diff --git a/docs/cli.md b/docs/cli.md
index c9d839281..8e03411f4 100644
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -280,6 +280,11 @@ pixi auth logout anaconda.org
 Global is the main entry point for the part of pixi that executes on the
 global(system) level.
 
+!!! tip
+      Binaries and environments installed globally are stored in `~/.pixi`
+      by default, this can be changed by setting the `PIXI_HOME` environment
+      variable.
+
 ### `global install`
 
 This command installs a package into its own environment and adds the binary to `PATH`, allowing you to access it anywhere on your system without activating the environment.
diff --git a/install/install.ps1 b/install/install.ps1
index e65c5acd0..a63cb0b95 100644
--- a/install/install.ps1
+++ b/install/install.ps1
@@ -1,29 +1,54 @@
+<#
+.SYNOPSIS
+    Pixi install script.
+.DESCRIPTION
+    This script is used to install Pixi on Windows from the command line.
+.PARAMETER PixiVersion
+    Specifies the version of Pixi to install.
+    The default value is 'latest'. You can also specify it by setting the
+    environment variable 'PIXI_VERSION'.
+.PARAMETER PixiHome
+    Specifies Pixi's home directory.
+    The default value is '$Env:USERPROFILE\.pixi'. You can also specify it by
+    setting the environment variable 'PIXI_HOME'.
+.LINK
+    https://pixi.sh
+.LINK
+    https://github.com/prefix-dev/pixi
+#>
 param (
-    [string]$PIXI_DIR = "$Env:USERPROFILE\.pixi\bin"
+    [string] $PixiVersion = 'latest',
+    [string] $PixiHome = "$Env:USERPROFILE\.pixi"
 )
 
+Set-StrictMode -Version Latest
+
 if ($Env:PIXI_VERSION) {
-    $PIXI_VERSION = $Env:PIXI_VERSION
-} else {
-    $PIXI_VERSION = "latest"
+    $PixiVersion = $Env:PIXI_VERSION
+}
+
+if ($Env:PIXI_HOME) {
+    $PixiHome = $Env:PIXI_HOME
 }
 
 # Repository name
-$REPO = "prefix-dev/pixi"
-$ARCH = "x86_64"
-$PLATFORM = "pc-windows-msvc"
+$REPO = 'prefix-dev/pixi'
+$ARCH = 'x86_64'
+$PLATFORM = 'pc-windows-msvc'
 
 $BINARY = "pixi-$ARCH-$PLATFORM"
 
-if ($PIXI_VERSION -eq "latest") {
+if ($PixiVersion -eq 'latest') {
     $DOWNLOAD_URL = "https://github.com/$REPO/releases/latest/download/$BINARY.zip"
 } else {
-    $DOWNLOAD_URL = "https://github.com/$REPO/releases/download/$PIXI_VERSION/$BINARY.zip"
+    $DOWNLOAD_URL = "https://github.com/$REPO/releases/download/$PixiVersion/$BINARY.zip"
 }
 
-Write-Host "This script will automatically download and install Pixi ($PIXI_VERSION) for you."
+$BinDir = Join-Path $PixiHome 'bin'
+
+Write-Host "This script will automatically download and install Pixi ($PixiVersion) for you."
 Write-Host "Getting it from this url: $DOWNLOAD_URL"
-Write-Host "The binary will be installed into '$PIXI_DIR'"
+Write-Host "The binary will be installed into '$BinDir'"
 
 $TEMP_FILE = [System.IO.Path]::GetTempFileName()
 
@@ -31,23 +56,23 @@ try {
     Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $DOWNLOAD_URL -OutFile $TEMP_FILE
 
     # Create the install dir if it doesn't exist
-    if (!(Test-Path -Path $PIXI_DIR )) {
-        New-Item -ItemType directory -Path $PIXI_DIR
+    if (!(Test-Path -Path $BinDir)) {
+        New-Item -ItemType directory -Path $BinDir
     }
 
     $ZIP_FILE = $TEMP_FILE + ".zip"
     Rename-Item -Path $TEMP_FILE -NewName $ZIP_FILE
 
     # Extract pixi from the downloaded zip file
-    Expand-Archive -Path $ZIP_FILE -DestinationPath $PIXI_DIR -Force
+    Expand-Archive -Path $ZIP_FILE -DestinationPath $BinDir -Force
 
     # Add pixi to PATH if the folder is not already in the PATH variable
     $PATH = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User")
-    if ($PATH -notlike "*$PIXI_DIR*") {
-        Write-Output "Adding $PIXI_DIR to PATH`n"
-        [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$PIXI_DIR;" + [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User"), "User")
+    if ($PATH -notlike "*$BinDir*") {
+        Write-Output "Adding $BinDir to PATH`n"
+        [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$BinDir;" + [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User"), "User")
     } else {
-        Write-Output "$PIXI_DIR is already in PATH`n"
+        Write-Output "$BinDir is already in PATH`n"
     }
 } catch {
     Write-Host "Error: '$DOWNLOAD_URL' is not available or failed to download"
diff --git a/install/install.sh b/install/install.sh
index 03792a7b8..e1ac976dd 100644
--- a/install/install.sh
+++ b/install/install.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ set -euo pipefail
 __wrap__() {
 
