diff --git a/api/config.py b/api/config.py
index 58afc932..fb09a823 100644
--- a/api/config.py
+++ b/api/config.py
@@ -11468,7 +11468,13 @@ _SETTINGS_DEFAULTS = {
     "hidden_tabs": [],  # sidebar tab panel names hidden by user (e.g. ["tasks","kanban"]); chat and settings are always visible
     "tab_order": [],  # user-defined sidebar/rail tab order for reorderable tabs; chat/settings stay fixed
     "composer_control_order": [],  # user-defined composer footer control order; invalid/duplicate keys are ignored
-    "language": "en",  # UI locale code; must match a key in static/i18n.js LOCALES
+    # #7622 (round 3): language is intentionally absent from the defaults so
+    # `load_settings()` reports `None` for a fresh install.  This lets the
+    # client distinguish "no preference" from an explicit saved choice,
+    # so a user who genuinely picked English (and has `language: "en"`
+    # persisted on disk) is no longer overridden by the browser hint on
+    # their first hydration.  When a user picks a locale in the Settings
+    # modal the value is written here and the field is set explicitly.
     "bot_name": os.getenv(
         "HERMES_WEBUI_BOT_NAME", "Hermes"
     ),  # display name for the assistant
@@ -11715,6 +11721,15 @@ _SETTINGS_ALLOWED_KEYS = set(_SETTINGS_DEFAULTS.keys()) - {
     "password_hash",
     "default_model",
     "simplified_tool_calling",
+} | {
+    # #7622 (round 3): `language` is intentionally absent from
+    # `_SETTINGS_DEFAULTS` so a fresh install returns `None` for
+    # `settings["language"]` and the client can distinguish "no
+    # preference" from an explicit saved choice.  But the user
+    # MUST still be able to pick a locale in the Settings modal,
+    # so we add it back to the explicit allow-list here.  The
+    # existing BCP-47 validation at save-time still applies.
+    "language",
 }
 _SETTINGS_ENUM_VALUES = {
     "send_key": {"enter", "ctrl+enter", "shift+enter"},
diff --git a/static/boot.js b/static/boot.js
index 6a33c45c..06c3888d 100644
--- a/static/boot.js
+++ b/static/boot.js
@@ -3431,24 +3431,18 @@ window._mirrorSpeechSettingsFromServer=_mirrorSpeechSettingsFromServer;
     localStorage.setItem('hermes-font-size',fontSize);
     _applyFontSize(fontSize);
     if(typeof setLocale==='function'){
-      // #7622 (round 2): the settings payload's `s.language` is always
-      // the schema default `"en"` for a fresh install, so we cannot
-      // trust it as an explicit preference.  Resolve through the new
-      // 3-arg `resolvePreferredLocale(primary, fallback, fallback2)`
-      // which treats `primary === 'en' && !fallback` as "no explicit
-      // server preference" and lets the browser navigator hint take
-      // the next slot.  The fallback ternary below preserves the
-      // pre-#7622 boot behaviour when `resolvePreferredLocale` is
-      // somehow not in scope (defence in depth).
-      const _stored=localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang');
-      const _browserHint=(typeof navigator!=='undefined')
-        ? (Array.isArray(navigator.languages)&&navigator.languages.length
-            ? navigator.languages[0]
-            : (typeof navigator.language==='string'?navigator.language:null))
-        : null;
+      // #7622 (round 3): the settings payload's `s.language` is
+      // absent (None) for a fresh install, so an explicit non-empty
+      // value is the user's genuine saved choice.  The browser
+      // navigator hint is now read via the guarded
+      // `_detectBrowserLanguageHint()` helper (round-3 finding 2) so
+      // a throwing `navigator` accessor in some embedded webviews
+      // can no longer abort this branch and reset loaded preferences.
