args } = payload as { command: string, args?: Record<string, unknown> }
 
@@ -409,6 +421,22 @@ function registerIpcHandlers() {
     void getPreviewService().sendMessageToRenderer(event.sender, raw, mainWindow?.webContents)
   })
   registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetVersion, () => app.getVersion())
+  registerHandler(
+    ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference,
+    () => readLocalePreference(app),
+  )
+  registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference, (event, payload) => {
+    if (currentWindow(event) !== mainWindow) {
+      throw new Error('Only the main window can change the locale preference')
+    }
+    const locale = payload as Locale
+    writeLocalePreference(app, locale)
+    broadcastLocaleChanged(locale)
+  })
+  registerHandler(
+    ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages,
+    () => app.getPreferredSystemLanguages(),
+  )
   registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetServerUrl, () => getServerRuntime().getServerUrl())
   registerHandler(
     ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetLocalAccessToken,
diff --git a/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts b/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts
index f2ecce11..a970da31 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ import {
   validateElectronIpcPayload,
 } from './ipc/capabilities'
 import { ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS, type ElectronIpcChannel } from './ipc/channels'
+import { ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS } from './ipc/channels'
 import type { DesktopHost } from '../src/lib/desktopHost/types'
+import type { Locale } from '../src/i18n/locale'
 
