diff --git a/lib/ai.js b/lib/ai.js
index aac4a8904..7bbfa2d28 100644
--- a/lib/ai.js
+++ b/lib/ai.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { generateText } from 'ai'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import path from 'path'
 import { fileExists } from './utils.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 
 const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
 
@@ -24,8 +25,8 @@ async function loadPrompts() {
   for (const name of promptNames) {
     let promptPath
 
-    if (global.codecept_dir) {
-      promptPath = path.join(global.codecept_dir, `prompts/${name}.js`)
+    if (store.codeceptDir) {
+      promptPath = path.join(store.codeceptDir, `prompts/${name}.js`)
     }
 
     if (!promptPath || !fileExists(promptPath)) {
diff --git a/lib/codecept.js b/lib/codecept.js
index 97f257f50..e01fe8345 100644
--- a/lib/codecept.js
+++ b/lib/codecept.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { emptyFolder } from './utils.js'
 import { initCodeceptGlobals } from './globals.js'
 import { validateTypeScriptSetup, getTSNodeESMWarning } from './utils/loaderCheck.js'
 import recorder from './recorder.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 
 import storeListener from './listener/store.js'
 import stepsListener from './listener/steps.js'
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ class Codecept {
         } else {
           // For npm packages, resolve from the user's directory
           // This ensures packages like tsx are found in user's node_modules
-          const userDir = global.codecept_dir || process.cwd()
+          const userDir = store.codeceptDir || process.cwd()
           
           try {
             // Use createRequire to resolve from user's directory
@@ -102,8 +103,6 @@ class Codecept {
     await this.requireModules(this.requiringModules)
     // initializing listeners
     await container.create(this.config, this.opts)
-    // Store container globally for easy access
-    global.container = container
     await this.runHooks()
   }
 
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ class Codecept {
    */
   loadTests(pattern) {
     const options = {
-      cwd: global.codecept_dir,
+      cwd: store.codeceptDir,
     }
 
     let patterns = [pattern]
@@ -203,7 +202,7 @@ class Codecept {
         globSync(pattern, options).forEach(file => {
           if (file.includes('node_modules')) return
           if (!fsPath.isAbsolute(file)) {
-            file = fsPath.join(global.codecept_dir, file)
+            file = fsPath.join(store.codeceptDir, file)
           }
           if (!this.testFiles.includes(fsPath.resolve(file))) {
             this.testFiles.push(fsPath.resolve(file))
@@ -293,7 +292,7 @@ class Codecept {
 
       if (test) {
         if (!fsPath.isAbsolute(test)) {
-          test = fsPath.join(global.codecept_dir, test)
+          test = fsPath.join(store.codeceptDir, test)
         }
         const testBasename = fsPath.basename(test, '.js')
         const testFeatureBasename = fsPath.basename(test, '.feature')
diff --git a/lib/command/dryRun.js b/lib/command/dryRun.js
index 207483764..1d46caf85 100644
--- a/lib/command/dryRun.js
+++ b/lib/command/dryRun.js
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ async function printTests(files) {
   const { default: figures } = await import('figures')
   const { default: colors } = await import('chalk')
 
-  output.print(output.styles.debug(`Tests from ${global.codecept_dir}:`))
+  output.print(output.styles.debug(`Tests from ${store.codeceptDir}:`))
   output.print()
 
   const mocha = Container.mocha()
diff --git a/lib/command/generate.js b/lib/command/generate.js
index 6b9ad8dc3..431395b9f 100644
--- a/lib/command/generate.js
+++ b/lib/command/generate.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { mkdirp } from 'mkdirp'
 import path from 'path'
 import { fileExists, ucfirst, lcfirst, beautify } from '../utils.js'
 import output from '../output.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 import generateDefinitions from './definitions.js'
 import { getConfig, getTestRoot, safeFileWrite, readConfig } from './utils.js'
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ Scenario('test something', async ({ {{actor}} }) => {
 // generates empty test
 export async function test(genPath) {
   const testsPath = getTestRoot(genPath)
+  store.codeceptDir = testsPath
   global.codecept_dir = testsPath
   const config = await getConfig(testsPath)
   if (!config) return
diff --git a/lib/command/gherkin/snippets.js b/lib/command/gherkin/snippets.js
index 612cb5cd5..cf832f5ef 100644
--- a/lib/command/gherkin/snippets.js
+++ b/lib/command/gherkin/snippets.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import fsPath from 'path'
 import { getConfig, getTestRoot } from '../utils.js'
 import Codecept from '../../codecept.js'
 import output from '../../output.js'
+import store from '../../store.js'
 import { matchStep } from '../../mocha/bdd.js'
 
 const uuidFn = IdGenerator.uuid()
@@ -43,9 +44,9 @@ export default async function (genPath, options) {
   }
 
   const files = []
-  globSync(options.feature || config.gherkin.features, { cwd: options.feature ? '.' : global.codecept_dir }).forEach(file => {
+  globSync(options.feature || config.gherkin.features, { cwd: options.feature ? '.' : store.codeceptDir }).forEach(file => {
     if (!fsPath.isAbsolute(file)) {
-      file = fsPath.join(global.codecept_dir, file)
+      file = fsPath.join(store.codeceptDir, file)
     }
     files.push(fsPath.resolve(file))
   })
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ export default async function (genPath, options) {
       if (child.scenario.keyword === 'Scenario Outline') continue // skip scenario outline
       parseSteps(child.scenario.steps)
         .map(step => {
-          return Object.assign(step, { file: file.replace(global.codecept_dir, '').slice(1) })
+          return Object.assign(step, { file: file.replace(store.codeceptDir, '').slice(1) })
         })
         .map(step => newSteps.set(`${step.type}(${step})`, step))
     }
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ export default async function (genPath, options) {
   }
 
   if (!fsPath.isAbsolute(stepFile)) {
-    stepFile = fsPath.join(global.codecept_dir, stepFile)
+    stepFile = fsPath.join(store.codeceptDir, stepFile)
   }
 
   const snippets = [...newSteps.values()]
diff --git a/lib/command/init.js b/lib/command/init.js
index 589ec51be..9e6295d10 100644
--- a/lib/command/init.js
+++ b/lib/command/init.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const defaultConfig = {
   output: '',
   helpers: {},
   include: {},
+  noGlobals: true,
   plugins: {
   },
 }
diff --git a/lib/command/run-multiple.js b/lib/command/run-multiple.js
index ce71744d0..6f28af9bc 100644
--- a/lib/command/run-multiple.js
+++ b/lib/command/run-multiple.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import event from '../event.js'
 import { createRuns } from './run-multiple/collection.js'
 import { clearString, replaceValueDeep } from '../utils.js'
 import { getConfig, getTestRoot, fail } from './utils.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename)
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export default async function (selectedRuns, options) {
   const configFile = options.config
 
   const testRoot = getTestRoot(configFile)
+  store.codeceptDir = testRoot
   global.codecept_dir = testRoot
 
