diff --git a/src/auto-reply/status.ts b/src/auto-reply/status.ts
index 1ee3fc251..d07db81c0 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/status.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/status.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
-import os from "node:os";
 
 import { lookupContextTokens } from "../agents/context.js";
 import {
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   type SessionEntry,
   type SessionScope,
 } from "../config/sessions.js";
+import { shortenHomePath } from "../utils.js";
 import type { ThinkLevel, VerboseLevel } from "./thinking.js";
 
 type AgentConfig = NonNullable<ClawdisConfig["agent"]>;
@@ -53,13 +53,6 @@ const formatAge = (ms?: number | null) => {
 const formatKTokens = (value: number) =>
   `${(value / 1000).toFixed(value >= 10_000 ? 0 : 1)}k`;
 
-const abbreviatePath = (p?: string) => {
-  if (!p) return undefined;
-  const home = os.homedir();
-  if (p.startsWith(home)) return p.replace(home, "~");
-  return p;
-};
-
 const formatTokens = (
   total: number | null | undefined,
   contextTokens: number | null,
@@ -187,7 +180,7 @@ export function buildStatusMessage(args: StatusArgs): string {
     entry?.updatedAt
       ? `updated ${formatAge(now - entry.updatedAt)}`
       : "no activity",
-    args.storePath ? `store ${abbreviatePath(args.storePath)}` : undefined,
+    args.storePath ? `store ${shortenHomePath(args.storePath)}` : undefined,
   ]
     .filter(Boolean)
     .join(" • ");
@@ -214,7 +207,7 @@ export function buildStatusMessage(args: StatusArgs): string {
   const agentLine = `Agent: embedded pi • ${modelLabel}`;
 
   const workspaceLine = args.workspaceDir
-    ? `Workspace: ${abbreviatePath(args.workspaceDir)}`
+    ? `Workspace: ${shortenHomePath(args.workspaceDir)}`
     : undefined;
 
   const helpersLine = "Shortcuts: /new reset | /restart relink";
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/tool-meta.ts b/src/auto-reply/tool-meta.ts
index 5eb98427f..8932aa166 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/tool-meta.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/tool-meta.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { shortenHomeInString, shortenHomePath } from "../utils.js";
+
 export const TOOL_RESULT_DEBOUNCE_MS = 500;
 export const TOOL_RESULT_FLUSH_COUNT = 5;
 
@@ -23,17 +25,8 @@ function resolveToolEmoji(toolName?: string): string {
   return "🧩";
 }
 
-function shortenHomeInString(input: string): string {
-  const home = process.env.HOME;
-  if (!home) return input;
-  return input.split(home).join("~");
-}
-
 export function shortenPath(p: string): string {
-  const home = process.env.HOME;
-  if (home && (p === home || p.startsWith(`${home}/`)))
-    return p.replace(home, "~");
-  return p;
+  return shortenHomePath(p);
 }
 
 export function shortenMeta(meta: string): string {
diff --git a/src/utils.ts b/src/utils.ts
index 737159f24..25287c4d6 100644
--- a/src/utils.ts
+++ b/src/utils.ts
@@ -104,5 +104,34 @@ export function resolveUserPath(input: string): string {
   return path.resolve(trimmed);
 }
 
+export function resolveHomeDir(): string | undefined {
+  const envHome = process.env.HOME?.trim();
+  if (envHome) return envHome;
+  const envProfile = process.env.USERPROFILE?.trim();
+  if (envProfile) return envProfile;
+  try {
+    const home = os.homedir();
+    return home?.trim() ? home : undefined;
+  } catch {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+}
+
+export function shortenHomePath(input: string): string {
+  if (!input) return input;
+  const home = resolveHomeDir();
+  if (!home) return input;
+  if (input === home) return "~";
+  if (input.startsWith(`${home}/`)) return `~${input.slice(home.length)}`;
+  return input;
+}
+
+export function shortenHomeInString(input: string): string {
+  if (!input) return input;
+  const home = resolveHomeDir();
+  if (!home) return input;
+  return input.split(home).join("~");
+}
+
 // Fixed configuration root; legacy ~/.clawdis is no longer used.
 export const CONFIG_DIR = path.join(os.homedir(), ".clawdis");