diff --git a/hacking/env-setup b/hacking/env-setup
index b02c7e6e07c..0a86e0fe4fb 100644
--- a/hacking/env-setup
+++ b/hacking/env-setup
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ fi
 # The below is an alternative to readlink -fn which doesn't exist on macOS
 # Source: http://stackoverflow.com/a/1678636
 FULL_PATH=$("$PYTHON_BIN" -c "import os; print(os.path.realpath('$HACKING_DIR'))")
-export ANSIBLE_HOME="$(dirname "$FULL_PATH")"
+export ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME="$(dirname "$FULL_PATH")"
 
-PREFIX_PYTHONPATH="$ANSIBLE_HOME/lib"
-ANSIBLE_TEST_PREFIX_PYTHONPATH="$ANSIBLE_HOME/test/lib"
-PREFIX_PATH="$ANSIBLE_HOME/bin"
-PREFIX_MANPATH="$ANSIBLE_HOME/docs/man"
+PREFIX_PYTHONPATH="$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME/lib"
+ANSIBLE_TEST_PREFIX_PYTHONPATH="$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME/test/lib"
+PREFIX_PATH="$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME/bin"
+PREFIX_MANPATH="$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME/docs/man"
 
 expr "$PYTHONPATH" : "${PREFIX_PYTHONPATH}.*" > /dev/null || prepend_path PYTHONPATH "$PREFIX_PYTHONPATH"
 expr "$PYTHONPATH" : "${ANSIBLE_TEST_PREFIX_PYTHONPATH}.*" > /dev/null || prepend_path PYTHONPATH "$ANSIBLE_TEST_PREFIX_PYTHONPATH"
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@ gen_egg_info()
     "$PYTHON_BIN" setup.py egg_info
 }
 
-if [ "$ANSIBLE_HOME" != "$PWD" ] ; then
+if [ "$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME" != "$PWD" ] ; then
     current_dir="$PWD"
 else
-    current_dir="$ANSIBLE_HOME"
+    current_dir="$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME"
 fi
 (
-	cd "$ANSIBLE_HOME"
+	cd "$ANSIBLE_DEV_HOME"
 	if [ "$verbosity" = silent ] ; then
 	    gen_egg_info > /dev/null 2>&1 &
             find . -type f -name "*.pyc" -exec rm -f {} \; > /dev/null 2>&1
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py
index dc15f4bd6a6..975cb34792a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ class CLI(ABC):
         try:
             display.debug("starting run")
 
-            ansible_dir = Path("~/.ansible").expanduser()
+            ansible_dir = Path(C.ANSIBLE_HOME).expanduser()
             try:
                 ansible_dir.mkdir(mode=0o700)
             except OSError as exc:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/option_helpers.py b/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/option_helpers.py
index 8c6444f602b..ad7cb240114 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/option_helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/option_helpers.py
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ def add_async_options(parser):
 
 def add_basedir_options(parser):
     """Add options for commands which can set a playbook basedir"""
-    parser.add_argument('--playbook-dir', default=C.config.get_config_value('PLAYBOOK_DIR'), dest='basedir', action='store',
+    parser.add_argument('--playbook-dir', default=C.PLAYBOOK_DIR, dest='basedir', action='store',
                         help="Since this tool does not use playbooks, use this as a substitute playbook directory. "
                              "This sets the relative path for many features including roles/ group_vars/ etc.",
                         type=unfrack_path())
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/pull.py b/lib/ansible/cli/pull.py
index 3db5a22fbaa..99da8c4f0f2 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/pull.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/pull.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class PullCLI(CLI):
         if not options.dest:
             hostname = socket.getfqdn()
             # use a hostname dependent directory, in case of $HOME on nfs
-            options.dest = os.path.join('~/.ansible/pull', hostname)
+            options.dest = os.path.join(C.ANSIBLE_HOME, 'pull', hostname)
         options.dest = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(options.dest))
 