   // copy opts to run
diff --git a/lib/command/run-workers.js b/lib/command/run-workers.js
index 695a33365..b010a3128 100644
--- a/lib/command/run-workers.js
+++ b/lib/command/run-workers.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export default async function (workerCount, selectedRuns, options) {
   output.print(`CodeceptJS v${Codecept.version()} ${output.standWithUkraine()}`)
   output.print(`Running tests in ${output.styles.bold(numberOfWorkers)} workers...`)
   store.hasWorkers = true
+  store.workerMode = true
   process.env.RUNS_WITH_WORKERS = 'true'
 
   const workers = new Workers(numberOfWorkers, config)
diff --git a/lib/command/run.js b/lib/command/run.js
index 9491bd218..3061aa8de 100644
--- a/lib/command/run.js
+++ b/lib/command/run.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export default async function (test, options) {
     codecept.loadTests(test)
 
     if (options.verbose) {
-      global.debugMode = true
+      store.debugMode = true
       const { getMachineInfo } = await import('./info.js')
       await getMachineInfo()
     }
diff --git a/lib/command/workers/runTests.js b/lib/command/workers/runTests.js
index a9f0fd343..9a4e4f233 100644
--- a/lib/command/workers/runTests.js
+++ b/lib/command/workers/runTests.js
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ const { options, tests, testRoot, workerIndex, poolMode } = workerData
 
 // Global error handlers to catch critical errors but not test failures
 process.on('uncaughtException', (err) => {
-  if (global.container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
-    const fileMapping = global.container.tsFileMapping()
+  if (container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
+    const fileMapping = container.tsFileMapping()
     if (fileMapping) {
       fixErrorStack(err, fileMapping)
     }
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ process.on('uncaughtException', (err) => {
 })
 
 process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason, promise) => {
-  if (reason && typeof reason === 'object' && reason.stack && global.container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
-    const fileMapping = global.container.tsFileMapping()
+  if (reason && typeof reason === 'object' && reason.stack && container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
+    const fileMapping = container.tsFileMapping()
     if (fileMapping) {
       fixErrorStack(reason, fileMapping)
     }
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ initPromise = (async function () {
       // IMPORTANT: await is required here since getConfig is async
       baseConfig = await getConfig(options.config || testRoot)
     } catch (configErr) {
-      if (global.container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
-        const fileMapping = global.container.tsFileMapping()
+      if (container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
+        const fileMapping = container.tsFileMapping()
         if (fileMapping) {
           fixErrorStack(configErr, fileMapping)
         }
@@ -185,8 +185,8 @@ initPromise = (async function () {
     try {
       await codecept.init(testRoot)
     } catch (initErr) {
-      if (global.container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
-        const fileMapping = global.container.tsFileMapping()
+      if (container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
+        const fileMapping = container.tsFileMapping()
         if (fileMapping) {
           fixErrorStack(initErr, fileMapping)
         }
@@ -218,8 +218,8 @@ initPromise = (async function () {
       parentPort?.close()
     }
   } catch (err) {
-    if (global.container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
-      const fileMapping = global.container.tsFileMapping()
+    if (container?.tsFileMapping && fixErrorStack) {
+      const fileMapping = container.tsFileMapping()
       if (fileMapping) {
         fixErrorStack(err, fileMapping)
       }
diff --git a/lib/container.js b/lib/container.js
index 6bf89ba92..2185226a6 100644
--- a/lib/container.js
+++ b/lib/container.js
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class Container {
    * @api
    */
   static tsFileMapping() {
-    return container.tsFileMapping
+    return store.tsFileMapping
   }
 
   /**
@@ -426,11 +426,11 @@ async function requireHelperFromModule(helperName, config, HelperClass) {
         tempJsFile = allTempFiles
         fileMapping = mapping
         // Store file mapping in container for runtime error fixing (merge with existing)
-        if (!container.tsFileMapping) {
-          container.tsFileMapping = new Map()
+        if (!store.tsFileMapping) {
+          store.tsFileMapping = new Map()
         }
         for (const [key, value] of mapping.entries()) {
-          container.tsFileMapping.set(key, value)
+          store.tsFileMapping.set(key, value)
         }
       } catch (tsError) {
         throw new Error(`Failed to load TypeScript helper ${importPath}: ${tsError.message}. Make sure 'typescript' package is installed.`)
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ async function createPlugins(config, options = {}) {
       continue
     }
 
-    if (!options.child && process.env.RUNS_WITH_WORKERS === 'true' && !runInParent) {
+    if (!options.child && store.workerMode && !runInParent) {
       continue
     }
     let module
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ async function createPlugins(config, options = {}) {
         module = pluginConfig.require
         if (module.startsWith('.')) {
           // local
-          module = path.resolve(global.codecept_dir, module) // custom plugin
+          module = path.resolve(store.codeceptDir, module) // custom plugin
         }
       } else {
         module = `./plugin/${pluginName}.js`
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ async function loadGherkinStepsAsync(paths) {
       bddModule.clearCurrentStepFile()
     }
   } else {
-    const folderPath = paths.startsWith('.') ? normalizeAndJoin(global.codecept_dir, paths) : ''
+    const folderPath = paths.startsWith('.') ? normalizeAndJoin(store.codeceptDir, paths) : ''
     if (folderPath !== '') {
       const files = globSync(folderPath)
       for (const file of files) {
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ async function loadSupportObject(modulePath, supportObjectName) {
     }
   }
   if (typeof modulePath === 'string' && modulePath.charAt(0) === '.') {
-    modulePath = path.join(global.codecept_dir, modulePath)
+    modulePath = path.join(store.codeceptDir, modulePath)
   }
   try {
     // Use dynamic import for both ESM and CJS modules
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ async function loadTranslation(locale, vocabularies) {
   const langs = await Translation.getLangs()
   if (langs[locale]) {
     translation = new Translation(langs[locale])
-  } else if (fileExists(path.join(global.codecept_dir, locale))) {
+  } else if (fileExists(path.join(store.codeceptDir, locale))) {
     // get from a provided file instead
     translation = Translation.createDefault()
     translation.loadVocabulary(locale)
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ function getHelperModuleName(helperName, config) {
   // classical require
   if (config[helperName].require) {
     if (config[helperName].require.startsWith('.')) {
-      let helperPath = path.resolve(global.codecept_dir, config[helperName].require)
+      let helperPath = path.resolve(store.codeceptDir, config[helperName].require)
       // Add .js extension if not present for ESM compatibility
       if (!path.extname(helperPath)) {
         helperPath += '.js'
diff --git a/lib/globals.js b/lib/globals.js
index cfbbdff26..3285eb523 100644
--- a/lib/globals.js
+++ b/lib/globals.js
@@ -8,19 +8,35 @@ import fsPath from 'path'
 import ActorFactory from './actor.js'
 import output from './output.js'
 import locator from './locator.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 
 /**
  * Initialize CodeceptJS core globals
  * Called from Codecept.initGlobals()
  */
 export async function initCodeceptGlobals(dir, config, container) {
+  store.initialize({
+    codeceptDir: dir,
+    outputDir: fsPath.resolve(dir, config.output),
+  })
+
+  store.noGlobals = config.noGlobals || false
+  store.maskSensitiveData = config.maskSensitiveData || false
+
+  // Keep globals for backward compat with external plugins
   global.codecept_dir = dir
   global.output_dir = fsPath.resolve(dir, config.output)
 
   if (config.noGlobals) return;
-    // Set up actor global - will use container when available
+
+  output.print(output.styles.debug('Global functions are deprecated. Use `import { Helper, pause, within, session } from "codeceptjs"` instead. Set `noGlobals: true` in config to disable globals.'));
+
+  const HelperModule = await import('@codeceptjs/helper')
+  global.Helper = global.codecept_helper = HelperModule.default || HelperModule
+
+  // Set up actor global - will use container when available
   global.actor = global.codecept_actor = (obj) => {
-    return ActorFactory(obj, global.container || container)
+    return ActorFactory(obj, container)
   }
   global.Actor = global.actor
 