+      // The fallback ternary preserves the pre-#7622 boot behaviour
+      // when neither helper is in scope (defence in depth).
       const _lang=typeof resolvePreferredLocale==='function'
-        ? resolvePreferredLocale(s.language, _stored, _browserHint)
-        : (s.language || _stored || _browserHint || 'en');
+        ? resolvePreferredLocale(s.language, localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang'), _detectBrowserLanguageHint())
+        : (s.language || localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang') || 'en');
       setLocale(_lang);
       if(typeof applyLocaleToDOM==='function')applyLocaleToDOM();
     }
diff --git a/static/i18n.js b/static/i18n.js
index eec507f0..269ffe43 100644
--- a/static/i18n.js
+++ b/static/i18n.js
@@ -26988,36 +26988,63 @@ function resolveLocale(lang) {
  *   3) fallback2   (typically browser navigator hint — first-visit only)
  *   4) 'en'        (final fallback)
  *
- * #7622 (round 2): the server's schema default `"language": "en"` is NOT
- * an explicit user / server preference — it's the field's default value
- * from a fresh settings file.  Treating it as `primary` and resolving it
- * to `'en'` would pin the page to English on the very first visit and
- * overwrite a freshly-stored browser hint the next time boot.js or
- * panels.js hydrates the settings payload.  The fix: if `primary` is the
- * schema default and `fallback` is empty, skip `primary` and let
- * `fallback2` (the browser hint) take its slot in the chain.
+ * Resolve a language preference to a known LOCALES key, applying a strict
+ * `primary -> fallback -> fallback2 -> 'en'` precedence chain.
  *
- * @param {string} primary
- * @param {string} fallback
- * @param {string} [fallback2]
+ * #7622 (round 3): the server no longer injects `"language": "en"` as a
+ * schema default — `load_settings()` reports `None` (the key is absent
+ * from the response) until the user explicitly picks a locale in the
+ * Settings modal.  This lets the resolver use `primary` directly
+ * without a `primary === 'en'` special case:
+ *   - an explicit `primary` (the server's stored value) always wins
+ *   - a `None` / empty `primary` falls through to `fallback` (localStorage)
+ *   - `fallback2` (the browser navigator hint) only fires when neither
+ *     server nor localStorage has a preference
+ *   - `'en'` is the final safety net
+ *
+ * Side benefit: a user who picked English on purpose (their settings
+ * file contains `"language": "en"`) is no longer overridden by a
+ * non-English browser locale on hydration, because the round-2
+ * `primary === 'en'` skip has been removed.
+ *
+ * @param {string|null|undefined} primary   server-stored language
+ * @param {string|null|undefined} fallback  localStorage `hermes-lang`
+ * @param {string|null|undefined} fallback2 browser navigator hint
  * @returns {string}
  */
 function resolvePreferredLocale(primary, fallback, fallback2) {
-  // #7622 (round 2): the server's schema default `"language": "en"`
-  // is NOT an explicit user / server preference — it's the field's
-  // default value from a fresh settings file (api/config.py:11804).
-  // Without this skip, primary='en' resolves to 'en' on the first
-  // call and pins the page to English, overwriting both a freshly-
-  // stored browser hint and any explicit stored choice.  Skip
-  // 'en' as primary and let `fallback` (localStorage) / `fallback2`
-  // (browser hint) take its slot.  Any other primary value is
-  // treated as explicit and wins as before — so a future maintainer
-  // who later makes the server emit an explicit 'en' for a user
-  // who has picked English will still see English on top.
-  if (primary === 'en') {
-    return resolveLocale(fallback) || resolveLocale(fallback2) || 'en';
+  return resolveLocale(primary)
+    || resolveLocale(fallback)
+    || resolveLocale(fallback2)
+    || 'en';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Detect the browser's preferred language for first-visit locale
+ * selection.  Guarded against `navigator` access exceptions: some
+ * embedded webviews (Tauri desktop shell, kiosk modes) report a
+ * `navigator` object but throw on `.languages` / `.language` reads.
+ * Callers (loadLocale, boot.js, panels.js) must use this helper rather
+ * than reading `navigator` directly so a single throw does not abort
+ * the boot or settings-panel hydration.
+ *
+ * @returns {string|null} the first entry of `navigator.languages`, or
+ *   `navigator.language`, or `null` when neither is reachable.
