diff --git a/docs/content/2.guide/15.migrating.md b/docs/content/2.guide/15.migrating.md
index 95c7523e7..3ef507554 100644
--- a/docs/content/2.guide/15.migrating.md
+++ b/docs/content/2.guide/15.migrating.md
@@ -149,6 +149,10 @@ About details, See also [Lang Switcher](/api/lang-switcher#dynamic-route-paramet
 
 This option is no longer necessary, because i18n custom block is supported by [unplugin-vue-i18n](https://github.com/intlify/bundle-tools/tree/main/packages/unplugin-vue-i18n) **as default**.
 
+### Deprecated `onBeforeLanguageSwitch` and `onLanguageSwitched` function options
+
+These functions can now be triggered using Nuxt runtime hooks. Please refer to [runtime hooks](/guide/runtime-hooks) to see how to use these.
+
 ### Change some export APIs name on Nuxt context
 
 The following API will be changed to `$`:
diff --git a/docs/content/2.guide/2.callbacks.md b/docs/content/2.guide/2.runtime-hooks.md
similarity index 55%
rename from docs/content/2.guide/2.callbacks.md
rename to docs/content/2.guide/2.runtime-hooks.md
index e4815c7c2..2bff2fe73 100644
--- a/docs/content/2.guide/2.callbacks.md
+++ b/docs/content/2.guide/2.runtime-hooks.md
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-# Callbacks
+# Runtime Hooks
 
-Nuxt i18n module exposes some callbacks that you can use to perform specific tasks that depend on the app's language.
+Nuxt i18n module exposes some [runtime hooks](https://nuxt.com/docs/guide/going-further/hooks#app-hooks-runtime) as callbacks that you can use to perform specific tasks that depend on the app's language.
 
 ---
 
 **Nuxt i18n module** exposes some callbacks that you can use to perform specific tasks that depend on the app's language.
 
-### `onBeforeLanguageSwitch`
+### `i18n:beforeLocaleSwitch`
 
 Called before the app's locale is switched. Can be used to override the new locale by returning a new locale code.
 
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ Parameters:
 
 - **oldLocale**: the app's locale before the switch
 - **newLocale**: the app's locale after the switch
-- **isInitialSetup**: set to `true` if it's the initial locale switch that triggers on app load. It's a special case since the locale is not technically set yet so we're switching from no locale to locale.
-- **nuxtApp**: the Nuxt app
+- **initialSetup**: set to `true` if it's the initial locale switch that triggers on app load. It's a special case since the locale is not technically set yet so we're switching from no locale to locale.
+- **context**: the Nuxt app
 
 Returns: `string` or nothing
 
-### `onLanguageSwitched`
+### `i18n:localeSwitched`
 
 Called right after the app's locale has been switched.
 
@@ -34,13 +34,14 @@ A typical usage would be to define those callbacks via a plugin where you can ac
 
 ```js {}[/plugins/i18n.js]
 export default defineNuxtPlugin(nuxtApp => {
-  // onBeforeLanguageSwitch called right before setting a new locale
-  nuxtApp.$i18n.onBeforeLanguageSwitch = (oldLocale, newLocale, isInitialSetup, nuxtApp) => {
-    console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, isInitialSetup)
-  }
-  // onLanguageSwitched called right after a new locale has been set
-  nuxtApp.$i18n.onLanguageSwitched = (oldLocale, newLocale) => {
+  // called right before setting a new locale
+  nuxtApp.hook('i18n:beforeLocaleSwitch', ({ oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup, context }) => {
+    console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup)
+  })
+
+  // called right after a new locale has been set
+  nuxtApp.hook('i18n:localeSwitched', ({oldLocale, newLocale}) => {
     console.log('onLanguageSwitched', oldLocale, newLocale)
-  }
+  })
 })
 ```
diff --git a/docs/content/3.options/2.routing.md b/docs/content/3.options/2.routing.md
index a34740dbb..ee6777494 100644
--- a/docs/content/3.options/2.routing.md
+++ b/docs/content/3.options/2.routing.md
@@ -113,24 +113,6 @@ Whether [custom paths](/guide/custom-paths) are extracted from page files
 
 If `customRoutes` option is disabled with `config`, the module will look for custom routes in the `pages` option. Refer to the [Routing](/guide/routing-strategies) for usage.
 