@@ -52,8 +68,6 @@ export async function initCodeceptGlobals(dir, config, container) {
   const secretModule = await import('./secret.js')
   global.secret = secretModule.secret || (secretModule.default && secretModule.default.secret)
 
-  global.codecept_debug = output.debug
-
   const codeceptjsModule = await import('./index.js') // load all objects
   global.codeceptjs = codeceptjsModule.default || codeceptjsModule
 
@@ -65,9 +79,6 @@ export async function initCodeceptGlobals(dir, config, container) {
   global.Then = stepDefinitions.Then
   global.DefineParameterType = stepDefinitions.defineParameterType
 
-  // debug mode
-  global.debugMode = false
-
   // mask sensitive data
   global.maskSensitiveData = config.maskSensitiveData || false
 
@@ -78,6 +89,8 @@ export async function initCodeceptGlobals(dir, config, container) {
  * Called from mocha/ui.js pre-require event
  */
 export function initMochaGlobals(context) {
+  if (store.noGlobals) return;
+
   // Mocha test framework globals
   global.BeforeAll = context.BeforeAll
   global.AfterAll = context.AfterAll
@@ -106,6 +119,8 @@ export function getGlobalNames() {
   return [
     'codecept_dir',
     'output_dir',
+    'Helper',
+    'codecept_helper',
     'actor',
     'codecept_actor',
     'Actor',
@@ -117,13 +132,11 @@ export function getGlobalNames() {
     'inject',
     'share',
     'secret',
-    'codecept_debug',
     'codeceptjs',
     'Given',
     'When',
     'Then',
     'DefineParameterType',
-    'debugMode',
     'maskSensitiveData',
     'BeforeAll',
     'AfterAll',
@@ -136,6 +149,5 @@ export function getGlobalNames() {
     'After',
     'Scenario',
     'xScenario',
-    'container'
   ]
 }
diff --git a/lib/heal.js b/lib/heal.js
index 0d8816705..53933495e 100644
--- a/lib/heal.js
+++ b/lib/heal.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import colors from 'chalk'
 import recorder from './recorder.js'
 import output from './output.js'
 import event from './event.js'
+import container from './container.js'
 
 /**
  * @class
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ class Heal {
       if (!prepareFn) continue
 
       if (context[property]) continue
-      context[property] = await prepareFn(global.inject())
+      context[property] = await prepareFn(container.support())
     }
 
     output.level(currentOutputLevel)
@@ -116,10 +117,10 @@ class Heal {
           })
 
           if (typeof codeSnippet === 'string') {
-            const I = global.container.support('I')
+            const I = container.support('I')
             await eval(codeSnippet)
           } else if (typeof codeSnippet === 'function') {
-            await codeSnippet(global.container.support())
+            await codeSnippet(container.support())
           }
 
           this.fixes.push({
diff --git a/lib/helper/ApiDataFactory.js b/lib/helper/ApiDataFactory.js
index f959b7f8e..cda505e36 100644
--- a/lib/helper/ApiDataFactory.js
+++ b/lib/helper/ApiDataFactory.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import path from 'path'
 import Helper from '@codeceptjs/helper'
 import REST from './REST.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 /**
  * Helper for managing remote data using REST API.
@@ -324,7 +325,7 @@ class ApiDataFactory extends Helper {
         await import.meta.resolve(modulePath)
       } catch (e) {
         // If not found, try relative to codecept_dir
-        modulePath = path.join(global.codecept_dir, modulePath)
+        modulePath = path.join(store.codeceptDir, modulePath)
       }
       // check if the new syntax `export default new Factory()` is used and loads the builder, otherwise loads the module that used old syntax `module.exports = new Factory()`.
       const module = await import(modulePath)
diff --git a/lib/helper/FileSystem.js b/lib/helper/FileSystem.js
index 6aff1d2b7..109bdb3a8 100644
--- a/lib/helper/FileSystem.js
+++ b/lib/helper/FileSystem.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import fs from 'fs'
 
 import Helper from '@codeceptjs/helper'
 import { fileExists } from '../utils.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 import { fileIncludes } from '../assert/include.js'
 import { fileEquals } from '../assert/equal.js'
 
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ import { fileEquals } from '../assert/equal.js'
 class FileSystem extends Helper {
   constructor() {
     super()
-    this.dir = global.codecept_dir
+    this.dir = store.codeceptDir
     this.file = ''
   }
 
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ class FileSystem extends Helper {
    * @param {string} openPath
    */
   amInPath(openPath) {
-    this.dir = path.join(global.codecept_dir, openPath)
+    this.dir = path.join(store.codeceptDir, openPath)
     try {
       this.debugSection('Dir', this.dir)
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/lib/helper/GraphQLDataFactory.js b/lib/helper/GraphQLDataFactory.js
index cc8fa9235..75dc5185f 100644
--- a/lib/helper/GraphQLDataFactory.js
+++ b/lib/helper/GraphQLDataFactory.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import path from 'path'
 
 import HelperModule from '@codeceptjs/helper'
 import GraphQL from './GraphQL.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 /**
  * Helper for managing remote data using GraphQL queries.
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ class GraphQLDataFactory extends Helper {
       try {
         require.resolve(modulePath)
       } catch (e) {
-        modulePath = path.join(global.codecept_dir, modulePath)
+        modulePath = path.join(store.codeceptDir, modulePath)
       }
       const builder = require(modulePath)
       return builder.build(data)
diff --git a/lib/helper/Playwright.js b/lib/helper/Playwright.js
index 862c3f342..1102327df 100644
--- a/lib/helper/Playwright.js
+++ b/lib/helper/Playwright.js
@@ -45,10 +45,6 @@ let playwright
 let perfTiming
 let defaultSelectorEnginesInitialized = false
 
