diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 3a9445cf..cc7696a6 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ Follow these style rules: ...
 
 btw looks for these files in:
 1. Current working directory or its parents (project-specific)
-2. `~/.config/btw/btw.md` or `~/btw.md` (global defaults)
+2. `~/.btw/btw.md`, `~/.config/btw/btw.md`, or `~/btw.md` (global defaults)
 
 Content becomes part of the system prompt. Use `<!-- HIDE -->` / `<!-- /HIDE -->` comments to exclude sections from the prompt.
 
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ Edit files in `inst/prompts/`. These are assembled in `btw_client()` based on co
 - **All tool wrappers accept `_intent` parameter** (added automatically by `wrap_with_intent()`)
 - **Snapshot tests for tool outputs** to catch formatting changes
 - **Use `check_*()` functions** argument validation, described below
+- **Suppress cli messages in tests** - `expect_message(expr, pattern)` only absorbs the first *matching* message; non-matching messages (e.g. a `cli_alert_info()` emitted before the one under test) leak to the console even when the test passes. Wrap with `suppressMessages(expect_message(...))` when secondary messages are expected but unimportant, or use `suppressMessages(expr)` alone when the assertion is a side-effect rather than the message content.
 
 ### Type Check Functions
 
@@ -339,6 +340,7 @@ Edit files in `inst/prompts/`. These are assembled in `btw_client()` based on co
 - **Git and GitHub commands** - `@git` and `@issue`/`@pr` commands require gert and gh packages respectively, plus appropriate repository access
 - **MCP server blocks** the R process - run non-interactively
 - **Test snapshots require frequent updates** as output formatting evolves
+- **`btw_user_dirs()` is the single source of truth** for user-level config locations (`~/.btw`, `~/.config/btw`, `tools::R_user_dir("btw")`). Any code that discovers or installs user-level skills, agents, or `btw.md` files must use this helper — never hardcode individual paths
 
 ## Resources
 
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index b6ffa7c8..29901c59 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Bug fixes
 
+* User-level config locations are now consistent across skills, agents, and `btw.md` discovery. Skills installed with btw v1.2.0 are still discovered for backwards compatibility (#182).
+
 * The `btw` CLI now loads `datasets`, `utils`, `stats`, and `methods` by declaring them in the Rapp `#| launcher:` frontmatter, reducing surprises for users who expect standard R packages to be available (#181).
 
 # btw 1.2.0
diff --git a/R/tool-skills.R b/R/tool-skills.R
index 9b4ff5e2..e7393552 100644
--- a/R/tool-skills.R
+++ b/R/tool-skills.R
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ NULL
 #' 1. Skills bundled with the btw package itself
 #' 2. Skills from currently **attached** R packages — any package with an
 #'    `inst/skills/` directory that is loaded via [library()] or [require()]
-#' 3. User-level skills (`tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills`)
+#' 3. User-level skills (`~/.btw/skills`, `~/.config/btw/skills`,
+#'    `tools::R_user_dir("btw")/skills`). For backwards compatibility, the
+#'    legacy `tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills` path used by briefly
+#'    by btw 1.2.0 is also included at lower priority.
 #' 4. Project-level skills (`.btw/skills/` or `.agents/skills/`)
 #'
 #' @param name The name of the skill to load, or `""` to list all available
@@ -156,13 +159,19 @@ btw_skills_directories <- function(project_dir = getwd()) {
   # Skills from attached packages
   dirs <- c(dirs, attached_package_skill_dirs())
 
-  # User-level skills (global installation)
-  user_skills_dir <- file.path(
-    tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config"),
-    "skills"
-  )
-  if (dir.exists(user_skills_dir)) {
-    dirs <- c(dirs, user_skills_dir)
+  # Legacy: btw <= 1.2.0 install target — kept for backwards compatibility only,
+  # never written to by newer versions
+  legacy_skills_dir <- file.path(tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config"), "skills")
+  if (dir.exists(legacy_skills_dir)) {
+    dirs <- c(dirs, legacy_skills_dir)
+  }
+
+  # User-level skills from btw_user_dirs() in increasing priority order
+  for (user_dir in rev(btw_user_dirs())) {
+    user_skills_dir <- file.path(user_dir, "skills")
+    if (dir.exists(user_skills_dir) && !user_skills_dir %in% dirs) {
+      dirs <- c(dirs, user_skills_dir)
+    }
   }
 
   # Project-level skills from multiple conventions
@@ -313,8 +322,11 @@ btw_skills_list <- function() {
 find_skill <- function(skill_name) {
   skill_dirs <- btw_skills_directories()
 
+  # Search in reverse priority order so higher-priority sources win, consistent
+  # with btw_skills_list() which uses last-wins semantics.
+
   # Fast path: directory named skill_name
-  for (dir in skill_dirs) {
+  for (dir in rev(skill_dirs)) {
     skill_dir <- file.path(dir, skill_name)
     skill_md_path <- file.path(skill_dir, "SKILL.md")
     if (dir.exists(skill_dir) && file.exists(skill_md_path)) {
@@ -328,10 +340,9 @@ find_skill <- function(skill_name) {
   }
 
