diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 41008db..676812f 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ AUTH_ENABLED=false
 # REFRESH_SECRET=
 # COOKIE_SECRET=
 
+# Token TTL (optional - defaults shown)
+# ACCESS_TOKEN_TTL_MINUTES=15
+# REFRESH_TOKEN_TTL_DAYS=7
+
 # SMTP (optional - for email notifications and password reset)
 SMTP_HOST=
 SMTP_PORT=587
diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index cda3f54..a71ecbb 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ const app = Fastify({
 const origins = env.CORS_ORIGINS.split(",").map((o) => o.trim()).filter(Boolean);
 
 // Auth token TTLs (hardcoded - no need for user configuration)
-const accessTtlMinutes = 15;      // Access token: 15 minutes
-const refreshTtlDays = 14;        // Refresh token: 14 days
+const accessTtlMinutes = env.ACCESS_TOKEN_TTL_MINUTES;  // Access token TTL
+const refreshTtlDays = env.REFRESH_TOKEN_TTL_DAYS;      // Refresh token TTL
 
 const baseCookieOptions: CookieSerializeOptions = {
   httpOnly: true,
diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/env.ts b/backend/src/plugins/env.ts
index 47afbcd..b056c9f 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/env.ts
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/env.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ const EnvSchema = z.object({
   JWT_SECRET: z.string().min(10).optional(),
   REFRESH_SECRET: z.string().min(10).optional(),
   COOKIE_SECRET: z.string().min(10).optional(),
+  
+  // Token TTL settings
+  ACCESS_TOKEN_TTL_MINUTES: z.string().transform((v) => parseInt(v, 10)).default("15"),
+  REFRESH_TOKEN_TTL_DAYS: z.string().transform((v) => parseInt(v, 10)).default("7"),
 });
 
 export type Env = z.infer<typeof EnvSchema>;
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/auth.ts b/backend/src/routes/auth.ts
index 2bacdfe..148ff55 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/auth.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/auth.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const registerSchema = z.object({
 const loginSchema = z.object({
   username: z.string().min(1, "Username is required"),
   password: z.string().min(1, "Password is required"),
+  rememberMe: z.boolean().optional().default(false),
 });
 
 const updateProfileSchema = z.object({
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ export async function authRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
       });
     }
 
-    const { username, password } = parsed.data;
+    const { username, password, rememberMe } = parsed.data;
 
     // Find user by username
     const [user] = await db.select().from(users).where(eq(users.username, username));
@@ -196,11 +197,19 @@ export async function authRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
       { expiresIn: `${refreshTtlDays}d`, key: app.config.refreshSecret }
     );
 
-    app.log.info(`User logged in: ${username}`);
+    app.log.info(`User logged in: ${username} (rememberMe: ${rememberMe})`);
+
+    // Cookie options: with maxAge for "remember me", without for session cookie
+    const accessCookieOptions = rememberMe 
+      ? app.config.cookieOptions 
+      : { ...app.config.cookieOptions, maxAge: undefined };
+    const refreshCookieOptions = rememberMe 
+      ? app.config.refreshCookieOptions 
+      : { ...app.config.refreshCookieOptions, maxAge: undefined };
 
     return reply
-      .setCookie("access_token", accessToken, app.config.cookieOptions)
-      .setCookie("refresh_token", refreshToken, app.config.refreshCookieOptions)
+      .setCookie("access_token", accessToken, accessCookieOptions)
+      .setCookie("refresh_token", refreshToken, refreshCookieOptions)
       .send({
         ok: true,
         user: {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Auth.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Auth.tsx
index 98ac9f5..c715717 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Auth.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Auth.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState, useEffect, createContext, useContext, ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useState, useEffect, createContext, useContext, ReactNode, useCallback } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 
 // =============================================================================
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ interface AuthContextType {
   authState: AuthState | null;
   loading: boolean;
   authError: string | null;
-  login: (username: string, password: string) => Promise<void>;
+  login: (username: string, password: string, rememberMe?: boolean) => Promise<void>;
   register: (username: string, password: string) => Promise<void>;
   logout: () => Promise<void>;
   refreshUser: () => Promise<void>;
   updateProfile: (data: { currentPassword?: string; newPassword?: string }) => Promise<void>;
+  authFetch: (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => Promise<Response>;
 }
 
 // =============================================================================
@@ -56,6 +57,21 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     fetchAuthState();
   }, []);
 
+  // Proactively refresh token every 10 minutes to prevent expiration
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!user || !authState?.authEnabled) return;
+    
+    const refreshInterval = setInterval(async () => {
+      const success = await tryRefreshToken();
+      if (!success) {
+        // Refresh failed - check if user is still valid
+        await refreshUser();
+      }
+    }, 10 * 60 * 1000); // 10 minutes (before 15 min access token expires)
+    
+    return () => clearInterval(refreshInterval);
+  }, [user, authState?.authEnabled]);
+
   async function fetchAuthState() {
     try {
       setAuthError(null);
@@ -84,6 +100,19 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
       if (res.ok) {
         const userData = await res.json();
         setUser(userData);
+      } else if (res.status === 401) {
+        // Access token expired - try to refresh it
+        const refreshed = await tryRefreshToken();
+        if (refreshed) {
+          // Retry /auth/me with new token
+          const retryRes = await fetch("/api/auth/me", { credentials: "include" });
+          if (retryRes.ok) {
+            const userData = await retryRes.json();
+            setUser(userData);
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+        setUser(null);
       } else {
         setUser(null);
       }
@@ -92,12 +121,25 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     }
   }
 
