diff --git a/src/stores/__tests__/locale-store.test.ts b/src/stores/__tests__/locale-store.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9fdb6ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stores/__tests__/locale-store.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
+  I18nManager: { isRTL: false, allowRTL: () => {}, forceRTL: () => {} },
+}));
+vi.mock('expo-localization', () => ({ getLocales: () => [{ languageTag: 'en-US', languageCode: 'en' }] }));
+vi.mock('@react-native-async-storage/async-storage', () => ({
+  default: {
+    getItem: vi.fn(async () => JSON.stringify({ override: 'de' })),
+    setItem: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  },
+}));
+
+import { useLocaleStore } from '../locale-store';
+
+describe('locale store', () => {
+  it('hands out a new t once the saved language loads, so screens re-render in it', async () => {
+    const before = useLocaleStore.getState().t;
+    expect(before('sidebar.settings', 'Settings')).toBe('Settings');
+
+    await useLocaleStore.getState().hydrate();
+
+    const after = useLocaleStore.getState().t;
+    expect(after).not.toBe(before);
+    expect(after('sidebar.settings', 'Settings')).toBe('Einstellungen');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/stores/locale-store.ts b/src/stores/locale-store.ts
index 3a4e8646..8c83f834 100644
--- a/src/stores/locale-store.ts
+++ b/src/stores/locale-store.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ function applyLayoutDirection(locale: LocaleCode): boolean {
   return manager.isRTL !== rtl;
 }
 
+// A new `t` per locale: most components select only `t`, and a function
+// that never changed identity left them in the device language after the
+// saved one loaded on a cold start (tab labels, the folder title).
+function translatorFor(locale: LocaleCode): TranslateFn {
+  return (key, fallback, params) => translate(locale, key, fallback, params);
+}
+
 export const useLocaleStore = create<LocaleState>((set, get) => ({
   locale: detectDeviceLocale(),
   override: null,
@@ -62,7 +69,7 @@ export const useLocaleStore = create<LocaleState>((set, get) => ({
       const override = stored && isSupportedLocale(stored) ? stored : null;
       const locale = override ?? detectDeviceLocale();
       const directionChangePending = applyLayoutDirection(locale);
-      set({ override, locale, hydrated: true, directionChangePending });
+      set({ override, locale, hydrated: true, directionChangePending, t: translatorFor(locale) });
     } catch {
       set({ hydrated: true });
     }
@@ -71,11 +78,11 @@ export const useLocaleStore = create<LocaleState>((set, get) => ({
   setOverride: (override) => {
     const locale = override ?? detectDeviceLocale();
     const directionChangePending = applyLayoutDirection(locale);
-    set({ override, locale, directionChangePending });
+    set({ override, locale, directionChangePending, t: translatorFor(locale) });
     void AsyncStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify({ override })).catch(() => {});
   },
 
-  t: (key, fallback, params) => translate(get().locale, key, fallback, params),
+  t: translatorFor(detectDeviceLocale()),
 }));
 
 // Non-hook accessor for code outside React (background tasks, stores).