diff --git a/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts b/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts
index 41b71badb..835b8b629 100644
--- a/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts
@@ -548,6 +548,28 @@ function normalizeCommand(cmd: string): string {
     .trim();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Rewrite the default `~/.claude` config-root spellings inside hook commands to
+ * the actually-detected configRoot. The payload's hooks.json ships commands
+ * against the default root (`$HOME/.claude/...`); on a multi-profile setup
+ * (Claude Code's CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR) those paths point at a different — usually
+ * nonexistent — profile, so every hook errors on startup. No-op when configRoot
+ * IS the default, keeping default installs byte-identical. Pure (no I/O).
+ */
+export function rewriteHooksConfigRoot(hooks: HooksMap, configRoot: string, homeDir: string): HooksMap {
+  if (resolve(configRoot) === resolve(join(homeDir, ".claude"))) return hooks;
+  const defaultRootPattern = /(\$\{HOME\}|\$HOME|~)\/\.claude(?=\/|\s|$)/g;
+  const rewritten: HooksMap = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(hooks ?? {}));
+  for (const groups of Object.values(rewritten)) {
+    for (const group of groups) {
+      for (const h of group.hooks ?? []) {
+        if (typeof h.command === "string") h.command = h.command.replace(defaultRootPattern, configRoot);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return rewritten;
+}
+
 /** Identity key for a hook entry: http → url, else normalized command. */
 function hookKey(h: HookEntry): string {
   if (h.type === "http" && h.url) return `http:${h.url}`;
diff --git a/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts b/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts
index 030fb9218..f3f60dd36 100755
--- a/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, readdirSync, readFileSync, statSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import { detectDevTree, mergeHooks } from "./InstallEngine";
+import { detectDevTree, mergeHooks, rewriteHooksConfigRoot } from "./InstallEngine";
 
 interface Args { configRoot: string; skillRoot: string; apply: boolean; allowDev: boolean; }
 
@@ -59,7 +59,14 @@ function main(): void {
     console.log(JSON.stringify({ ok: false, error: `payload hooks.json not found at ${hooksJsonPath}` }, null, 2));
     process.exit(1);
   }
-  const incoming = JSON.parse(readFileSync(hooksJsonPath, "utf-8"))?.hooks ?? {};
+  // Payload commands are written against the default ~/.claude root; retarget
+  // them at the detected configRoot so non-default CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR profiles
+  // get hooks that point at the files this installer actually deploys.
+  const incoming = rewriteHooksConfigRoot(
+    JSON.parse(readFileSync(hooksJsonPath, "utf-8"))?.hooks ?? {},
+    configRoot,
+    process.env.HOME || "",
+  );
 
   // The hook SCRIPTS (*.hook.ts|sh + lib/**) live beside hooks.json in the payload.
   // Merging hooks.json into settings.json wires commands that point at these files,
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/FreshnessCache.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/FreshnessCache.ts
index 1e2c12339..75ed841c6 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/FreshnessCache.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/FreshnessCache.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 import { writeFileSync, renameSync, mkdirSync, existsSync } from "fs";
 import { join } from "path";
 import { readContextFreshness } from "./TelosFreshness";
+import { getLifeosDir } from "./Paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME || "";
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(HOME, ".claude", "LIFEOS");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const CACHE_DIR = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "USER", "CACHE");
 const CACHE_PATH = join(CACHE_DIR, "freshness.json");
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/ISARender.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/ISARender.ts
index aa6520e5c..c8beb31eb 100644
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/ISARender.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/ISARender.ts
@@ -18,18 +18,18 @@
 import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync, statSync, renameSync, readdirSync } from "node:fs";
 import { resolve, dirname, basename, join } from "node:path";
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { getLifeosDir } from "./Paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME || homedir();
-const TOOLS_DIR = resolve(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
+const TOOLS_DIR = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "TOOLS");
 const TEMPLATE_HTML = join(TOOLS_DIR, "ISARender/template.html");
 const TEMPLATE_CSS = join(TOOLS_DIR, "ISARender/template.css");
 // Brand logo: user override via LIFEOS_BRAND_LOGO_PATH env var (absolute path),
 // else system default under PAI/ASSETS/, else inert (empty src).
 const BRAND_LOGO_PATH_OVERRIDE = process.env.LIFEOS_BRAND_LOGO_PATH ?? "";
-const BRAND_LOGO_PATH_DEFAULT = resolve(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/ASSETS/pai-logo.png");
-const WORK_DIR = resolve(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/WORK");
-const WORK_JSON = resolve(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/STATE/work.json");
+const BRAND_LOGO_PATH_DEFAULT = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "ASSETS/pai-logo.png");
+const WORK_DIR = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY/WORK");
+const WORK_JSON = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY/STATE/work.json");
 
 const PHASES = ["observe", "think", "plan", "build", "execute", "verify", "learn", "complete"];
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/IntegrityMaintenance.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/IntegrityMaintenance.ts
index 62f028319..1f792e920 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/IntegrityMaintenance.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/IntegrityMaintenance.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import { spawn } from 'child_process';
 import { readFileSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
 import { join, basename, dirname } from 'path';
 import { inference } from './Inference';
-import { getIdentity } from '../../../.claude/hooks/lib/identity';
+import { getIdentity } from '../../hooks/lib/identity';
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Types
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/LifeosConfig.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/LifeosConfig.ts
index ca5d03d9b..6f694a764 100644
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/LifeosConfig.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/LifeosConfig.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import { existsSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
 import { resolve } from "node:path";
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { getClaudeDir } from "./Paths";
 
 // Expand leading `~` (and `~/`) to the user's home directory. node:fs APIs do
 // not expand tildes, so any path returned from this loader must be absolute.
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ export interface LifeosConfig {
 // ─────────── Resolution ───────────
 
 const DEFAULT_HOME = process.env.HOME || homedir();
-const DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH = resolve(DEFAULT_HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/USER/CONFIG/LIFEOS_CONFIG.toml");
+const DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH = resolve(getClaudeDir(), "LIFEOS/USER/CONFIG/LIFEOS_CONFIG.toml");
 
 let cache: { config: LifeosConfig; mtime: number; path: string } | null = null;
 
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ export function paiUserDir(): string {
   try {
     return loadLifeosConfig().paths.userDir;
   } catch {
-    return resolve(DEFAULT_HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/USER");
+    return resolve(getClaudeDir(), "LIFEOS/USER");
   }
 }
 