-// Use global object to track selector registration across workers
-if (typeof global.__playwrightSelectorsRegistered === 'undefined') {
-  global.__playwrightSelectorsRegistered = false
-}
 
 const popupStore = new Popup()
 const consoleLogStore = new Console()
@@ -449,7 +445,7 @@ class Playwright extends Helper {
       this.options.recordVideo = { size }
     }
     if (this.options.recordVideo && !this.options.recordVideo.dir) {
-      this.options.recordVideo.dir = `${global.output_dir}/videos/`
+      this.options.recordVideo.dir = `${store.outputDir}/videos/`
     }
     this.isRemoteBrowser = !!this.playwrightOptions.browserWSEndpoint
     this.isElectron = this.options.browser === 'electron'
@@ -511,18 +507,18 @@ class Playwright extends Helper {
     try {
       // Always wrap in try-catch since selectors might be registered globally across workers
       // Check global flag to avoid re-registration in worker processes
-      if (!global.__playwrightSelectorsRegistered) {
+      if (!defaultSelectorEnginesInitialized) {
         try {
           await playwright.selectors.register('__value', createValueEngine)
           await playwright.selectors.register('__disabled', createDisabledEngine)
-          global.__playwrightSelectorsRegistered = true
+          defaultSelectorEnginesInitialized = true
           defaultSelectorEnginesInitialized = true
         } catch (e) {
           if (!e.message.includes('already registered')) {
             throw e
           }
           // Selector already registered globally by another worker
-          global.__playwrightSelectorsRegistered = true
+          defaultSelectorEnginesInitialized = true
           defaultSelectorEnginesInitialized = true
         }
       } else {
@@ -615,7 +611,7 @@ class Playwright extends Helper {
       if (this.options.recordVideo) contextOptions.recordVideo = this.options.recordVideo
       if (this.options.recordHar) {
         const harExt = this.options.recordHar.content && this.options.recordHar.content === 'attach' ? 'zip' : 'har'
-        const fileName = `${`${global.output_dir}${path.sep}har${path.sep}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(this.currentRunningTest.title)}`.slice(0, 245)}.${harExt}`
+        const fileName = `${`${store.outputDir}${path.sep}har${path.sep}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(this.currentRunningTest.title)}`.slice(0, 245)}.${harExt}`
         const dir = path.dirname(fileName)
         if (!fileExists(dir)) fs.mkdirSync(dir)
         this.options.recordHar.path = fileName
@@ -1637,7 +1633,7 @@ class Playwright extends Helper {
    * @returns Promise<void>
    */
   async replayFromHar(harFilePath, opts) {
-    const file = path.join(global.codecept_dir, harFilePath)
+    const file = path.join(store.codeceptDir, harFilePath)
 
     if (!fileExists(file)) {
       throw new Error(`File at ${file} cannot be found on local system`)
@@ -2048,7 +2044,7 @@ class Playwright extends Helper {
       const filePath = await download.path()
       fileName = fileName || `downloads/${path.basename(filePath)}`
 
-      const downloadPath = path.join(global.output_dir, fileName)
+      const downloadPath = path.join(store.outputDir, fileName)
       if (!fs.existsSync(path.dirname(downloadPath))) {
         fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(downloadPath), '0777')
       }
@@ -2347,7 +2343,7 @@ class Playwright extends Helper {
    *
    */
   async attachFile(locator, pathToFile, context = null) {
-    const file = path.join(global.codecept_dir, pathToFile)
+    const file = path.join(store.codeceptDir, pathToFile)
 
     if (!fileExists(file)) {
       throw new Error(`File at ${file} can not be found on local system`)
@@ -4823,7 +4819,7 @@ async function refreshContextSession() {
 
 function saveVideoForPage(page, name) {
   if (!page.video()) return null
-  const fileName = `${`${global.output_dir}${pathSeparator}videos${pathSeparator}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(name)}`.slice(0, 245)}.webm`
+  const fileName = `${`${store.outputDir}${pathSeparator}videos${pathSeparator}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(name)}`.slice(0, 245)}.webm`
   page
     .video()
     .saveAs(fileName)
@@ -4840,7 +4836,7 @@ async function saveTraceForContext(context, name) {
   if (!context) return
   if (!context.tracing) return
   try {
-    const fileName = `${`${global.output_dir}${pathSeparator}trace${pathSeparator}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(name)}`.slice(0, 245)}.zip`
+    const fileName = `${`${store.outputDir}${pathSeparator}trace${pathSeparator}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(name)}`.slice(0, 245)}.zip`
     await context.tracing.stop({ path: fileName })
     return fileName
   } catch (err) {
diff --git a/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js b/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js
index b99821220..26e6ddfa4 100644
--- a/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js
+++ b/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
     }
 
     if (this.options.trace) {
-      const fileName = `${`${global.output_dir}${path.sep}trace${path.sep}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(this.currentRunningTest.title)}`.slice(0, 245)}.json`
+      const fileName = `${`${store.outputDir}${path.sep}trace${path.sep}${uuidv4()}_${clearString(this.currentRunningTest.title)}`.slice(0, 245)}.json`
       const dir = path.dirname(fileName)
       if (!fileExists(dir)) fs.mkdirSync(dir)
       await this.page.tracing.start({ screenshots: true, path: fileName })
@@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
    * @param {string} [downloadPath='downloads'] change this parameter to set another directory for saving
    */
   async handleDownloads(downloadPath = 'downloads') {
-    downloadPath = path.join(global.output_dir, downloadPath)
+    downloadPath = path.join(store.outputDir, downloadPath)
     if (!fs.existsSync(downloadPath)) {
       fs.mkdirSync(downloadPath, '0777')
     }
@@ -1388,7 +1388,7 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
       },
     })
 
-    const outputFile = path.join(`${global.output_dir}/${fileName}`)
+    const outputFile = path.join(`${store.outputDir}/${fileName}`)
 
     try {
       await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
@@ -1656,7 +1656,7 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
    * {{> attachFile }}
    */
   async attachFile(locator, pathToFile, context = null) {
-    const file = path.join(global.codecept_dir, pathToFile)
+    const file = path.join(store.codeceptDir, pathToFile)
 
     if (!fileExists(file)) {
       throw new Error(`File at ${file} can not be found on local system`)
@@ -3568,7 +3568,7 @@ function getNormalizedKey(key) {
 }
 
 function highlightActiveElement(element, context) {
-  if (this.options.highlightElement && global.debugMode) {
+  if (this.options.highlightElement && store.debugMode) {
     highlightElement(element, context)
   }
 }
diff --git a/lib/helper/WebDriver.js b/lib/helper/WebDriver.js
index 7560d30e3..05e1df908 100644
--- a/lib/helper/WebDriver.js
+++ b/lib/helper/WebDriver.js
@@ -1353,7 +1353,7 @@ class WebDriver extends Helper {
    * {{> attachFile }}
    */
   async attachFile(locator, pathToFile, context = null) {
-    let file = path.join(global.codecept_dir, pathToFile)
+    let file = path.join(store.codeceptDir, pathToFile)
     if (!fileExists(file)) {
       throw new Error(`File at ${file} can not be found on local system`)
     }
@@ -3484,7 +3484,7 @@ function isModifierKey(key) {
 }
 