         if os.path.exists(options.dest) and not os.path.isdir(options.dest):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index 4cd0f9e7f2a..9801f857349 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2017 Ansible Project
 # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
 ---
+ANSIBLE_HOME:
+  name: The Ansible home path
+  description:
+  - The default root path for Ansible config files on the controller.
+  default: ~/.ansible
+  env:
+  - name: ANSIBLE_HOME
+  ini:
+  - key: home
+    section: defaults
+  type: path
+  version_added: '2.14'
 ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PATH:
   name: Path of ansible-connection script
   default: null
@@ -193,10 +205,10 @@ COLLECTIONS_PATHS:
   description: >
     Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for collections content.
     Collections must be in nested *subdirectories*, not directly in these directories.
-    For example, if ``COLLECTIONS_PATHS`` includes ``~/.ansible/collections``,
+    For example, if ``COLLECTIONS_PATHS`` includes ``'{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/collections" }}'``,
     and you want to add ``my.collection`` to that directory, it must be saved as
-    ``~/.ansible/collections/ansible_collections/my/collection``.
-  default: ~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+    ``'{{ ANSIBLE_HOME} ~ "/collections/ansible_collections/my/collection" }}'``.
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections" }}'
   type: pathspec
   env:
   - name: ANSIBLE_COLLECTIONS_PATHS  # TODO: Deprecate this and ini once PATH has been in a few releases.
@@ -408,7 +420,7 @@ INVENTORY_UNPARSED_WARNING:
   version_added: "2.14"
 DOC_FRAGMENT_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: documentation fragment plugins path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/doc_fragments:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/doc_fragments
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/doc_fragments:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/doc_fragments" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Documentation Fragments Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_DOC_FRAGMENT_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -416,7 +428,7 @@ DOC_FRAGMENT_PLUGIN_PATH:
   type: pathspec
 DEFAULT_ACTION_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Action plugins path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/action:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/action
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/action:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/action" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Action Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_ACTION_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -497,7 +509,7 @@ DEFAULT_BECOME_FLAGS:
   - {key: become_flags, section: privilege_escalation}
 BECOME_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Become plugins path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/become:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/become
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/become:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/become" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Become Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_BECOME_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -515,7 +527,7 @@ DEFAULT_BECOME_USER:
   yaml: {key: become.user}
 DEFAULT_CACHE_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Cache Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/cache:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/cache
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/cache:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/cache" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Cache Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_CACHE_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -523,7 +535,7 @@ DEFAULT_CACHE_PLUGIN_PATH:
   type: pathspec
 DEFAULT_CALLBACK_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Callback Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/callback:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/callback
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/callback:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/callback" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Callback Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_CALLBACK_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -557,7 +569,7 @@ CALLBACKS_ENABLED:
   type: list
 DEFAULT_CLICONF_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Cliconf Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/cliconf:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/cliconf
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/cliconf:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/cliconf" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Cliconf Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_CLICONF_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -565,7 +577,7 @@ DEFAULT_CLICONF_PLUGIN_PATH:
   type: pathspec
 DEFAULT_CONNECTION_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Connection Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/connection:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/connection
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/connection:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/connection" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Connection Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_CONNECTION_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -614,7 +626,7 @@ DEFAULT_FACT_PATH:
   #    alternatives: module_defaults
 DEFAULT_FILTER_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Jinja2 Filter Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/filter:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/filter
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/filter:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/filter" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Jinja2 Filter Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_FILTER_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -731,7 +743,7 @@ DEFAULT_HOST_LIST:
   yaml: {key: defaults.inventory}
 DEFAULT_HTTPAPI_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: HttpApi Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/httpapi:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/httpapi
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/httpapi:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/httpapi" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for HttpApi Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_HTTPAPI_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -753,7 +765,7 @@ DEFAULT_INTERNAL_POLL_INTERVAL:
     - "The default corresponds to the value hardcoded in Ansible <= 2.1"
 DEFAULT_INVENTORY_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Inventory Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/inventory:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/inventory
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/inventory:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/inventory" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Inventory Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_INVENTORY_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -815,7 +827,7 @@ DEFAULT_LOAD_CALLBACK_PLUGINS:
   version_added: "1.8"
 DEFAULT_LOCAL_TMP:
   name: Controller temporary directory
-  default: ~/.ansible/tmp
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/tmp" }}'
   description: Temporary directory for Ansible to use on the controller.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_LOCAL_TEMP}]
   ini:
@@ -840,7 +852,7 @@ DEFAULT_LOG_FILTER:
 DEFAULT_LOOKUP_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Lookup Plugins Path
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Lookup Plugins.
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/lookup:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/lookup
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/lookup:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/lookup" }}'
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_LOOKUP_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
   - {key: lookup_plugins, section: defaults}
@@ -881,7 +893,7 @@ DEFAULT_MODULE_NAME:
 DEFAULT_MODULE_PATH:
   name: Modules Path
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Modules.
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/modules:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/modules
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/modules:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/modules" }}'
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_LIBRARY}]
   ini:
   - {key: library, section: defaults}
@@ -889,14 +901,14 @@ DEFAULT_MODULE_PATH:
 DEFAULT_MODULE_UTILS_PATH:
   name: Module Utils Path
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Module utils files, which are shared by modules.
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/module_utils:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/module_utils
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/module_utils:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/module_utils" }}'
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_MODULE_UTILS}]
   ini:
   - {key: module_utils, section: defaults}
   type: pathspec
 DEFAULT_NETCONF_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Netconf Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/netconf:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/netconf
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/netconf:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/netconf" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Netconf Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_NETCONF_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -985,7 +997,7 @@ DEFAULT_REMOTE_USER:
   - {key: remote_user, section: defaults}
 DEFAULT_ROLES_PATH:
   name: Roles path
-  default: ~/.ansible/roles:/usr/share/ansible/roles:/etc/ansible/roles
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/roles:/usr/share/ansible/roles:/etc/ansible/roles" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Roles.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_ROLES_PATH}]
   expand_relative_paths: True
@@ -1051,7 +1063,7 @@ DEFAULT_STRATEGY:
 DEFAULT_STRATEGY_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Strategy Plugins Path
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Strategy Plugins.
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/strategy:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/strategy
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/strategy:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/strategy" }}'
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_STRATEGY_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
   - {key: strategy_plugins, section: defaults}
@@ -1073,7 +1085,7 @@ DEFAULT_SYSLOG_FACILITY:
   - {key: syslog_facility, section: defaults}
 DEFAULT_TERMINAL_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Terminal Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/terminal:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/terminal
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/terminal:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/terminal" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Terminal Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_TERMINAL_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -1082,7 +1094,7 @@ DEFAULT_TERMINAL_PLUGIN_PATH:
 DEFAULT_TEST_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Jinja2 Test Plugins Path
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Jinja2 Test Plugins.
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/test:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/test
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/test:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/test" }}'
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_TEST_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
   - {key: test_plugins, section: defaults}
@@ -1116,7 +1128,7 @@ DEFAULT_UNDEFINED_VAR_BEHAVIOR:
   type: boolean
 DEFAULT_VARS_PLUGIN_PATH:
   name: Vars Plugins Path
-  default: ~/.ansible/plugins/vars:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/vars
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/plugins/vars:/usr/share/ansible/plugins/vars" }}'
   description: Colon separated paths in which Ansible will search for Vars Plugins.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_VARS_PLUGINS}]
   ini:
@@ -1384,7 +1396,7 @@ GALAXY_SERVER_LIST:
   type: list
   version_added: "2.9"
 GALAXY_TOKEN_PATH:
-  default: ~/.ansible/galaxy_token
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/galaxy_token" }}'
   description: "Local path to galaxy access token file"
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_GALAXY_TOKEN_PATH}]
   ini:
@@ -1404,7 +1416,7 @@ GALAXY_DISPLAY_PROGRESS:
   type: bool
   version_added: "2.10"
 GALAXY_CACHE_DIR:
-  default: ~/.ansible/galaxy_cache
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/galaxy_cache" }}'
   description:
   - The directory that stores cached responses from a Galaxy server.
   - This is only used by the ``ansible-galaxy collection install`` and ``download`` commands.
@@ -1767,7 +1779,7 @@ PARAMIKO_LOOK_FOR_KEYS:
   type: boolean
 PERSISTENT_CONTROL_PATH_DIR:
   name: Persistence socket path
-  default: ~/.ansible/pc
+  default: '{{ ANSIBLE_HOME ~ "/pc" }}'
   description: Path to socket to be used by the connection persistence system.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_CONTROL_PATH_DIR}]
   ini:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/galaxy/api.py b/lib/ansible/galaxy/api.py
index 796c88519ea..55434f6d941 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/galaxy/api.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/galaxy/api.py
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ class GalaxyAPI:
         self._available_api_versions = available_api_versions or {}
         self._priority = priority
 
