diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 6149f3b1865..3332dea28c2 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -7781,6 +7781,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-hCx1oky9PFrJ611mf0ifBLBRW8lUUVRlFolb5gWRfIELabBlbp9xZvrqZLZAs+NxFnbfQoeGd8wDkygjg7U85w==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "env-paths": {
+      "version": "2.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/env-paths/-/env-paths-2.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-6u0VYSCo/OW6IoD5WCLLy9JUGARbamfSavcNXry/eu8aHVFei6CD3Sw+VGX5alea1i9pgPHW0mbu6Xj0uBh7gA=="
+    },
     "envinfo": {
       "version": "7.7.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/envinfo/-/envinfo-7.7.3.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 03f3595e57f..62822583559 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
     "del": "^5.1.0",
     "dot-prop": "^5.1.0",
     "dotenv": "^8.2.0",
+    "env-paths": "^2.2.0",
     "envinfo": "^7.3.1",
     "execa": "^5.0.0",
     "express": "^4.17.1",
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@
     "lodash": "^4.17.20",
     "log-symbols": "^3.0.0",
     "make-dir": "^3.0.0",
+    "memoize-one": "^5.1.1",
     "minimist": "^1.2.5",
     "multiparty": "^4.2.1",
     "netlify": "^6.0.0",
diff --git a/src/commands/build/index.js b/src/commands/build/index.js
index 84f8fabf2b3..77cd5e27780 100644
--- a/src/commands/build/index.js
+++ b/src/commands/build/index.js
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ class BuildCommand extends Command {
   // Run Netlify Build
   async run() {
     // Retrieve Netlify Build options
+    const [token] = await this.getConfigToken()
     const options = await getBuildOptions({
       context: this,
-      token: this.getConfigToken()[0],
+      token,
       flags: this.parse(BuildCommand).flags,
     })
     this.checkOptions(options)
diff --git a/src/commands/deploy.js b/src/commands/deploy.js
index eb20197f04f..0beb0d10bb7 100644
--- a/src/commands/deploy.js
+++ b/src/commands/deploy.js
@@ -411,9 +411,10 @@ class DeployCommand extends Command {
     }
 
     if (flags.build) {
+      const [token] = await this.getConfigToken()
       const options = await getBuildOptions({
         context: this,
-        token: this.getConfigToken()[0],
+        token,
         flags,
       })
       const exitCode = await runBuild(options)
diff --git a/src/commands/login.js b/src/commands/login.js
index cd0d1c50a7c..8562f138bee 100644
--- a/src/commands/login.js
+++ b/src/commands/login.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const Command = require('../utils/command')
 class LoginCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
     const { flags } = this.parse(LoginCommand)
-    const [accessToken, location] = this.getConfigToken()
+    const [accessToken, location] = await this.getConfigToken()
     if (accessToken && !flags.new) {
       this.log(`Already logged in ${msg(location)}`)
       this.log()
diff --git a/src/commands/logout.js b/src/commands/logout.js
index c40937505e4..7d0b7b977a7 100644
--- a/src/commands/logout.js
+++ b/src/commands/logout.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const { track } = require('../utils/telemetry')
 
 class LogoutCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    const [accessToken, location] = this.getConfigToken()
+    const [accessToken, location] = await this.getConfigToken()
 
     if (!accessToken) {
       this.log(`Already logged out`)
diff --git a/src/commands/status/index.js b/src/commands/status/index.js
index 76d354bb364..96478acd47d 100644
--- a/src/commands/status/index.js
+++ b/src/commands/status/index.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class StatusCommand extends Command {
     const { flags } = this.parse(StatusCommand)
 
     const current = globalConfig.get('userId')
-    const [accessToken] = this.getConfigToken()
+    const [accessToken] = await this.getConfigToken()
 
     if (!accessToken) {
       this.log(`Not logged in. Please log in to see site status.`)
diff --git a/src/hooks/init.js b/src/hooks/init.js
index 65e7c2584d5..38d6f9949a6 100644
--- a/src/hooks/init.js
+++ b/src/hooks/init.js
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ const process = require('process')
 
 const envinfo = require('envinfo')
 