-  async function login(username: string, password: string) {
+  // Try to refresh the access token using the refresh token
+  async function tryRefreshToken(): Promise<boolean> {
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch("/api/auth/refresh", {
+        method: "POST",
+        credentials: "include",
+      });
+      return res.ok;
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function login(username: string, password: string, rememberMe: boolean = false) {
     const res = await fetch("/api/auth/login", {
       method: "POST",
       headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
       credentials: "include",
-      body: JSON.stringify({ username, password }),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ username, password, rememberMe }),
     });
 
     if (!res.ok) {
@@ -153,8 +195,32 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     await refreshUser();
   }
 
+  // Fetch wrapper that automatically refreshes token on 401
+  const authFetch = useCallback(async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit): Promise<Response> => {
+    const options: RequestInit = {
+      ...init,
+      credentials: "include",
+    };
+    
+    let res = await fetch(input, options);
+    
+    // If 401 and not already a refresh/login request, try to refresh token
+    if (res.status === 401 && !String(input).includes("/auth/")) {
+      const refreshed = await tryRefreshToken();
+      if (refreshed) {
+        // Retry the original request with new token
+        res = await fetch(input, options);
+      } else {
+        // Refresh failed - user needs to login again
+        setUser(null);
+      }
+    }
+    
+    return res;
+  }, []);
+
   return (
-    <AuthContext.Provider value={{ user, authState, loading, authError, login, register, logout, refreshUser, updateProfile }}>
+    <AuthContext.Provider value={{ user, authState, loading, authError, login, register, logout, refreshUser, updateProfile, authFetch }}>
       {children}
     </AuthContext.Provider>
   );
@@ -168,6 +234,7 @@ export function LoginForm({ onSuccess, onSwitchToRegister }: { onSuccess?: () =>
   const { login, authState } = useAuth();
   const [username, setUsername] = useState("");
   const [password, setPassword] = useState("");
+  const [rememberMe, setRememberMe] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState("");
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
 
@@ -177,7 +244,7 @@ export function LoginForm({ onSuccess, onSwitchToRegister }: { onSuccess?: () =>
     setLoading(true);
 
     try {
-      await login(username, password);
+      await login(username, password, rememberMe);
       onSuccess?.();
     } catch (err) {
       setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Login failed");
@@ -220,6 +287,17 @@ export function LoginForm({ onSuccess, onSwitchToRegister }: { onSuccess?: () =>
             />
           </div>
 
+          <div className="form-group checkbox-group">
+            <label className="checkbox-label">
+              <input
+                type="checkbox"
+                checked={rememberMe}
+                onChange={(e) => setRememberMe(e.target.checked)}
+              />
+              <span>{t("auth.rememberMe", "Remember me")}</span>
+            </label>
+          </div>
+
           <button type="submit" className="btn btn-primary auth-submit" disabled={loading}>
             {loading ? t("common.loading", "Loading...") : t("auth.login", "Login")}
           </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/de.json b/frontend/src/i18n/de.json
index 5fceb4b..e967b5c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/de.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/de.json
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@
     "resetEmailSent": "Falls ein Konto mit dieser E-Mail existiert, haben wir einen Link zum Zurücksetzen gesendet.",
     "passwordReset": "Passwort zurückgesetzt",
     "passwordResetSuccess": "Ihr Passwort wurde zurückgesetzt. Weiterleitung zur Anmeldung...",
-    "profileUpdated": "Profil erfolgreich aktualisiert"
+    "profileUpdated": "Profil erfolgreich aktualisiert",
+    "rememberMe": "Angemeldet bleiben"
   },
   "common": {
     "loading": "Wird geladen...",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/en.json b/frontend/src/i18n/en.json
index 52a0937..3f46478 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/en.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/en.json
@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@
     "resetEmailSent": "If an account with this email exists, we've sent a password reset link.",
     "passwordReset": "Password Reset",
     "passwordResetSuccess": "Your password has been reset. Redirecting to login...",
-    "profileUpdated": "Profile updated successfully"
+    "profileUpdated": "Profile updated successfully",
+    "rememberMe": "Remember me"
   },
   "common": {
     "loading": "Loading...",
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles.css b/frontend/src/styles.css
index e1e810e..c89bc9e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles.css
@@ -2460,6 +2460,26 @@ h3 .reminder-icon.info-tooltip {
   font-weight: 600;
 }
 
+.auth-form .checkbox-group {
+  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.auth-form .checkbox-label {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+}
+
+.auth-form .checkbox-label input[type="checkbox"] {
+  width: 1rem;
+  height: 1rem;
+  accent-color: var(--accent);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
 .auth-links {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;