@@ -188,10 +189,10 @@ function validateAndNormalize(raw: unknown, path: string): LifeosConfig {
     },
     paths: {
       userDir: expandHome(
-        root.paths?.userDir ?? root.paths?.user_dir ?? resolve(DEFAULT_HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/USER"),
+        root.paths?.userDir ?? root.paths?.user_dir ?? resolve(getClaudeDir(), "LIFEOS/USER"),
       ),
       memoryDir: expandHome(
-        root.paths?.memoryDir ?? root.paths?.memory_dir ?? resolve(DEFAULT_HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY"),
+        root.paths?.memoryDir ?? root.paths?.memory_dir ?? resolve(getClaudeDir(), "LIFEOS/MEMORY"),
       ),
       projectsDir: expandHome(
         root.paths?.projectsDir ?? root.paths?.projects_dir ?? resolve(DEFAULT_HOME, "Projects"),
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts
index 68d061ecd..6183323a5 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@
 
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, appendFileSync, mkdirSync, readdirSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
+import { getClaudeDir } from "./Paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME || "";
-const CLAUDE = join(HOME, ".claude");
+const CLAUDE = getClaudeDir();
 const HOOKS_DIR = join(CLAUDE, "hooks");
 const TOOLS_DIR = join(CLAUDE, "LIFEOS/TOOLS");
 const OBS_DIR = join(CLAUDE, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY");
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryReviewer.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryReviewer.ts
index 5a0521093..ea4b90483 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryReviewer.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryReviewer.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ import {
   writeFileSync,
 } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join as pathJoin, resolve as pathResolve } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
 
 import { add as memoryAdd, type AddResult } from "./MemorySystem";
 import { read as memoryWriterRead } from "./MemoryWriter";
@@ -51,11 +50,12 @@ import {
   markProposal,
   logProposalEvent,
 } from "../PULSE/lib/telegram-proposals";
+import { getClaudeDir } from "./Paths";
 
 // ── Constants ──
 
-const CLAUDE_ROOT = pathResolve(homedir(), ".claude");
-const HARNESS_PROJECTS_DIR = pathResolve(homedir(), ".claude", "projects");
+const CLAUDE_ROOT = getClaudeDir();
+const HARNESS_PROJECTS_DIR = pathJoin(CLAUDE_ROOT, "projects");
 const RUNS_LOG_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/reviewer-runs.jsonl");
 const RUNS_DEBUG_DIR = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/reviewer-runs");
 const REVIEW_CONFIG_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/USER/CONFIG/memory-review.json");
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ async function smokeTest(): Promise<number> {
   const mockResponse = JSON.stringify({
     items: [
       { type: "memory", actor: "principal", content: "PREFERENCE: smoke E2E mock" },
-      { type: "proposal", target_file: pathJoin(homedir(), ".claude/LIFEOS/USER/PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPAL_IDENTITY.md"), edit: "RULE: E2E mock", confidence: 0.5, rationale: "smoke" },
+      { type: "proposal", target_file: pathJoin(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/USER/PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPAL_IDENTITY.md"), edit: "RULE: E2E mock", confidence: 0.5, rationale: "smoke" },
     ],
   });
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3150e0633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/**
+ * Paths.ts — centralized config-root resolution for LIFEOS/TOOLS.
+ *
+ * Mirrors hooks/lib/paths.ts (the hooks' resolver) so runtime tools agree with
+ * the hooks about where the Claude config root lives:
+ *
+ *   1. CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT (plugin install) — the flattened plugin root
+ *   2. CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR — Claude Code's own config-dir override
+ *      (multi-profile setups)
+ *   3. ~/.claude — the default, byte-identical to prior behavior
+ *
+ * LIFEOS data resolves via LIFEOS_DIR when set, else <claude dir>/LIFEOS.
+ */
+
+import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+/** Expand $HOME, ${HOME}, and ~ prefixes in a path string. */
+export function expandPath(path: string): string {
+  const home = homedir();
+
+  return path
+    .replace(/^\$HOME(?=\/|$)/, home)
+    .replace(/^\$\{HOME\}(?=\/|$)/, home)
+    .replace(/^~(?=\/|$)/, home);
+}
+
+/** Get the Claude Code config directory (see resolution order above). */
+export function getClaudeDir(): string {
+  const pluginRoot = process.env.CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT;
+
+  if (pluginRoot) {
+    return expandPath(pluginRoot);
+  }
+
+  const configDir = process.env.CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR;
+
+  if (configDir) {
+    return expandPath(configDir);
+  }
+
+  return join(homedir(), ".claude");
+}
+
+/** Get the LifeOS data directory: LIFEOS_DIR when set, else <claude dir>/LIFEOS. */
+export function getLifeosDir(): string {
+  if (process.env.CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT) {
+    return join(getClaudeDir(), "LIFEOS");
+  }
+
+  const envLifeosDir = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR;
+
+  if (envLifeosDir) {
+    return expandPath(envLifeosDir);
+  }
+
+  return join(getClaudeDir(), "LIFEOS");
+}
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SessionHarvester.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SessionHarvester.ts
index d0501ee87..f3962c564 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SessionHarvester.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SessionHarvester.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import { parseArgs } from "util";
 import * as fs from "fs";
 import * as path from "path";
-import { getLearningCategory, isLearningCapture } from "../../../.claude/hooks/lib/learning-utils";
+import { getLearningCategory, isLearningCapture } from "../../hooks/lib/learning-utils";
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Configuration
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SettingsBackport.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SettingsBackport.ts
index 769bd0487..c90316323 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SettingsBackport.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/SettingsBackport.ts
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import os from "node:os";
 import { mergeSettings, deepEqual, parseJsonFileOrThrow } from "./MergeSettings";
+import { getClaudeDir } from "./Paths";
 
-const CLAUDE_DIR = path.join(os.homedir(), ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_DIR = getClaudeDir();
 const SYSTEM_PATH = path.join(CLAUDE_DIR, "settings.system.json");
 const USER_PATH = path.join(CLAUDE_DIR, "LIFEOS", "USER", "CONFIG", "settings.user.json");
 const GENERATED_PATH = path.join(CLAUDE_DIR, "settings.json");
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/TranscriptParser.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/TranscriptParser.ts
index 594031c9f..a236b7f5e 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/TranscriptParser.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/TranscriptParser.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  */
 
 import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
-import { getIdentity } from '../../../.claude/hooks/lib/identity';
+import { getIdentity } from '../../hooks/lib/identity';
 
 const DA_IDENTITY = getIdentity();
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/algorithm.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/algorithm.ts
index 609a8a28c..789a6956f 100644
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/algorithm.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/algorithm.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync, readdirSync, mkdirSync, append
 import { resolve, basename, join, dirname } from "path";
 import { spawnSync, spawn } from "child_process";
 import { randomUUID } from "crypto";
-import { generateISATemplate } from "../../../.claude/hooks/lib/isa-template";
+import { generateISATemplate } from "../../hooks/lib/isa-template";
 