-## `onBeforeLanguageSwitch`
-
-- type: `function`
-- default: `(oldLocale, newLocale, isInitialSetup, context) => {}`
-
-A listener called before the app's locale is changed. Can override the locale that is about to be set.
-
-See [callbacks](/guide/callbacks)
-
-## `onLanguageSwitched`
-
-- type: `function`
-- default: `(oldLocale, newLocale) => {}`
-
-A listener called after app's locale has changed.
-
-See [callbacks](/guide/callbacks)
-
 ## `skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate`
 
 - type: `boolean`
diff --git a/docs/content/4.API/3.vue-i18n.md b/docs/content/4.API/3.vue-i18n.md
index 35a322d53..34be1b467 100644
--- a/docs/content/4.API/3.vue-i18n.md
+++ b/docs/content/4.API/3.vue-i18n.md
@@ -102,15 +102,3 @@ Object of the current locale properties.
 - **Type**: `boolean`
 
 Whether `differentDomains` option is enabled.
-
-### onBeforeLanguageSwitch
-
-- **Type**: `Function`
-
-See [callbacks](/guide/callbacks)
-
-### onLanguageSwitched
-
-- **Type**: `Function`
-
-See [callbacks](/guide/callbacks)
diff --git a/playground/nuxt.config.ts b/playground/nuxt.config.ts
index 4c5eaa735..d49d3bcdc 100644
--- a/playground/nuxt.config.ts
+++ b/playground/nuxt.config.ts
@@ -78,12 +78,6 @@ export default defineNuxtConfig({
     //   // // cookieKey: 'my_custom_cookie_name',
     //   // redirectOn: 'root'
     // },
-    onBeforeLanguageSwitch: (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string, initial: boolean, nuxt: NuxtApp) => {
-      console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, initial)
-    },
-    onLanguageSwitched: (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string) => {
-      console.log('onLanguageSwitched', oldLocale, newLocale)
-    },
     // vueI18n: './vue-i18n.options.ts'
     vueI18n: {
       legacy: false,
diff --git a/playground/plugins/i18n.ts b/playground/plugins/i18n.ts
index 85d3cef69..8a070e260 100644
--- a/playground/plugins/i18n.ts
+++ b/playground/plugins/i18n.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import { defineNuxtPlugin } from '#imports'
 
 export default defineNuxtPlugin(nuxtApp => {
-  nuxtApp.$i18n.onBeforeLanguageSwitch = (oldLocale, newLocale, isInitialSetup, nuxtApp) => {
-    console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, isInitialSetup)
-  }
-  // onLanguageSwitched called right after a new locale has been set
-  nuxtApp.$i18n.onLanguageSwitched = (oldLocale, newLocale) => {
+  nuxtApp.hook('i18n:beforeLocaleSwitch', ({ oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup }) => {
+    console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup)
+  })
+
+  nuxtApp.hook('i18n:localeSwitched', ({ oldLocale, newLocale }) => {
     console.log('onLanguageSwitched', oldLocale, newLocale)
-  }
+  })
 })
diff --git a/specs/fixtures/plugins/i18nHooks.ts b/specs/fixtures/plugins/i18nHooks.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21222e603
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specs/fixtures/plugins/i18nHooks.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { defineNuxtPlugin } from '#imports'
+
+export default defineNuxtPlugin(nuxtApp => {
+  nuxtApp.hook('i18n:beforeLocaleSwitch', ({ oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup }) => {
+    console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup)
+
+    if (newLocale === 'en') {
+      return 'fr'
+    }
+  })
+
+  nuxtApp.hook('i18n:localeSwitched', ({ oldLocale, newLocale }) => {
+    console.log('onLanguageSwitched', oldLocale, newLocale)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/specs/callbacks.spec.ts b/specs/runtime_hooks.spec.ts
similarity index 78%
rename from specs/callbacks.spec.ts
rename to specs/runtime_hooks.spec.ts
index 26dcd5679..f5e190207 100644
--- a/specs/callbacks.spec.ts
+++ b/specs/runtime_hooks.spec.ts
@@ -8,23 +8,12 @@ await setup({
   browser: true,
   // overrides
   nuxtConfig: {
-    i18n: {
-      defaultLocale: 'en',
-      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-      onBeforeLanguageSwitch: (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string, initialSetup: boolean, context: any) => {
-        console.log('onBeforeLanguageSwitch', oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup, context)
-        if (newLocale === 'en') {
-          return 'fr'
-        }
-      },
-      onLanguageSwitched: (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string) => {
-        console.log('onLanguageSwitched', oldLocale, newLocale)
-      }
-    }
+    plugins: [fileURLToPath(new URL(`./fixtures/plugins/i18nHooks.ts`, import.meta.url))],
+    i18n: { defaultLocale: 'en' }
   }
 })
 
