diff --git a/backend/app/config.py b/backend/app/config.py
index 1dbfd98..a5a270d 100644
--- a/backend/app/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/config.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # so tokens survive restarts.
     SECRET_KEY: str = ""
     ALGORITHM: str = "HS256"
-    ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES: int = 15  # short-lived for security; configurable via env
+    ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES: int = 480  # 8 hours — /auth/refresh extends active sessions
 
     # ── Redis ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     REDIS_URL: str = "redis://redis:6379/0"
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/auth.py b/backend/app/routers/auth.py
index b349ebf..f4d1e90 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/auth.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/auth.py
@@ -155,6 +155,57 @@ def logout(
     return {"detail": "Logged out"}
 
 
+@router.post("/refresh", response_model=TokenResponse)
+def refresh_token(
+    response: Response,
+    aegis_token: str | None = Cookie(None),
+    db: Session = Depends(get_db),
+):
+    """Issue a new access token if the current one is valid.
+
+    Called automatically by the frontend when it detects an expired
+    session while the user is actively using the app.  If the current
+    cookie token is still valid (not blacklisted, not expired), a fresh
+    token is issued and the cookie is renewed — keeping the session alive
+    without requiring re-authentication.
+    """
+    if not aegis_token:
+        raise PermissionViolation("No active session")
+
+    try:
+        payload = jwt.decode(
+            aegis_token,
+            settings.SECRET_KEY,
+            algorithms=[settings.ALGORITHM],
+        )
+    except JWTError:
+        raise PermissionViolation("Session expired — please log in again")
+
+    username: str | None = payload.get("sub")
+    if not username:
+        raise PermissionViolation("Invalid session")
+
+    user = db.query(User).filter(User.username == username).first()
+    if user is None or not user.is_active:
+        raise PermissionViolation("Account not found or disabled")
+
+    if getattr(user, "must_change_password", False):
+        raise PermissionViolation("Password change required before refreshing session")
+
+    # Issue a fresh token with a new expiry
+    new_token = create_access_token(data={"sub": user.username})
+    response.set_cookie(
+        key=_COOKIE_NAME,
+        value=new_token,
+        httponly=True,
+        secure=_IS_HTTPS,
+        samesite="strict",
+        max_age=settings.ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES * 60,
+        path="/",
+    )
+    return TokenResponse(access_token=new_token)
+
+
 @router.get("/me", response_model=UserOut)
 def read_current_user(current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user)):
     """Return the profile of the currently authenticated user."""
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.ts b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
index 14816aa..536ef8a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import axios, { type AxiosError } from "axios";
+import axios, { type AxiosError, type InternalAxiosRequestConfig } from "axios";
 
 const API_BASE_URL = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL || "/api/v1";
 
@@ -9,31 +9,71 @@ const client = axios.create({
   withCredentials: true,
 });
 
-// Response interceptor for error handling
+// ── Silent token refresh ────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Prevent multiple concurrent refresh attempts
+let _refreshing = false;
+let _refreshWaiters: Array<(ok: boolean) => void> = [];
+
+async function tryRefresh(): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (_refreshing) {
+    // Another request is already refreshing — wait for it
+    return new Promise((resolve) => _refreshWaiters.push(resolve));
+  }
+
+  _refreshing = true;
+  try {
+    await axios.post(
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/auth/refresh`,
+      {},
+      { withCredentials: true },
+    );
+    _refreshWaiters.forEach((cb) => cb(true));
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    _refreshWaiters.forEach((cb) => cb(false));
+    return false;
+  } finally {
+    _refreshing = false;
+    _refreshWaiters = [];
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Response interceptor ────────────────────────────────────────────
 client.interceptors.response.use(
   (response) => response,
-  (error: AxiosError<{ detail?: string; code?: string }>) => {
+  async (error: AxiosError<{ detail?: string; code?: string }>) => {
     const status = error.response?.status;
-    
-    // On 401, redirect to login (cookie is managed by the browser)
-    if (status === 401) {
-      // Only redirect if not already on login page
+    const originalRequest = error.config as InternalAxiosRequestConfig & { _retried?: boolean };
+
+    // On 401, attempt a silent token refresh once before redirecting
+    if (status === 401 && !originalRequest?._retried) {
+      // Don't attempt refresh on the refresh or login endpoints themselves
+      const url = originalRequest?.url ?? "";
+      if (!url.includes("/auth/refresh") && !url.includes("/auth/login")) {
+        originalRequest._retried = true;
+        const refreshed = await tryRefresh();
+        if (refreshed) {
+          // Retry the original request with the new cookie
+          return client(originalRequest);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Refresh failed or not applicable — redirect to login
       if (window.location.pathname !== "/login") {
         window.location.href = "/login";
       }
     }
-    
+
     // Extract error message from response
     const message =
       error.response?.data?.detail ||
       error.message ||
       "An unexpected error occurred";
-    
-    // Create a more descriptive error
+
     const enhancedError = new Error(message);
-    (enhancedError as Error & { status?: number; code?: string }).status = status;
+    (enhancedError as Error & { status?: number }).status = status;
     (enhancedError as Error & { code?: string }).code = error.response?.data?.code;
-    
+
     return Promise.reject(enhancedError);
   },
 );