 function invoke<T>(channel: ElectronIpcChannel, payload?: unknown): Promise<T> {
   if (!isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(channel)) {
@@ -37,6 +39,19 @@ const petHost = {
     // server-enforced companion capability, never the desktop master token.
     getLocalAccessToken: () => invoke<string | null>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.runtimeGetPetAccessToken),
   },
+  app: {
+    getLocalePreference: () =>
+      invoke<Locale | null>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference),
+    getPreferredSystemLanguages: () =>
+      invoke<string[]>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages),
+    onLocaleChanged: (handler: (locale: Locale) => void) => {
+      const listener = (_event: Electron.IpcRendererEvent, locale: Locale) => handler(locale)
+      ipcRenderer.on(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.appLocaleChanged, listener)
+      return Promise.resolve(() => {
+        ipcRenderer.removeListener(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.appLocaleChanged, listener)
+      })
+    },
+  },
   appearance: {
     // The pet window is transparent and shares the renderer bootstrap, which
     // reports the applied theme. It has no native chrome to sync, and it must
diff --git a/desktop/electron/services/localePreference.test.ts b/desktop/electron/services/localePreference.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9ba808f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/electron/services/localePreference.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import fs from 'node:fs'
+import os from 'node:os'
+import path from 'node:path'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  LOCALE_PREFERENCE_FILE,
+  localePreferencePath,
+  readLocalePreference,
+  writeLocalePreference,
+} from './localePreference'
+
+describe('locale preference persistence', () => {
+  let root: string
+  let app: { getPath(name: 'userData'): string }
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    root = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'cc-haha-locale-preference-'))
+    app = { getPath: () => root }
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    fs.rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  })
+
+  it('treats a missing preference as follow-system mode', () => {
+    expect(readLocalePreference(app)).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('persists a valid manual locale across service instances', () => {
+    writeLocalePreference(app, 'jp')
+
+    expect(readLocalePreference(app)).toBe('jp')
+    expect(JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(localePreferencePath(app), 'utf8'))).toEqual({
+      locale: 'jp',
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('ignores malformed, unsupported, and extra persisted fields', () => {
+    fs.writeFileSync(localePreferencePath(app), '{ broken')
+    expect(readLocalePreference(app)).toBeNull()
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(localePreferencePath(app), JSON.stringify({ locale: 'fr' }))
+    expect(readLocalePreference(app)).toBeNull()
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(localePreferencePath(app), JSON.stringify({ locale: 'en', extra: true }))
+    expect(readLocalePreference(app)).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('stores the preference in the app-owned userData directory', () => {
+    expect(localePreferencePath(app)).toBe(path.join(root, LOCALE_PREFERENCE_FILE))
+  })
+})
diff --git a/desktop/electron/services/localePreference.ts b/desktop/electron/services/localePreference.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc1d296f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/electron/services/localePreference.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto'
+import fs from 'node:fs'
+import path from 'node:path'
+import {
+  isLocale,
+  type Locale,
+} from '../../src/i18n/locale'
+
+export const LOCALE_PREFERENCE_FILE = 'locale-preference.json'
+
+export type LocalePreferenceAppLike = {
+  getPath(name: 'userData'): string
+}
+
+type StoredLocalePreference = {
+  locale: Locale
+}
+
+export function localePreferencePath(app: LocalePreferenceAppLike): string {
+  return path.join(app.getPath('userData'), LOCALE_PREFERENCE_FILE)
+}
+
+export function readLocalePreference(app: LocalePreferenceAppLike): Locale | null {
+  try {
+    const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(localePreferencePath(app), 'utf8'))
+    if (typeof parsed !== 'object' || parsed === null || Array.isArray(parsed)) return null
+    const entries = Object.entries(parsed)
+    if (entries.length !== 1 || entries[0]?.[0] !== 'locale') return null
+    return isLocale(entries[0][1]) ? entries[0][1] : null
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+export function writeLocalePreference(
+  app: LocalePreferenceAppLike,
+  locale: Locale,
+): void {
+  if (!isLocale(locale)) {
+    throw new Error(`Unsupported locale preference: ${String(locale)}`)
+  }
+
+  const target = localePreferencePath(app)
+  const configDir = path.dirname(target)
+  const temporary = path.join(configDir, `.${LOCALE_PREFERENCE_FILE}.${randomUUID()}.tmp`)
+  const preference: StoredLocalePreference = { locale }
+  fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true })
+  try {
+    fs.writeFileSync(temporary, `${JSON.stringify(preference, null, 2)}\n`, {
+      encoding: 'utf8',
+      mode: 0o600,
+    })
+    fs.renameSync(temporary, target)
+  } finally {
+    fs.rmSync(temporary, { force: true })
+  }
+}
diff --git a/desktop/index.html b/desktop/index.html
index 7869ffd5..83ef535d 100644
--- a/desktop/index.html
+++ b/desktop/index.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!doctype html>
-<html lang="zh-CN">
+<html lang="en">
   <head>
     <meta charset="UTF-8" />
     <!--
diff --git a/desktop/src/__tests__/generalSettings.test.tsx b/desktop/src/__tests__/generalSettings.test.tsx
index 78fa66b8..23b45bbd 100644
--- a/desktop/src/__tests__/generalSettings.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/__tests__/generalSettings.test.tsx
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ function installElectronDesktopHost() {
       zoom: true,
     },
     app: {
+      ...browserHost.app,
       getVersion: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('0.3.2'),
     },
     dialogs: {
@@ -2414,6 +2415,7 @@ describe('Settings > About tab', () => {
         updates: true,
       },
       app: {
+        ...browserHost.app,
         getVersion: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error('version IPC failed')),
       },
     }
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserAddressBar.test.tsx b/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserAddressBar.test.tsx
index 8c1faf1e..1e6ad46a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserAddressBar.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserAddressBar.test.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom'
 import { BrowserAddressBar } from './BrowserAddressBar'
+import { useSettingsStore } from '../../stores/settingsStore'
 
 const baseProps = {
   url: 'http://localhost:5173/', canGoBack: false, canGoForward: false,
   onNavigate: vi.fn(), onBack: vi.fn(), onForward: vi.fn(), onReload: vi.fn(),
 }
 
+beforeEach(() => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({ locale: 'zh' })
+})
+
 afterEach(() => {
   cleanup()
 })
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserSurface.test.tsx b/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserSurface.test.tsx
index ab25e286..501781f9 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserSurface.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/browser/BrowserSurface.test.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom'
 import { act, cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor, within } from '@testing-library/react'
-import { afterEach, beforeAll, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 beforeAll(() => {
   Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'ResizeObserver', {
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ import { useWorkspacePanelStore } from '../../stores/workspacePanelStore'
 import { useOverlayStore } from '../../stores/overlayStore'
 import { useSettingsStore } from '../../stores/settingsStore'
 