   # Slow path: scan all skills for a matching metadata$name (handles name/dir
-
   # mismatch). We use extract_skill_metadata() first to avoid full validation
   # on every non-matching skill, then validate only when we find a match.
-  for (dir in skill_dirs) {
+  for (dir in rev(skill_dirs)) {
     subdirs <- list.dirs(dir, full.names = TRUE, recursive = FALSE)
     for (subdir in subdirs) {
       skill_md_path <- file.path(subdir, "SKILL.md")
@@ -738,11 +749,23 @@ resolve_skill_scope <- function(scope, error_call = caller_env()) {
   switch(
     scope,
     project = resolve_project_skill_dir(error_call = error_call),
-    user = file.path(tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config"), "skills"),
+    user = resolve_user_skill_dir(),
     scope
   )
 }
 
+resolve_user_skill_dir <- function() {
+  candidates <- file.path(btw_user_dirs(), "skills")
+  existing <- candidates[dir.exists(candidates)]
+  # Require content, not just existence: an empty directory (e.g. one left
+  # behind after removing a skill) should not cause subsequent installs to
+  # land there instead of the preferred default (~/.btw/skills).
+  non_empty <- existing[map_lgl(existing, function(d) {
+    length(list.files(d)) > 0
+  })]
+  if (length(non_empty) > 0) non_empty[[1]] else candidates[[1]]
+}
+
 select_skill_dir <- function(
   skill_dirs,
   skill = NULL,
@@ -813,8 +836,9 @@ select_skill_dir <- function(
 #'     chosen from `.btw/skills/` or `.agents/skills/`
 #'     in that order. If one already exists, it is used; otherwise
 #'     `.btw/skills/` is created.
-#'   - `"user"`: Installs to the user-level skills directory
-#'     (`tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills`).
+#'   - `"user"`: Installs to the first of `~/.btw/skills`,
+#'     `~/.config/btw/skills`, or `tools::R_user_dir("btw")/skills` that
+#'     already exists, defaulting to `~/.btw/skills` if none do.
 #'   - A directory path: Installs to a custom directory, e.g.
 #'     `scope = ".openhands/skills"`. Use `I("project")` or `I("user")`
 #'     if you need a literal directory with those names.
@@ -917,8 +941,9 @@ btw_skill_install_github <- function(
 #'     chosen from `.btw/skills/` or `.agents/skills/`
 #'     in that order. If one already exists, it is used; otherwise
 #'     `.btw/skills/` is created.
-#'   - `"user"`: Installs to the user-level skills directory
-#'     (`tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills`).
+#'   - `"user"`: Installs to the first of `~/.btw/skills`,
+#'     `~/.config/btw/skills`, or `tools::R_user_dir("btw")/skills` that
+#'     already exists, defaulting to `~/.btw/skills` if none do.
 #'   - A directory path: Installs to a custom directory, e.g.
 #'     `scope = ".openhands/skills"`. Use `I("project")` or `I("user")`
 #'     if you need a literal directory with those names.
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index a2299571..e018c37a 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -152,17 +152,28 @@ path_find_in_project <- function(filename, dir = getwd()) {
   path_find_in_project(filename, dirname(dir))
 }
 
+# Returns user-level config directories in decreasing priority order.
+# Consumers iterate and use the first match (or rev() when building
+# an increasing-priority list like btw_skills_directories()).
+btw_user_dirs <- function() {
+  c(
+    fs::path_home(".btw"),
+    fs::path_home(".config", "btw"),
+    tools::R_user_dir("btw")
+  )
+}
+
 path_find_user <- function(filename) {
   if (identical(Sys.getenv("TESTTHAT"), "true")) {
     # In testthat, we don't want to use the home directory
     return(NULL)
   }
 
-  possibilities <- c(
+  possibilities <- unique(c(
     fs::path_home(filename),
     fs::path_home_r(filename),
-    fs::path_home(".config", "btw", filename)
-  )
+    file.path(btw_user_dirs(), filename)
+  ))
 
   for (path in possibilities) {
     if (fs::file_exists(path)) {
@@ -191,19 +202,14 @@ find_project_agent_files <- function(dir = getwd()) {
   as.character(files)
 }
 
-# Find agent-*.md files in user config directories (~/.btw/, ~/.config/btw/)
+# Find agent-*.md files in user config directories
 find_user_agent_files <- function() {
   if (identical(Sys.getenv("TESTTHAT"), "true")) {
     return(character())
   }
 
