diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/5243-osx-defaults-expand-user-flags.yml b/changelogs/fragments/5243-osx-defaults-expand-user-flags.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c7e17fb8ca8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/5243-osx-defaults-expand-user-flags.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - osx_defaults - no longer expand ``~`` in ``value`` to the user's home directory, or expand environment variables (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/5234, https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/5243).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/osx_defaults.py b/plugins/modules/system/osx_defaults.py
index 5ad390ca332..f905493a31a 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/osx_defaults.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/osx_defaults.py
@@ -304,7 +304,8 @@ def write(self):
         if not isinstance(value, list):
             value = [value]
 
-        rc, out, err = self.module.run_command(self._base_command() + ['write', self.domain, self.key, '-' + self.type] + value)
+        rc, out, err = self.module.run_command(self._base_command() + ['write', self.domain, self.key, '-' + self.type] + value,
+                                               expand_user_and_vars=False)
 
         if rc != 0:
             raise OSXDefaultsException('An error occurred while writing value to defaults: %s' % out)