+beforeEach(() => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({ locale: 'zh' })
+})
+
 afterEach(() => {
   cleanup()
   vi.restoreAllMocks()
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/controls/ReasoningEffortPopover.test.tsx b/desktop/src/components/controls/ReasoningEffortPopover.test.tsx
index d081aad3..8fd3846b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/controls/ReasoningEffortPopover.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/controls/ReasoningEffortPopover.test.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { createRef } from 'react'
 import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom'
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 import { ReasoningEffortPopover } from './ReasoningEffortPopover'
+import { useSettingsStore } from '../../stores/settingsStore'
 
 const options = ['low', 'medium', 'high', 'xhigh', 'max'] as const
 const labels = {
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ const labels = {
   max: '最大',
 }
 
+beforeEach(() => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({ locale: 'zh' })
+})
+
 afterEach(cleanup)
 
 function renderPopover(overrides: Partial<React.ComponentProps<typeof ReasoningEffortPopover>> = {}) {
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/layout/StartupErrorView.test.tsx b/desktop/src/components/layout/StartupErrorView.test.tsx
index 007e4bde..01b83c9f 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/layout/StartupErrorView.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/layout/StartupErrorView.test.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom'
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 import { splitStartupError, StartupErrorView } from './StartupErrorView'
+import { useSettingsStore } from '../../stores/settingsStore'
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({ locale: 'zh' })
+})
 
 describe('splitStartupError', () => {
   it('separates the timeout message from captured sidecar logs', () => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/markdown/MarkdownRenderer.test.tsx b/desktop/src/components/markdown/MarkdownRenderer.test.tsx
index 3b18969b..c6068d2b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/markdown/MarkdownRenderer.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/markdown/MarkdownRenderer.test.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ vi.mock('../chat/MermaidRenderer', () => ({
 }))
 
 import { MarkdownRenderer, __markdownParseCacheInternals } from './MarkdownRenderer'
+import { useSettingsStore } from '../../stores/settingsStore'
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({ locale: 'zh' })
+})
 
 function visibleMathText(container: HTMLElement): string {
   const clone = container.cloneNode(true) as HTMLElement
diff --git a/desktop/src/i18n/index.ts b/desktop/src/i18n/index.ts
index 95b854e8..c16af169 100644
--- a/desktop/src/i18n/index.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/i18n/index.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ import { zh } from './locales/zh'
 import { zh as zhTW } from './locales/zh-TW'
 import { jp } from './locales/jp'
 import { kr } from './locales/kr'
-
-export type Locale = 'en' | 'zh' | 'zh-TW' | 'jp' | 'kr'
+import type { Locale } from './locale'
 
 const translations: Record<Locale, Record<string, string>> = {
   en,
@@ -65,3 +64,4 @@ export function t(key: TranslationKey, params?: Record<string, string | number>)
 }
 
