diff --git a/docs/content/en/browser-language-detection.md b/docs/content/en/browser-language-detection.md
index 50d000af5..b21d26a29 100644
--- a/docs/content/en/browser-language-detection.md
+++ b/docs/content/en/browser-language-detection.md
@@ -13,17 +13,20 @@ By default, **nuxt-i18n** attempts to redirect users to their preferred language
   // ...
   detectBrowserLanguage: {
     useCookie: true,
-    cookieKey: 'i18n_redirected'
+    cookieKey: 'i18n_redirected',
+    // onlyOnRoot: true,
   }
 }]
 ```
 
 <alert type="info">
 
-Browser language is detected either from `navigator` when running on client side, or from the `accept-language` HTTP header. Configured `locales` (or locales `code`s when locales are specified in object form) are matched against locales reported by the browser (for example `en-US,en;q=0.9,no;q=0.8`). If there is no exact match, the language code (letters before `-`) are matched against configured locales (for backwards compatibility).
+For better SEO, it's recommended to set `onlyOnRoot` to `true`. With it set, the language detection is only attempted when the user visits the root path (`/`) of the site. This allows crawlers to access the requested page rather than being redirected away based on detected locale. It also allows linking to pages in specific locales.
 
 </alert>
 
+Browser language is detected either from `navigator` when running on client-side, or from the `accept-language` HTTP header. Configured `locales` (or locales `code`s when locales are specified in object form) are matched against locales reported by the browser (for example `en-US,en;q=0.9,no;q=0.8`). If there is no exact match for the full locale, the language code (letters before `-`) are matched against configured locales (for backward-compatibility).
+
 To prevent redirecting users every time they visit the app, **nuxt-i18n** sets a cookie after the first redirection. You can change the cookie's name by setting `detectBrowserLanguage.cookieKey` option to whatever you'd like, the default is _i18n_redirected_.
 
 ```js{}[nuxt.config.js]
diff --git a/docs/content/en/options-reference.md b/docs/content/en/options-reference.md
index 63c9a9fd4..54be7247b 100644
--- a/docs/content/en/options-reference.md
+++ b/docs/content/en/options-reference.md
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ Here are all the options available when configuring the module and their default
   // - 'prefix_and_default': add locale prefix for every locale and default
   strategy: 'prefix_except_default',
 
-  // Wether or not the translations should be lazy-loaded, if this is enabled,
+  // Whether or not the translations should be lazy-loaded, if this is enabled,
   // you MUST configure langDir option, and locales must be an array of objects,
   // each containing a file key
   lazy: false,
@@ -79,9 +79,10 @@ Here are all the options available when configuring the module and their default
   // }
   rootRedirect: null,
 
-  // Enable browser language detection to automatically redirect user
-  // to their preferred language as they visit your app for the first time
-  // Set to false to disable
+  // Enable browser language detection to automatically redirect visitors to their
+  // preferred language as they visit your site for the first time.
+  // Note that for better SEO it's recommended to set 'onlyOnRoot' to true.
+  // Set to false to disable.
   detectBrowserLanguage: {
     // If enabled, a cookie is set once a user has been redirected to his
     // preferred language to prevent subsequent redirections
@@ -99,7 +100,10 @@ Here are all the options available when configuring the module and their default
     // Set to always redirect to value stored in the cookie, not just once
     alwaysRedirect: false,
     // If no locale for the browsers locale is a match, use this one as a fallback
-    fallbackLocale: null
+    fallbackLocale: null,
+    // Set to true (recommended for improved SEO) to only attempt to detect browser locale
+    // on the root path ("/") of the site. Only effective when using strategy other than 'no_prefix'.
+    onlyOnRoot: false,
   },
 
   // Set this to true if you're using different domains for each language
diff --git a/docs/content/es/browser-language-detection.md b/docs/content/es/browser-language-detection.md
index 7af7b41f5..df5a5681e 100644
--- a/docs/content/es/browser-language-detection.md
+++ b/docs/content/es/browser-language-detection.md
@@ -11,13 +11,23 @@ Por defecto, **nuxt-i18n** intenta redirigir a los usuarios a su idioma preferid
 ```js{}[nuxt.config.js]
 
 ['nuxt-i18n', {
+  // ...
   detectBrowserLanguage: {
     useCookie: true,
-    cookieKey: 'i18n_redirected'
+    cookieKey: 'i18n_redirected',
+    // onlyOnRoot: true,
   }
 }]
 ```
 