-describe('onBeforeLanguageSwitch / onLanguageSwitched', () => {
+describe('beforeLocaleSwitch / localeSwitched', () => {
   test('<NuxtLink>', async () => {
     const home = url('/')
     const page = await createPage()
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
index 560a21747..89895deef 100644
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ b/src/constants.ts
@@ -58,8 +58,6 @@ export const DEFAULT_OPTIONS = {
   customRoutes: 'page',
   pages: {},
   skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,
-  onBeforeLanguageSwitch: () => '',
-  onLanguageSwitched: () => null,
   types: undefined,
   debug: false
 } as const
diff --git a/src/module.ts b/src/module.ts
index c965781e8..41142c9fc 100644
--- a/src/module.ts
+++ b/src/module.ts
@@ -277,6 +277,9 @@ function checkOptions(options: NuxtI18nOptions) {
   }
 }
 
+type MaybePromise<T> = T | Promise<T>
+type LocaleSwitch<T extends string = string> = { oldLocale: T; newLocale: T }
+
 declare module '@nuxt/schema' {
   interface NuxtConfig {
     i18n?: NuxtI18nOptions
@@ -286,3 +289,15 @@ declare module '@nuxt/schema' {
     'i18n:extend-messages': (messages: LocaleMessages<DefineLocaleMessage>[], localeCodes: string[]) => Promise<void>
   }
 }
+
+declare module '#app' {
+  interface RuntimeNuxtHooks {
+    'i18n:beforeLocaleSwitch': <Context = unknown>(
+      params: LocaleSwitch & {
+        initialSetup: boolean
+        context: Context
+      }
+    ) => MaybePromise<void>
+    'i18n:localeSwitched': (params: LocaleSwitch) => MaybePromise<void>
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/options.d.ts b/src/options.d.ts
index dc86c65c9..881688aed 100644
--- a/src/options.d.ts
+++ b/src/options.d.ts
@@ -36,8 +36,5 @@ export {
   NuxtI18nOptionsDefault,
   NuxtI18nInternalOptions,
   DetectBrowserLanguageOptions,
-  RootRedirectOptions,
-  LanguageSwitchedHandler,
-  BeforeLanguageSwitchHandler,
-  LanguageSwitchedHandler
+  RootRedirectOptions
 } from './types'
diff --git a/src/runtime/plugins/i18n.ts b/src/runtime/plugins/i18n.ts
index eb7c532f6..548dc0060 100644
--- a/src/runtime/plugins/i18n.ts
+++ b/src/runtime/plugins/i18n.ts
@@ -224,8 +224,12 @@ export default defineNuxtPlugin(async nuxt => {
           _getLocaleCookie(nuxt.ssrContext, { ...nuxtI18nOptions.detectBrowserLanguage, localeCodes })
         composer.setLocaleCookie = (locale: string) =>
           _setLocaleCookie(locale, nuxt.ssrContext, nuxtI18nOptions.detectBrowserLanguage || undefined)
-        composer.onBeforeLanguageSwitch = nuxtI18nOptions.onBeforeLanguageSwitch
-        composer.onLanguageSwitched = nuxtI18nOptions.onLanguageSwitched
+
+        composer.onBeforeLanguageSwitch = (oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup, context) =>
+          nuxt.callHook('i18n:beforeLocaleSwitch', { oldLocale, newLocale, initialSetup, context })
+        composer.onLanguageSwitched = (oldLocale, newLocale) =>
+          nuxt.callHook('i18n:localeSwitched', { oldLocale, newLocale })
+
         composer.finalizePendingLocaleChange = async () => {
           if (!i18n.__pendingLocale) {
             return
diff --git a/src/runtime/types.d.ts b/src/runtime/types.d.ts
index bb26e1ab3..1fd4ef14e 100644
--- a/src/runtime/types.d.ts
+++ b/src/runtime/types.d.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type BeforeLanguageSwitchHandler = (
   newLocale: string,
   initialSetup: boolean,
   context: NuxtApp
-) => string | void
+) => Promise<string | void>
 
 /**
  * Called after the app's locale is switched.
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ type BeforeLanguageSwitchHandler = (
  * @param oldLocale - The app's locale before the switch
  * @param newLocale - The app's locale after the switch.
  */
-type LanguageSwitchedHandler = (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string) => void
+type LanguageSwitchedHandler = (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string) => Promise<void>
 
 export interface ComposerCustomProperties {
   /**
diff --git a/src/runtime/utils.ts b/src/runtime/utils.ts
index 37861c922..e22a183f1 100644
--- a/src/runtime/utils.ts
+++ b/src/runtime/utils.ts
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ export async function loadAndSetLocale<Context extends NuxtApp = NuxtApp>(
   }
 