-        b_cache_dir = to_bytes(C.config.get_config_value('GALAXY_CACHE_DIR'), errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+        b_cache_dir = to_bytes(C.GALAXY_CACHE_DIR, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
         makedirs_safe(b_cache_dir, mode=0o700)
         self._b_cache_path = os.path.join(b_cache_dir, b'api.json')
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
index 019a5bcf24f..610d7ab4064 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
@@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ def _configure_collection_loader():
         warnings.warn('AnsibleCollectionFinder has already been configured')
         return
 
-    finder = _AnsibleCollectionFinder(C.config.get_config_value('COLLECTIONS_PATHS'), C.config.get_config_value('COLLECTIONS_SCAN_SYS_PATH'))
+    finder = _AnsibleCollectionFinder(C.COLLECTIONS_PATHS, C.COLLECTIONS_SCAN_SYS_PATH)
     finder._install()
 
     # this should succeed now
diff --git a/test/units/galaxy/test_api.py b/test/units/galaxy/test_api.py
index 733f99b5718..a2965012b1f 100644
--- a/test/units/galaxy/test_api.py
+++ b/test/units/galaxy/test_api.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def collection_artifact(tmp_path_factory):
 @pytest.fixture()
 def cache_dir(tmp_path_factory, monkeypatch):
     cache_dir = to_text(tmp_path_factory.mktemp('Test ÅÑŚÌβŁÈ Galaxy Cache'))
-    monkeypatch.setitem(C.config._base_defs, 'GALAXY_CACHE_DIR', {'default': cache_dir})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(C, 'GALAXY_CACHE_DIR', cache_dir)
 
     yield cache_dir