+<alert type="info">
+
+For better SEO, it's recommended to set `onlyOnRoot` to `true`. With it set, the language detection is only attempted when the user visits the root path (`/`) of the site. This allows crawlers to access the requested page rather than being redirected away based on detected locale. It also allows linking to pages in specific locales.
+
+</alert>
+
+Browser language is detected either from `navigator` when running on client-side, or from the `accept-language` HTTP header. Configured `locales` (or locales `code`s when locales are specified in object form) are matched against locales reported by the browser (for example `en-US,en;q=0.9,no;q=0.8`). If there is no exact match for the full locale, the language code (letters before `-`) are matched against configured locales (for backward-compatibility).
+
 Para evitar redirigir a los usuarios cada vez que visitan la aplicación, **nuxt-i18n** establece una cookie después de la primera redirección. Puede cambiar el nombre de la cookie configurando la opción `detectBrowserLanguage.cookieKey` a lo que desee, el valor predeterminado es _i18n_redirected_.
 
 ```js{}[nuxt.config.js]
diff --git a/docs/content/es/options-reference.md b/docs/content/es/options-reference.md
index e362f4813..d5677e256 100644
--- a/docs/content/es/options-reference.md
+++ b/docs/content/es/options-reference.md
@@ -10,6 +10,19 @@ Aquí están todas las opciones disponibles al configurar el módulo y sus valor
 ```js
 {
   // vue-i18n configuration
+  // See documentation: http://kazupon.github.io/vue-i18n/api/#constructor-options
+  // To be able to pass more complex configuration options that can't be stringified, it's also
+  // supported to set this property to a path to a local configuration file. File needs to export
+  // a function (that will be passed a Nuxt context as a parameter) or plain object.
+  // Example path: '~/plugins/vue-i18n.js'
+  // Example file content:
+  // export default context => {
+  //   return {
+  //     modifiers: {
+  //       snakeCase: (str) => str.split(' ').join('-')
+  //     }
+  //   }
+  // }
   vueI18n: {},
 
   // If true, vue-i18n-loader is added to Nuxt's Webpack config
@@ -49,7 +62,7 @@ Aquí están todas las opciones disponibles al configurar el módulo y sus valor
   // - 'prefix_and_default': add locale prefix for every locale and default
   strategy: 'prefix_except_default',
 
-  // Wether or not the translations should be lazy-loaded, if this is enabled,
+  // Whether or not the translations should be lazy-loaded, if this is enabled,
   // you MUST configure langDir option, and locales must be an array of objects,
   // each containing a file key
   lazy: false,
@@ -66,9 +79,10 @@ Aquí están todas las opciones disponibles al configurar el módulo y sus valor
   // }
   rootRedirect: null,
 
-  // Enable browser language detection to automatically redirect user
-  // to their preferred language as they visit your app for the first time
-  // Set to false to disable
+  // Enable browser language detection to automatically redirect visitors to their
+  // preferred language as they visit your site for the first time.
+  // Note that for better SEO it's recommended to set 'onlyOnRoot' to true.
+  // Set to false to disable.
   detectBrowserLanguage: {
     // If enabled, a cookie is set once a user has been redirected to his
     // preferred language to prevent subsequent redirections
@@ -86,7 +100,10 @@ Aquí están todas las opciones disponibles al configurar el módulo y sus valor
     // Set to always redirect to value stored in the cookie, not just once
     alwaysRedirect: false,
     // If no locale for the browsers locale is a match, use this one as a fallback
-    fallbackLocale: null
+    fallbackLocale: null,
+    // Set to true (recommended for improved SEO) to only attempt to detect browser locale
+    // on the root path ("/") of the site. Only effective when using strategy other than 'no_prefix'.
+    onlyOnRoot: false,
   },
 
   // Set this to true if you're using different domains for each language
diff --git a/src/helpers/constants.js b/src/helpers/constants.js
index 8f3193738..9a2f327de 100644
--- a/src/helpers/constants.js
+++ b/src/helpers/constants.js
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ exports.DEFAULT_OPTIONS = {
     cookieKey: 'i18n_redirected',
     cookieSecure: false,
     alwaysRedirect: false,
-    fallbackLocale: ''
+    fallbackLocale: '',
+    onlyOnRoot: false
   },
   differentDomains: false,
   seo: false,
diff --git a/src/templates/plugin.main.js b/src/templates/plugin.main.js
index 11424689f..d21009eca 100644
--- a/src/templates/plugin.main.js
+++ b/src/templates/plugin.main.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import {
 