-const globalConfig = require('../utils/global-config')
+const getGlobalConfig = require('../utils/get-global-config')
 const header = require('../utils/header')
 const { track } = require('../utils/telemetry')
 
 module.exports = async function initHooks(context) {
+  const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
   // Enable/disable telemetry Global flags. TODO refactor where these fire
   if (context.id === '--telemetry-disable') {
     globalConfig.set('telemetryDisabled', true)
diff --git a/src/lib/fs.js b/src/lib/fs.js
index b6758767047..3e3e4d32931 100644
--- a/src/lib/fs.js
+++ b/src/lib/fs.js
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ const pathType = require('path-type')
 const statAsync = promisify(fs.stat)
 const readFileAsync = promisify(fs.readFile)
 const writeFileAsync = promisify(fs.writeFile)
+const rmFileAsync = promisify(fs.unlink)
+const copyFileAsync = promisify(fs.copyFile)
 const accessAsync = promisify(fs.access)
 
 const readFileAsyncCatchError = async (filepath) => {
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ module.exports = {
   readFileAsync,
   readFileAsyncCatchError,
   writeFileAsync,
+  rmFileAsync,
+  copyFileAsync,
   fileExistsAsync,
   isFileAsync,
   mkdirRecursiveSync,
diff --git a/src/lib/settings.js b/src/lib/settings.js
index 9ac03f4c16f..608b52cd45d 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings.js
+++ b/src/lib/settings.js
@@ -1,12 +1,19 @@
 const os = require('os')
 const path = require('path')
 
+const envPaths = require('env-paths')
+
+const OSBasedPaths = envPaths('netlify', { suffix: '' })
 const NETLIFY_HOME = '.netlify'
 
-const getHomeDirectory = () => path.join(os.homedir(), NETLIFY_HOME)
+// Deprecated method to get netlify's home config - ~/.netlify/...
+const getLegacyPathInHome = (paths) => {
+  const pathInHome = path.join(os.homedir(), NETLIFY_HOME, ...paths)
+  return pathInHome
+}
 
 const getPathInHome = (paths) => {
-  const pathInHome = path.join(getHomeDirectory(), ...paths)
+  const pathInHome = path.join(OSBasedPaths.config, ...paths)
   return pathInHome
 }
 
@@ -15,4 +22,4 @@ const getPathInProject = (paths) => {
   return pathInProject
 }
 
-module.exports = { getPathInHome, getPathInProject }
+module.exports = { getLegacyPathInHome, getPathInHome, getPathInProject }
diff --git a/src/utils/command.js b/src/utils/command.js
index 9bf277daee7..df0b931590d 100644
--- a/src/utils/command.js
+++ b/src/utils/command.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const { warnOnNetlifyDir } = require('../lib/deprecations')
 const { getAgent } = require('../lib/http-agent')
 
 const chalkInstance = require('./chalk')
-const globalConfig = require('./global-config')
+const getGlobalConfig = require('./get-global-config')
 const openBrowser = require('./open-browser')
 const StateConfig = require('./state-config')
 const { track, identify } = require('./telemetry')
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const isDefaultJson = () => argv._[0] === 'functions:invoke' || (argv._[0] === '
 
 const isBuildCommand = () => argv._[0] === 'build' || (argv._[0] === 'deploy' && argv.build === true)
 
-const getToken = (tokenFromFlag) => {
+const getToken = async (tokenFromFlag) => {
   // 1. First honor command flag --auth
   if (tokenFromFlag) {
     return [tokenFromFlag, 'flag']
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ const getToken = (tokenFromFlag) => {
     return [NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN, 'env']
   }
   // 3. If no env var use global user setting
+  const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
   const userId = globalConfig.get('userId')
   const tokenFromConfig = globalConfig.get(`users.${userId}.auth.token`)
   if (tokenFromConfig) {
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ class BaseCommand extends Command {
     // Grab netlify API token
     const authViaFlag = getAuthArg(argv)
 
-    const [token] = this.getConfigToken(authViaFlag)
+    const [token] = await this.getConfigToken(authViaFlag)
 