 // ─── Paths ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/lifeos.ts b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/lifeos.ts
index 65a1fd9b6..0b30fd0bd 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/lifeos.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/LIFEOS/TOOLS/lifeos.ts
@@ -19,19 +19,20 @@
  */
 
 import { spawn, spawnSync } from "bun";
-import { getIdentity, getStartupCatchphrase } from "../../../.claude/hooks/lib/identity";
+import { getIdentity, getStartupCatchphrase } from "../../hooks/lib/identity";
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync, readdirSync, symlinkSync, unlinkSync, lstatSync } from "fs";
 import { homedir } from "os";
 import { join, basename } from "path";
+import { getClaudeDir, getLifeosDir } from "./Paths";
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Configuration
 // ============================================================================
 
-const CLAUDE_DIR = join(homedir(), ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_DIR = getClaudeDir();
 const MCP_DIR = join(CLAUDE_DIR, "MCPs");
 const ACTIVE_MCP = join(CLAUDE_DIR, ".mcp.json");
-const BANNER_SCRIPT = join(homedir(), ".claude", "LIFEOS", "TOOLS", "Banner.ts");
+const BANNER_SCRIPT = join(getLifeosDir(), "TOOLS", "Banner.ts");
 const VOICE_SERVER = "http://localhost:31337/notify/personality";
 const WALLPAPER_DIR = join(homedir(), "Projects", "Wallpaper");
 // Note: RAW archiving removed - Claude Code handles its own cleanup (30-day retention in projects/)
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/AgentInvocation.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/AgentInvocation.hook.ts
index b676be239..2837a49a1 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/AgentInvocation.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/AgentInvocation.hook.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@
 
 import { existsSync, mkdirSync, appendFileSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
-import { homedir } from 'os';
-import { paiPath } from './lib/paths';
+import { getClaudeDir, paiPath } from './lib/paths';
 import { getISOTimestamp } from './lib/time';
 import { EFFORT_MODEL, ALIAS, CROSS_VENDOR } from '../LIFEOS/TOOLS/models';
 
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ function resolveDispatch(subagentType: string, inputModel?: string): { model: st
   if (CROSS_VENDOR[cvKey]) return { model: CROSS_VENDOR[cvKey], level: 'cross-vendor' };
   if (inputModel) return { model: inputModel, level: levelForModel(inputModel) };
   try {
-    const fm = readFileSync(join(homedir(), '.claude', 'agents', `${subagentType}.md`), 'utf-8').slice(0, 4000);
+    const fm = readFileSync(join(getClaudeDir(), 'agents', `${subagentType}.md`), 'utf-8').slice(0, 4000);
     const m = fm.match(/^model:\s*(\S+)/m);
     if (m) return { model: m[1], level: `${levelForModel(m[1])}-pin` };
   } catch { /* no agent file — built-in type */ }
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ArtWorkflowGuard.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ArtWorkflowGuard.hook.ts
index 8172a86c5..bb0bd902b 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ArtWorkflowGuard.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ArtWorkflowGuard.hook.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 
 import { readFileSync, readdirSync } from "node:fs";
+import { displayPath, getSkillsDir } from "./lib/paths";
 
 interface HookInput {
   session_id?: string;
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ interface HookInput {
   tool_input?: { command?: string; description?: string };
 }
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME ?? "";
 const ART_TOOL_PATH_FRAGMENTS = [
   "skills/Art/Tools/Generate.ts",
   ".claude/skills/Art/Tools/Generate.ts",
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function readHookInput(): HookInput {
 }
 
 function listWorkflows(): string[] {
-  const dir = `${HOME}/.claude/skills/Art/Workflows`;
+  const dir = `${getSkillsDir()}/Art/Workflows`;
   try {
     return readdirSync(dir)
       .filter((f) => f.endsWith(".md"))
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ function main(): never {
     "  ArtWorkflowGuard — Generate.ts call BLOCKED before execution.",
     "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════",
     "",
-    "  This Bash command invokes ~/.claude/skills/Art/Tools/Generate.ts but",
+    `  This Bash command invokes ${displayPath(getSkillsDir())}/Art/Tools/Generate.ts but`,
     "  does not name a workflow. The Art skill requires every image generation",
     "  to run through a named workflow. Freeform prompts are documented to fail.",
     "",
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ function main(): never {
     "",
     "  Available workflows (each is a file under skills/Art/Workflows/):",
     ...workflows.map(
-      (w) => `    --workflow=${w.padEnd(28)} → ~/.claude/skills/Art/Workflows/${w}.md`
+      (w) => `    --workflow=${w.padEnd(28)} → ${displayPath(getSkillsDir())}/Art/Workflows/${w}.md`
     ),
     "",
     "  Recommended next step: Read the workflow file matching your task,",
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/CheckpointPerISC.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/CheckpointPerISC.hook.ts
index d1f5eabd4..34479f730 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/CheckpointPerISC.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/CheckpointPerISC.hook.ts
@@ -24,12 +24,13 @@ import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import { basename, dirname, join } from 'node:path';
 import { homedir } from 'node:os';
 import { parseFrontmatter, parseCriteriaList, ARTIFACT_FILENAME, LEGACY_ARTIFACT_FILENAME } from './lib/isa-utils';
+import { getClaudeDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 // Allowlist path: top of ~/.claude per spec. One absolute repo path per line;
 // '#' comments and blank
 // lines are ignored. Tilde and $HOME prefixes are expanded as a quality-of-
 // life feature so users can write `~/Projects/foo` instead of the long form.
-const ALLOWLIST_PATH = join(homedir(), '.claude', 'checkpoint-repos.txt');
+const ALLOWLIST_PATH = join(getClaudeDir(), 'checkpoint-repos.txt');
 const GIT_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
 
 interface CheckpointState {
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/DriftReminder.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/DriftReminder.hook.ts
index 50c6fe679..96e773d29 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/DriftReminder.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/DriftReminder.hook.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import { existsSync, mkdirSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { firstBannedHit } from "./lib/banned-vocab";
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 interface HookInput {
   prompt?: string;
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ interface DriftState {
 
 const STDIN_TIMEOUT_MS = 300;
 const MIN_TURNS_BETWEEN_FIRES = 5;
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME || "", ".claude", "LIFEOS");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const LAST_RESPONSE_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "STATE", "last-response.txt");
 const STATE_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "STATE", "drift-reminder.json");
 const INITIAL_STATE: DriftState = {
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/EgressClassGuard.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/EgressClassGuard.hook.ts
index 07a559351..3a9e99f4c 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/EgressClassGuard.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/EgressClassGuard.hook.ts
@@ -19,11 +19,10 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, appendFileSync, existsSync, mkdirSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { evaluateEgress } from "./lib/egress-class-core";
+import { paiPath } from "./lib/paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME ?? homedir();
-const LOG_PATH = join(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/egress-decisions.jsonl");
+const LOG_PATH = paiPath("MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/egress-decisions.jsonl");
 