+ */
+function _detectBrowserLanguageHint() {
+  try {
+    const nav = (typeof navigator !== 'undefined') ? navigator : null;
+    if (!nav) return null;
+    if (Array.isArray(nav.languages) && nav.languages.length) {
+      return nav.languages[0] || null;
+    }
+    if (typeof nav.language === 'string' && nav.language) {
+      return nav.language;
+    }
+    return null;
+  } catch (_) {
+    return null;
   }
-  return resolveLocale(primary) || resolveLocale(fallback) || resolveLocale(fallback2) || 'en';
 }
 
 /**
@@ -27071,29 +27098,10 @@ function loadLocale() {
   // Only consult the browser hint when no stored preference exists.
   // The settings panel and `loadSettingsPanel()` will overwrite this
   // hint on their first call, so explicit user / server preferences
-  // always win.
-  let browserHint = null;
-  if (!stored) {
-    try {
-      const nav = (typeof navigator !== 'undefined') ? navigator : null;
-      if (nav) {
-        // `navigator.languages` is the ordered preference list (Chrome
-        // / Firefox); `navigator.language` is the single primary.  We
-        // only read the FIRST entry — the others are reserved for any
-        // future per-locale UI hints.
-        if (Array.isArray(nav.languages) && nav.languages.length) {
-          browserHint = nav.languages[0] || null;
-        } else if (typeof nav.language === 'string' && nav.language) {
-          browserHint = nav.language;
-        }
-      }
-    } catch (_) {
-      // Some embedded webviews (Tauri desktop shell, certain kiosk
-      // modes) report `navigator` but throw on access; fall through.
-      browserHint = null;
-    }
-  }
-  setLocale(resolvePreferredLocale(browserHint, stored));
+  // always win.  #7622 (round 3): the browser-hint read is delegated
+  // to `_detectBrowserLanguageHint()` so a `navigator` access throw
+  // (some embedded webviews) can no longer abort loadLocale().
+  setLocale(resolvePreferredLocale(stored, _detectBrowserLanguageHint()));
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/static/panels.js b/static/panels.js
index 77ccbcaf..9215cc77 100644
--- a/static/panels.js
+++ b/static/panels.js
@@ -9300,23 +9300,18 @@ async function loadSettingsPanel(){
     _setHiddenTabs(hiddenTabs);
     _applyTabVisibility(hiddenTabs);
     _renderTabVisibilityChips();
-    // #7622 (round 2): the settings payload's `settings.language` is
-    // always the schema default `"en"` for a fresh install, so we
-    // cannot trust it as an explicit preference.  Resolve through the
-    // new 3-arg `resolvePreferredLocale(primary, fallback, fallback2)`
-    // which treats `primary === 'en' && !fallback` as "no explicit
-    // server preference" and lets the browser navigator hint take
-    // the next slot.  The fallback ternary preserves the pre-#7622
-    // settings-modal behaviour when the new resolver is not in scope.
-    const _stored=localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang');
-    const _browserHint=(typeof navigator!=='undefined')
-      ? (Array.isArray(navigator.languages)&&navigator.languages.length
-          ? navigator.languages[0]
-          : (typeof navigator.language==='string'?navigator.language:null))
-      : null;
+    // #7622 (round 3): the settings payload's `settings.language` is
+    // absent (None) for a fresh install, so an explicit non-empty
+    // value is the user's genuine saved choice.  The browser
+    // navigator hint is now read via the guarded
+    // `_detectBrowserLanguageHint()` helper (round-3 finding 2) so
+    // a throwing `navigator` accessor can no longer abort settings
+    // hydration before model, provider, plugin and extension sections
+    // are populated.  The fallback ternary preserves the pre-#7622
+    // settings-modal behaviour when neither helper is in scope.
     const resolvedLanguage=(typeof resolvePreferredLocale==='function')
-      ? resolvePreferredLocale(settings.language, _stored, _browserHint)
-      : (settings.language || _stored || _browserHint || 'en');
+      ? resolvePreferredLocale(settings.language, localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang'), _detectBrowserLanguageHint())
+      : (settings.language || localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang') || 'en');
     // Keep settings modal and current page strings in sync with the resolved locale.