 function highlightActiveElement(element) {
-  if (this.options.highlightElement && global.debugMode) {
+  if (this.options.highlightElement && store.debugMode) {
     highlightElement(element, this.browser)
   }
 }
diff --git a/lib/helper/extras/Download.js b/lib/helper/extras/Download.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f0b7329cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/helper/extras/Download.js
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import fs from 'fs'
+import path from 'path'
+import minimatch from 'minimatch'
+import store from '../../store.js'
+import assert from 'assert'
+
+function getDownloadDir() {
+  return path.join(store.outputDir, 'downloads')
+}
+
+function getNewFiles(downloadDir, sinceTimestamp) {
+  if (!fs.existsSync(downloadDir)) return []
+  return fs.readdirSync(downloadDir).filter(name => {
+    const stat = fs.statSync(path.join(downloadDir, name))
+    return stat.isFile() && stat.mtimeMs >= sinceTimestamp
+  })
+}
+
+function seeFileDownloaded(arg) {
+  const downloadDir = getDownloadDir()
+  const files = getNewFiles(downloadDir, this._downloadStartTimestamp)
+
+  if (arg === undefined || arg === null) {
+    assert.ok(files.length > 0, `No files downloaded to ${downloadDir}`)
+    return
+  }
+  if (typeof arg === 'number') {
+    assert.strictEqual(files.length, arg, `Expected ${arg} downloaded file(s), found ${files.length}: [${files.join(', ')}]`)
+    return
+  }
+  const regexMatch = arg.match(/^\/(.+)\/$/)
+  if (regexMatch) {
+    const re = new RegExp(regexMatch[1])
+    assert.ok(files.some(f => re.test(f)), `No file matches ${arg}. Downloaded: [${files.join(', ')}]`)
+    return
+  }
+  if (/[*?[\]]/.test(arg)) {
+    const matched = minimatch.match(files, arg)
+    assert.ok(matched.length > 0, `No file matches glob "${arg}". Downloaded: [${files.join(', ')}]`)
+    return
+  }
+  assert.ok(files.includes(arg), `File "${arg}" not downloaded. Downloaded: [${files.join(', ')}]`)
+}
+
+export { seeFileDownloaded, getDownloadDir }
diff --git a/lib/history.js b/lib/history.js
index 326f0c1a1..dc72cb916 100644
--- a/lib/history.js
+++ b/lib/history.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import colors from 'chalk'
 import fs from 'fs'
 import path from 'path'
 import output from './output.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 
 /**
  * REPL history records REPL commands and stores them in
@@ -9,8 +10,8 @@ import output from './output.js'
  */
 class ReplHistory {
   constructor() {
-    if (global.output_dir) {
-      this.historyFile = path.join(global.output_dir, 'cli-history')
+    if (store.outputDir) {
+      this.historyFile = path.join(store.outputDir, 'cli-history')
     }
     this.commands = []
   }
diff --git a/lib/listener/config.js b/lib/listener/config.js
index d8f5ab4bd..4c58c27de 100644
--- a/lib/listener/config.js
+++ b/lib/listener/config.js
@@ -2,16 +2,18 @@ import event from '../event.js'
 import recorder from '../recorder.js'
 import { deepMerge, deepClone, ucfirst } from '../utils.js'
 import output from '../output.js'
+import container from '../container.js'
 
 /**
  * Enable Helpers to listen to test events
  */
+let initialized = false
+
 export default function () {
-  // Use global flag to prevent duplicate initialization across module re-imports
-  if (global.__codeceptConfigListenerInitialized) {
+  if (initialized) {
     return
   }
-  global.__codeceptConfigListenerInitialized = true
+  initialized = true
 
   enableDynamicConfigFor('suite')
   enableDynamicConfigFor('test')
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ export default function () {
     event.dispatcher.on(event[type].before, (context = {}) => {
       // Get helpers dynamically at runtime, not at initialization time
       // This ensures we get the actual helper instances, not placeholders
-      const helpers = global.container.helpers()
+      const helpers = container.helpers()
 
       function updateHelperConfig(helper, config) {
         // Guard against undefined or invalid helpers
diff --git a/lib/listener/emptyRun.js b/lib/listener/emptyRun.js
index 76d1991de..132b866f8 100644
--- a/lib/listener/emptyRun.js
+++ b/lib/listener/emptyRun.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import figures from 'figures'
 import event from '../event.js'
 import output from '../output.js'
+import container from '../container.js'
 import { searchWithFusejs } from '../utils.js'
 
 export default function () {
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ export default function () {
 
   event.dispatcher.on(event.all.result, () => {
     if (isEmptyRun) {
-      const mocha = global.container.mocha()
+      const mocha = container.mocha()
 
       if (mocha.options.grep) {
         output.print()
diff --git a/lib/listener/helpers.js b/lib/listener/helpers.js
index 50256d392..50a4162a0 100644
--- a/lib/listener/helpers.js
+++ b/lib/listener/helpers.js
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ import event from '../event.js'
 import recorder from '../recorder.js'
 import store from '../store.js'
 import output from '../output.js'
+import container from '../container.js'
 /**
  * Enable Helpers to listen to test events
  */
 export default function () {
-  const helpers = global.container.helpers()
+  const helpers = container.helpers()
 
   const runHelpersHook = (hook, param) => {
     if (store.dryRun) return
diff --git a/lib/listener/mocha.js b/lib/listener/mocha.js
index f4ae91f6f..ed0128de4 100644
--- a/lib/listener/mocha.js
+++ b/lib/listener/mocha.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import event from '../event.js'
+import container from '../container.js'
 
 export default function () {
   let mocha
 
   event.dispatcher.on(event.all.before, () => {
-    mocha = global.container.mocha()
+    mocha = container.mocha()
   })
 
   event.dispatcher.on(event.test.passed, test => {
diff --git a/lib/listener/result.js b/lib/listener/result.js
index 19532b5d1..acd74bfaa 100644
--- a/lib/listener/result.js
+++ b/lib/listener/result.js
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import event from '../event.js'
+import container from '../container.js'
 
 export default function () {
   event.dispatcher.on(event.hook.failed, err => {
-    global.container.result().addStats({ failedHooks: 1 })
+    container.result().addStats({ failedHooks: 1 })
   })
 
   event.dispatcher.on(event.test.before, test => {
-    global.container.result().addTest(test)
+    container.result().addTest(test)
   })
 }
diff --git a/lib/mocha/cli.js b/lib/mocha/cli.js
index bb08e0caa..56b637922 100644
--- a/lib/mocha/cli.js
+++ b/lib/mocha/cli.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { dirname, join } from 'path'
 import event from '../event.js'
 import AssertionFailedError from '../assert/error.js'
 import output from '../output.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 import test, { cloneTest } from './test.js'
 import { fixErrorStack } from '../utils/typescript.js'
 
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ class Cli extends Base {
     if (opts.verbose) level = 3
     output.level(level)
     output.print(`CodeceptJS v${codeceptVersion} ${output.standWithUkraine()}`)
-    output.print(`Using test root "${global.codecept_dir}"`)
+    output.print(`Using test root "${store.codeceptDir}"`)
 
     const showSteps = level >= 1
 
@@ -213,6 +214,7 @@ class Cli extends Base {
       }
 
       // append step traces
+      const Container = await getContainer()
       this.failures = this.failures.map(test => {
         // we will change the stack trace, so we need to clone the test
         const err = test.err
@@ -275,7 +277,7 @@ class Cli extends Base {
         }
 
         try {
-          const fileMapping = global.container?.tsFileMapping?.()
+          const fileMapping = Container?.tsFileMapping?.()
           if (fileMapping) {
             fixErrorStack(err, fileMapping)
           }
diff --git a/lib/mocha/factory.js b/lib/mocha/factory.js
index c7f2d96de..2b8359b8d 100644
--- a/lib/mocha/factory.js
+++ b/lib/mocha/factory.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import output from '../output.js'
 import scenarioUiFunction from './ui.js'
 import { initMochaGlobals } from '../globals.js'
 import { fixErrorStack } from '../utils/typescript.js'
+import container from '../container.js'
 