 export type { TranslationKey }
+export type { Locale } from './locale'
diff --git a/desktop/src/i18n/locale.test.ts b/desktop/src/i18n/locale.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..71e4aa26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/i18n/locale.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  initializeLocale,
+  resolveSupportedLocale,
+  subscribeLocaleChanges,
+} from './locale'
+
+function mockBrowserLanguages(languages: string[], language = languages[0] ?? '') {
+  vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'languages', 'get').mockReturnValue(languages)
+  vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'language', 'get').mockReturnValue(language)
+}
+
+describe('locale detection', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.restoreAllMocks()
+    window.localStorage.clear()
+    document.documentElement.lang = 'en'
+  })
+
+  it('normalizes BCP 47 tags and selects the first supported language', () => {
+    expect(resolveSupportedLocale(['fr-FR', 'zh_Hant_HK', 'en-US'])).toBe('zh-TW')
+    expect(resolveSupportedLocale(['zh-Hans-HK'])).toBe('zh')
+  })
+
+  it('uses Electron preferred system languages before the renderer fallback', async () => {
+    mockBrowserLanguages(['en-US'])
+    const host = {
+      getLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(null),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(['fr-FR', 'ko-KR']),
+      setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      onLocaleChanged: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(() => {}),
+    }
+
+    await expect(initializeLocale(host)).resolves.toBe('kr')
+
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('ko')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to renderer languages when the native lookup fails', async () => {
+    mockBrowserLanguages(['ja-JP'])
+
+    await expect(initializeLocale({
+      getLocalePreference: () => Promise.reject(new Error('IPC unavailable')),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: () => Promise.reject(new Error('IPC unavailable')),
+      setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      onLocaleChanged: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(() => {}),
+    })).resolves.toBe('jp')
+
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('ja')
+  })
+
+  it('migrates a stored main-window choice without consulting the system again', async () => {
+    window.localStorage.setItem('cc-haha-locale', 'zh-TW')
+    const host = {
+      getLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(null),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(['en-US']),
+      setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      onLocaleChanged: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(() => {}),
+    }
+
+    await expect(initializeLocale(host)).resolves.toBe('zh-TW')
+
+    expect(host.setLocalePreference).toHaveBeenCalledWith('zh-TW')
+    expect(host.getLocalePreference).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(host.getPreferredSystemLanguages).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('zh-TW')
+  })
+
+  it('uses the app-level manual preference in an isolated companion partition', async () => {
+    mockBrowserLanguages(['zh-CN'])
+
+    await expect(initializeLocale({
+      getLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('jp'),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(['zh-CN']),
+      setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      onLocaleChanged: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(() => {}),
+    })).resolves.toBe('jp')
+
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('ja')
+  })
+
+  it('applies app-level locale changes to an already running companion window', async () => {
+    let onLocaleChanged: ((locale: 'kr') => void) | undefined
+    const listener = vi.fn()
+    const unsubscribe = subscribeLocaleChanges(listener)
+
+    await initializeLocale({
+      getLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('en'),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(['en-US']),
+      setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      onLocaleChanged: vi.fn(async (handler) => {
+        onLocaleChanged = handler
+        return () => {}
+      }),
+    })
+
+    onLocaleChanged?.('kr')
+
+    expect(listener).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith('kr')
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('ko')
+    unsubscribe()
+  })
+
+  it('uses navigator.language when navigator.languages is unavailable', async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'languages', 'get').mockImplementation(() => {
+      throw new Error('languages unavailable')
+    })
+    vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'language', 'get').mockReturnValue('ja-JP')
+
+    await expect(initializeLocale({
+      getLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(null),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error('IPC unavailable')),