 Vue.use(VueI18n)
 
+const { alwaysRedirect, onlyOnRoot, fallbackLocale } = detectBrowserLanguage
 const getLocaleFromRoute = createLocaleFromRouteGetter(localeCodes, { routesNameSeparator, defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix })
 
 /** @type {import('@nuxt/types').Plugin} */
@@ -79,10 +80,10 @@ export default async (context) => {
 
     if (!initialSetup) {
       app.i18n.beforeLanguageSwitch(oldLocale, newLocale)
+    }
 
-      if (useCookie) {
-        app.i18n.setLocaleCookie(newLocale)
-      }
+    if (useCookie) {
+      app.i18n.setLocaleCookie(newLocale)
     }
 
     // Lazy-loading enabled
@@ -124,7 +125,11 @@ export default async (context) => {
     }
 
     if (getLocaleFromRoute(route) === locale) {
-      return ''
+      // If "onlyOnRoot" is set and strategy is "prefix_and_default", prefer unprefixed route for
+      // default locale.
+      if (!onlyOnRoot || locale !== defaultLocale || strategy !== STRATEGIES.PREFIX_AND_DEFAULT) {
+        return ''
+      }
     }
 
     // At this point we are left with route that either has no or different locale.
@@ -166,7 +171,7 @@ export default async (context) => {
     app.i18n.__baseUrl = resolveBaseUrl(baseUrl, context)
 
     const finalLocale =
-      (detectBrowserLanguage && doDetectBrowserLanguage()) ||
+      (detectBrowserLanguage && doDetectBrowserLanguage(route)) ||
       getLocaleFromRoute(route) || app.i18n.locale || app.i18n.defaultLocale || ''
 
     await app.i18n.setLocale(finalLocale)
@@ -174,13 +179,15 @@ export default async (context) => {
     return [null, null]
   }
 
-  const doDetectBrowserLanguage = () => {
+  const doDetectBrowserLanguage = route => {
     // Browser detection is ignored if it is a nuxt generate.
     if (process.static && process.server) {
       return false
     }
 
-    const { alwaysRedirect, fallbackLocale } = detectBrowserLanguage
+    if (onlyOnRoot && strategy !== STRATEGIES.NO_PREFIX && route.path !== '/') {
+      return false
+    }
 
     let matchedLocale
 
@@ -199,8 +206,6 @@ export default async (context) => {
     if (finalLocale && (!useCookie || alwaysRedirect || !app.i18n.getLocaleCookie())) {
       if (finalLocale !== app.i18n.locale) {
         return finalLocale
-      } else if (useCookie && !app.i18n.getLocaleCookie()) {
-        app.i18n.setLocaleCookie(finalLocale)
       }
     }
 
@@ -244,7 +249,7 @@ export default async (context) => {
     }
   }
 
-  let finalLocale = detectBrowserLanguage && doDetectBrowserLanguage()
+  let finalLocale = detectBrowserLanguage && doDetectBrowserLanguage(route)
 
   if (!finalLocale) {
     if (vuex && vuex.syncLocale && store && store.state[vuex.moduleName].locale !== '') {
diff --git a/src/templates/plugin.routing.js b/src/templates/plugin.routing.js
index 6a604c52b..6ea19df3b 100644
--- a/src/templates/plugin.routing.js
+++ b/src/templates/plugin.routing.js
@@ -148,11 +148,10 @@ function getRouteBaseName (givenRoute) {
 }
 
 function getLocaleRouteName (routeName, locale) {
-  const name = routeName + (strategy === STRATEGIES.NO_PREFIX ? '' : routesNameSeparator + locale)
+  let name = routeName + (strategy === STRATEGIES.NO_PREFIX ? '' : routesNameSeparator + locale)
 
-  // Match route without prefix for default locale
   if (locale === defaultLocale && strategy === STRATEGIES.PREFIX_AND_DEFAULT) {
-    return name + routesNameSeparator + defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix
+    name += routesNameSeparator + defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix
   }
 
   return name
diff --git a/test/browser.test.js b/test/browser.test.js
index 51b92e9c9..7a8005cb7 100644
--- a/test/browser.test.js
+++ b/test/browser.test.js
@@ -712,7 +712,52 @@ describe(`${browserString} (SPA with router in hash mode)`, () => {
   })
 })
 
