diff --git a/contact/ui/user_config.py b/contact/ui/user_config.py
index bc59b6c..51d1544 100644
--- a/contact/ui/user_config.py
+++ b/contact/ui/user_config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os
-import json
 import curses
 from typing import Any, List, Dict, Optional
 
@@ -429,22 +428,15 @@ def json_editor(stdscr: curses.window, menu_state: Any) -> bool:
     menu_state.selected_index = 0  # Track the selected option
     made_changes = False  # Track if any changes were made
 
-    script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
-    parent_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(script_dir, os.pardir))
-    file_path = os.path.join(parent_dir, "config.json")
+    file_path = config.json_file_path
 
     menu_state.show_save_option = True  # Always show the Save button
     menu_state.help_win = None
     menu_state.help_text = {}
 
-    # Ensure the file exists
-    if not os.path.exists(file_path):
-        with open(file_path, "w") as f:
-            json.dump({}, f)
-
-    # Load JSON data
-    with open(file_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-        original_data = json.load(f)
+    # Use the same path and defaults as startup, including the writable
+    # fallback for shared installations and CONTACT_CONFIG_ROOT overrides.
+    original_data = config.initialize_config()
 
     data = original_data  # Reference to the original data
     menu_state.current_menu = data  # Track the current level of the menu
diff --git a/tests/test_user_config.py b/tests/test_user_config.py
index c76d1df..eab8ccb 100644
--- a/tests/test_user_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_user_config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
-from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
+import json
+from contextlib import ExitStack
+from pathlib import Path
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile, TemporaryDirectory
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 from unittest import mock
 
 import contact.ui.default_config  # Initialize config before the color helpers.
@@ -7,6 +11,35 @@ from contact.ui import user_config
 
 
 class UserConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_editor_reads_and_saves_active_config_outside_installation(self):
+        for existing in (False, True):
+            with self.subTest(existing=existing), TemporaryDirectory() as directory, ExitStack() as stack:
+                root = Path(directory)
+                config_path = root / "config.json"
+                package = root / "site-packages" / "contact"
+                (package / "ui").mkdir(parents=True)
+                if existing:
+                    config_path.write_text(json.dumps({"message_prefix": "Custom"}), encoding="utf-8")
+                stack.enter_context(mock.patch.object(user_config, "__file__", str(package / "ui" / "user_config.py")))
+                stack.enter_context(mock.patch.object(user_config.config, "json_file_path", str(config_path)))
+                reload_config = stack.enter_context(mock.patch.object(user_config.config, "reload_config"))
+                stack.enter_context(mock.patch.object(user_config, "reload_translations"))
+                stack.enter_context(mock.patch.object(user_config, "update_app_settings_help"))
+                window = mock.Mock()
+                state = SimpleNamespace()
+                stack.enter_context(mock.patch.object(user_config, "display_menu", return_value=(window, mock.Mock(), [])))
+
+                def save_from_editor():
+                    self.assertEqual(state.current_menu["message_prefix"], "Custom" if existing else ">>")
+                    state.current_menu["message_prefix"] = "Edited"
+                    return 10  # Save button.
+
+                window.getch.side_effect = save_from_editor
+                self.assertFalse(user_config.json_editor(mock.Mock(), state))
+                self.assertEqual(json.loads(config_path.read_text())["message_prefix"], "Edited")
+                self.assertFalse((package / "config.json").exists())
+                reload_config.assert_called_once_with()
+
     def test_ping_bot_enabled_uses_boolean_picker(self) -> None:
         with mock.patch.object(user_config, "get_list_input", return_value="True") as picker:
             result = user_config.edit_value("enabled", "Enabled", "False")