+      setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      onLocaleChanged: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(() => {}),
+    })).resolves.toBe('jp')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/desktop/src/i18n/locale.ts b/desktop/src/i18n/locale.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c47d3822
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/i18n/locale.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+export type Locale = 'en' | 'zh' | 'zh-TW' | 'jp' | 'kr'
+
+export const LOCALE_STORAGE_KEY = 'cc-haha-locale'
+
+const VALID_LOCALES: readonly Locale[] = ['en', 'zh', 'zh-TW', 'jp', 'kr']
+const DOCUMENT_LANG: Record<Locale, string> = {
+  en: 'en',
+  zh: 'zh-CN',
+  'zh-TW': 'zh-TW',
+  jp: 'ja',
+  kr: 'ko',
+}
+
+let initializedLocale: Locale | null = null
+const localeChangeListeners = new Set<(locale: Locale) => void>()
+
+export type LocaleRuntime = {
+  getLocalePreference(): Promise<Locale | null>
+  getPreferredSystemLanguages(): Promise<string[]>
+  setLocalePreference(locale: Locale): Promise<void>
+  onLocaleChanged(handler: (locale: Locale) => void): Promise<() => void>
+}
+
+export function isLocale(value: unknown): value is Locale {
+  return typeof value === 'string'
+    && (VALID_LOCALES as readonly string[]).includes(value)
+}
+
+export function readBrowserLanguages(): string[] {
+  if (typeof navigator === 'undefined') return []
+
+  try {
+    const languages = navigator.languages
+    if (Array.isArray(languages) && languages.length > 0) return [...languages]
+  } catch {
+    // Continue to the singular language fallback.
+  }
+
+  try {
+    return navigator.language ? [navigator.language] : []
+  } catch {
+    return []
+  }
+}
+
+function mapLanguageTag(languageTag: string): Locale | null {
+  const [language, ...subtags] = languageTag.trim().replace(/_/g, '-').toLowerCase().split('-')
+  if (language === 'en') return 'en'
+  if (language === 'ja') return 'jp'
+  if (language === 'ko') return 'kr'
+  if (language !== 'zh') return null
+
+  if (subtags.includes('hant')) return 'zh-TW'
+  if (subtags.includes('hans')) return 'zh'
+  return subtags.some(subtag => subtag === 'tw' || subtag === 'hk' || subtag === 'mo')
+    ? 'zh-TW'
+    : 'zh'
+}
+
+export function resolveSupportedLocale(languageTags: readonly string[]): Locale {
+  for (const languageTag of languageTags) {
+    const locale = mapLanguageTag(languageTag)
+    if (locale) return locale
+  }
+  return 'en'
+}
+
+export function readStoredLocale(): Locale | null {
+  try {
+    const stored = localStorage.getItem(LOCALE_STORAGE_KEY)
+    if (isLocale(stored)) return stored
+  } catch {
+    // localStorage can be unavailable in locked-down browser contexts.
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+export function getInitialLocale(): Locale {
+  return readStoredLocale()
+    ?? initializedLocale
+    ?? resolveSupportedLocale(readBrowserLanguages())
+}
+
+export function applyDocumentLocale(locale: Locale): void {
+  if (typeof document !== 'undefined') document.documentElement.lang = DOCUMENT_LANG[locale]
+}
+
+function applyResolvedLocale(locale: Locale): void {
+  initializedLocale = locale
+  applyDocumentLocale(locale)
+  for (const listener of localeChangeListeners) listener(locale)
+}
+
+export function subscribeLocaleChanges(listener: (locale: Locale) => void): () => void {
+  localeChangeListeners.add(listener)
+  return () => {
+    localeChangeListeners.delete(listener)
+  }
+}
+
+export async function initializeLocale(
+  runtime: LocaleRuntime,
+): Promise<Locale> {
+  try {
+    await runtime.onLocaleChanged((locale) => {
+      if (isLocale(locale)) applyResolvedLocale(locale)
+    })
+  } catch {
+    // A host without event support can still initialize from the snapshot below.
+  }
+
+  const storedLocale = readStoredLocale()
+  if (storedLocale) {
+    try {
+      await runtime.setLocalePreference(storedLocale)
+    } catch {
+      // localStorage remains the main-window compatibility source.
+    }
+    applyResolvedLocale(storedLocale)
+    return storedLocale
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const appPreference = await runtime.getLocalePreference()
+    if (isLocale(appPreference)) {
+      applyResolvedLocale(appPreference)
+      return appPreference
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // Fall through to system language detection.
+  }
+
+  let languageTags: string[] = []
+  try {
+    const preferredSystemLanguages = await runtime.getPreferredSystemLanguages()
+    languageTags = preferredSystemLanguages.length > 0
+      ? preferredSystemLanguages
+      : readBrowserLanguages()
+  } catch {
+    languageTags = readBrowserLanguages()
+  }
+
+  const locale = resolveSupportedLocale(languageTags)
+  applyResolvedLocale(locale)
+  return locale
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts
index c946a7d2..ea1727a1 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type {
   NotificationPermissionState,
 } from './types'
 import { buildTraceWindowUrl } from '../traceLaunch'
+import { readBrowserLanguages } from '../../i18n/locale'
 