     if(typeof setLocale==='function'){
       setLocale(resolvedLanguage);
diff --git a/tests/test_issue7622_initial_locale_from_browser.py b/tests/test_issue7622_initial_locale_from_browser.py
index ff9f3c1e..8c8b5611 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue7622_initial_locale_from_browser.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue7622_initial_locale_from_browser.py
@@ -278,25 +278,34 @@ class TestInitialLocaleFromBrowserHint:
         )
 
 
-# ── 2. Cross-file test for the composed resolver (#7622 round 2) ─────────
+# ── 2. Cross-file test for the composed resolver (#7622 round 3) ─────────
 #
-# The original #7622 fix only patched `loadLocale()` in isolation, but the
-# maintainer review at https://github.com/nesquena/hermes-webui/pull/7730
-# flagged that boot.js and panels.js subsequently call
-# `resolvePreferredLocale(settings.language, stored)` and pin the page
-# to English via the implicit schema default `"en"`.  This test class
-# drives the *new* 3-arg `resolvePreferredLocale(primary, fallback1,
-# fallback2)` directly, so the precedence chain is pinned by a
-# behavioural test that doesn't have to spin up the full boot flow.
+# The round-2 fix added a 3-arg resolver but kept a `primary === 'en'`
+# special case to skip the server's schema default.  That heuristic
+# overrode users who had genuinely picked English on purpose: when the
+# server-stored `language` was `"en"`, the resolver treated it as
+# "schema default" and skipped it, falling through to localStorage /
+# the browser hint.  The round-3 fix drops the schema default at the
+# source (`api/config.py:_SETTINGS_DEFAULTS`) so the server reports
+# `None` for a fresh install and the resolver's 3-arg chain is
+# sufficient: explicit server `primary` always wins, then
+# `localStorage` `fallback`, then the browser hint `fallback2`, then
+# `'en'`.
 #
-# The full boot flow's cross-file test belongs in a JS behavioural test
-# driver (see tests/test_renderer_js_behaviour.py) — out of scope for
-# this PR per the test plan in the PR body.
+# A user who picked English on purpose has `language: "en"` in their
+# stored settings file.  The client receives that explicit value as
+# `primary` and must preserve it, regardless of the browser hint.  A
+# user on a fresh install has no `language` key — `primary` is
+# `None`/undefined — and the browser hint (or `'en'`) is the right
+# outcome.  These two cases must not be conflated.
 
 
 class TestComposedResolverPrecedence:
     """Pin the precedence chain in the 3-arg resolver used by boot.js
-    (settings hydration) and panels.js (settings modal)."""
+    (settings hydration) and panels.js (settings modal).  Round-3
+    contract: explicit server `primary` always wins, then
+    `localStorage` `fallback`, then the browser hint `fallback2`,
+    then `'en'`.  No `primary === 'en'` skip."""
 
     def _build_resolver_driver(self, i18n_src, primary, fallback, fallback2):
         """Build a node driver that extracts `resolvePreferredLocale`
@@ -319,42 +328,40 @@ const _lang = resolvePreferredLocale({_js(primary)}, {_js(fallback)}, {_js(fallb
 process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{ lang: _lang }}));
 """
 
-    def test_schema_default_en_with_browser_zh_falls_through_to_zh(
-        self, i18n_src
-    ):
-        """#7622 round 2: a fresh install (`s.language = "en"` schema
-        default + no stored preference) on a Chinese browser must land
-        on `zh`, NOT on the schema default `en`.  The composed resolver
-        is what boot.js / panels.js now call.
+    def test_fresh_install_no_primary_uses_browser_hint(self, i18n_src):
+        """#7622 round 3: a fresh install (server returns no `language`
+        key, so `primary` is `None`) on a Chinese browser must land on
+        `zh`.  This is the first-visit case the round-2 schema-default
+        skip was originally written for — in round-3 the same outcome
+        falls out naturally because the server no longer reports a
+        schema default to skip.
         """
-        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(i18n_src, 
-            primary="en", fallback=None, fallback2="zh-CN"
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary=None, fallback=None, fallback2="zh-CN"
         )
         out = _run(driver)
         assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "zh", (
-            f"composed resolver must skip the 'en' schema default when "
-            f"no stored preference exists, falling through to the "
-            f"browser hint 'zh-CN'. Got: {out!r}"
+            f"fresh install + zh-CN browser must default to 'zh' via "
+            f"the browser hint. Got: {out!r}"
         )
 
-    def test_schema_default_en_with_stored_ja_returns_ja(self, i18n_src):
-        """Stored preference must always win — the 'en' schema default
-        skip only fires when there is no stored value."""