 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const __dirname = fsPath.dirname(__filename)
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ class MochaFactory {
           // Handle ECONNREFUSED without dynamic import for now
           err = new Error('Connection refused: ' + err.toString())
         }
-        const fileMapping = global.container?.tsFileMapping?.()
+        const fileMapping = container?.tsFileMapping?.()
         if (fileMapping) {
           fixErrorStack(err, fileMapping)
         }
diff --git a/lib/mocha/scenarioConfig.js b/lib/mocha/scenarioConfig.js
index e06d208a6..23f54ffcd 100644
--- a/lib/mocha/scenarioConfig.js
+++ b/lib/mocha/scenarioConfig.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { isAsyncFunction } from '../utils.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 /** @class */
 class ScenarioConfig {
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ class ScenarioConfig {
    * @returns {this}
    */
   retry(retries) {
-    if (process.env.SCENARIO_ONLY) retries = -retries
+    if (store.scenarioOnly) retries = -retries
     this.test.retries(retries)
     return this
   }
diff --git a/lib/mocha/ui.js b/lib/mocha/ui.js
index 86bcbb030..b10c8fba9 100644
--- a/lib/mocha/ui.js
+++ b/lib/mocha/ui.js
@@ -9,13 +9,12 @@ import { HookConfig, AfterSuiteHook, AfterHook, BeforeSuiteHook, BeforeHook } fr
 import { initMochaGlobals } from '../globals.js'
 import common from 'mocha/lib/interfaces/common.js'
 import container from '../container.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 const setContextTranslation = context => {
-  // Try global container first, then local container instance
-  const containerToUse = global.container || container
-  if (!containerToUse) return
+  if (!container) return
 
-  const translation = containerToUse.translation?.() || containerToUse.translation
+  const translation = container.translation?.() || container.translation
   const contexts = translation?.value?.('contexts')
 
   if (contexts) {
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ export default function (suite) {
     context.Feature.only = function (title, opts) {
       const reString = `^${escapeRe(`${title}:`)}`
       mocha.grep(new RegExp(reString))
-      process.env.FEATURE_ONLY = true
+      store.featureOnly = true
       return context.Feature(title, opts)
     }
 
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ export default function (suite) {
     context.Scenario.only = function (title, opts, fn) {
       const reString = `^${escapeRe(`${suites[0].title}: ${title}`.replace(/( \| {.+})?$/g, ''))}`
       mocha.grep(new RegExp(reString))
-      process.env.SCENARIO_ONLY = true
+      store.scenarioOnly = true
       return addScenario(title, opts, fn)
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/plugin/aiTrace.js b/lib/plugin/aiTrace.js
index 8129ee9c9..e9ad15ed4 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/aiTrace.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/aiTrace.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { mkdirp } from 'mkdirp'
 import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
+import store from '../store.js'
 import Container from '../container.js'
 import recorder from '../recorder.js'
 import event from '../event.js'
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ const supportedHelpers = Container.STANDARD_ACTING_HELPERS
 const defaultConfig = {
   deleteSuccessful: false,
   fullPageScreenshots: false,
-  output: global.output_dir,
+  output: store.outputDir,
   captureHTML: true,
   captureARIA: true,
   captureBrowserLogs: true,
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ export default function (config) {
   let testFailed = false
   let firstFailedStepSaved = false
 
-  const reportDir = config.output ? path.resolve(global.codecept_dir, config.output) : defaultConfig.output
+  const reportDir = config.output ? path.resolve(store.codeceptDir, config.output) : defaultConfig.output
 
   if (config.captureDebugOutput) {
     const originalDebug = output.debug
diff --git a/lib/plugin/analyze.js b/lib/plugin/analyze.js
index 6cd3ae521..b6feb7448 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/analyze.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/analyze.js
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ function serializeError(error) {
     errorMessage +=
       '\n' +
       error.stack
-        .replace(global.codecept_dir || '', '.')
+        .replace(store.codeceptDir || '', '.')
         .split('\n')
         .map(line => line.replace(ansiRegExp(), ''))
         .slice(0, 5)
diff --git a/lib/plugin/auth.js b/lib/plugin/auth.js
index a5e39d183..7e89c0635 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/auth.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/auth.js
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ export default function (config) {
       }
       if (config.saveToFile) {
         output.debug(`Saved user session into file for ${name}`)
-        fs.writeFileSync(path.join(global.output_dir, `${name}_session.json`), JSON.stringify(cookies))
+        fs.writeFileSync(path.join(store.outputDir, `${name}_session.json`), JSON.stringify(cookies))
       }
       store[`${name}_session`] = cookies
     }
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ export default function (config) {
       }
 
       if (!config.saveToFile) return
-      const cookieFile = path.join(global.output_dir, `${name}_session.json`)
+      const cookieFile = path.join(store.outputDir, `${name}_session.json`)
 
       if (!fileExists(cookieFile)) {
         return
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ export default function (config) {
 
 function loadCookiesFromFile(config) {
   for (const name in config.users) {
-    const fileName = path.join(global.output_dir, `${name}_session.json`)
+    const fileName = path.join(store.outputDir, `${name}_session.json`)
     if (!fileExists(fileName)) continue
     const data = fs.readFileSync(fileName).toString()
     try {
diff --git a/lib/plugin/pageInfo.js b/lib/plugin/pageInfo.js
index 76e3e88d6..7106738e4 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/pageInfo.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/pageInfo.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import recorder from '../recorder.js'
 import event from '../event.js'
 import { scanForErrorMessages } from '../html.js'
 import { output } from '../index.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 import { humanizeString, ucfirst } from '../utils.js'
 import { testToFileName } from '../mocha/test.js'
 const defaultConfig = {
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ export default function (config = {}) {
     recorder.add('Save page info', () => {
       test.addNote('pageInfo', pageStateToMarkdown(pageState))
 
-      const pageStateFileName = path.join(global.output_dir, `${testToFileName(test)}.pageInfo.md`)
+      const pageStateFileName = path.join(store.outputDir, `${testToFileName(test)}.pageInfo.md`)
       fs.writeFileSync(pageStateFileName, pageStateToMarkdown(pageState))
       test.artifacts.pageInfo = pageStateFileName
       return pageState
diff --git a/lib/plugin/screenshotOnFail.js b/lib/plugin/screenshotOnFail.js
index fa427e035..57c181d0f 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/screenshotOnFail.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/screenshotOnFail.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import recorder from '../recorder.js'
 import event from '../event.js'
 
 import output from '../output.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 import { fileExists } from '../utils.js'
 import Codeceptjs from '../index.js'
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ export default function (config) {
         } else {
           fileName = `${testToFileName(test, { suffix: '', unique: false })}.failed.png`
         }
-        const quietMode = !('output_dir' in global) || !global.output_dir
+        const quietMode = !store.outputDir
         if (!quietMode) {
           output.plugin('screenshotOnFail', 'Test failed, try to save a screenshot')
         }
@@ -139,9 +140,7 @@ export default function (config) {
           await Promise.race([screenshotPromise, timeoutPromise])
 
           if (!test.artifacts) test.artifacts = {}
-          // Some unit tests may not define global.output_dir; avoid throwing when it is undefined
-          // Detect output directory safely (may not be initialized in narrow unit tests)
-          const baseOutputDir = 'output_dir' in global && typeof global.output_dir === 'string' && global.output_dir ? global.output_dir : null
+          const baseOutputDir = store.outputDir || null
           if (baseOutputDir) {
             test.artifacts.screenshot = path.join(baseOutputDir, fileName)
             if (Container.mocha().options.reporterOptions['mocha-junit-reporter'] && Container.mocha().options.reporterOptions['mocha-junit-reporter'].options.attachments) {
diff --git a/lib/plugin/stepByStepReport.js b/lib/plugin/stepByStepReport.js
index ee1cb52ec..1fb0cd860 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/stepByStepReport.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/stepByStepReport.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { mkdirp } from 'mkdirp'
 import path from 'path'
 import cheerio from 'cheerio'
 