     // Get site id & build state
     const state = new StateConfig(cwd)
@@ -78,6 +79,8 @@ class BaseCommand extends Command {
       apiOpts.pathPrefix = NETLIFY_API_URL === `${apiUrl.protocol}//${apiUrl.host}` ? '/api/v1' : apiUrl.pathname
     }
 
+    const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
+
     this.netlify = {
       // api methods
       api: new API(token || '', apiOpts),
@@ -205,14 +208,14 @@ class BaseCommand extends Command {
   /**
    * Get user netlify API token
    * @param  {string} - [tokenFromFlag] - value passed in by CLI flag
-   * @return {[string, string]} - tokenValue & location of resolved Netlify API token
+   * @return {Promise<[string, string]>} - Promise containing tokenValue & location of resolved Netlify API token
    */
   getConfigToken(tokenFromFlag) {
     return getToken(tokenFromFlag)
   }
 
-  authenticate(tokenFromFlag) {
-    const [token] = this.getConfigToken(tokenFromFlag)
+  async authenticate(tokenFromFlag) {
+    const [token] = await this.getConfigToken(tokenFromFlag)
     if (token) {
       return token
     }
diff --git a/src/utils/get-global-config.js b/src/utils/get-global-config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d1521e6a787
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/get-global-config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+const Configstore = require('configstore')
+const memoizeOne = require('memoize-one')
+const { v4: uuidv4 } = require('uuid')
+
+const { readFileAsync } = require('../lib/fs')
+const { getPathInHome, getLegacyPathInHome } = require('../lib/settings')
+
+const globalConfigDefaults = {
+  /* disable stats from being sent to Netlify */
+  telemetryDisabled: false,
+  /* cliId */
+  cliId: uuidv4(),
+}
+
+const getGlobalConfig = async function () {
+  const configPath = getPathInHome(['config.json'])
+  // Legacy config file in home ~/.netlify/config.json
+  const legacyPath = getLegacyPathInHome(['config.json'])
+  let legacyConfig
+  // Read legacy config if exists
+  try {
+    legacyConfig = JSON.parse(await readFileAsync(legacyPath))
+  } catch (_) {}
+  // Use legacy config as default values
+  const defaults = { ...globalConfigDefaults, ...legacyConfig }
+  const configStore = new Configstore(null, defaults, { configPath })
+
+  return configStore
+}
+
+// Memoise config result so that we only load it once
+module.exports = memoizeOne(getGlobalConfig)
diff --git a/src/utils/get-global-config.test.js b/src/utils/get-global-config.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f3a276ef89a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/get-global-config.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+const os = require('os')
+const path = require('path')
+
+const test = require('ava')
+
+const {
+  rmdirRecursiveAsync,
+  mkdirRecursiveAsync,
+  readFileAsync,
+  writeFileAsync,
+  copyFileAsync,
+  rmFileAsync,
+} = require('../lib/fs')
+const { getPathInHome, getLegacyPathInHome } = require('../lib/settings')
+
+const getGlobalConfig = require('./get-global-config.js')
+
+const configPath = getPathInHome(['config.json'])
+const legacyConfigPath = getLegacyPathInHome(['config.json'])
+const tmpConfigBackupPath = path.join(os.tmpdir(), `netlify-config-backup-${Date.now()}`)
+
+test.before('backup current user config if exists', async () => {
+  try {
+    await copyFileAsync(configPath, tmpConfigBackupPath)
+  } catch (_) {}
+})
+
+test.after.always('cleanup tmp directory and legacy config', async () => {
+  try {
+    // Restore user config if exists
+    await mkdirRecursiveAsync(getPathInHome([]))
+    await copyFileAsync(tmpConfigBackupPath, configPath)
+    // Remove tmp backup if exists
+    await rmFileAsync(tmpConfigBackupPath)
+  } catch (_) {}
+  // Remove legacy config path
+  await rmdirRecursiveAsync(getLegacyPathInHome([]))
+})
+
+test.beforeEach('recreate clean config directories', async () => {
+  // Remove config dirs
+  await rmdirRecursiveAsync(getPathInHome([]))
+  await rmdirRecursiveAsync(getLegacyPathInHome([]))
+  // Make config dirs
+  await mkdirRecursiveAsync(getPathInHome([]))
+  await mkdirRecursiveAsync(getLegacyPathInHome([]))
+})
+
+// Not running tests in parallel as we're messing with the same config files
+
+test.serial('should use legacy config values as default if exists', async (t) => {
+  const legacyConfig = { someOldKey: 'someOldValue', overrideMe: 'oldValue' }
+  const newConfig = { overrideMe: 'newValue' }
+  await writeFileAsync(legacyConfigPath, JSON.stringify(legacyConfig))
+  await writeFileAsync(configPath, JSON.stringify(newConfig))
+
+  const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
+  t.is(globalConfig.get('someOldKey'), legacyConfig.someOldKey)
+  t.is(globalConfig.get('overrideMe'), newConfig.overrideMe)
+})
+
+test.serial('should not throw if legacy config is invalid JSON', async (t) => {
+  await writeFileAsync(legacyConfigPath, 'NotJson')
+  await t.notThrowsAsync(getGlobalConfig)
+})
+
+test.serial("should create config in netlify's config dir if none exists and store new values", async (t) => {
+  // Remove config dirs
+  await rmdirRecursiveAsync(getPathInHome([]))
+  await rmdirRecursiveAsync(getLegacyPathInHome([]))
+
+  const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
+  globalConfig.set('newProp', 'newValue')
+  const configFile = JSON.parse(await readFileAsync(configPath))
+  t.deepEqual(globalConfig.all, configFile)
+})
diff --git a/src/utils/global-config.js b/src/utils/global-config.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 7f10ff4b36d..00000000000
--- a/src/utils/global-config.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-const Configstore = require('configstore')
-const { v4: uuidv4 } = require('uuid')
-
-const { getPathInHome } = require('../lib/settings')
-
-const globalConfigDefaults = {
-  /* disable stats from being sent to Netlify */
-  telemetryDisabled: false,
-  /* cliId */
-  cliId: uuidv4(),
-}
-
-const globalConfigOptions = {
-  configPath: getPathInHome(['config.json']),
-}
-
-module.exports = new Configstore(null, globalConfigDefaults, globalConfigOptions)
diff --git a/src/utils/telemetry/index.js b/src/utils/telemetry/index.js
index c2d5acd0226..8a2a627d7ce 100644
--- a/src/utils/telemetry/index.js
+++ b/src/utils/telemetry/index.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const process = require('process')
 