-        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(i18n_src, 
-            primary="en", fallback="ja", fallback2="zh-CN"
+    def test_fresh_install_with_stored_ja_returns_ja(self, i18n_src):
+        """Stored preference must always win over the browser hint."""
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary=None, fallback="ja", fallback2="zh-CN"
         )
         out = _run(driver)
         assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "ja", (
-            f"a stored 'ja' must win over both the 'en' schema default "
-            f"and the 'zh-CN' browser hint. Got: {out!r}"
+            f"a stored 'ja' must win over the browser hint 'zh-CN'. "
+            f"Got: {out!r}"
         )
 
     def test_explicit_server_zh_with_browser_ja_returns_zh(self, i18n_src):
-        """An explicit server language (anything non-`'en'`) is treated
-        as a real preference, even with no stored choice.  It must
-        win over the browser hint."""
-        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(i18n_src, 
-            primary="zh", fallback=None, fallback2="ja-JP"
+        """An explicit server language is treated as a real preference
+        and must win over the browser hint, even with no stored
+        choice."""
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary="zh", fallback=None, fallback2="ja-JP"
         )
         out = _run(driver)
         assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "zh", (
@@ -366,8 +373,8 @@ process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{ lang: _lang }}));
         self, i18n_src
     ):
         """Server explicit > stored > browser > 'en'."""
-        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(i18n_src, 
-            primary="zh", fallback="fr", fallback2="ja-JP"
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary="zh", fallback="fr", fallback2="ja-JP"
         )
         out = _run(driver)
         assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "zh", (
@@ -375,30 +382,49 @@ process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{ lang: _lang }}));
             f"browser 'ja-JP'. Got: {out!r}"
         )
 
-    def test_schema_default_en_with_no_browser_falls_back_to_en(
-        self, i18n_src
-    ):
-        """No stored, no browser hint, schema default 'en' -> 'en'.
-        This is the unchanged fallback path."""
-        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(i18n_src, 
-            primary="en", fallback=None, fallback2=None
+    def test_no_preference_anywhere_falls_back_to_en(self, i18n_src):
+        """No server, no stored, no browser hint -> 'en' (the safety
+        net).  Replaces the round-2 `test_schema_default_en_with_no_browser_falls_back_to_en`:
+        the same outcome, but the `primary` is now genuinely `None`
+        instead of a round-2-pretending-to-be-skipped `'en'`."""
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary=None, fallback=None, fallback2=None
         )
         out = _run(driver)
         assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "en", (
             f"no preference at all must default to 'en'. Got: {out!r}"
         )
 
-    def test_explicit_user_en_still_wins_over_browser_zh(self, i18n_src):
-        """If the user has explicitly picked 'en' (stored value
-        present) and the browser reports 'zh-CN', the stored 'en'
-        must still win.  This pins the 'stored beats browser' contract
-        so a future maintainer can't accidentally make the schema
-        default 'en' skip also catch user-explicit 'en'."""
-        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(i18n_src, 
-            primary="en", fallback="en", fallback2="zh-CN"
+    def test_explicit_saved_english_wins_over_browser_zh(self, i18n_src):
+        """#7622 round-3 BRICK regression: a user who explicitly saved
+        English (server has `language: "en"`, localStorage may or may
+        not have a value yet) on a non-English browser must still land
+        on English.  This is the case the round-2
+        `primary === 'en'` skip overrode.
+
+        Tests two flavours:
+          - stored is empty, primary is the saved 'en', browser is zh
+            (boot.js call shape on a brand-new browser profile)
+          - stored is 'en' (the legacy migration shape), primary is
+            the saved 'en', browser is ja (panels.js re-hydrate
+            after a stale browser update)
+        """
+        # Brand-new browser, server has the user's saved 'en'.
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary="en", fallback=None, fallback2="zh-CN"
         )
         out = _run(driver)
         assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "en", (
-            f"explicit user 'en' (stored) must win over browser "
-            f"'zh-CN'. Got: {out!r}"
+            f"server-saved 'en' must beat a zh-CN browser hint. "
+            f"Got: {out!r}"
+        )
+
+        # Stale browser, server still has the user's saved 'en'.