 VERSION=${PIXI_VERSION:-latest}
-INSTALL_DIR=${PIXI_DIR:-"$HOME/.pixi/bin"}
+PIXI_HOME=${PIXI_HOME:-"$HOME/.pixi"}
+BIN_DIR="$PIXI_HOME/bin"
 
 REPO=prefix-dev/pixi
 PLATFORM=$(uname -s)
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ else
   DOWNLOAD_URL=https://github.com/${REPO}/releases/download/${VERSION}/${BINARY}.tar.gz
 fi
 
-printf "This script will automatically download and install Pixi (${VERSION}) for you.\nGetting it from this url: $DOWNLOAD_URL\nThe binary will be installed into '$INSTALL_DIR'\n"
+printf "This script will automatically download and install Pixi (${VERSION}) for you.\nGetting it from this url: $DOWNLOAD_URL\nThe binary will be installed into '$BIN_DIR'\n"
 
 if ! hash curl 2> /dev/null; then
   echo "error: you do not have 'curl' installed which is required for this script."
@@ -64,8 +65,8 @@ if [[ ! -s $TEMP_FILE ]]; then
 fi
 
 # Extract pixi from the downloaded tar file
-mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
-tar -xzf "$TEMP_FILE" -C "$INSTALL_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$BIN_DIR"
+tar -xzf "$TEMP_FILE" -C "$BIN_DIR"
 
 update_shell() {
     FILE=$1
@@ -91,17 +92,17 @@ case "$(basename "$SHELL")" in
             # Default to bashrc as that is used in non login shells instead of the profile.
             BASH_FILE=~/.bashrc
         fi
-        LINE="export PATH=\$PATH:${INSTALL_DIR}"
+        LINE="export PATH=\$PATH:${BIN_DIR}"
         update_shell $BASH_FILE "$LINE"
         ;;
 
     fish)
-        LINE="fish_add_path ${INSTALL_DIR}"
+        LINE="fish_add_path ${BIN_DIR}"
         update_shell ~/.config/fish/config.fish "$LINE"
         ;;
 
     zsh)
-        LINE="export PATH=\$PATH:${INSTALL_DIR}"
+        LINE="export PATH=\$PATH:${BIN_DIR}"
         update_shell ~/.zshrc "$LINE"
         ;;
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ case "$(basename "$SHELL")" in
         ;;
 esac
 
-chmod +x "$INSTALL_DIR/pixi"
+chmod +x "$BIN_DIR/pixi"
 
 echo "Please restart or source your shell."
 
diff --git a/src/cli/global/install.rs b/src/cli/global/install.rs
index 2f790ef1f..b4d9d49f8 100644
--- a/src/cli/global/install.rs
+++ b/src/cli/global/install.rs
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@ use std::{
     str::FromStr,
 };
 
-const BIN_DIR: &str = ".pixi/bin";
-const BIN_ENVS_DIR: &str = ".pixi/envs";
-
 /// Installs the defined package in a global accessible location.
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
 #[clap(arg_required_else_help = true)]
@@ -70,11 +67,20 @@ impl BinDir {
     }
 }
 
-/// Binaries are installed in ~/.pixi/bin
+/// Get pixi home directory, default to `$HOME/.pixi`
+fn home_path() -> miette::Result<PathBuf> {
+    if let Some(path) = std::env::var_os("PIXI_HOME") {
+        Ok(PathBuf::from(path))
+    } else {
+        home_dir()
+            .map(|path| path.join(".pixi"))
+            .ok_or_else(|| miette::miette!("could not find home directory"))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Global binaries directory, default to `$HOME/.pixi/bin`
 fn bin_dir() -> miette::Result<PathBuf> {
-    Ok(home_dir()
-        .ok_or_else(|| miette::miette!("could not find home directory"))?
-        .join(BIN_DIR))
+    home_path().map(|path| path.join("bin"))
 }
 
 pub(crate) struct BinEnvDir(pub PathBuf);
@@ -111,11 +117,9 @@ impl BinEnvDir {
     }
 }
 
-/// Binary environments are installed in ~/.pixi/envs
+/// GLobal binary environments directory, default to `$HOME/.pixi/envs`
 pub(crate) fn bin_env_dir() -> miette::Result<PathBuf> {
-    Ok(home_dir()
-        .ok_or_else(|| miette::miette!("could not find home directory"))?
-        .join(BIN_ENVS_DIR))
+    home_path().map(|path| path.join("envs"))
 }
 
 /// Find the designated package in the prefix
@@ -376,11 +380,10 @@ pub async fn execute(args: Args) -> miette::Result<()> {
             "{whitespace}These apps are now globally available:\n{whitespace} -  {script_names}",
         )
     } else {
-        let bin_dir = format!("~/{BIN_DIR}");
         eprintln!("{whitespace}These apps have been added to {}\n{whitespace} -  {script_names}\n\n{} To use them, make sure to add {} to your PATH",
-                      console::style(&bin_dir).bold(),
+                      console::style(&bin_dir.display()).bold(),
                       console::style("!").yellow().bold(),
-                      console::style(&bin_dir).bold()
+                      console::style(&bin_dir.display()).bold()
             )
     }