 interface HookInput {
   session_id?: string;
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/HookHealer.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/HookHealer.hook.ts
index 0eea7bb37..1898fb144 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/HookHealer.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/HookHealer.hook.ts
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ import {
   mkdirSync, openSync, readSync, closeSync, realpathSync,
 } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
-import { homedir } from 'os';
+import { getClaudeDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const CLAUDE_DIR = join(homedir(), '.claude');
+const CLAUDE_DIR = getClaudeDir();
 const OBS_DIR = join(CLAUDE_DIR, 'LIFEOS', 'MEMORY', 'OBSERVABILITY');
 const LOG_FILE = join(OBS_DIR, 'hook-healer.jsonl');
 const SETTINGS_FILES = ['settings.json', 'settings.local.json'];
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISARenderOnStop.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISARenderOnStop.hook.ts
index 3758a22e6..1b30bd0bc 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISARenderOnStop.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISARenderOnStop.hook.ts
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, existsSync, unlinkSync } from 'fs';
 import { spawn } from 'child_process';
-import { homedir } from 'os';
 import { join, dirname } from 'path';
+import { paiPath } from './lib/paths';
 
-const STATE_DIR = join(homedir(), '.claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/STATE/isa-render-debounce');
-const ISA_RENDER = join(homedir(), '.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/ISARender.ts');
+const STATE_DIR = paiPath('MEMORY/STATE/isa-render-debounce');
+const ISA_RENDER = paiPath('TOOLS/ISARender.ts');
 
 /**
  * Has this ISA reached completion at least once? This is the real gate the
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ try { unlinkSync(stateFile); } catch {}
 if (rendered.length || skipped.length) {
   try {
     const { appendFileSync, mkdirSync } = require('fs');
-    const logDir = join(homedir(), '.claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY');
+    const logDir = paiPath('MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY');
     mkdirSync(logDir, { recursive: true });
     appendFileSync(join(logDir, 'isa-render.jsonl'),
       JSON.stringify({
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISASync.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISASync.hook.ts
index 557d9c587..7c7468fb2 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISASync.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ISASync.hook.ts
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
 import { spawn } from 'child_process';
-import { homedir } from 'os';
 import { join } from 'path';
+import { paiPath } from './lib/paths';
 import {
   parseFrontmatter,
   syncToWorkJson,
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ async function main() {
   //    constantly remaking the HTML file."
   if (newPhase === 'COMPLETE' && oldPhase !== 'COMPLETE' && fm.slug) {
     try {
-      const isaRender = join(homedir(), '.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/ISARender.ts');
+      const isaRender = paiPath('TOOLS/ISARender.ts');
       const proc = spawn('bun', [isaRender, isaPath], {
         detached: true,
         stdio: 'ignore',
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ async function main() {
   // pre-completion edits never trigger renders even though they show up here.
   if (input.session_id) {
     try {
-      const stateDir = join(homedir(), '.claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/STATE/isa-render-debounce');
+      const stateDir = paiPath('MEMORY/STATE/isa-render-debounce');
       const stateFile = join(stateDir, `${input.session_id}.json`);
       const { mkdirSync, writeFileSync } = require('fs');
       mkdirSync(stateDir, { recursive: true });
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/InstructionsLoadedHandler.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/InstructionsLoadedHandler.hook.ts
index db0276964..5d99f62fc 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/InstructionsLoadedHandler.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/InstructionsLoadedHandler.hook.ts
@@ -24,21 +24,20 @@
 
 import { existsSync, mkdirSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
-import { homedir } from 'os';
+import { getClaudeDir, getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 // ========================================
 // Configuration
 // ========================================
 
-const HOME = homedir();
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(HOME, '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const STATE_DIR = join(LIFEOS_DIR, 'MEMORY', 'STATE');
 const HASHES_FILE = join(STATE_DIR, 'instruction-hashes.json');
 const INTEGRITY_LOG = join(STATE_DIR, 'instruction-integrity.jsonl');
 
 /** Critical LifeOS instruction files to monitor */
 const CRITICAL_FILES: Record<string, string> = {
-  'CLAUDE.md': join(HOME, '.claude', 'CLAUDE.md'),
+  'CLAUDE.md': join(getClaudeDir(), 'CLAUDE.md'),
   'SYSTEM-PROMPT': join(LIFEOS_DIR, 'LIFEOS_SYSTEM_PROMPT.md'),
   'DA_IDENTITY': join(LIFEOS_DIR, 'USER', 'DA_IDENTITY.md'),
   'PRINCIPAL_IDENTITY': join(LIFEOS_DIR, 'USER', 'PRINCIPAL_IDENTITY.md'),
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/KittyEnvPersist.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/KittyEnvPersist.hook.ts
index 8bfcf7ea7..a49e751c4 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/KittyEnvPersist.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/KittyEnvPersist.hook.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, mkdirSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
-import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
+import { getClaudeDir, getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 import { setTabState, readTabState, persistKittySession } from './lib/tab-setter';
 import { getDAName } from './lib/identity';
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const paiDir = getLifeosDir();
 
 // Skip for subagents
 const claudeProjectDir = process.env.CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR || '';
-const isSubagent = claudeProjectDir.includes('/.claude/Agents/') ||
+const isSubagent = claudeProjectDir.includes(join(getClaudeDir(), 'Agents') + '/') ||
                   process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_TYPE !== undefined;
 if (isSubagent) process.exit(0);
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/LastResponseCache.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/LastResponseCache.hook.ts
index 61f773cce..e03926af9 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/LastResponseCache.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/LastResponseCache.hook.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import { readHookInput, parseTranscriptFromInput } from './lib/hook-io';
 import { writeFileSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 async function main() {
   const input = await readHookInput();
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ async function main() {
 
   if (lastResponse) {
     try {
-      const paiDir = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+      const paiDir = getLifeosDir();
       const cachePath = join(paiDir, 'MEMORY', 'STATE', 'last-response.txt');
       writeFileSync(cachePath, lastResponse.slice(0, 2000), 'utf-8');
     } catch (err) {
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadContext.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadContext.hook.ts
index 3bdc4767a..9f7fae1bd 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadContext.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadContext.hook.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, existsSync, readdirSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
-import { getLifeosDir, getSettingsPath } from './lib/paths';
+import { getClaudeDir, getLifeosDir, getSettingsPath } from './lib/paths';
 import { recordSessionStart } from './lib/notifications';
 import { loadLearningDigest, loadWisdomFrames, loadFailurePatterns, loadSignalTrends, loadSynthesisPatterns } from './lib/learning-readback';
 import { findArtifactPath } from './lib/isa-utils';
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ async function main() {
   try {
     // Subagents don't need dynamic context injection
     const claudeProjectDir = process.env.CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR || '';
-    const isSubagent = claudeProjectDir.includes('/.claude/Agents/') ||
+    const isSubagent = claudeProjectDir.includes(join(getClaudeDir(), 'Agents') + '/') ||
                       process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_TYPE !== undefined;
 