-  user_dirs <- c(
-    fs::path_home(".btw"),
-    fs::path_home(".config", "btw")
-  )
-
   files <- character()
-  for (dir in user_dirs) {
+  for (dir in btw_user_dirs()) {
     if (fs::dir_exists(dir)) {
       found <- fs::dir_ls(dir, regexp = "agent-.*\\.md$", type = "file")
       files <- c(files, as.character(found))
diff --git a/man/btw_skill_install_github.Rd b/man/btw_skill_install_github.Rd
index 7b246b5f..c22ddf16 100644
--- a/man/btw_skill_install_github.Rd
+++ b/man/btw_skill_install_github.Rd
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ non-interactive sessions).}
 chosen from \verb{.btw/skills/} or \verb{.agents/skills/}
 in that order. If one already exists, it is used; otherwise
 \verb{.btw/skills/} is created.
-\item \code{"user"}: Installs to the user-level skills directory
-(\code{tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills}).
+\item \code{"user"}: Installs to the first of \verb{~/.btw/skills},
+\verb{~/.config/btw/skills}, or \code{tools::R_user_dir("btw")/skills} that
+already exists, defaulting to \verb{~/.btw/skills} if none do.
 \item A directory path: Installs to a custom directory, e.g.
 \code{scope = ".openhands/skills"}. Use \code{I("project")} or \code{I("user")}
 if you need a literal directory with those names.
diff --git a/man/btw_skill_install_package.Rd b/man/btw_skill_install_package.Rd
index 77310202..94ed132e 100644
--- a/man/btw_skill_install_package.Rd
+++ b/man/btw_skill_install_package.Rd
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ non-interactive sessions).}
 chosen from \verb{.btw/skills/} or \verb{.agents/skills/}
 in that order. If one already exists, it is used; otherwise
 \verb{.btw/skills/} is created.
-\item \code{"user"}: Installs to the user-level skills directory
-(\code{tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills}).
+\item \code{"user"}: Installs to the first of \verb{~/.btw/skills},
+\verb{~/.config/btw/skills}, or \code{tools::R_user_dir("btw")/skills} that
+already exists, defaulting to \verb{~/.btw/skills} if none do.
 \item A directory path: Installs to a custom directory, e.g.
 \code{scope = ".openhands/skills"}. Use \code{I("project")} or \code{I("user")}
 if you need a literal directory with those names.
diff --git a/man/btw_tool_skill.Rd b/man/btw_tool_skill.Rd
index a5a66190..83753f65 100644
--- a/man/btw_tool_skill.Rd
+++ b/man/btw_tool_skill.Rd
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ priority (later sources override earlier ones when skill names conflict):
 \item Skills bundled with the btw package itself
 \item Skills from currently \strong{attached} R packages — any package with an
 \verb{inst/skills/} directory that is loaded via \code{\link[=library]{library()}} or \code{\link[=require]{require()}}
-\item User-level skills (\code{tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills})
+\item User-level skills (\verb{~/.btw/skills}, \verb{~/.config/btw/skills},
+\code{tools::R_user_dir("btw")/skills}). For backwards compatibility, the
+legacy \code{tools::R_user_dir("btw", "config")/skills} path used by briefly
+by btw 1.2.0 is also included at lower priority.
 \item Project-level skills (\verb{.btw/skills/} or \verb{.agents/skills/})
 }
 }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-tool_skills.R b/tests/testthat/test-tool_skills.R
index 6d7f23bc..edb80476 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-tool_skills.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-tool_skills.R
@@ -355,6 +355,40 @@ test_that("find_skill() finds a valid skill", {
   expect_true(file.exists(result$path))
 })
 
+test_that("find_skill() returns the highest-priority version when skill exists in multiple dirs", {
+  low_dir <- withr::local_tempdir()
+  high_dir <- withr::local_tempdir()
+  create_temp_skill(name = "my-skill", description = "Low priority version", dir = low_dir)
+  create_temp_skill(name = "my-skill", description = "High priority version", dir = high_dir)
+  # high_dir last = higher priority (consistent with btw_skills_directories() semantics)
+  local_skill_dirs(c(low_dir, high_dir))
+
+  result <- find_skill("my-skill")
+  fm <- frontmatter::read_front_matter(result$path)
+  expect_equal(fm$data$description, "High priority version")
+})
+
+# resolve_user_skill_dir() -------------------------------------------------
+
+test_that("resolve_user_skill_dir() returns first non-empty existing candidate", {
+  dir1 <- withr::local_tempdir()
+  dir2 <- withr::local_tempdir()
+  skills2 <- file.path(dir2, "skills")
+  dir.create(skills2)
+  writeLines("x", file.path(skills2, "placeholder"))
+
+  local_mocked_bindings(btw_user_dirs = function() c(dir1, dir2))
+  expect_equal(resolve_user_skill_dir(), skills2)
+})
+
+test_that("resolve_user_skill_dir() falls back to first candidate when none have content", {
+  dir1 <- withr::local_tempdir()
+  dir2 <- withr::local_tempdir()
+
+  local_mocked_bindings(btw_user_dirs = function() c(dir1, dir2))
+  expect_equal(resolve_user_skill_dir(), file.path(dir1, "skills"))
+})
+
 # extract_skill_metadata ---------------------------------------------------
 
 test_that("extract_skill_metadata() returns parsed frontmatter", {