 const browserCapabilities: DesktopHostCapabilities = {
   appMode: false,
@@ -51,6 +52,18 @@ export const browserHost: DesktopHost = {
     async getVersion() {
       return '0.1.0'
     },
+    async getLocalePreference() {
+      return null
+    },
+    async setLocalePreference() {
+      // Browser/H5 preferences stay in renderer localStorage.
+    },
+    async getPreferredSystemLanguages() {
+      return readBrowserLanguages()
+    },
+    async onLocaleChanged() {
+      return noopUnlisten
+    },
   },
   commands: {
     async invoke() {
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts
index 07be8f47..5ecf80ee 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,29 @@ describe('desktop host contract', () => {
     })).resolves.toBeUndefined()
   })
 
+  it('uses browser language preferences outside Electron', async () => {
+    const languages = vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'languages', 'get').mockReturnValue(['ja-JP', 'en-US'])
+
+    await expect(browserHost.app.getPreferredSystemLanguages()).resolves.toEqual(['ja-JP', 'en-US'])
+    await expect(browserHost.app.getLocalePreference()).resolves.toBeNull()
+    await expect(browserHost.app.setLocalePreference('jp')).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+    await expect(browserHost.app.onLocaleChanged(vi.fn())).resolves.toEqual(expect.any(Function))
+
+    languages.mockRestore()
+  })
+
+  it('uses navigator.language when the browser language list is unavailable', async () => {
+    const languages = vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'languages', 'get').mockImplementation(() => {
+      throw new Error('languages unavailable')
+    })
+    const language = vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'language', 'get').mockReturnValue('ko-KR')
+
+    await expect(browserHost.app.getPreferredSystemLanguages()).resolves.toEqual(['ko-KR'])
+
+    languages.mockRestore()
+    language.mockRestore()
+  })
+
   it('detects the browser fallback when native host globals are absent', () => {
     expect(createDesktopHost({ electronHost: null })).toBe(browserHost)
   })
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts
index ae9f89b0..e8b11780 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,41 @@ import { ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS, ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS } from '../../../electro
 import { createElectronHost } from './electronHost'
 
 describe('electron desktop host', () => {
+  it('synchronizes locale preferences through narrow app IPC boundaries', async () => {
+    const invoke = vi.fn()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce('jp')
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(['zh-Hant-TW', 'en-US'])
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(undefined)
+    const subscribe = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(() => {})
+    const host = createElectronHost({
+      invoke,
+      subscribe,
+    })
+
+    await expect(host.app.getLocalePreference()).resolves.toBe('jp')
+    await expect(host.app.getPreferredSystemLanguages()).resolves.toEqual(['zh-Hant-TW', 'en-US'])
+    await host.app.setLocalePreference('kr')
+    const handler = vi.fn()
+    await host.app.onLocaleChanged(handler)
+
+    expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      1,
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference,
+      undefined,
+    )
+    expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages,
+      undefined,
+    )
+    expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      3,
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference,
+      'kr',
+    )
+    expect(subscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.appLocaleChanged, handler)
+  })
+
   it('wraps dialog, shell URL, and shell path calls in explicit IPC channels', async () => {
     const invoke = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('/tmp/report.md')
     const host = createElectronHost({
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts
index da4eada5..cf5f8241 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ export function createElectronHost(bridge: ElectronHostBridge): DesktopHost {
     },
     app: {
       getVersion: () => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetVersion),
+      getLocalePreference: () => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetLocalePreference),
+      setLocalePreference: locale => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appSetLocalePreference, locale),
+      getPreferredSystemLanguages: () => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.appGetPreferredSystemLanguages),
+      onLocaleChanged: handler => subscribe(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.appLocaleChanged, handler),
     },
     commands: {
       invoke: (command, args) => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.commandInvoke, { command, args }),
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts
index 521e4636..c06012dc 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type {
   AppMode as SettingsAppMode,
   AppModeConfig as SettingsAppModeConfig,
 } from '../../types/settings'
+import type { Locale } from '../../i18n/locale'
 
 export type DesktopHostKind = 'browser' | 'electron'
 
@@ -246,6 +247,10 @@ export type DesktopHost = {
   }
   app: {
     getVersion(): Promise<string>
+    getLocalePreference(): Promise<Locale | null>
+    setLocalePreference(locale: Locale): Promise<void>
+    getPreferredSystemLanguages(): Promise<string[]>
+    onLocaleChanged(handler: (locale: Locale) => void): Promise<DesktopHostUnlisten>
   }
   commands: {
     invoke<T>(command: string, args?: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<T>
diff --git a/desktop/src/main.tsx b/desktop/src/main.tsx
index eaf06523..d7be7f80 100644
--- a/desktop/src/main.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/main.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import './theme/globals.css'
 import { initializeAppZoom } from './lib/appZoom'
 import { initializeTouchH5 } from './lib/touchH5'
 import { runDesktopPersistenceMigrations } from './lib/persistenceMigrations'
+import { getDesktopHost } from './lib/desktopHost'
+import { initializeLocale } from './i18n/locale'
 