     if (isSubagent) {
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadMemory.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadMemory.hook.ts
index ea2dfd706..50bb56362 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadMemory.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/LoadMemory.hook.ts
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 
 import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { resolve as pathResolve } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { getClaudeDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const CLAUDE_ROOT = pathResolve(homedir(), ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_ROOT = getClaudeDir();
 const PRINCIPAL_MEMORY = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/USER/PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPAL_MEMORY.md");
 const DA_MEMORY = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/USER/DIGITAL_ASSISTANT/DA_MEMORY.md");
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryDeltaSurface.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryDeltaSurface.hook.ts
index 246aa0ca5..8461078db 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryDeltaSurface.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryDeltaSurface.hook.ts
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
 
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync, mkdirSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
 import { resolve as pathResolve, dirname } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { displayPath, getClaudeDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const CLAUDE_ROOT = pathResolve(homedir(), ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_ROOT = getClaudeDir();
 const WRITES_LOG = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/memory-writes.jsonl");
 const CURSOR = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/memory-delta-cursor.json");
 const HEALTH_LOG = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/memory-health.jsonl");
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ function criticalHealthLine(): string | null {
       .filter((f: any) => f.severity === "critical")
       .map((f: any) => f.message)
       .slice(0, 3);
-    return `🩺 MEMORY HEALTH: CRITICAL — ${blockers.join(" · ") || `${last.counts?.critical ?? "?"} blocker(s)`}. Fix: bun ~/.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts`;
+    return `🩺 MEMORY HEALTH: CRITICAL — ${blockers.join(" · ") || `${last.counts?.critical ?? "?"} blocker(s)`}. Fix: bun ${displayPath(pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts"))}`;
   } catch {
     return null;
   }
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryHealthGate.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryHealthGate.hook.ts
index b2a654b56..247694968 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryHealthGate.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryHealthGate.hook.ts
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@
  */
 
 import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { join } from "node:path";
+import { displayPath, paiPath } from "./lib/paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME || "";
-const CHECK = join(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts");
+const CHECK = paiPath("TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts");
 
 try {
   const out = execFileSync("bun", [CHECK], {
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ try {
   });
   const report = JSON.parse(out);
   if (report.overall === "critical") {
-    console.error(`🚨 Memory health: CRITICAL — ${report.counts.critical} blocker(s). Run: bun ~/.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts`);
+    console.error(`🚨 Memory health: CRITICAL — ${report.counts.critical} blocker(s). Run: bun ${displayPath(CHECK)}`);
   } else if (report.overall === "warn") {
     console.error(`⚠️  Memory health: WARN — ${report.counts.warn} finding(s).`);
   }
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ try {
     if (stdout) {
       const report = JSON.parse(stdout);
       if (report.overall === "critical") {
-        console.error(`🚨 Memory health: CRITICAL — ${report.counts.critical} blocker(s). Run: bun ~/.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryHealthCheck.ts`);
+        console.error(`🚨 Memory health: CRITICAL — ${report.counts.critical} blocker(s). Run: bun ${displayPath(CHECK)}`);
       } else if (report.overall === "warn") {
         console.error(`⚠️  Memory health: WARN — ${report.counts.warn} finding(s).`);
       }
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewFire.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewFire.hook.ts
index ba5c1b75f..091a9667e 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewFire.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewFire.hook.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 import { appendFileSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, readFileSync, renameSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
 import { dirname, resolve as pathResolve } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { getClaudeDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const CLAUDE_ROOT = pathResolve(homedir(), ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_ROOT = getClaudeDir();
 const STATE_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/review-state.json");
 const FIRE_LOG_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/reviewer-fires.jsonl");
 const REVIEWER_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/TOOLS/MemoryReviewer.ts");
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewTrigger.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewTrigger.hook.ts
index 508ee6987..1cdc07778 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewTrigger.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/MemoryReviewTrigger.hook.ts
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@
 
 import { existsSync, mkdirSync, readFileSync, renameSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, resolve as pathResolve } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { getClaudeDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const CLAUDE_ROOT = pathResolve(homedir(), ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_ROOT = getClaudeDir();
 const STATE_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/review-state.json");
 const CONFIG_PATH = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/USER/CONFIG/memory-review.json");
 const EFFORT_ROUTER_LOG = pathResolve(CLAUDE_ROOT, "LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/effort-router.jsonl");
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/OutputFormatGate.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/OutputFormatGate.hook.ts
index 605cc1126..6d807c89f 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/OutputFormatGate.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/OutputFormatGate.hook.ts
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@ import { collectCurrentResponseText } from "../LIFEOS/TOOLS/TranscriptParser";
 import { scanAiSpeak } from "./lib/ai-speak-patterns";
 import { readFileSync, appendFileSync, mkdirSync } from "fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "path";
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 const OBS_PATH = join(
-  process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, ".claude", "LIFEOS"),
+  getLifeosDir(),
   "MEMORY",
   "OBSERVABILITY",
   "format-gate.jsonl",
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/PromptProcessing.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/PromptProcessing.hook.ts
index f30a04c0e..770ad538d 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/PromptProcessing.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/PromptProcessing.hook.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import type { AlgorithmTabPhase } from './lib/tab-constants';
 import { paiPath } from './lib/paths';
 import { updateSessionNameInWorkJson, upsertSession } from './lib/isa-utils';
 import { isDesktopChannel, logSkippedVoice, getNotificationChannel } from './lib/notification-channel';
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 // ── Types ──
 
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ function appendPromptProcessingTelemetry(entry: Record<string, unknown>): void {
 
 // ── Constants ──
 
-const BASE_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+const BASE_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const SESSION_NAMES_PATH = paiPath('MEMORY', 'STATE', 'session-names.json');
 const LOCK_PATH = SESSION_NAMES_PATH + '.lock';
 const MIN_PROMPT_LENGTH = 3;
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ReminderRouter.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ReminderRouter.hook.ts
index 8635ab041..b90e4dc7a 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/ReminderRouter.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/ReminderRouter.hook.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync, mkdirSync } from "fs";
 import { createHash } from "crypto";
 import { join, dirname } from "path";
 import { loadWorkConfig } from "./lib/work-config";
+import { paiPath } from "./lib/paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME || "";
-const STATE_PATH = join(HOME, ".claude", "LIFEOS", "MEMORY", "STATE", "reminder-router-seen.json");
+const STATE_PATH = paiPath("MEMORY", "STATE", "reminder-router-seen.json");
 
 interface HookInput {
   session_id?: string;
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/Safety.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/Safety.hook.ts
index 4afd1b5f6..068e28659 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/Safety.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/Safety.hook.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ import {
   statSync,
   writeFileSync,
 } from "node:fs";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
 import {
@@ -48,17 +47,12 @@ import {
   type Classification,
   type ToolCall,
 } from "./lib/safety-classifier";
+import { getLifeosDir } from "./lib/paths";
 
 const STDIN_CAP_BYTES = 2 * 1024 * 1024;
 const CACHE_MAX_BYTES = 10 * 1024 * 1024;
 