-describe(`${browserString} (alwaysRedirect)`, () => {
+describe(`${browserString} (onlyOnRoot + alwaysRedirect + no_prefix)`, () => {
+  /** @type {Nuxt} */
+  let nuxt
+  /** @type {import('playwright-chromium').ChromiumBrowser} */
+  let browser
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const overrides = {
+      i18n: {
+        defaultLocale: 'en',
+        strategy: 'no_prefix',
+        detectBrowserLanguage: {
+          useCookie: false,
+          alwaysRedirect: true,
+          onlyOnRoot: true
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    nuxt = (await setup(loadConfig(__dirname, 'basic', overrides, { merge: true }))).nuxt
+    browser = await createBrowser()
+  })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (browser) {
+      await browser.close()
+    }
+    await nuxt.close()
+  })
+
+  test('onlyOnRoot does not affect locale detection on root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: fr')
+  })
+
+  test('onlyOnRoot does not affect locale detection on sub-path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/about'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('#current-page'))?.textContent()).toContain('page: À propos')
+    // Custom paths are not supported in "no_prefix" strategy.
+    // expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/a-propos')
+  })
+})
+
+describe(`${browserString} (alwaysRedirect, prefix)`, () => {
   /** @type {Nuxt} */
   let nuxt
   /** @type {import('playwright-chromium').ChromiumBrowser} */
@@ -750,6 +795,208 @@ describe(`${browserString} (alwaysRedirect)`, () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe(`${browserString} (onlyOnRoot + prefix_except_default)`, () => {
+  /** @type {Nuxt} */
+  let nuxt
+  /** @type {import('playwright-chromium').ChromiumBrowser} */
+  let browser
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const overrides = {
+      i18n: {
+        defaultLocale: 'en',
+        strategy: 'prefix_except_default',
+        detectBrowserLanguage: {
+          onlyOnRoot: true
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    nuxt = (await setup(loadConfig(__dirname, 'basic', overrides, { merge: true }))).nuxt
+    browser = await createBrowser()
+  })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (browser) {
+      await browser.close()
+    }
+    await nuxt.close()
+  })
+
+  test('redirects to detected locale on unprefixed root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: fr')
+  })
+
+  test('does not detect locale and redirect on unprefixed non-root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/simple'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('#container'))?.textContent()).toContain('Homepage')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/simple')
+  })
+
+  test('does not detect locale and redirect on prefixed, root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'en' })
+    await page.goto(url('/fr/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('#current-page'))?.textContent()).toContain('page: Accueil')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/fr/')
+  })
+
+  test('does not detect locale and redirect on prefixed, non-root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'en' })
+    await page.goto(url('/fr/a-propos'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('#current-page'))?.textContent()).toContain('page: À propos')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/fr/a-propos')
+  })
+
+  test('does not redirect to locale stored in cookie on second navigation to root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: fr')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/fr')
+    const browserContext = page.context()
+    // Verify that cookie was set.
+    const cookies = await browserContext.cookies()
+    expect(cookies).toMatchObject([{ name: 'i18n_redirected', value: 'fr' }])
+    // Navigate again to root, expecting to NOT be redirected again.
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: en')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/')
+  })
+})
+
+describe(`${browserString} (onlyOnRoot + alwaysRedirect + prefix_except_default)`, () => {
+  /** @type {Nuxt} */
+  let nuxt
+  /** @type {import('playwright-chromium').ChromiumBrowser} */
+  let browser
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const overrides = {
+      i18n: {
+        defaultLocale: 'en',
+        strategy: 'prefix_except_default',
+        detectBrowserLanguage: {
+          alwaysRedirect: true,
+          onlyOnRoot: true
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    nuxt = (await setup(loadConfig(__dirname, 'basic', overrides, { merge: true }))).nuxt
+    browser = await createBrowser()
+  })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (browser) {
+      await browser.close()
+    }
+    await nuxt.close()
+  })
+
+  test('redirects to locale stored in cookie on second navigation to root path', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: fr')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/fr')
+    const browserContext = page.context()
+    // Verify that cookie was set.
+    const cookies = await browserContext.cookies()
