diff --git a/Commons/Settings.qml b/Commons/Settings.qml
index 676c4575..6979aecb 100644
--- a/Commons/Settings.qml
+++ b/Commons/Settings.qml
@@ -375,6 +375,23 @@ Singleton {
     }
   }
 
+  // -----------------------------------------------------
+  // Function to preprocess paths by expanding "~" to user's home directory
+  function preprocessPath(path) {
+    if (typeof path !== "string" || path === "") {
+      return path
+    }
+
+    // Expand "~" to user's home directory
+    if (path.startsWith("~/")) {
+      return Quickshell.env("HOME") + path.substring(1)
+    } else if (path === "~") {
+      return Quickshell.env("HOME")
+    }
+
+    return path
+  }
+
   // -----------------------------------------------------
   // Public function to trigger immediate settings saving
   function saveImmediate() {
diff --git a/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/ProfileCard.qml b/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/ProfileCard.qml
index c36d57dc..79759089 100644
--- a/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/ProfileCard.qml
+++ b/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/ProfileCard.qml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ NBox {
     NImageCircled {
       width: Style.baseWidgetSize * 1.25 * scaling
       height: Style.baseWidgetSize * 1.25 * scaling
-      imagePath: Settings.data.general.avatarImage
+      imagePath: Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.general.avatarImage)
       fallbackIcon: "person"
       borderColor: Color.mPrimary
       borderWidth: Math.max(1, Style.borderM * scaling)
diff --git a/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/TopCard.qml b/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/TopCard.qml
index 21b68eca..abda1cd7 100644
--- a/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/TopCard.qml
+++ b/Modules/ControlCenter/Cards/TopCard.qml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ NBox {
       NImageCircled {
         width: Style.baseWidgetSize * 1.25 * scaling
         height: width
-        imagePath: Settings.data.general.avatarImage
+        imagePath: Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.general.avatarImage)
         fallbackIcon: "person"
         borderColor: Color.mPrimary
         borderWidth: Math.max(1, Style.borderM * scaling)
diff --git a/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml b/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml
index 631fd56b..225c1529 100644
--- a/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml
+++ b/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ Loader {
                     anchors.centerIn: parent
                     width: 66 * scaling
                     height: 66 * scaling
-                    imagePath: Settings.data.general.avatarImage
+                    imagePath: Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.general.avatarImage)
                     fallbackIcon: "person"
 
                     SequentialAnimation on scale {
diff --git a/Modules/Settings/Tabs/GeneralTab.qml b/Modules/Settings/Tabs/GeneralTab.qml
index 558a8860..b665c58e 100644
--- a/Modules/Settings/Tabs/GeneralTab.qml
+++ b/Modules/Settings/Tabs/GeneralTab.qml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
     NImageCircled {
       width: 108 * scaling
       height: 108 * scaling
-      imagePath: Settings.data.general.avatarImage
+      imagePath: Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.general.avatarImage)
       fallbackIcon: "person"
       borderColor: Color.mPrimary
       borderWidth: Math.max(1, Style.borderM * scaling)
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
     id: avatarPicker
     title: I18n.tr("settings.general.profile.select-avatar")
     selectionMode: "files"
-    initialPath: Settings.data.general.avatarImage.substr(0, Settings.data.general.avatarImage.lastIndexOf("/")) || Quickshell.env("HOME")
+    initialPath: Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.general.avatarImage).substr(0, Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.general.avatarImage).lastIndexOf("/")) || Quickshell.env("HOME")
     nameFilters: ["*.jpg", "*.jpeg", "*.png", "*.gif", "*.pnm", "*.bmp"]
     onAccepted: paths => {
                   if (paths.length > 0) {
diff --git a/Services/ScreenRecorderService.qml b/Services/ScreenRecorderService.qml
index 7e57ce75..57fc578a 100644
--- a/Services/ScreenRecorderService.qml
+++ b/Services/ScreenRecorderService.qml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Singleton {
 
   function launchRecorder() {
     var filename = Time.getFormattedTimestamp() + ".mp4"
-    var videoDir = settings.directory
+    var videoDir = Settings.preprocessPath(settings.directory)
     if (videoDir && !videoDir.endsWith("/")) {
       videoDir += "/"
     }
diff --git a/Services/WallpaperService.qml b/Services/WallpaperService.qml
index c60f2eba..2046f6cc 100644
--- a/Services/WallpaperService.qml
+++ b/Services/WallpaperService.qml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Singleton {
   id: root
 
   readonly property ListModel fillModeModel: ListModel {}
+  readonly property string defaultDirectory: Settings.preprocessPath(Settings.data.wallpaper.directory)
 
   // All available wallpaper transitions
   readonly property ListModel transitionsModel: ListModel {}
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ Singleton {
       if (!Settings.data.wallpaper.enableMultiMonitorDirectories) {
         // All monitors use the main directory
         for (var i = 0; i < Quickshell.screens.length; i++) {
-          root.wallpaperDirectoryChanged(Quickshell.screens[i].name, Settings.data.wallpaper.directory)
+          root.wallpaperDirectoryChanged(Quickshell.screens[i].name, root.defaultDirectory)
         }
       } else {
         // Only monitors without custom directories are affected
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ Singleton {
           var screenName = Quickshell.screens[i].name
           var monitor = root.getMonitorConfig(screenName)
           if (!monitor || !monitor.directory) {
-            root.wallpaperDirectoryChanged(screenName, Settings.data.wallpaper.directory)
+            root.wallpaperDirectoryChanged(screenName, root.defaultDirectory)
           }
         }
       }
@@ -177,16 +178,16 @@ Singleton {
   // Get specific monitor directory
   function getMonitorDirectory(screenName) {
     if (!Settings.data.wallpaper.enableMultiMonitorDirectories) {
-      return Settings.data.wallpaper.directory
+      return root.defaultDirectory
     }
 
     var monitor = getMonitorConfig(screenName)
     if (monitor !== undefined && monitor.directory !== undefined) {
-      return monitor.directory
+      return Settings.preprocessPath(monitor.directory)
     }
 
     // Fall back to the main/single directory
-    return Settings.data.wallpaper.directory
+    return root.defaultDirectory
   }
 
   // -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -218,7 +219,7 @@ Singleton {
 
     // Update Settings with new array to ensure proper persistence
     Settings.data.wallpaper.monitors = newMonitors.slice()
-    root.wallpaperDirectoryChanged(screenName, directory)
+    root.wallpaperDirectoryChanged(screenName, Settings.preprocessPath(directory))
   }
 
   // -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@ Singleton {
         found = true
         return {
           "name": screenName,
-          "directory": monitor.directory || getMonitorDirectory(screenName),
+          "directory": Settings.preprocessPath(monitor.directory) || getMonitorDirectory(screenName),
           "wallpaper": path
         }
       }