-const HOME = homedir();
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR
-  ? process.env.LIFEOS_DIR.replace(/^~(?=\/|$)/, HOME).replace(
-      /^\$\{?HOME\}?(?=\/|$)/,
-      HOME,
-    )
-  : join(HOME, ".claude", "LIFEOS");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const STATE_DIR = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "STATE");
 const OBS_DIR = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "OBSERVABILITY");
 const CACHE_PATH = join(STATE_DIR, "permission-cache.json");
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SatisfactionCapture.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SatisfactionCapture.hook.ts
index 9385ec502..ac30ac9fc 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SatisfactionCapture.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SatisfactionCapture.hook.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import { getLearningCategory } from './lib/learning-utils';
 import { getISOTimestamp, getPSTComponents } from './lib/time';
 import { captureFailure } from '../LIFEOS/TOOLS/FailureCapture';
 import { addRatingPulse } from './lib/isa-utils';
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 // ── Types ──
 
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ interface SentimentResult {
 
 // ── Constants ──
 
-const BASE_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+const BASE_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const SIGNALS_DIR = join(BASE_DIR, 'MEMORY', 'LEARNING', 'SIGNALS');
 const RATINGS_FILE = join(SIGNALS_DIR, 'ratings.jsonl');
 const LAST_RESPONSE_CACHE = join(BASE_DIR, 'MEMORY', 'STATE', 'last-response.txt');
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SessionCleanup.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SessionCleanup.hook.ts
index 340e58af2..0f85ffa9c 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SessionCleanup.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SessionCleanup.hook.ts
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ import { join } from 'path';
 import { getISOTimestamp } from './lib/time';
 import { setTabState, cleanupKittySession } from './lib/tab-setter';
 import { readRegistry, writeRegistry, findArtifactPath, findActiveSessionByUUID } from './lib/isa-utils';
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const BASE_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+const BASE_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const MEMORY_DIR = join(BASE_DIR, 'MEMORY');
 const STATE_DIR = join(MEMORY_DIR, 'STATE');
 const WORK_DIR = join(MEMORY_DIR, 'WORK');
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SettingsBackport.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SettingsBackport.hook.ts
index b7e6ae0ff..c66346600 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SettingsBackport.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SettingsBackport.hook.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
 import { execSync } from 'child_process';
 import { homedir } from 'os';
 import { join } from 'path';
-import { paiPath } from './lib/paths';
+import { getSettingsPath, paiPath } from './lib/paths';
 
-const SETTINGS_PATH = join(homedir(), '.claude', 'settings.json');
+const SETTINGS_PATH = getSettingsPath();
 const BACKPORT = paiPath('TOOLS', 'SettingsBackport.ts');
 
 let input: any;
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SkillSurface.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SkillSurface.hook.ts
index f1daa1efb..f3bf104ae 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SkillSurface.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SkillSurface.hook.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import { existsSync, mkdirSync, readFileSync, readdirSync, renameSync, statSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { basename, dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { getLifeosDir, getSkillsDir } from './lib/paths';
 
 interface HookInput {
   prompt?: string;
@@ -44,8 +45,8 @@ interface ScoredSkill {
 const STDIN_TIMEOUT_MS = 300;
 const MAX_SKILLS_TO_EMIT = 3;
 const MIN_DISTINCT_TRIGGER_TOKEN_HITS = 2;
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME || "", ".claude", "LIFEOS");
-const SKILLS_DIR = join(process.env.HOME || "", ".claude", "skills");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
+const SKILLS_DIR = getSkillsDir();
 const CACHE_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "STATE", "skill-index.json");
 
 async function readStdinWithTimeout(timeoutMs: number = STDIN_TIMEOUT_MS): Promise<string> {
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SystemFileGuard.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SystemFileGuard.hook.ts
index e6927ba88..e1e796f03 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/SystemFileGuard.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/SystemFileGuard.hook.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,10 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, appendFileSync, existsSync, mkdirSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { evaluateWrite, extractNewContent } from "./lib/system-file-guard-core";
+import { displayPath, paiPath } from "./lib/paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME ?? homedir();
-const LOG_PATH = join(HOME, ".claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/system-file-guard.jsonl");
+const LOG_PATH = paiPath("MEMORY/OBSERVABILITY/system-file-guard.jsonl");
 
 interface HookInput {
   session_id?: string;
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ function denyMessage(relPath: string, pattern: string, match: string): string {
     "  patterns. Move the user-specific content to a USER-zone location",
     "  or read it through the LifeosConfig interface:",
     "",
-    "    import { loadLifeosConfig, paiUserDir } from '~/.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/LifeosConfig';",
+    `    import { loadLifeosConfig, paiUserDir } from '${displayPath(paiPath("TOOLS/LifeosConfig"))}';`,
     "",
     "  Canonical USER zones (any of these can hold the content):",
     "    LIFEOS/USER/PRINCIPAL/        principal identity files",
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/WorkCompletionLearning.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/WorkCompletionLearning.hook.ts
index 376e15ecd..7a06d3263 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/WorkCompletionLearning.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/WorkCompletionLearning.hook.ts
@@ -54,8 +54,9 @@ import { join } from 'path';
 import { getISOTimestamp, getPSTDate } from './lib/time';
 import { getLearningCategory } from './lib/learning-utils';
 import { findArtifactPath, findActiveSessionByUUID } from './lib/isa-utils';
+import { getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const BASE_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+const BASE_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const MEMORY_DIR = join(BASE_DIR, 'MEMORY');
 const WORK_DIR = join(MEMORY_DIR, 'WORK');
 const LEARNING_DIR = join(MEMORY_DIR, 'LEARNING');
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/WritingGate.hook.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/WritingGate.hook.ts
index a8710b37d..c0fb7a3c9 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/WritingGate.hook.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/WritingGate.hook.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ import { readHookInput, parseTranscriptFromInput } from "./lib/hook-io";
 import { appendFileSync, mkdirSync, existsSync, readFileSync } from "fs";
 import { createHash } from "crypto";
 import { dirname, join } from "path";
+import { displayPath, getLifeosDir } from './lib/paths';
 
