diff --git a/components/split-pane/split-pane.tsx b/components/split-pane/split-pane.tsx
index c99264a..58cc8d9 100644
--- a/components/split-pane/split-pane.tsx
+++ b/components/split-pane/split-pane.tsx
@@ -3,11 +3,26 @@
 import { useRef, useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
+const COOKIE_PREFIX = 'split-pane:'
+const COOKIE_MAX_AGE = 60 * 60 * 24 * 365
+
+function readSplitCookie(key: string): number | null {
+  if (typeof document === 'undefined') return null
+  const match = document.cookie.match(new RegExp(`(?:^|; )${COOKIE_PREFIX}${key}=([^;]+)`))
+  if (!match) return null
+  const val = parseFloat(decodeURIComponent(match[1]))
+  return !isNaN(val) && val > 0 && val < 100 ? val : null
+}
+
+function writeSplitCookie(key: string, value: number) {
+  document.cookie = `${COOKIE_PREFIX}${key}=${value}; max-age=${COOKIE_MAX_AGE}; path=/; samesite=lax`
+}
+
 interface SplitPaneProps {
   left: React.ReactNode
   right: React.ReactNode
   storageKey: string
-  defaultSplit?: number // percentage for left pane, default 40
+  defaultSplit?: number // percentage for left pane
   minSize?: number      // minimum px per pane, default 200
 }
 
@@ -15,18 +30,12 @@ export function SplitPane({
   left,
   right,
   storageKey,
-  defaultSplit = 40,
+  defaultSplit = 20,
   minSize = 200,
 }: SplitPaneProps) {
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const [split, setSplit] = useState<number>(() => {
-    if (typeof window === 'undefined') return defaultSplit
-    const stored = localStorage.getItem(`split-pane:${storageKey}`)
-    if (stored) {
-      const val = parseFloat(stored)
-      if (!isNaN(val) && val > 0 && val < 100) return val
-    }
-    return defaultSplit
+    return readSplitCookie(storageKey) ?? defaultSplit
   })
   const [isDragging, setIsDragging] = useState(false)
   const [isMobile, setIsMobile] = useState(false)
@@ -49,7 +58,7 @@ export function SplitPane({
     const maxPct = 100 - minPct
     const newSplit = Math.min(maxPct, Math.max(minPct, (offsetX / containerWidth) * 100))
     setSplit(newSplit)
-    localStorage.setItem(`split-pane:${storageKey}`, String(newSplit))
+    writeSplitCookie(storageKey, newSplit)
   }, [isDragging, minSize, storageKey])
 
   const onMouseUp = useCallback(() => setIsDragging(false), [])