+import store from '../store.js'
 import Container from '../container.js'
 import recorder from '../recorder.js'
 import event from '../event.js'
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ const defaultConfig = {
   animateSlides: true,
   ignoreSteps: [],
   fullPageScreenshots: false,
-  output: global.output_dir,
+  output: store.outputDir,
   screenshotsForAllureReport: false,
   disableScreenshotOnFail: true,
 }
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ export default function (config) {
 
   const recordedTests = {}
   const pad = '0000'
-  const reportDir = config.output ? path.resolve(global.codecept_dir, config.output) : defaultConfig.output
+  const reportDir = config.output ? path.resolve(store.codeceptDir, config.output) : defaultConfig.output
 
   event.dispatcher.on(event.suite.before, suite => {
     stepNum = -1
diff --git a/lib/rerun.js b/lib/rerun.js
index 37632f684..9fb292e50 100644
--- a/lib/rerun.js
+++ b/lib/rerun.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import fsPath from 'path'
+import store from './store.js'
 import container from './container.js'
 import event from './event.js'
 import BaseCodecept from './codecept.js'
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ class CodeceptRerunner extends BaseCodecept {
         let filesToRun = this.testFiles
         if (test) {
           if (!fsPath.isAbsolute(test)) {
-            test = fsPath.join(global.codecept_dir, test)
+            test = fsPath.join(store.codeceptDir, test)
           }
           filesToRun = this.testFiles.filter(t => fsPath.basename(t, '.js') === test || t === test)
         }
diff --git a/lib/result.js b/lib/result.js
index 2f9985487..c7ff4f587 100644
--- a/lib/result.js
+++ b/lib/result.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import fs from 'fs'
 import path from 'path'
 import { serializeTest } from './mocha/test.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 
 /**
  * @typedef {Object} Stats Statistics for a test result.
@@ -212,7 +213,7 @@ class Result {
    */
   save(fileName) {
     if (!fileName) fileName = 'result.json'
-    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(global.output_dir, fileName), JSON.stringify(this.simplify(), null, 2))
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(store.outputDir, fileName), JSON.stringify(this.simplify(), null, 2))
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/lib/step/base.js b/lib/step/base.js
index 1000c048e..4d0e415ce 100644
--- a/lib/step/base.js
+++ b/lib/step/base.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import Secret from '../secret.js'
 import { getCurrentTimeout } from '../timeout.js'
 import { ucfirst, humanizeString, serializeError } from '../utils.js'
 import recordStep from './record.js'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 const STACK_LINE = 5
 
@@ -148,11 +149,11 @@ class Step {
     const lines = this.stack.split('\n')
     if (lines[STACK_LINE]) {
       let line = lines[STACK_LINE].trim()
-        .replace(global.codecept_dir || '', '.')
+        .replace(store.codeceptDir || '', '.')
         .trim()
 
       // Map .temp.mjs back to original .ts files using container's tsFileMapping
-      const fileMapping = global.container?.tsFileMapping?.()
+      const fileMapping = store.tsFileMapping
       if (line.includes('.temp.mjs') && fileMapping) {
         for (const [tsFile, mjsFile] of fileMapping.entries()) {
           if (line.includes(mjsFile)) {
diff --git a/lib/step/record.js b/lib/step/record.js
index 38124850e..0a7d82c6d 100644
--- a/lib/step/record.js
+++ b/lib/step/record.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ function recordStep(step, args) {
     step.endTime = +Date.now()
     
     // Fix error stack to point to original .ts files (lazy import to avoid circular dependency)
-    const fileMapping = global.container?.tsFileMapping?.()
+    const fileMapping = store.tsFileMapping
     if (fileMapping) {
       fixErrorStack(err, fileMapping)
     }
diff --git a/lib/store.js b/lib/store.js
index 47015eb8b..a6472cf8c 100644
--- a/lib/store.js
+++ b/lib/store.js
@@ -1,8 +1,34 @@
 /**
- * global values for current session
+ * Global store for current session
  * @namespace
  */
 const store = {
+  // --- Required (set once via initialize(), immutable after) ---
+
+  /** @type {string | null} */
+  _codeceptDir: null,
+  /** @type {string | null} */
+  _outputDir: null,
+
+  get codeceptDir() {
+    return this._codeceptDir || global.codecept_dir || null
+  },
+  set codeceptDir(val) {
+    this._codeceptDir = val
+  },
+
+  get outputDir() {
+    return this._outputDir || global.output_dir || null
+  },
+  set outputDir(val) {
+    this._outputDir = val
+  },
+
+  /** @type {boolean} */
+  workerMode: false,
+
+  // --- Session config (per-session, mutable, set at session start) ---
+
   /**
    * If we are in --debug mode
    * @type {boolean}
@@ -27,20 +53,63 @@ const store = {
    * @type {boolean}
    */
   dryRun: false,
+
+  /**
+   * Feature.only() was used
+   * @type {boolean}
+   */
+  featureOnly: false,
+
+  /**
+   * Scenario.only() was used
+   * @type {boolean}
+   */
+  scenarioOnly: false,
+
+  /**
+   * Mask sensitive data config
+   * @type {boolean|object}
+   */
+  maskSensitiveData: false,
+
+  /**
+   * noGlobals mode — user imports everything
+   * @type {boolean}
+   */
+  noGlobals: false,
+
+  // --- State (tracks current execution, changes constantly) ---
+
   /**
    * If we are in pause mode
    * @type {boolean}
    */
   onPause: false,
 