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(process.env.HOME!, ".claude", "LIFEOS");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const OBS_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "OBSERVABILITY", "writing-gate.jsonl");
 const RUNS_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "MEMORY", "OBSERVABILITY", "pangram-runs.jsonl");
 const RUN_WINDOW_MS = 30 * 60 * 1000; // a run counts as "this turn" within 30 min
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ const BLOCK_REASON =
   "through the _WRITING skill AND the detector before it is shown (OPERATIONAL_RULES.md § Authored content). " +
   "The gate checks for a real PangramScore.ts run on the draft — a typed token does NOT satisfy it. Before " +
   "stopping: (1) run Skill(\"_WRITING\") DETECT mode on the draft and fix every P0/P1 in the right voice; " +
-  "(2) run `bun ~/.claude/LIFEOS/TOOLS/PangramScore.ts --file <draft>` on the ACTUAL draft text so the run is " +
+  "(2) run `bun " + displayPath(join(getLifeosDir(), "TOOLS/PangramScore.ts")) + " --file <draft>` on the ACTUAL draft text so the run is " +
   "logged; (3) cite the detect result + the reported AI% in a `✍️ WRITING-AUDIT:` line. Pangram saturates on " +
   "model prose, so the number is REPORTED, not a pass/fail bar — the requirement is that the audit RAN.";
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/handlers/UpdateCounts.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/handlers/UpdateCounts.ts
index 46f678872..3334e9bb4 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/handlers/UpdateCounts.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/handlers/UpdateCounts.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
 import { execSync } from 'child_process';
 import { getLifeosDir } from '../lib/paths';
+import { getClaudeDir } from '../lib/paths';
 
 /**
  * Refresh usage cache from Anthropic OAuth API.
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ async function refreshUsageCache(paiDir: string): Promise<void> {
         { encoding: 'utf-8', timeout: 3000 }
       ).trim();
     } else {
-      const credPath = join(process.env.HOME || '', '.claude', '.credentials.json');
+      const credPath = join(getClaudeDir(), '.credentials.json');
       credJson = readFileSync(credPath, 'utf-8').trim();
     }
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/identity.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/identity.ts
index 0ae796f9c..78b12b9dd 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/identity.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/identity.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import { readFileSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
 import { parse as parseYaml } from 'yaml';
 import { loadLifeosConfig } from '../../LIFEOS/TOOLS/LifeosConfig';
+import { getSettingsPath, paiPath } from './paths';
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME!;
-const SETTINGS_PATH = join(HOME, '.claude/settings.json');
+const SETTINGS_PATH = getSettingsPath();
 
 // Identity-file paths derive from LifeosConfig's userDir. On fresh installs where
 // LIFEOS_CONFIG.toml hasn't been created yet, fall back to the conventional
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function paiUserDir(): string {
   try {
     return loadLifeosConfig().paths.userDir;
   } catch {
-    return join(HOME, '.claude/LIFEOS/USER');
+    return paiPath('USER');
   }
 }
 const DA_IDENTITY_PATH = join(paiUserDir(), 'DIGITAL_ASSISTANT/DA_IDENTITY.md');
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/notifications.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/notifications.ts
index 54a52f4e4..da3d246a8 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/notifications.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/notifications.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
+import { paiPath } from './paths';
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME!;
-const PULSE_TOML_PATH = join(HOME, '.claude/LIFEOS/PULSE/PULSE.toml');
+const PULSE_TOML_PATH = paiPath('PULSE/PULSE.toml');
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Session Timing
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/paths.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/paths.ts
index 205c4ef7f..f1f64e3fe 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/paths.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/paths.ts
@@ -25,13 +25,25 @@ export function expandPath(path: string): string {
     .replace(/^~(?=\/|$)/, home);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Abbreviate the home prefix to `~` in a path shown to the user. Purely
+ * cosmetic — the absolute path would work as-is. Exists so that messages
+ * built from resolved path constants render byte-identical to the previous
+ * hardcoded `~/.claude/...` strings on a default-root install, and follow
+ * the usual home-relative display convention everywhere else.
+ */
+export function displayPath(path: string): string {
+  const home = homedir();
+  return path.startsWith(home + '/') ? '~' + path.slice(home.length) : path;
+}
+
 /**
  * Get the LifeOS data directory (expanded).
  *
  * Priority:
  *   1. CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT (plugin install) → <root>/PAI
  *   2. LIFEOS_DIR env var (expanded)
- *   3. ~/.claude/LIFEOS  (live default — byte-identical to pre-plugin behavior)
+ *   3. <claude home>/LIFEOS (getClaudeDir() — honors CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR, defaults ~/.claude/LIFEOS)
  *
  * The CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT guard MUST precede the LIFEOS_DIR check: in a packed
  * plugin, bin/pai exports LIFEOS_DIR equal to CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT (the flattened
@@ -51,7 +63,7 @@ export function getLifeosDir(): string {
     return expandPath(envLifeosDir);
   }
 
-  return join(homedir(), '.claude', 'LIFEOS');
+  return join(getClaudeDir(), 'LIFEOS');
 }
 
 /**
@@ -59,8 +71,13 @@ export function getLifeosDir(): string {
  *
  * Plugin install: CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT is the flattened plugin root that plays the
  * live ~/.claude role (skills/ and hooks/ sit directly under it, matching live
- * .claude/skills and .claude/hooks). Live default: ~/.claude — byte-identical to
- * pre-plugin behavior, since CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT is unset on a normal install.
+ * .claude/skills and .claude/hooks).
+ *
+ * Live install: CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR is Claude Code's own override for its config
+ * directory (multi-profile setups). When the harness runs from a non-default
+ * config dir, hooks inherit that env var, so honoring it keeps every LifeOS
+ * path inside the profile that actually loaded the hooks. Default: ~/.claude —
+ * byte-identical to prior behavior when neither env var is set.
  */
 export function getClaudeDir(): string {
   const pluginRoot = process.env.CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT;
@@ -69,6 +86,12 @@ export function getClaudeDir(): string {
     return expandPath(pluginRoot);
   }
 
+  const configDir = process.env.CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR;
+
+  if (configDir) {
+    return expandPath(configDir);
+  }
+
   return join(homedir(), '.claude');
 }
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/safety-classifier.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/safety-classifier.ts
index 9b7cbda1e..86fed1f0c 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/safety-classifier.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/safety-classifier.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { resolve } from "node:path";
+import { getClaudeDir } from "./paths";
 
 export type Decision = "allow" | "neutral";
 