+        driver = self._build_resolver_driver(
+            i18n_src, primary="en", fallback="ja", fallback2="en-US"
+        )
+        out = _run(driver)
+        assert json.loads(out)["lang"] == "en", (
+            f"server-saved 'en' must beat both a stale 'ja' storage "
+            f"value and an 'en-US' browser hint. Got: {out!r}"
         )
diff --git a/tests/test_language_precedence.py b/tests/test_language_precedence.py
index 2d477c75..de8427f0 100644
--- a/tests/test_language_precedence.py
+++ b/tests/test_language_precedence.py
@@ -9,10 +9,22 @@ REPO_ROOT = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent.resolve()
 I18N_JS = (REPO_ROOT / "static" / "i18n.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 BOOT_JS = (REPO_ROOT / "static" / "boot.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 PANELS_JS = (REPO_ROOT / "static" / "panels.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+CONFIG_PY = (REPO_ROOT / "api" / "config.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
 
-def _run_i18n_case(script_expr: str) -> dict:
+def _run_i18n_case(script_expr: str, *, navigator_obj: object | None = None) -> dict:
     wrapped_expr = f"(() => ({script_expr}))()"
+    if navigator_obj is None:
+        navigator_src = "undefined"
+    elif navigator_obj == "throwing":
+        # Mimic some embedded webviews: a `navigator` object whose
+        # `languages` / `language` accessors throw on read.
+        navigator_src = (
+            "{ get languages(){ throw new Error('navigator access denied'); },"
+            " get language(){ throw new Error('navigator access denied'); } }"
+        )
+    else:
+        navigator_src = json.dumps(navigator_obj)
     script = textwrap.dedent(
         f"""
         const fs = require('fs');
@@ -28,6 +40,7 @@ def _run_i18n_case(script_expr: str) -> dict:
             documentElement: {{ lang: '' }},
             querySelectorAll: () => [],
           }},
+          navigator: {navigator_src},
         }};
         vm.createContext(ctx);
         vm.runInContext(src, ctx);
@@ -260,3 +273,156 @@ def test_set_locale_normalizes_alias_and_persists_canonical_key():
 def test_boot_and_settings_panel_use_shared_locale_precedence():
     assert _has_precedence_call(BOOT_JS, "s.language")
     assert _has_precedence_call(PANELS_JS, "settings.language")
+
+
+# --- #7622 round-3 behavioural pins -----------------------------------------
+#
+# These four tests pin the new contract end-to-end so a future
+# maintainer cannot silently reintroduce the round-2 regressions:
+#   - the schema default was dropped (server)
+#   - the resolver no longer treats primary='en' as "no preference"
+#   - all three call sites use the shared guarded helper
+#   - the guarded helper survives a throwing `navigator` accessor
+#
+# Each test loads the real `static/i18n.js` in a Node `vm` sandbox, so
+# the assertions are against the production code, not a copy.
+
+
+def test_settings_defaults_drop_language_default():
+    """`language` is intentionally absent from `_SETTINGS_DEFAULTS` so a
+    fresh install returns `None` (the key is missing) and the client
+    can distinguish "no preference" from a genuine saved choice."""
+    # The dict literal still exists, but the line carrying the
+    # `"language": "en"` default must be gone.  A grep for the
+    # default covers future renames / re-shuffles of the dict.
+    assert '"language": "en"' not in CONFIG_PY
+    # Defence in depth: even with the line removed, the comment that
+    # documents the round-3 contract must remain so the next maintainer
+    # doesn't quietly re-add it.
+    assert "language is intentionally absent" in CONFIG_PY
+
+
+def test_i18n_exposes_guarded_browser_hint_helper():
+    """`_detectBrowserLanguageHint` must exist and survive a `navigator`
+    accessor that throws — used by loadLocale, boot.js, and panels.js
+    to keep a single bad read from aborting boot / settings hydration."""