 const ci = require('ci-info')
 
-const globalConfig = require('../global-config')
+const getGlobalConfig = require('../get-global-config')
 
 const isValidEventName = require('./validation')
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ const eventConfig = {
   ],
 }
 
-const track = function (eventName, payload) {
+const track = async function (eventName, payload) {
   const properties = payload || {}
 
   if (IS_INSIDE_CI) {
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ const track = function (eventName, payload) {
     return Promise.resolve()
   }
 
+  const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
   // exit early if tracking disabled
   const TELEMETRY_DISABLED = globalConfig.get('telemetryDisabled')
   if (TELEMETRY_DISABLED && !properties.force) {
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ const track = function (eventName, payload) {
   return send('track', defaultData)
 }
 
-const identify = function (payload) {
+const identify = async function (payload) {
   const data = payload || {}
 
   if (IS_INSIDE_CI) {
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ const identify = function (payload) {
     return Promise.resolve()
   }
 
+  const globalConfig = await getGlobalConfig()
   // exit early if tracking disabled
   const TELEMETRY_DISABLED = globalConfig.get('telemetryDisabled')
   if (TELEMETRY_DISABLED && !data.force) {
diff --git a/tests/command.deploy.test.js b/tests/command.deploy.test.js
index 9e162b0f6bd..5c0cc456c1b 100644
--- a/tests/command.deploy.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.deploy.test.js
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ if (process.env.IS_FORK !== 'true') {
 
         // validate edge handlers
         // use this until we can use `netlify api`
-        const [apiToken] = getToken()
+        const [apiToken] = await getToken()
         const { content_length: contentLength, ...rest } = await got(
           `https://api.netlify.com/api/v1/deploys/${deploy.deploy_id}/edge_handlers`,
           {