diff --git a/src/app/Http/Controllers/LocaleController.php b/src/app/Http/Controllers/LocaleController.php
index d3068cd..a4a5f98 100644
--- a/src/app/Http/Controllers/LocaleController.php
+++ b/src/app/Http/Controllers/LocaleController.php
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ public function update(Request $request)
 
         $locale = $validated['locale'];
 
-        // Save to session (works for both authenticated and guest users)
+        // Save to session for immediate effect
         $request->session()->put('locale', $locale);
 
         // If authenticated, also save to user record for persistence
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ public function update(Request $request)
             Auth::user()->update(['locale' => $locale]);
         }
 
+        // Set long-lived cookie (1 year) for guest users
+        cookie()->queue('locale', $locale, 525600); // 525600 minutes = 1 year
+
         return redirect()->back()->with('success', __('messages.settings.language_updated'));
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/Http/Middleware/SetLocale.php b/src/app/Http/Middleware/SetLocale.php
index 36f80f2..2e01e58 100644
--- a/src/app/Http/Middleware/SetLocale.php
+++ b/src/app/Http/Middleware/SetLocale.php
@@ -27,20 +27,30 @@ class SetLocale
     /**
      * Handle an incoming request.
      *
+     * Priority order:
+     * 1. Authenticated user's database preference
+     * 2. Session (for immediate effect after changing)
+     * 3. Cookie (long-term storage for guest users)
+     * 4. Default locale from config
+     *
      * @param  \Closure(\Illuminate\Http\Request): (\Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response)  $next
      */
     public function handle(Request $request, Closure $next): Response
     {
         $locale = config('app.locale', 'en');
 
-        // Check authenticated user's preference
+        // Priority 1: Check authenticated user's preference
         if (Auth::check() && Auth::user()->locale) {
             $locale = Auth::user()->locale;
         }
-        // Check session (for immediate effect after changing)
+        // Priority 2: Check session (for immediate effect after changing)
         elseif ($request->session()->has('locale')) {
             $locale = $request->session()->get('locale');
         }
+        // Priority 3: Check cookie (long-term storage for guest users)
+        elseif ($request->cookie('locale')) {
+            $locale = $request->cookie('locale');
+        }
 
         // Validate locale
         if (!array_key_exists($locale, self::SUPPORTED_LOCALES)) {