+    expect(cookies).toMatchObject([{ name: 'i18n_redirected', value: 'fr' }])
+    // Navigate again to root, expecting to be redirected again.
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: fr')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/fr')
+  })
+})
+
+describe(`${browserString} (onlyOnRoot + prefix_and_default)`, () => {
+  /** @type {Nuxt} */
+  let nuxt
+  /** @type {import('playwright-chromium').ChromiumBrowser} */
+  let browser
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const overrides = {
+      i18n: {
+        defaultLocale: 'en',
+        strategy: 'prefix_and_default',
+        detectBrowserLanguage: {
+          onlyOnRoot: true
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    nuxt = (await setup(loadConfig(__dirname, 'basic', overrides, { merge: true }))).nuxt
+    browser = await createBrowser()
+  })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (browser) {
+      await browser.close()
+    }
+    await nuxt.close()
+  })
+
+  test('redirects from prefixed to unprefixed default locale', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage()
+    await page.goto(url('/en'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: en')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/')
+  })
+
+  test('does not redirect from unprefixed default locale', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage()
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: en')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/')
+  })
+})
+
+describe(`${browserString} (onlyOnRoot + prefix)`, () => {
+  /** @type {Nuxt} */
+  let nuxt
+  /** @type {import('playwright-chromium').ChromiumBrowser} */
+  let browser
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const overrides = {
+      i18n: {
+        defaultLocale: 'en',
+        strategy: 'prefix',
+        detectBrowserLanguage: {
+          onlyOnRoot: true
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    nuxt = (await setup(loadConfig(__dirname, 'basic', overrides, { merge: true }))).nuxt
+    browser = await createBrowser()
+  })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (browser) {
+      await browser.close()
+    }
+    await nuxt.close()
+  })
+
+  test('does not redirect from one locale to another', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage({ locale: 'fr' })
+    await page.goto(url('/en'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: en')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/en')
+  })
+
+  test('redirects from root (404) path to default locale', async () => {
+    const page = await browser.newPage()
+    await page.goto(url('/'))
+    expect(await (await page.$('body'))?.textContent()).toContain('locale: en')
+    expect(await getRouteFullPath(page)).toBe('/en')
+  })
+})
+
 describe(`${browserString} (vuex disabled)`, () => {
   /** @type {Nuxt} */
   let nuxt
diff --git a/test/module.test.js b/test/module.test.js
index dc3fb324f..d70bdf3b0 100644
--- a/test/module.test.js
+++ b/test/module.test.js
@@ -1135,6 +1135,34 @@ describe('with router base', () => {
     const newRoute = window.$nuxt.localePath('about')
     expect(newRoute).toBe('/about-us')
   })
+
+  test('detectBrowserLanguage redirects on base path', async () => {
+    const requestOptions = {
+      followRedirect: false,
+      resolveWithFullResponse: true,
+      simple: false, // Don't reject on non-2xx response
+      headers: {
+        'Accept-Language': 'fr'
+      }
+    }
+    const response = await get('/app/', requestOptions)
+    expect(response.statusCode).toBe(302)
+    expect(response.headers.location).toBe('/app/fr')
+  })
+
+  test('detectBrowserLanguage redirects on non-base path', async () => {
+    const requestOptions = {
+      followRedirect: false,
+      resolveWithFullResponse: true,
+      simple: false, // Don't reject on non-2xx response
+      headers: {
+        'Accept-Language': 'fr'
+      }
+    }
+    const response = await get('/app/simple', requestOptions)
+    expect(response.statusCode).toBe(302)
+    expect(response.headers.location).toBe('/app/fr/simple')
+  })
 })
 
 describe('baseUrl', () => {
@@ -1433,6 +1461,17 @@ describe('no_prefix + detectBrowserLanguage + alwaysRedirect', () => {
     const dom = getDom(html)
     expect(dom.querySelector('#current-locale')?.textContent).toBe('locale: en')
   })
+
+  test('applies detected locale on non-root path', async () => {
+    const requestOptions = {
+      headers: {
+        'Accept-Language': 'fr'
+      }
+    }
+    const html = await get('/about', requestOptions)
+    const dom = getDom(html)
+    expect(dom.querySelector('#current-page')?.textContent).toBe('page: À propos')
+  })
 })
 
 describe('prefix + detectBrowserLanguage + alwaysRedirect', () => {
diff --git a/types/nuxt-i18n.d.ts b/types/nuxt-i18n.d.ts
index a2fcca68b..73e74f397 100644
--- a/types/nuxt-i18n.d.ts
+++ b/types/nuxt-i18n.d.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ declare namespace NuxtVueI18n {
       cookieKey?: string
       alwaysRedirect?: boolean
       fallbackLocale?: Locale | null
+      onlyOnRoot?: boolean
     }
 
     interface RootRedirectInterface {