   // call onBeforeLanguageSwitch
-  const localeOverride = onBeforeLanguageSwitch(i18n, oldLocale, newLocale, initial, context)
+  const localeOverride = await onBeforeLanguageSwitch(i18n, oldLocale, newLocale, initial, context)
   const localeCodes = getLocaleCodes(i18n)
   if (localeOverride && localeCodes && localeCodes.includes(localeOverride)) {
     if (localeOverride === oldLocale) {
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export async function loadAndSetLocale<Context extends NuxtApp = NuxtApp>(
   }
   setLocale(i18n, newLocale)
 
-  onLanguageSwitched(i18n, oldLocale, newLocale)
+  await onLanguageSwitched(i18n, oldLocale, newLocale)
 
   ret = true
   return [ret, oldLocale]
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index 0d6964393..a18fbe4bc 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -36,19 +36,8 @@ export type CustomRoutePages = {
       }
 }
 
-export type BeforeLanguageSwitchHandler = <Context = unknown>(
-  oldLocale: string,
-  newLocale: string,
-  initialSetup: boolean,
-  context: Context
-) => string | void
-
-export type LanguageSwitchedHandler = (oldLocale: string, newLocale: string) => void
-
 export type NuxtI18nOptions<Context = unknown> = {
   differentDomains?: boolean
-  onBeforeLanguageSwitch?: BeforeLanguageSwitchHandler
-  onLanguageSwitched?: LanguageSwitchedHandler
   detectBrowserLanguage?: DetectBrowserLanguageOptions | false
   langDir?: string | null
   lazy?: boolean | LazyOptions
diff --git a/test/__snapshots__/gen.test.ts.snap b/test/__snapshots__/gen.test.ts.snap
index fe1dc18a9..6e701c88b 100644
--- a/test/__snapshots__/gen.test.ts.snap
+++ b/test/__snapshots__/gen.test.ts.snap
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export const resolveNuxtI18nOptions = async (context) => {
   return nuxtI18nOptions
 }
 
-export const nuxtI18nOptionsDefault = Object({vueI18n: undefined,locales: [],defaultLocale: \\"\\",defaultDirection: \\"ltr\\",routesNameSeparator: \\"___\\",trailingSlash: false,defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix: \\"default\\",strategy: \\"prefix_except_default\\",lazy: false,langDir: null,rootRedirect: null,detectBrowserLanguage: Object({\\"alwaysRedirect\\":false,\\"cookieCrossOrigin\\":false,\\"cookieDomain\\":null,\\"cookieKey\\":\\"i18n_redirected\\",\\"cookieSecure\\":false,\\"fallbackLocale\\":\\"\\",\\"redirectOn\\":\\"root\\",\\"useCookie\\":true}),differentDomains: false,baseUrl: \\"\\",dynamicRouteParams: false,customRoutes: \\"page\\",pages: Object({}),skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,onBeforeLanguageSwitch: (() => \\"\\"),onLanguageSwitched: (() => null),types: undefined,debug: false})
+export const nuxtI18nOptionsDefault = Object({vueI18n: undefined,locales: [],defaultLocale: \\"\\",defaultDirection: \\"ltr\\",routesNameSeparator: \\"___\\",trailingSlash: false,defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix: \\"default\\",strategy: \\"prefix_except_default\\",lazy: false,langDir: null,rootRedirect: null,detectBrowserLanguage: Object({\\"alwaysRedirect\\":false,\\"cookieCrossOrigin\\":false,\\"cookieDomain\\":null,\\"cookieKey\\":\\"i18n_redirected\\",\\"cookieSecure\\":false,\\"fallbackLocale\\":\\"\\",\\"redirectOn\\":\\"root\\",\\"useCookie\\":true}),differentDomains: false,baseUrl: \\"\\",dynamicRouteParams: false,customRoutes: \\"page\\",pages: Object({}),skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,types: undefined,debug: false})
 
 export const nuxtI18nInternalOptions = Object({__normalizedLocales: [Object({\\"code\\":\\"en\\"})]})
 export const NUXT_I18N_MODULE_ID = \\"@nuxtjs/i18n\\"
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ export const resolveNuxtI18nOptions = async (context) => {
   return nuxtI18nOptions
 }
 
