diff --git a/.last-branch b/.last-branch
index 9bf017c..f35a538 100644
--- a/.last-branch
+++ b/.last-branch
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v20260204-02-performance-optimizations
+v20260204-03-dashboard-redirect-setting
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py
index 2b54a76..43857f0 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ def create_app():
 
         This ensures that when a user opens the site for the first time each day,
         they land on the dashboard regardless of the bookmarked/deeplinked URL.
+
+        This behavior is controlled by the system setting `require_daily_dashboard_visit`.
+        When disabled (the default), users can navigate directly to any page.
         """
 
         # Only for normal page loads.
@@ -99,6 +102,18 @@ def create_app():
             session["daily_dashboard_seen"] = _get_today_ui_date()
             return None
 
+        # Check if the feature is enabled in system settings.
+        try:
+            from .models import SystemSettings
+
+            settings = SystemSettings.query.first()
+            if not settings or not getattr(settings, "require_daily_dashboard_visit", False):
+                # Feature is disabled; skip redirect.
+                return None
+        except Exception:
+            # On any error (e.g. column doesn't exist yet), skip redirect.
+            return None
+
         today = _get_today_ui_date()
         seen = (session.get("daily_dashboard_seen") or "").strip()
         if seen != today:
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_settings.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_settings.py
index 96dba4d..189fa7d 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_settings.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_settings.py
@@ -434,6 +434,10 @@ def settings():
         if "ui_timezone" in request.form:
             settings.ui_timezone = (request.form.get("ui_timezone") or "").strip() or "Europe/Amsterdam"
 
+            # Navigation setting is in the same form (General tab), so process it here.
+            # Checkbox: present in form = checked, absent = unchecked.
+            settings.require_daily_dashboard_visit = bool(request.form.get("require_daily_dashboard_visit"))
+
         # Autotask integration
         if "autotask_enabled" in request.form:
             settings.autotask_enabled = bool(request.form.get("autotask_enabled"))
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/migrations.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/migrations.py
index de5c0d9..f11213d 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/migrations.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/migrations.py
@@ -931,6 +931,7 @@ def run_migrations() -> None:
     migrate_reporting_tables()
     migrate_reporting_report_config()
     migrate_performance_indexes()
+    migrate_system_settings_require_daily_dashboard_visit()
     print("[migrations] All migrations completed.")
 
 
@@ -1115,6 +1116,38 @@ def migrate_jobs_archiving() -> None:
     print("[migrations] migrate_jobs_archiving completed.")
 
 
+def migrate_system_settings_require_daily_dashboard_visit() -> None:
+    """Add require_daily_dashboard_visit column to system_settings if missing.
+
+    When enabled, authenticated users are redirected to the dashboard on
+    their first page view each day.
+    """
+    table = "system_settings"
+    column = "require_daily_dashboard_visit"
+
+    try:
+        engine = db.get_engine()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        print(f"[migrations] Could not get engine for system_settings require_daily_dashboard_visit migration: {exc}")
+        return
+
+    try:
+        if _column_exists(table, column):
+            print("[migrations] system_settings.require_daily_dashboard_visit already exists.")
+            return
+
+        with engine.begin() as conn:
+            conn.execute(
+                text(
+                    f'ALTER TABLE "{table}" ADD COLUMN {column} BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE'
+                )
+            )
+
+        print("[migrations] migrate_system_settings_require_daily_dashboard_visit completed.")
+    except Exception as exc:
+        print(f"[migrations] Failed to migrate system_settings.require_daily_dashboard_visit: {exc}")
+
+
 def migrate_performance_indexes() -> None:
     """Add performance indexes for frequently queried foreign key columns.
 
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/models.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/models.py
index 326863e..79aa0b1 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/models.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/models.py
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ class SystemSettings(db.Model):
     # UI display timezone (IANA name). Used for rendering times in the web interface.
     ui_timezone = db.Column(db.String(64), nullable=False, default="Europe/Amsterdam")
 
+    # Navigation behavior: require visiting dashboard first each day.
+    # When enabled, authenticated users are redirected to the dashboard on
+    # their first page view each day before they can navigate elsewhere.
+    require_daily_dashboard_visit = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable=False, default=False)
 
     # Autotask integration settings
     autotask_enabled = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable=False, default=False)
@@ -129,6 +133,7 @@ class SystemSettings(db.Model):
     autotask_cached_priorities_json = db.Column(db.Text, nullable=True)
     autotask_cached_ticket_statuses_json = db.Column(db.Text, nullable=True)
     autotask_reference_last_sync_at = db.Column(db.DateTime, nullable=True)
+
     created_at = db.Column(db.DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, nullable=False)
     updated_at = db.Column(
         db.DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow, nullable=False
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/templates/main/settings.html b/containers/backupchecks/src/templates/main/settings.html
index 3b848e0..67c6b1e 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/templates/main/settings.html
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/templates/main/settings.html
@@ -139,6 +139,17 @@
     </div>
     </div>
 
+  <div class="card mb-3">
+    <div class="card-header">Navigation</div>
+    <div class="card-body">
+      <div class="form-check form-switch">
+        <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="require_daily_dashboard_visit" name="require_daily_dashboard_visit" {% if settings.require_daily_dashboard_visit %}checked{% endif %} />
+        <label class="form-check-label" for="require_daily_dashboard_visit">Require dashboard visit on first page view each day</label>
+      </div>
+      <div class="form-text">When enabled, users are redirected to the dashboard on their first page view each day, regardless of which page they try to access.</div>
+    </div>
+    </div>
+
   <div class="d-flex justify-content-end mt-3">
     <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Save settings</button>
   </div>
diff --git a/docs/changelog-claude.md b/docs/changelog-claude.md
index b0c8248..1c12ed3 100644
--- a/docs/changelog-claude.md
+++ b/docs/changelog-claude.md
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ This file documents all changes made to this project via Claude Code.
 
 ### Added
 - `docs/changelog-claude.md` - Changelog file for tracking changes made via Claude Code
+- Setting to enable/disable daily dashboard redirect requirement (Settings > General > Navigation)
+  - New `require_daily_dashboard_visit` column in `SystemSettings` model
+  - Migration in `migrations.py` to add the column
+  - Toggle in Settings General page under new "Navigation" card
+  - Default value is OFF (disabled) - users can navigate directly to any page
 
 ### Changed
 - Converted changelog to English (all project documentation must be in English)