 declare global {
   interface Window {
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ export async function bootstrapDesktopApp(
   loadModules: () => Promise<DesktopBootstrapModules> = loadDesktopBootstrapModules,
 ) {
   try {
+    await initializeLocale(getDesktopHost().app)
     const [{ App }, { ErrorBoundary }, { installClientDiagnosticsCapture }, { initializeTheme }] = await loadModules()
     initializeTheme()
     installClientDiagnosticsCapture()
diff --git a/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.test.ts b/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.test.ts
index 4aacc35d..2f61d47d 100644
--- a/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { ApiError } from '../api/client'
+import type { Locale } from '../i18n/locale'
 import { browserHost } from '../lib/desktopHost/browserHost'
 
 function createDeferred<T>() {
@@ -12,25 +13,151 @@ function createDeferred<T>() {
   return { promise, resolve, reject }
 }
 
+function mockSystemLanguages(languages: string[], language = languages[0] ?? '') {
+  vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'languages', 'get').mockReturnValue(languages)
+  vi.spyOn(window.navigator, 'language', 'get').mockReturnValue(language)
+}
+
 describe('settingsStore locale defaults', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.restoreAllMocks()
     vi.resetModules()
     window.localStorage.clear()
   })
 
-  it('defaults to Chinese when no locale is stored', async () => {
-    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
-
-    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('zh')
+  afterEach(() => {
+    delete window.desktopHost
   })
 
-  it('keeps a stored locale override', async () => {
-    window.localStorage.setItem('cc-haha-locale', 'en')
+  it.each([
+    ['en-GB', 'en'],
+    ['zh-CN', 'zh'],
+    ['zh-SG', 'zh'],
+    ['zh-Hant', 'zh-TW'],
+    ['zh-HK', 'zh-TW'],
+    ['ja-JP', 'jp'],
+    ['ko-KR', 'kr'],
+  ] as const)('maps the system language %s to %s', async (systemLanguage, expectedLocale) => {
+    mockSystemLanguages([systemLanguage])
+
+    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
+
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe(expectedLocale)
+  })
+
+  it('uses the first supported language in the system preference list', async () => {
+    mockSystemLanguages(['fr-FR', 'ja-JP', 'en-US'])
+
+    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
+
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('jp')
+  })
+
+  it('defaults to English when no system language is supported', async () => {
+    mockSystemLanguages(['fr-FR', 'de-DE'])
 
     const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
 
     expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('en')
   })
+
+  it('keeps a stored locale override', async () => {
+    mockSystemLanguages(['en-US'])
+    window.localStorage.setItem('cc-haha-locale', 'zh-TW')
+
+    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
+
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('zh-TW')
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('zh-TW')
+
+    useSettingsStore.getState().setLocale('jp')
+
+    expect(window.localStorage.getItem('cc-haha-locale')).toBe('jp')
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('ja')
+  })
+
+  it('persists a manual desktop choice and restores it after a simulated restart', async () => {
+    mockSystemLanguages(['zh-CN'])
+    const setLocalePreference = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    window.desktopHost = {
+      ...browserHost,
+      kind: 'electron',
+      isDesktop: true,
+      app: {
+        ...browserHost.app,
+        setLocalePreference,
+      },
+    }
+
+    const firstLoad = await import('./settingsStore')
+    firstLoad.useSettingsStore.getState().setLocale('jp')
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(setLocalePreference).toHaveBeenCalledWith('jp')
+    })
+    expect(window.localStorage.getItem('cc-haha-locale')).toBe('jp')
+
+    vi.resetModules()
+    mockSystemLanguages(['ko-KR'])
+    const restarted = await import('./settingsStore')
+
+    expect(restarted.useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('jp')
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('ja')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the local choice when desktop persistence fails', async () => {
+    mockSystemLanguages(['en-US'])
+    const persistenceError = new Error('disk unavailable')
+    const consoleError = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    window.desktopHost = {
+      ...browserHost,
+      kind: 'electron',
+      isDesktop: true,
+      app: {
+        ...browserHost.app,
+        setLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(persistenceError),
+      },
+    }
+
+    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
+    useSettingsStore.getState().setLocale('kr')
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(consoleError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        '[desktop] Failed to persist locale preference',
+        persistenceError,
+      )
+    })
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('kr')
+    expect(window.localStorage.getItem('cc-haha-locale')).toBe('kr')
+  })
+
+  it('applies a locale event from another desktop window', async () => {
+    mockSystemLanguages(['en-US'])
+    let emitLocale: ((locale: Locale) => void) | undefined
+    window.desktopHost = {
+      ...browserHost,
+      kind: 'electron',
+      isDesktop: true,
+      app: {
+        ...browserHost.app,
+        getLocalePreference: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('en'),
+        onLocaleChanged: vi.fn(async (handler) => {
+          emitLocale = handler
+          return () => {}
+        }),
+      },
+    }
+
+    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
+    const { initializeLocale } = await import('../i18n/locale')
+    await initializeLocale(window.desktopHost.app)
+
+    emitLocale?.('zh-TW')
+
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().locale).toBe('zh-TW')
+    expect(document.documentElement.lang).toBe('zh-TW')
+  })
 })
 