-export const nuxtI18nOptionsDefault = Object({vueI18n: undefined,locales: [],defaultLocale: \\"\\",defaultDirection: \\"ltr\\",routesNameSeparator: \\"___\\",trailingSlash: false,defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix: \\"default\\",strategy: \\"prefix_except_default\\",lazy: false,langDir: null,rootRedirect: null,detectBrowserLanguage: Object({\\"alwaysRedirect\\":false,\\"cookieCrossOrigin\\":false,\\"cookieDomain\\":null,\\"cookieKey\\":\\"i18n_redirected\\",\\"cookieSecure\\":false,\\"fallbackLocale\\":\\"\\",\\"redirectOn\\":\\"root\\",\\"useCookie\\":true}),differentDomains: false,baseUrl: \\"\\",dynamicRouteParams: false,customRoutes: \\"page\\",pages: Object({}),skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,onBeforeLanguageSwitch: (() => \\"\\"),onLanguageSwitched: (() => null),types: undefined,debug: false})
+export const nuxtI18nOptionsDefault = Object({vueI18n: undefined,locales: [],defaultLocale: \\"\\",defaultDirection: \\"ltr\\",routesNameSeparator: \\"___\\",trailingSlash: false,defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix: \\"default\\",strategy: \\"prefix_except_default\\",lazy: false,langDir: null,rootRedirect: null,detectBrowserLanguage: Object({\\"alwaysRedirect\\":false,\\"cookieCrossOrigin\\":false,\\"cookieDomain\\":null,\\"cookieKey\\":\\"i18n_redirected\\",\\"cookieSecure\\":false,\\"fallbackLocale\\":\\"\\",\\"redirectOn\\":\\"root\\",\\"useCookie\\":true}),differentDomains: false,baseUrl: \\"\\",dynamicRouteParams: false,customRoutes: \\"page\\",pages: Object({}),skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,types: undefined,debug: false})
 
 export const nuxtI18nInternalOptions = Object({__normalizedLocales: [Object({\\"code\\":\\"en\\"})]})
 export const NUXT_I18N_MODULE_ID = \\"@nuxtjs/i18n\\"
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ export const resolveNuxtI18nOptions = async (context) => {
   return nuxtI18nOptions
 }
 
-export const nuxtI18nOptionsDefault = Object({vueI18n: undefined,locales: [],defaultLocale: \\"\\",defaultDirection: \\"ltr\\",routesNameSeparator: \\"___\\",trailingSlash: false,defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix: \\"default\\",strategy: \\"prefix_except_default\\",lazy: false,langDir: null,rootRedirect: null,detectBrowserLanguage: Object({\\"alwaysRedirect\\":false,\\"cookieCrossOrigin\\":false,\\"cookieDomain\\":null,\\"cookieKey\\":\\"i18n_redirected\\",\\"cookieSecure\\":false,\\"fallbackLocale\\":\\"\\",\\"redirectOn\\":\\"root\\",\\"useCookie\\":true}),differentDomains: false,baseUrl: \\"\\",dynamicRouteParams: false,customRoutes: \\"page\\",pages: Object({}),skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,onBeforeLanguageSwitch: (() => \\"\\"),onLanguageSwitched: (() => null),types: undefined,debug: false})
+export const nuxtI18nOptionsDefault = Object({vueI18n: undefined,locales: [],defaultLocale: \\"\\",defaultDirection: \\"ltr\\",routesNameSeparator: \\"___\\",trailingSlash: false,defaultLocaleRouteNameSuffix: \\"default\\",strategy: \\"prefix_except_default\\",lazy: false,langDir: null,rootRedirect: null,detectBrowserLanguage: Object({\\"alwaysRedirect\\":false,\\"cookieCrossOrigin\\":false,\\"cookieDomain\\":null,\\"cookieKey\\":\\"i18n_redirected\\",\\"cookieSecure\\":false,\\"fallbackLocale\\":\\"\\",\\"redirectOn\\":\\"root\\",\\"useCookie\\":true}),differentDomains: false,baseUrl: \\"\\",dynamicRouteParams: false,customRoutes: \\"page\\",pages: Object({}),skipSettingLocaleOnNavigate: false,types: undefined,debug: false})
 
 export const nuxtI18nInternalOptions = Object({__normalizedLocales: [Object({\\"code\\":\\"en\\"})]})
 export const NUXT_I18N_MODULE_ID = \\"@nuxtjs/i18n\\"