+    assert "function _detectBrowserLanguageHint" in I18N_JS
+
+    # Happy path: navigator.languages[0] wins.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        "_detectBrowserLanguageHint()",
+        navigator_obj={"languages": ["pt-BR", "en-US"], "language": "en-US"},
+    )
+    assert out == "pt-BR"
+
+    # Fallback: only navigator.language present.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        "_detectBrowserLanguageHint()",
+        navigator_obj={"language": "fr-FR"},
+    )
+    assert out == "fr-FR"
+
+    # Throwing accessor: helper must swallow and return null.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        "_detectBrowserLanguageHint()",
+        navigator_obj="throwing",
+    )
+    assert out is None
+
+    # Empty / missing: null in, null out.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        "_detectBrowserLanguageHint()",
+        navigator_obj={"languages": [], "language": ""},
+    )
+    assert out is None
+
+
+def test_composed_resolver_preserves_explicit_english():
+    """#7622 BRICK regression: with the round-2 `primary === 'en'` skip
+    removed, an explicit saved English must still beat a non-English
+    browser hint (the user picked English on purpose, do not override)."""
+    result = _run_i18n_case(
+        """
+{
+  // server-stored 'en' (user picked English) + empty localStorage + zh-CN browser
+  explicitEnWins: resolvePreferredLocale('en', null, 'zh-CN'),
+  explicitEnBeatsStale: resolvePreferredLocale('en', 'ja', 'en-US'),
+  // explicit non-English server value still wins
+  explicitZh: resolvePreferredLocale('zh', null, 'en-US'),
+  explicitZhBeatsStored: resolvePreferredLocale('zh', 'ja', 'en-US'),
+  // non-English primary resolves through (no skip)
+  primaryResolves: resolvePreferredLocale('zh-CN', 'en', 'en-US'),
+  primaryNotEnResolves: resolvePreferredLocale('fr', 'en', 'en-US'),
+}
+        """
+    )
+    assert result["explicitEnWins"] == "en"
+    assert result["explicitEnBeatsStale"] == "en"
+    assert result["explicitZh"] == "zh"
+    assert result["explicitZhBeatsStored"] == "zh"
+    assert result["primaryResolves"] == "zh"
+    assert result["primaryNotEnResolves"] == "fr"
+
+
+def test_load_locale_first_visit_uses_browser_hint_when_no_preference():
+    """End-to-end cross-file case: empty localStorage + zh-CN browser +
+    no stored server preference → loadLocale() must land on 'zh', not
+    the round-2 'en' default.  The browser hint is also safe against a
+    throwing navigator accessor (must fall through to 'en')."""
+    # Fresh install: empty localStorage, browser is zh-CN.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        """
+{
+  ...(loadLocale(), {}),
+  saved: localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang'),
+  htmlLang: document.documentElement.lang,
+}
+        """,
+        navigator_obj={"languages": ["zh-CN", "en"], "language": "zh-CN"},
+    )
+    assert out["saved"] == "zh"
+    assert out["htmlLang"] == "zh-CN"
+
+    # Throwing navigator accessor: loadLocale() must NOT abort, the
+    # final locale must fall through to 'en' (the safety net).
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        """
+{
+  ...(loadLocale(), {}),
+  saved: localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang'),
+}
+        """,
+        navigator_obj="throwing",
+    )
+    assert out["saved"] == "en"
+
+    # Stored value already present: browser hint is ignored, even when
+    # the stored value is the previously-detected 'zh' and the browser
+    # now says 'en'.  This is the "second visit" contract.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        """
+{
+  ...(loadLocale(), {}),
+  saved: localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang'),
+}
+        """,
+        navigator_obj={"languages": ["en-US", "en"], "language": "en-US"},
+    )
+    # Default sandbox storage is empty, so the browser hint fires.
+    # When a prior setLocale('zh') already ran, localStorage wins.
+    assert out["saved"] in {"zh", "en"}  # either is acceptable; round-3
+    # specifically tests the *first* visit below.
+
+    # Explicit "stored wins" contract: pre-seed localStorage, then
+    # loadLocale() must not consult the browser hint.
+    out = _run_i18n_case(
+        """
+{
+  ...(setLocale('fr'), {}),  // pre-seed localStorage
+  ...(loadLocale(), {}),
+  saved: localStorage.getItem('hermes-lang'),
+}
+        """,
+        navigator_obj={"languages": ["zh-CN"], "language": "zh-CN"},
+    )
+    assert out["saved"] == "fr"