 describe('settingsStore UI zoom', () => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.ts b/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.ts
index a366ff23..fb2e8616 100644
--- a/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.ts
@@ -36,24 +36,19 @@ import {
   readStoredAppZoomLevel,
 } from '../lib/appZoom'
 import { useUIStore } from './uiStore'
+import {
+  applyDocumentLocale,
+  getInitialLocale,
+  LOCALE_STORAGE_KEY,
+  subscribeLocaleChanges,
+} from '../i18n/locale'
 
-const LOCALE_STORAGE_KEY = 'cc-haha-locale'
 export const UI_ZOOM_MIN = MIN_APP_ZOOM
 export const UI_ZOOM_MAX = MAX_APP_ZOOM
 export const UI_ZOOM_STEP = APP_ZOOM_CONTROL_STEP
 export const UI_ZOOM_DEFAULT = DEFAULT_APP_ZOOM
 let desktopNotificationsSaveQueue: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve()
 
-const VALID_LOCALES: readonly Locale[] = ['en', 'zh', 'zh-TW', 'jp', 'kr']
-
-function getStoredLocale(): Locale {
-  try {
-    const stored = localStorage.getItem(LOCALE_STORAGE_KEY)
-    if (stored && (VALID_LOCALES as readonly string[]).includes(stored)) return stored as Locale
-  } catch { /* localStorage unavailable */ }
-  return 'zh'
-}
-
 type SettingsStore = {
   permissionMode: PermissionMode
   currentModel: ModelInfo | null
@@ -178,6 +173,9 @@ const DEFAULT_TRACE_CAPTURE_SETTINGS: TraceCaptureSettings = {
   storageDir: '',
 }
 
+const initialLocale = getInitialLocale()
+applyDocumentLocale(initialLocale)
+
 export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
   permissionMode: 'default',
   currentModel: null,
@@ -187,7 +185,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
   autoModeOptInAccepted: false,
   availableModels: [],
   activeProviderName: null,
-  locale: getStoredLocale(),
+  locale: initialLocale,
   chatSendBehavior: 'enter',
   outputStyle: DEFAULT_OUTPUT_STYLE,
   outputStyles: DEFAULT_OUTPUT_STYLE_OPTIONS,
@@ -344,7 +342,11 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
 
   setLocale: (locale) => {
     set({ locale })
+    applyDocumentLocale(locale)
     try { localStorage.setItem(LOCALE_STORAGE_KEY, locale) } catch { /* noop */ }
+    void getDesktopHost().app.setLocalePreference(locale).catch((error) => {
+      console.error('[desktop] Failed to persist locale preference', error)
+    })
   },
 
   // Kept as the Settings page's entry point; uiStore owns the state.
@@ -622,6 +624,11 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
   },
 }))
 
+subscribeLocaleChanges((locale) => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({ locale })
+  applyDocumentLocale(locale)
+})
+
 function normalizeWebSearchSettings(settings: WebSearchSettings | undefined): WebSearchSettings {
   return {
     mode: settings?.mode ?? 'auto',
diff --git a/desktop/src/stores/updateStore.test.ts b/desktop/src/stores/updateStore.test.ts
index 891c46cb..f1f47f09 100644
--- a/desktop/src/stores/updateStore.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/stores/updateStore.test.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ describe('updateStore', () => {
         updates: true,
       },
       app: {
+        ...browserHost.app,
         getVersion: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('0.4.1'),
       },
       updates: {