-  // current object states
-
   /** @type {CodeceptJS.Test | null} */
   currentTest: null,
   /** @type {CodeceptJS.Step | null} */
   currentStep: null,
   /** @type {CodeceptJS.Suite | null} */
   currentSuite: null,
+
+  /** @type {Map<string, string> | null} */
+  tsFileMapping: null,
+
+  /**
+   * Initialize required store fields.
+   * These values cannot be overwritten after initialization.
+   * @param {object} opts
+   * @param {string} opts.codeceptDir - root directory of tests
+   * @param {string} opts.outputDir - resolved output directory
+   */
+  initialize(opts) {
+    if (!opts.codeceptDir) throw new Error('codeceptDir is required')
+    if (!opts.outputDir) throw new Error('outputDir is required')
+
+    this._codeceptDir = opts.codeceptDir
+    this._outputDir = opts.outputDir
+  },
 }
 
 export default store
diff --git a/lib/translation.js b/lib/translation.js
index 2f617da1e..5afc90cfc 100644
--- a/lib/translation.js
+++ b/lib/translation.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import merge from 'lodash.merge'
 import path from 'path'
 import { createRequire } from 'module'
+import store from './store.js'
 
 const defaultVocabulary = {
   I: 'I',
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ class Translation {
 
   loadVocabulary(vocabularyFile) {
     if (!vocabularyFile) return
-    const filePath = path.join(global.codecept_dir, vocabularyFile)
+    const filePath = path.join(store.codeceptDir, vocabularyFile)
 
     try {
       const require = createRequire(import.meta.url)
diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index ac0d5d563..e606c59cb 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import getFunctionArguments from 'fn-args'
 import deepClone from 'lodash.clonedeep'
 import merge from 'lodash.merge'
 import { convertColorToRGBA, isColorProperty } from './colorUtils.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 import Fuse from 'fuse.js'
 import crypto from 'crypto'
 import jsBeautify from 'js-beautify'
@@ -335,13 +336,13 @@ export const screenshotOutputFolder = function (fileName) {
   const fileSep = path.sep
 
   if (!fileName.includes(fileSep) || fileName.includes('record_')) {
-    return path.resolve(global.output_dir, fileName)
+    return path.resolve(store.outputDir, fileName)
   }
-  return path.resolve(global.codecept_dir, fileName)
+  return path.resolve(store.codeceptDir, fileName)
 }
 
 export const relativeDir = function (fileName) {
-  return fileName.replace(global.codecept_dir, '').replace(/^\//, '')
+  return fileName.replace(store.codeceptDir, '').replace(/^\//, '')
 }
 
 export const beautify = function (code) {
diff --git a/lib/utils/mask_data.js b/lib/utils/mask_data.js
index 455c8c3b3..89943c22c 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mask_data.js
+++ b/lib/utils/mask_data.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { maskSensitiveData } from 'invisi-data'
+import store from '../store.js'
 
 /**
  * Mask sensitive data utility for CodeceptJS
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ export function maskData(input, config) {
  * @returns {boolean|object} - Current masking configuration
  */
 export function getMaskConfig() {
-  return global.maskSensitiveData || false
+  return store.maskSensitiveData || global.maskSensitiveData || false
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/workers.js b/lib/workers.js
index 367939e90..d97304a69 100644
--- a/lib/workers.js
+++ b/lib/workers.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import event from './event.js'
 import { deserializeTest } from './mocha/test.js'
 import { deserializeSuite } from './mocha/suite.js'
 import recorder from './recorder.js'
+import store from './store.js'
 import runHook from './hooks.js'
 import WorkerStorage from './workerStorage.js'
 import { createRuns } from './command/run-multiple/collection.js'
@@ -504,6 +505,7 @@ class Workers extends EventEmitter {
     await this._ensureInitialized()
     recorder.startUnlessRunning()
     event.dispatcher.emit(event.workers.before)
+    store.workerMode = true
     process.env.RUNS_WITH_WORKERS = 'true'
 
     // Create workers and set up message handlers immediately (not in recorder queue)
diff --git a/test/unit/mocha/ui_test.js b/test/unit/mocha/ui_test.js
index 44a11dd77..33fc40a5e 100644
--- a/test/unit/mocha/ui_test.js
+++ b/test/unit/mocha/ui_test.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { createTest } from '../../../lib/mocha/test.js'
 import codeceptjs from '../../../lib/index.js'
 import makeUI from '../../../lib/mocha/ui.js'
 import container from '../../../lib/container.js'
+import store from '../../../lib/store.js'
 
 global.codeceptjs = codeceptjs
 
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ describe('ui', () => {
       }
 
       // Reset environment variable
-      delete process.env.FEATURE_ONLY
+      store.featureOnly = false
 
       // Re-emit pre-require with our mocked mocha instance
       suite.emit('pre-require', context, {}, mocha)
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ describe('ui', () => {
       expect(suiteConfig.suite.pending).eq(false, 'Feature.only must not be pending')
       expect(grepPattern).to.be.instanceOf(RegExp)
       expect(grepPattern.source).eq('^exclusive feature:')
-      expect(process.env.FEATURE_ONLY).eq('true', 'FEATURE_ONLY environment variable should be set')
+      expect(store.featureOnly).eq(true, 'store.featureOnly should be set')
 
       // Restore original grep
       mocha.grep = originalGrep
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ describe('ui', () => {
       }
 
       // Reset environment variable
-      delete process.env.FEATURE_ONLY
+      store.featureOnly = false
 
       // Re-emit pre-require with our mocked mocha instance
       suite.emit('pre-require', context, {}, mocha)
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ describe('ui', () => {
       expect(suiteConfig.suite.pending).eq(false, 'Feature.only must not be pending')
       expect(grepPattern).to.be.instanceOf(RegExp)
       expect(grepPattern.source).eq('^exclusive feature without options:')
-      expect(process.env.FEATURE_ONLY).eq('true', 'FEATURE_ONLY environment variable should be set')
+      expect(store.featureOnly).eq(true, 'store.featureOnly should be set')
 
       // Restore original grep
       mocha.grep = originalGrep
diff --git a/test/unit/utils_test.js b/test/unit/utils_test.js
index 146804a68..3bd30e393 100644
--- a/test/unit/utils_test.js
+++ b/test/unit/utils_test.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import sinon from 'sinon'
 import * as utils from '../../lib/utils.js'
+import store from '../../lib/store.js'
 import playwright from 'playwright'
 
 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
@@ -302,20 +303,20 @@ describe('utils', () => {
   })
 
   describe('#screenshotOutputFolder', () => {
-    let _oldGlobalOutputDir
-    let _oldGlobalCodeceptDir
+    let _oldOutputDir
+    let _oldCodeceptDir
 
     before(() => {
-      _oldGlobalOutputDir = global.output_dir
-      _oldGlobalCodeceptDir = global.codecept_dir
+      _oldOutputDir = store.outputDir
+      _oldCodeceptDir = store.codeceptDir
 
-      global.output_dir = '/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/test_output'
-      global.codecept_dir = '/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/tests/e2e'
+      store.outputDir = '/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/test_output'
+      store.codeceptDir = '/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/tests/e2e'
     })
 
     after(() => {
-      global.output_dir = _oldGlobalOutputDir
-      global.codecept_dir = _oldGlobalCodeceptDir
+      store.outputDir = _oldOutputDir
+      store.codeceptDir = _oldCodeceptDir
     })
 
     it('returns the joined filename for filename only', () => {
@@ -326,7 +327,7 @@ describe('utils', () => {
     it('returns the given filename for absolute one', () => {
       const _path = utils.screenshotOutputFolder('/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/test_output/screenshot1.failed.png'.replace(/\//g, path.sep))
       if (os.platform() === 'win32') {
-        expect(_path).eql(path.resolve(global.codecept_dir, '/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/test_output/screenshot1.failed.png'))
+        expect(_path).eql(path.resolve(store.codeceptDir, '/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/test_output/screenshot1.failed.png'))
       } else {
         expect(_path).eql('/Users/someuser/workbase/project1/test_output/screenshot1.failed.png')
       }