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ export interface ToolCall {
 const HOME = homedir();
 
 export const TRUSTED_PREFIXES: readonly string[] = [
-  resolve(HOME, ".claude"),
+  getClaudeDir(),
   resolve(HOME, "Projects"),
   resolve(HOME, "LocalProjects"),
   resolve(HOME, "Downloads"),
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/system-file-guard-core.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/system-file-guard-core.ts
index 4eb835cd6..55de3377c 100644
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/system-file-guard-core.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/system-file-guard-core.ts
@@ -12,11 +12,10 @@
 
 import { readFileSync, existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { isContained, isPatternAllowlisted, relativeToClaudeRoot } from "./containment-zones";
+import { getClaudeDir } from "./paths";
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME ?? homedir();
-const CLAUDE_ROOT = join(HOME, ".claude");
+const CLAUDE_ROOT = getClaudeDir();
 const DEFAULT_DENY_LIST_PATH = join(CLAUDE_ROOT, "skills/_LIFEOS/DENY_LIST.txt");
 
 export type GuardClassification = "system" | "user" | "out-of-tree";
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/work-config.ts b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/work-config.ts
index 7e4643ac9..0c1b17501 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/work-config.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/hooks/lib/work-config.ts
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@
  */
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync, chmodSync } from "fs";
 import { join } from "path";
+import { displayPath, getClaudeDir, getLifeosDir } from "./paths";
 
 declare const Bun: { spawnSync: (cmd: string[], opts?: any) => any };
 
-const HOME = process.env.HOME || "";
-const LIFEOS_DIR = process.env.LIFEOS_DIR || join(HOME, ".claude", "LIFEOS");
+const LIFEOS_DIR = getLifeosDir();
 const REPO_JSON_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "USER", "WORK", "work_repo.json");
 const COLUMNS_YAML_PATH = join(LIFEOS_DIR, "USER", "WORK", "config.yaml");
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export function loadWorkConfig(): WorkConfig {
   if (!existsSync(REPO_JSON_PATH)) {
     return disabled(
       "missing",
-      "USER/WORK/work_repo.json missing — run `bun ~/.claude/skills/_ULWORK/Tools/SetWorkRepo.ts <owner/repo>`",
+      `USER/WORK/work_repo.json missing — run \`bun ${displayPath(join(getClaudeDir(), "skills/_ULWORK/Tools/SetWorkRepo.ts"))} <owner/repo>\``,
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/install.sh b/LifeOS/install/install.sh
index 19a7de744..113508a6b 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/install.sh
+++ b/LifeOS/install/install.sh
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ fi
 # ─── Step 2: Detect harness (no clobber) ─────────────────────────
 step "2/5  Detecting your harness"
 if [ -z "$LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR" ]; then
-  if [ -d "$HOME/.claude" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.claude/skills"
+  # CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR is Claude Code's own config-dir override (multi-profile
+  # setups) — when set, it IS the config root, so probe it before the defaults.
+  if [ -n "${CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR:-}" ] && [ -d "$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR/skills"
+  elif [ -d "$HOME/.claude" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.claude/skills"
   elif [ -d "$HOME/.config/claude" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.config/claude/skills"
   else LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.claude/skills"; fi
 fi
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts b/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts
index c9970874b..d204863d7 100644
--- a/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallEngine.ts
@@ -548,6 +548,28 @@ function normalizeCommand(cmd: string): string {
     .trim();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Rewrite the default `~/.claude` config-root spellings inside hook commands to
+ * the actually-detected configRoot. The payload's hooks.json ships commands
+ * against the default root (`$HOME/.claude/...`); on a multi-profile setup
+ * (Claude Code's CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR) those paths point at a different — usually
+ * nonexistent — profile, so every hook errors on startup. No-op when configRoot
+ * IS the default, keeping default installs byte-identical. Pure (no I/O).
+ */
+export function rewriteHooksConfigRoot(hooks: HooksMap, configRoot: string, homeDir: string): HooksMap {
+  if (resolve(configRoot) === resolve(join(homeDir, ".claude"))) return hooks;
+  const defaultRootPattern = /(\$\{HOME\}|\$HOME|~)\/\.claude(?=\/|\s|$)/g;
+  const rewritten: HooksMap = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(hooks ?? {}));
+  for (const groups of Object.values(rewritten)) {
+    for (const group of groups) {
+      for (const h of group.hooks ?? []) {
+        if (typeof h.command === "string") h.command = h.command.replace(defaultRootPattern, configRoot);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return rewritten;
+}
+
 /** Identity key for a hook entry: http → url, else normalized command. */
 function hookKey(h: HookEntry): string {
   if (h.type === "http" && h.url) return `http:${h.url}`;
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts b/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts
index 030fb9218..f3f60dd36 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts
+++ b/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/Tools/InstallHooks.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, readdirSync, readFileSync, statSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import { detectDevTree, mergeHooks } from "./InstallEngine";
+import { detectDevTree, mergeHooks, rewriteHooksConfigRoot } from "./InstallEngine";
 
 interface Args { configRoot: string; skillRoot: string; apply: boolean; allowDev: boolean; }
 
@@ -59,7 +59,14 @@ function main(): void {
     console.log(JSON.stringify({ ok: false, error: `payload hooks.json not found at ${hooksJsonPath}` }, null, 2));
     process.exit(1);
   }
-  const incoming = JSON.parse(readFileSync(hooksJsonPath, "utf-8"))?.hooks ?? {};
+  // Payload commands are written against the default ~/.claude root; retarget
+  // them at the detected configRoot so non-default CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR profiles
+  // get hooks that point at the files this installer actually deploys.
+  const incoming = rewriteHooksConfigRoot(
+    JSON.parse(readFileSync(hooksJsonPath, "utf-8"))?.hooks ?? {},
+    configRoot,
+    process.env.HOME || "",
+  );
 
   // The hook SCRIPTS (*.hook.ts|sh + lib/**) live beside hooks.json in the payload.
   // Merging hooks.json into settings.json wires commands that point at these files,
diff --git a/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/install/install.sh b/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/install/install.sh
index 19a7de744..113508a6b 100755
--- a/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/install/install.sh
+++ b/LifeOS/install/skills/LifeOS/install/install.sh
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ fi
 # ─── Step 2: Detect harness (no clobber) ─────────────────────────
 step "2/5  Detecting your harness"
 if [ -z "$LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR" ]; then
-  if [ -d "$HOME/.claude" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.claude/skills"
+  # CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR is Claude Code's own config-dir override (multi-profile
+  # setups) — when set, it IS the config root, so probe it before the defaults.
+  if [ -n "${CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR:-}" ] && [ -d "$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR/skills"
+  elif [ -d "$HOME/.claude" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.claude/skills"
   elif [ -d "$HOME/.config/claude" ]; then LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.config/claude/skills"
   else LIFEOS_SKILLS_DIR="$HOME/.claude/skills"; fi
 fi